Well here we goooooooo!!!

Mikey says he doesn't want me to take the job. He's been sort of mum on the subject til now. He wants to make it work.

So for the time being, we focus on cutting costs, saving every cent of UE we can, and going forward that way! If we just make it through the summer, then fine. If longer, great.

Obviously I want it this way too, I am/was just willing to do more.

God will provide because He says He will, always has, always does, never missed a minute. Even if that means we are guests at different people's homes "randomly" for dinner, then we will eat. :)

Of course I have known this all along....

and hey, there are still 2 more extensions available on UE. Maybe Congress will move to extend the filing deadlines and I'll get it! (Right now the deadlines are too close and it doesn't appear I'll qualify). Anyway God does great things.

And OF COURSE, my little Lucy is cuter and more helpful and cuddly than ever today... bet all you SAHM advocates out there conspired with her! lol


Thank you all for your wonderful input; I really do value every single penny of it. :)

My wonderful cousin made me remember that I saw some ads on Craigslist last week for at home admins...doing quickbooks and stuff. So, if I can get a copy of QB, then I can do that at home and bring in pretty good income....all during nap time!

Anyone have a copy of quickbooks software that I can put on my computer? Rumor has it, it comes with licenses for more than one computer?!

Am I missing something?

I posted these notes on facebook in response to everyone's comments. I REALLY want to know what people think, here.

I think what people aren't seeing is that our choices are Mikey working a million hours, which will NOT be healthy for our family, or us going on WELFARE. And I REFUSE to use Credit Cards to make more "money".I will not be homeless. I will not be foodless. I do not believe that sitting on my hands and not doing anything is Godly. I believe that ... yes, God makes things work, but God uses people to make them work. you know? I have a lot of trouble thinking that allowing my family to become destitute so that I can be home (in our cardboard box) with Lucy is insane!Does that make sense? AM I missing something? I must be missing something.

People keep talking about "God will provide", "just wait for his provision".... how do we know that me working a little bit Isn't his provision? How do we know if it IS? I feel like Christians as a whole seem to believe that God is a magic gumball machine or a genie to grant wishes... "God please send me a sign" and then when there's a bright red flashing siren covered sign in front of them, they keep waiting. And then they become disillusioned and angry at God for never sending them the sign. I see it ALL the time.Or...am I expecting too much? AM I giving myself (or God, depending how you look at it) too much credit? Or not enough credit?

Are we just pawns in God's Chess game? Do we really just need to wait for Him to pick us up and move us (or always send random checks in the mail)? Or does God soften people's hearts to be led to where he wants them to go and choose whom He wants them to choose for a job and give them the salary they need.... We have received plenty of random checks in the mail. It's AWESOME. But does God always roll that way? Never requiring US to DO something? Do we get to just lay back with our mouths open and have God feed us grapes all day???Really! I'm really asking. I need to know what I am not understanding here...

Then someone says this:
I think you have quite an imagination... And if a mom is sitting on her hands, then she's not DOING her job. And that's disrespectful to her husband as he works hard.Also, who said that Mikey working a million hours isn't healthy? Is he digging in a mine? Or have we been spoiled to what is "normal" in our modern America? So don't go on welfare, ... See MoreI agree! Don't use credit, also agree. That goal is to set your priorities and, live ON PURPOSE! Which takes work, not just reacting to life.

So then, my question is this. we don't have debt, our bills are as low as we can get them, and I am frugal. What is the difference between living on purpose and reacting to life? What does that even mean? How are we not living on purpose by serving God full time and being careful to be good stewards of the resources He has given us?

And I think working a ton is unhealthy for the family because children need to actually SEE their father. Between work and ministry, Mikey is already working 55 or more hours a week. If he adds a job that yields enough funds to cover the rest of our budget, then he'd have to work at least 20 more hours a week. We would never see him! Is that a price that we should be willing to pay so that I can be home?

Chime in...

so dramatic

Poor Lucy is SO dramatic! She's sick. :( She's on day 3 (the worst day)...and she's so sad. Poor baby I feel terrible for her.

My ears are plugged. It's pretty miserable...so since i just had this cold and I know how crappy it is, i imagine she does too...which is sad.

On the upside, Mikey and i are going on a date tonight! Hopefully poor Lucy will start feeling better so she can have some fun with Gwen and Cousin Amanda!
-------------------
So I started that blog earlier today....now here's the conclusion...

We went on our date...it was awesome! Lots of Lobster, and "She's Out of my League". The dinner was so yummy and the movie was funny and cute. They tried to put Lu in bed at 6:30 for some reason, and had to take her out and try again around 7:30, and she put up a little bit of a fuss, but is asleep now, and has been for a while so I think we're good.

Here's what's on my mind though, and I need some help making a decision...

I'm currently a Stay At Home Mom, and I'm getting unemployment for about 10 more weeks. Should I take a 3-4 month temp position working full time, making a ton of money? Or should we try to get money some other way so I can stay home and get by?

It is a temp position with NO CHANCE of becoming long term. The way we have been thinking about it is this... my husband works at church, and I get unemployment. We made the decision for him to go into ministry and that God would provide. So far, he has, with all the unemployment extensions.

However, unemployment is running out, and we won't be able to make it on his income. We believe it is God's will for him to stay at this job, and have been praying for God to bring us opportunities to make money to put into savings so we will have money to live on after UE runs out.

I did not search for any jobs, two different companies found my old resume on Monster, and called about the same job. I find it hard to believe that God didn't bring this to us when we have been praying for something just this last week.

Anyway, ALL THAT TO SAY, if we keep "making it" on UE til it runs out, then either Mikey will have to go get a completely different job, a part time job on top of church, or i will have to work at least part time, forever. OR, I work for 3 months now, save a TON of money, and get to stay home longer in the long run. And then maybe church can give him a raise, or he finds other opportunities, or we become independently wealthy....

Oh, and my mom, sister, and husband would be watching Lucy.

Now, thoughts? BIG questions, needing BIG answers ASAP! I told the guy I would call him tomorrow... it's a fast moving hiring process.

today is a much better day. :)

Last night
- I got my phone replaced. Verizon said it was a defect because the screen was frozen. NICE.
- My wonderful friend Justin threw a movie gift card at me while we were discussing going to the movies. (I know... "wonderful", "friend", and "Justin" all in the same sentence... Pretty crazy huh? hehe)
- My sisters came over and we had fun cooking together.
- I made chocolate chip cookies.

Today
- I already have a few babysitting jobs lined up.
- Lucy's taking a nap right now. :-D
- I already have the dishes done.

So yeah... stuff is good. I sometimes need to freak out, but God always comes through. :)

I DO think I might have a cold though. Or maybe it's allergies, cuz I am sneezing. But I feel tired and my ears are plugged and my nose is running, so... just pray that subsides quickly because I have to (get to!) sing on Saturday and Sunday....

And oh me, oh my... this is the weekend we have to "Spring Ahead". Sigh... that makes for a very tired Sunday morning. It's gonna be like waking up at 4:30. Want to know something "funny"? One or both of us plays the Sunday of "Spring Ahead", EVERY YEAR! I wonder how it falls that way so often. We also very often play the weekend of "Fall Back", but that's not so upsetting, of course! who can't use an extra hour?

I really need a vacation though. We're supposed to go on one April 5-8 and I am REALLY looking forward to it. Logistics are being worked out, and I REALLY hope it pans out. If not, I will still live. :)
But oh my goodness, bathing suits are on clearance at Target already!? I need to go get one! And I also need shorts! Maybe today after Lucy wakes up, or tomorrow sometime, I can go get some warm weather stuff before it's gone. Apparently they sell out before spring even springs.

I don't know what we're doing for Easter, at least as a family, at least, but I do know that Mikey and I are both singing ALL FOUR SERVICES! Should be a long weekend. But Easter is April 4, and that there vacation I spoke of will be the 5-8 so it'll be some well-deserved rest. :)

So that's that.

comments = blog post.

No, the soup was not good enough to kill my phone over. :(
It's not even that the phone's expensive and I liked it and stuff. It's not even that Verizon has added a required data plan (minimum cost $9.99) for all future upgrades and new phones...
It's just 'one more thing'. you know?
Sigh.
Plus I just found out that Disneyland reached it's goal of 1 million volunteers, right in the midst of me working out my volunteer opportunity and now there's no more free disneyland.

I just feel like I can't catch a break right now. I REALLY wanted to take my kids to Disneyland.

I can definitely see the positive in my life. I know it's there. But my goodness... why does it have to be so HIDDEN sometimes!?

Well !@#$%*&

I had planned to write some foofy happy blog about love and life and happiness and all that jazz, but today is NOT a happy day. :(
i mean it has it's happy parts... I went to Tori's house this morning and she and I talked and the kids played, which was fun. And then Enrique came over and that was awesome too cuz I haven't seen her in a long time!

BUT, I also got the phone call from my husband that he can't get a raise at church, so he basically has to get another job on top of church, get a different job, or I have to get a job.
Soooo... yeah. I've got unemployment for a whopping 8 more weeks, and then it's over. So I am applying for part time jobs (like during nap time, kind of stuff) and hoping to make some money babysitting.
Hmmm...just went on EDD's website. there's a 4th and 5th extension available. Available doesn't necessarily mean For Sure, but it is still AVAILABLE. So we'll see.

And, then I just found out that $5 movie Tuesdays is over, rendering the date that we FINALLY planned for next Tuesday, useless.

Sigh.

But anyway, God has never failed to take care of us, so I know that this will all work out. Funny how over the course of writing this short blog, my outlook has changed. I knew there was a reason I had a blog. :)

Oh, and I dropped my cell phone in soup. >:-(

Ok folks... reply with helpful comments. :)

Wedding pics: 959

The happy couple

The girls :)

The funny fam all dressed up

Oh Gwen. Glorious, beautiful Gwen.

Lu + Daddy = LOVE

'nuff said.

Oh it was SO HOT that day!

Marilyn pt. 2?

oh look...here's a smiling one. :)

Proof Justin can dance?

The whole big bunch of us.