Wednesday, July 25, 2012
God has a sense of humor - The un/employment saga continues...Jim landed a job...in South Provo. The employees are great, the job is good...the pay is not. He had to take the job because we were down to $2,400. in unemployment. He decided to keep looking. The Thursday before he started he found 4 GREAT jobs on the web that he was qualified for. He started his new job at "Secure" on July 23. on July 24, a state holiday and day off, he had 2 job interviews Both were great and both pay about $20 K more. We are expecting a couple of job offers. Stay tuned....
Saturday, June 2, 2012
TRISHA - In the beginning
Trisha was a gifted child. I heard whisperings around the ward. Finally a mom whose child attended the same neighborhood preschool shared everything the preschool teacher had shared it her. (It always bugged me that I was the last to know that my daughter was gifted.) Being our first child...we thought it was normal.
The Challenger School wasn't a huge challenge for Trisha. She grasped the reading concept very quick...and ran with it. Her grami spied her reading the encyclopedia many times. When in kindergarten it became obvious that she was going to be bored out of her head. She was reading on a 7th grade level. Having an October birthday made Trisha one of the oldest in her class. I made appointment after appointment with the principal. Mrs. Tripp didn't believe in letting students skip grades...THIS MEANT WAR! I was told that because of Trisha's size she was too small to skip and that every mother thinks her child is brilliant.
It took me months of duking it out with the principal. I finally convinced the administration to test her... "OH, SHE IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT"...no kidding! At that point she was pushed into 1st grade. She skipped 1/2 of kindergarten and 1/2 of first grade. She fit in nicely and loved every minute of it.
Fast-forward, we knew that driving and dating would become an issue, she went from being the oldest in her class to being the youngest. We were right. We didn't have the heart to make her take drivers ed with sophomores when she was a junior. We paid for her to take private driving lessons. We did let her attend dances before her 16th birthday, other than that, no dating.
She always received fantastic grades. Trisha had a wide range of friends, most of them were Hispanic Her Spanish was remarkable. She loved the fact that we had no clue what they were saying...unless it was swearing, we could tell when the conversation went south.
Graduating from high school at 17 came with it's own set of problems. (But that is another story, another day.)
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Walking in Faith - through 10 months of unemployment
In the summer of 2011, Jim decided he was ready for a new adventure and switched jobs. He used a head-hunter and within one week he interviewed and had landed a new job at Overstock.com. He had fantastic benefits and was making a lot more money. We were on top of the world...well almost!
At the end of Aug 2011, just a few short months after he started his job, he got a call from his supervisor to meet him in the HR department. Jim was laid off...they had had a bad quarter which triggered lay-offs. At first I was in shock, then I was in panic mode which let to anger.I retreated to my knees and told the Lord that I couldn't have a re-play of the 11 month unemployment we had suffered through only 6 short years previously.
Backing up just a bit, I had been job hunting for about 6 months. I had previously worked at my parents' travel agency in a lot of different capacities for the past 24 years. I had also built a Mary Kay cosmetics business for the past 11 years. I didn't know what I wanted to do or what I was even qualified to do. I really thought this might be my chance to get back into the medical field...that's what I get for doing my own thinking.
Jim was preparing to give Cayden a father blessing before school started. I asked for a blessing as well. Jim felt intimated about giving me one, but with some encouragement from our Bishop and my "sweet nagging" he concede.
Jim doesn't remember what he said in the blessing, but I shall never forget it. He blessed me that I would find a job that I loved, that I would be good at and excel, and that would be good for our family.
Miracle #1 - I applied for a job with a company called Reading Horizons. I have never enjoyed reading, because I am very self-conscience. The guy doing the interviewing was named Tyson. I had to at least apply, after all, he had to be a great guy with a name like Tyson. The interview went well. The second interview went all. I was asked if I got the job what hours did I want to work. I told him that I had a 9th grade son at home so 8:00am - 3:00pm would be perfect. I got the call the next day...I got the job! I was now an Account Manager - whatever that was. The training was super intense and I thought I might die through it. It was like drinking from a fire hydrant. My third week there, I passed of almost a dozen quizzes and became certified.
Miracle #2 - I was the first person in the company to have this position. I was paid hourly plus 1% commission of whatever my salesman sold. My job was to maintain customers and build relationships after the salesman sold to them. I was assigned to the top salesman in the company!Five minutes after I became certified the top salesman bounced into Tyson's office where I sat and announced that he just closed the companies largest sell in the history of the company. I had been qualified to make the commission for a whopping 5 minutes before the intrusion. My commission on that one sale was $1000! (This was in Oct 2011.) (Current on all of our bills...most important, our tithing!)
Miracle #3 - My mom and dad are a little freaked out that I have a new job. They new I needed to do it...it was time for them to think about slowing down, but they wouldn't do it while I still worked there. Now that I was gone...what was going to happen to a lot of the technical, computer, account items that are so crucial to a business? Well, Jim jumped in to the resue, picking up where I left off...and getting paid what I left off. (Still current on our bills and tithing!)
Miracle #4 - I received my commission after the school paid that huge invoice, on Dec 5, 2011. Just in the nick of time to get a small Christmas put together for my family. (Still current on all of our bills, especially tithing!)
Miracle #5 - Our Relief Society president showed up on my doorstep with $200 that someone in the ward had given to the bishop to give to a family who where down on their luck. (Still paying our tithing, fast offering and bills!)
Miracle #6 - An angel delivered a huge box wrapped like a present with everything in it to fix a traditional Christmas dinner.
Miracle #7 - Rob Kelsey from the ward is a professional painter. He had so much work, he needed help. He asked Jim if he wanted to help him paint. Little did we know that Jim would learn lots of tricks of the trade. Learn to not hate painting. Rob has kept Jim in work all through our unemployment. How can we ever repay help like that?
Miracle #8 - Jim received a phone call on April 7, the day before our anniversary and Easter from the young men's president. Jim Hanson asked if Jim was still looking for side work. He needed a co-worker to be driven from SLC - New Mexico. Jim was to leave in 2 hours, drive all night. Sleep for 4 hours when they got their while the employee worked. Jim turned around and drove him home with the employee slept. Jim walked in 10 minutes before the big Easter dinner. He was gone for 23 hours and was paid $600.
Both of our cars had to be licensed...why did we do that? Two cars due in the same month! Jim got a $90 speeding ticket. He hadn't had a ticket in years. I was asking myself...why now? Really?!! (Money weas tight and I was a little behind on a couple of small bills...and tithing.)
Miracle #9 - Quin made one more big sale before he gave his notice. I received a $700 commission in May 2012. We also received a $1200 tax refund. Whew...just in the nick of time. First thing I did was catch up the tithing, pay for Cayden's scout camp, the flag fundraiser for the scouts. Then, I paid off Cayden's braces...we just got a raise of $150 a month. I also paid off my dentist...$50 more pay increase. That is an increase of $200 a month! (Everything is caught up...tithing and fast offerings were the most imporant!)
Miracle #10 - We never missed our weekly date night, thanks to Groupon, Daily Deals, Social Living, cool radio contests, the $2 movie theaters and the uncanny knack Jim has for winning prizes!
Miracle #11 - We have had no major medical bills, no major car problems. We have been blessed beyond measure. The Lord keeps pouring blessings out on us. He knows of our trial, but he has not forsaken us. He doesn't give us more than we can handle! "God's timing is never early, and it's never, ever late"!
We will continue this journey...Walking in Faith until Jim finds the right job. I pray that he'll find a job he loves, one with challenges that stretches him and keeps him growing. A job that appreciates him and one that he can retire from...in several more years!
At the end of Aug 2011, just a few short months after he started his job, he got a call from his supervisor to meet him in the HR department. Jim was laid off...they had had a bad quarter which triggered lay-offs. At first I was in shock, then I was in panic mode which let to anger.I retreated to my knees and told the Lord that I couldn't have a re-play of the 11 month unemployment we had suffered through only 6 short years previously.
Backing up just a bit, I had been job hunting for about 6 months. I had previously worked at my parents' travel agency in a lot of different capacities for the past 24 years. I had also built a Mary Kay cosmetics business for the past 11 years. I didn't know what I wanted to do or what I was even qualified to do. I really thought this might be my chance to get back into the medical field...that's what I get for doing my own thinking.
Jim was preparing to give Cayden a father blessing before school started. I asked for a blessing as well. Jim felt intimated about giving me one, but with some encouragement from our Bishop and my "sweet nagging" he concede.
Jim doesn't remember what he said in the blessing, but I shall never forget it. He blessed me that I would find a job that I loved, that I would be good at and excel, and that would be good for our family.
Miracle #1 - I applied for a job with a company called Reading Horizons. I have never enjoyed reading, because I am very self-conscience. The guy doing the interviewing was named Tyson. I had to at least apply, after all, he had to be a great guy with a name like Tyson. The interview went well. The second interview went all. I was asked if I got the job what hours did I want to work. I told him that I had a 9th grade son at home so 8:00am - 3:00pm would be perfect. I got the call the next day...I got the job! I was now an Account Manager - whatever that was. The training was super intense and I thought I might die through it. It was like drinking from a fire hydrant. My third week there, I passed of almost a dozen quizzes and became certified.
Miracle #2 - I was the first person in the company to have this position. I was paid hourly plus 1% commission of whatever my salesman sold. My job was to maintain customers and build relationships after the salesman sold to them. I was assigned to the top salesman in the company!Five minutes after I became certified the top salesman bounced into Tyson's office where I sat and announced that he just closed the companies largest sell in the history of the company. I had been qualified to make the commission for a whopping 5 minutes before the intrusion. My commission on that one sale was $1000! (This was in Oct 2011.) (Current on all of our bills...most important, our tithing!)
Miracle #3 - My mom and dad are a little freaked out that I have a new job. They new I needed to do it...it was time for them to think about slowing down, but they wouldn't do it while I still worked there. Now that I was gone...what was going to happen to a lot of the technical, computer, account items that are so crucial to a business? Well, Jim jumped in to the resue, picking up where I left off...and getting paid what I left off. (Still current on our bills and tithing!)
Miracle #4 - I received my commission after the school paid that huge invoice, on Dec 5, 2011. Just in the nick of time to get a small Christmas put together for my family. (Still current on all of our bills, especially tithing!)
Miracle #5 - Our Relief Society president showed up on my doorstep with $200 that someone in the ward had given to the bishop to give to a family who where down on their luck. (Still paying our tithing, fast offering and bills!)
Miracle #6 - An angel delivered a huge box wrapped like a present with everything in it to fix a traditional Christmas dinner.
Miracle #7 - Rob Kelsey from the ward is a professional painter. He had so much work, he needed help. He asked Jim if he wanted to help him paint. Little did we know that Jim would learn lots of tricks of the trade. Learn to not hate painting. Rob has kept Jim in work all through our unemployment. How can we ever repay help like that?
Miracle #8 - Jim received a phone call on April 7, the day before our anniversary and Easter from the young men's president. Jim Hanson asked if Jim was still looking for side work. He needed a co-worker to be driven from SLC - New Mexico. Jim was to leave in 2 hours, drive all night. Sleep for 4 hours when they got their while the employee worked. Jim turned around and drove him home with the employee slept. Jim walked in 10 minutes before the big Easter dinner. He was gone for 23 hours and was paid $600.
Both of our cars had to be licensed...why did we do that? Two cars due in the same month! Jim got a $90 speeding ticket. He hadn't had a ticket in years. I was asking myself...why now? Really?!! (Money weas tight and I was a little behind on a couple of small bills...and tithing.)
Miracle #9 - Quin made one more big sale before he gave his notice. I received a $700 commission in May 2012. We also received a $1200 tax refund. Whew...just in the nick of time. First thing I did was catch up the tithing, pay for Cayden's scout camp, the flag fundraiser for the scouts. Then, I paid off Cayden's braces...we just got a raise of $150 a month. I also paid off my dentist...$50 more pay increase. That is an increase of $200 a month! (Everything is caught up...tithing and fast offerings were the most imporant!)
Miracle #10 - We never missed our weekly date night, thanks to Groupon, Daily Deals, Social Living, cool radio contests, the $2 movie theaters and the uncanny knack Jim has for winning prizes!
Miracle #11 - We have had no major medical bills, no major car problems. We have been blessed beyond measure. The Lord keeps pouring blessings out on us. He knows of our trial, but he has not forsaken us. He doesn't give us more than we can handle! "God's timing is never early, and it's never, ever late"!
We will continue this journey...Walking in Faith until Jim finds the right job. I pray that he'll find a job he loves, one with challenges that stretches him and keeps him growing. A job that appreciates him and one that he can retire from...in several more years!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Chili Verde
2 lbs boneless pork (you can purchase this already chopped up in the meat department)
1 TBL oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBL flour
1 bottle, 10 oz-green taco sauce
2 c beef stock (consomme)
1/2 tsp oregano
Cilantro
Add
pork to the hot oil, onion and garlic. Cook until tender. Stir in flour
and cook until bubbly. Add chilies, sauce, beef stock and oregano. Salt
and pepper to taste. Combine all ingredients and pout into crock-pot.
Slow cook on Low for about 4 hours. NOTE - if the Verde seems to runny,
add 1 cup of minute rice 30 minutes before serving.
Caramel Popcorn
1 cube of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Karo syrup
1 pinch of baking powder
Prepare the popcorn
In
a large pot - melt butter, add brown sugar and Karo syrup. When the
boiling starts, add the baking powder and remove from heat. Stir until
the baking powder has disappeared. Pour in the popped popcorn and mix
with care. When all the popcorn is coated, pour onto a cookie sheet
until dry (about 5 minutes).
Stuffed Mushrooms
1 TBL oil
1-8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 c chopped ham (I use deli meat)
1/4 c chopped green onion
1/3 c Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/3 c Italian bread crumbs
Preheat oven 350'. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. (I use mini muffin pan works perfect.)
Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully remove stems. Chop stems extremely fine, discarding tough end of stems.
Saute green onions, ham,and garlic until moisture has disappeared, taking care not to burn garlic. Set a side to cool.
When the garlic mixture is no longer hot, stir in the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, bread crumbs and cayenne pepper. Mixture should be very thick. Fill the mushrooms with the mixture. Top with fresh parsley-if desired.
Bake for 20 min in the preheated oven.
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