Trials and Tribulations

Do you ever feel some days that the world is out to get you and you just don't know how you're going to handle it all? That's kind of the point that Ben and I are at right now--the beginning of the school year started with some challenges, and they just keep coming.

So without feeling like a whiner, but coveting thoughts and prayers, here are some of the trials we have been given over the last few months. Some of them are both blessings and trials--but because of other circumstances, the trial seems bigger than the concurrent blessing!

~our furnace went on the kaput and is being replaced, which gave our finances a BIG hit
~our babysitter is taking a job at school (tomorrow) so we need a new babysitter NOW, which will probably be more expensive
~our bikes are still gone, which means we're driving the car everywhere=GAS
~my job is changing (good, but) which means I'm transitioning and really have no idea what it is all going to entail--next MONDAY (maybe); I was also reminded that I am a curriculum coordinator and NOT the curriculum director (semantics)

When I list them, there doesn't appear to be that many, but they all affect every area of our life. Not having a babysitter affects both our personal and professional life; not having a heater primarily affects our personal life, but it affects how much we can afford for other things--including things for our professional lives.

I keep telling myself that challenges make us stronger, but I'm having a hard time seeing that at this point in time. And, I know that there are a lot of people who are worse off than we are, and our blessings far outnumber our trials, but that doesn't make it easier.

So because I need a reminder of my blessings, here's a few of them that you can include in prayers as praises:

~we BOTH have jobs: no small feat in Michigan's economy
~we have a house, and are in no danger of losing it
~I have a beautiful daughter, who will probably adjust a lot better than I will, and a fantastic husband
~I have family that cares and is beside us all the way
~We live in a greater school community that is working with us to find a solution to the babysitting problem
~we will have heat tomorrow, (but that does mean we pay a gas bill) and it will be much more efficient than our last one.

I promise I will make a post about Violet soon--we got the funniest video of her yesterday.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers in advance!

Comments

Not sure why the comments aren't appearing on the last post, so hopefully they'll appear on this one.

By the way, keep us in your thoughts through the next week as it is to get colder and we haven't gotten the new furnace installed yet! Thank goodness we have been blessed with lots of blankets!

New job & a trip

Things have been pretty crazy around possibility manor the last few weeks. Some things have been good, some things not so good, but all a part of life! So, the not so good first--shortly after discovering our bikes missing, the weather decided to give us a sneak peak of winter...and we tried to turn on our furnace..and tried is the key word there. Long story short, the furnace that was somewhat 'economically' installed in our house prior to our purchase of it finally gave its last breath and we get to buy a new one. Where is the money tree when you need it? Fortunately, that was the last of the major 'bad' things to happen to us that week...sometimes when it rains it just seems to pour. Oh, and the thieves didn't just make out with our bikes...I also noticed later in the week that they had also stolen some frozen pizzas out of the freezer...College/teenage kids perhaps???

Now, on to the good news. I've been waiting to post until everything was official, but I was offered and did accept the position of Curriculum Director at our school. It's not an administrative position (usually it is at other schools) but I will work with teachers in developing and maintaining our curriculum, and schedule and suggest professional development activities. It gives me a great foot in the door and adds to my resume extensively, as Curriculum Directors are quite often administrative positions (at least Central Office) in other districts. I'm not too bummed about the non-administrative part; if I had the ability to hoist other powers that administrators can, it would probably mean that Ben would have to resign due to conflict of interests. So, it works out for the best. Because this position is a part-time position, and I wanted (and needed) to stay full time, I will continue teacher K and 1st grade music, and a days worth of computer teaching. I still have not officially started the role--it appears that they are going to wait until they hire the person that will replace me before moving me into the new role. I do have some sadness in leaving my elementary kids--especially the 2nd graders--but I will still be in the building, so I will get to see them! I'll keep you all posted with the new adventures, joys, and frustrations that this new job will no doubtingly entail.

My co-driver

The second bit of news for this post is that Violet and I took a trip to Iowa this past weekend. Chandra flew home from California and we spent 2 days doing wedding dress shopping. I had forgotten all that that entails, but we had lots and lots of fun. I took two days off work (Fri. & Mon.) so we wouldn't be rushed, and that enabled us to have a great Sunday with the Fynaardt family. Violet did fantastic--she had lots of fun laying on the stool that the brides stand on and Chandra, good aunt that she is, played right along pretending to step on her and cover her up. All the bridal stores we went to were VERY family friendly as well, which made the whole process that much easier. One even had toys! It was very encouraging to see the effort, and not have to worry too much about Violet disturbing or distracting the store! And, Chandra found some very beautiful dresses, but I think a decision is being held off for more shopping :). We also found that the stores had just been to market, which means the new designs will be coming in around Christmas, and since she is not getting married until next September/October, she has plenty of time!

I have some pictures from Iowa to share--Violet has gotten into Winnie-the-Pooh lately, and loves to play Pooh sticks. The farm has a nice little creek running through it, so we all got to walk down and play Pooh sticks with Rabbit and Tigger and Eeyore and Piglet, and Caisey-Daisy, G&G's new puppy. We didn't get Violet into the tractor or combine--she's still scared of big trucks and tractors for an actual ride, but we convinced her to wave from a quiet, not running tractor!

Violet and I in Uncle Eric's super smart tractor--
seriously it's more techno-advanced than I am!


Auntie Chandra and Violet in the grass by the creek.


Grandpa and Violet on the R.R. tracks.


Violet and Kasey-Daisy--best buds--
as long as Kasey wasn't too excited!

To close, here's the video of the tricycle race with Grandpa Fynaardt: