We live in just about the very best neighborhood anyone could ever ask for. As stay at home moms we get together fairly frequently (well, more frequently than I blog) for various activities.
Here we are making graham cracker houses- AKA- an excuse for kids to eat lots and lots of candy.
One year ago this week we announced that Jared had joined the ranks of the unemployed. Here is a year in review of just what it is like to be unemployed, or underemployed, for a year.
The wonderful thing about being unemployed is the forced vacation time. We were benefitting from the aid of the United States government, which can be applied for and obtained from any computer connected to the internet. So, with no reason to stay home, we didn’t.
Faces of Unemployment #1: At a rest stop in Oregon on our way to Centralia, Washington.
Faces of Unemployment #2: Thanksgiving and Spring Break at the Carey’s in Parker, Colorado.
Faces of Unemployment #4: St. George to see Grandpa and Grandma.
Interestingly, when you don’t have anything to do all day, you would think that all those little projects around the house would get done. That suddenly your home life would become extremely productive.
The opposite occurred.
Jared and I both became less “productive” at home. The fact is, we would really rather just talk together than do anything separately.
Faces of Unemployment #4: This is us on Christmas Day.
Besides sitting around and talking, Jared would go to the gym with his unemployed friend (OK, so at least his friend was going to school) at least three times a week to play racquetball. They haven’t done that in years and it was so much fun.
Besides slimming down with all his exercising, Jared decided to experiment even further with his appearance by growing a beard. I LOVED the beard.
Faces of Unemployment #5: Jared’s beard.
The beard actually became a good indicator of interview prospects. He would grow the beard until he got an interview, and then shave it. So, people would run into the clean-shaven Jared and say, “Oh, hey- how did the interview go?”
Yet another bonus of unemployment was Daddy time. What could be better for a family than to have their dad home 24-7? We loved it!
Faces of Unemployment #6: Dart gun fights.
Faces of Unemployment #7: Jared teaching the boys to shoot an air soft gun.
Faces of Unemployment #8: Baby Eleanor loves her Daddy.
Faces of Unemployment #9: Baseball in the snow.
Faces of Unemployment #10: Jared got to come and help Jack give a presentation about rockets at school. This is them going out to give the rocket a trial run.
Faces of Unemployment #11: Morning with Daddy.
But, I think all of these things (more time, more exercise, more travel) were things we expected. There were also many things we didn’t expect.
New friends. About three weeks before we became unemployed, we got new neighbors. Sal and Edna Herrera. Retired grandparents, they immediately adopted us. On the Monday Jared came home after losing his job, Sal stopped him on the way in and asked how work was. Upon finding out we were now unemployed, he brought over dinner. Over the next several months Jared and Sal spent many hours together, shoveling snow, working in the yard, or just talking.
Faces of Unemployment #12: We had the Herreras over to celebrate Jared’s birthday.
The Herreras are just one example of the many kindnesses we have received. Our families were loving and supportive and offered all manner of help and assistance. Our neighbors and friends were generous beyond their means. Gift cards for gas and groceries. Toilet paper and toothpaste doorbell ditched on our doorstep. Cash. Bags of potatoes and onions. Pounds and pounds of frozen meat. We were absolutely amazed at the kindness and generosity of those around us.
Faces of Unemployment #13: This is us out to dinner using a gift certificate to the Olive Garden, thanks to one of our neighbors.
The same week our unemployment benefit ran out, Jared was offered two jobs in two days. The first was to work a temporary position for Wasatch Electric, a company where our good friend and home teacher, Than Murphy worked. Jared would be doing payroll and other HR assignments up at an oil refinery in North Salt Lake. We were thrilled. We feel so entirely indebted to Than for thinking of us.
The second job was to work at a bank in St. George, Utah. This was a new bank that Jared’s dad was helping to start. The position was to start in late summer or early fall.
It looked like everything was falling into place, that the Lord had heard and answered our prayers. But by the beginning of June it was clear the job in St. George would not happen.
We were left feeling almost betrayed and abandoned. Why did the Lord deliver us only to drop us right back where we were? But it didn’t take us long to gain perspective. For six beautiful weeks we weren’t worried or stressed about our future. The Lord had simply provided a much needed respite. We were grateful, and had restored faith that one day he would provide a new job for Jared.
Faces of Unemployment #14: Jared and Than at Lagoon at a company sponsored Lagoon Day.
Faces of Unemployment #15: Henry was especially faithful in his prayers- never once forgetting to pray that Daddy could get a new job.
He actually received a surprising amount of interviews. I think for me it was worse to have interviews, they just got your hopes up. And then crashed way down.
Jared decided to leave behind the finance business and go strictly into training. Most of the positions he applied for were in the field of corporate training. About a month ago one of my friends asked me what Jared’s perfect job would be. I said corporate training. She relayed that to her husband, an accountant for a company called CHG. He saw a job posting in his company’s training department, a department that is ranked 116th in the nation, and forwarded it to Jared. This looked to be the perfect job. Exactly what we wanted.
Jared submitted his resume and had an initial phone consultation with the HR department at CHG. He was invited to an interview.
The first interview lasted 2 hours. While he was interviewing, I suggested to Jack and Henry that we say a prayer. Jack offered the sweetest, most heartfelt prayer. I knew there was no way Heavenly Father could ignore it. He didn’t. In fact, Jared said after the interview that it would take a miracle for him to get this job. Good thing we believe in miracles.
That same night, at about 6:30, only two hours after he left the office, he was invited to come back for a second interview. This would be a 25 minute presentation in front of the entire training staff. I have never seen Jared prepare for something so completely. 6 excruciatingly long days after the second interview he was extended an offer to work for CHG.
WE WERE SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED!!!!
I called as many people as I could think of to come over and celebrate with us. We had banana splits. There were at least 30 people who came over to congratulate Jared.
Most of the people there marveled at how we made it, and with such a positive attitude. For any who are now, or who may yet face such a economic life crisis, here is the secret:
Obedience brings blessings. Always. Without fail. The Lord always keeps His promises. Paying tithing makes your money stretch in miraculous ways.
We feel like an entirely new family after this last year. Stronger. Closer. More resilient. More capable. And certainly more compassionate.
Faces of Unemployment #16: Compassion.
Today Henry turns three. For weeks now he has been saying, at random moments, "Me big boy. On my birthday me be three." So this day has been a long time coming.
I blew up some balloons and put them in his room and made him a crown and a special VIP badge (both of which he discarded after about 20 minutes). We had special Hase
lwood Waffles for breakfast with strawberries and whip cream, and happy birthday candles. We will go to McDonald's for lunch and make cupcakes and do water balloons this afternoon.
I hope to post a video at some point about today, but we all know how long it takes me to put one together, so maybe I will shoot for his half-birthday to post that.
Henry is just about the sweetest most good natured child we could ever ask for. It is as if every good and happy emotion comes bursting out of him at every possible occasion. He kisses and hugs and loves almost constantly. Grandma has even commented that his running-hugs are OK when he is small, but she is not sure how much longer she can take them before he is bowling her over every time. :)
So much energy, so much love, so much joy. On the way home from church he loves to roll his window down and wave and call out to everyone we pass. I love that look on someone's face, at the grocery store or at the mall when they are engrossed in their own thoughts and in their own zone when our little Henry bursts right in with an enthusiastic, "Hi!" Their entire countenance changes and brightens. It is obvious that he has picked them up just a little and been a bright spot in an otherwise ordinary minute.
He is certainly our bright spot. Happy Birthday Henry.
Here is our Jack, handsomely dressed on his first day of Kindergarten at Lakeview Academy. I was nervous about getting up and being ready to leave the house before 8, especially since we needed to talk to Nona and Papa via video phone one the first day, but we made it. Likely because I told him how embarrassing it is to be late, Jack popped out of bed before seven asking, "Mom, is it time to get up yet?"
Each day this week when I picked him up I was anxious to hear about what he did. I wanted a play by play of every minute of the measly two hours and forty-five minutes he was there, but mostly I just got, "It was good."
Though on Thursday when I asked he told me, with a disgruntled expression on his face, "Mom, today I was girl-trapped." I tried to repress my laughter for fear he wouldn't elaborate, and asked in an only moderately interested tone, "Oh really, what does that mean?" He then told me that to be girl-trapped was when there is one girl here (pointing on his right side) and one girl here (pointing on his left side) and a boy in the middle, "that was me," then you are girl-trapped.
I didn't cry as I thought I would driving away from school that first day, I was too excited for him. Or perhaps I just got out all my crying the night before when Jared gave him a blessing.
But I am excited for all the things he will learn and all the new experiences he will have. Like all mothers, I suppose, I just hope I have poured enough love into him in the last five years that somehow that love will protect him "out there."
I am just so proud of Jack and the little boy he has become. I am proud of his compassion and his kindness. I am proud of his studious and sometimes serious nature. I am just proud to be his mom.
As many of you know, I have a husband who naturally starts out many a sentence with, "I read in The Wall Street Journal the other day..." But me, though I do enjoy a good read of The Journal, I am going to completely disgust my husband by titling this post with lyrics to a country music song. The most amazing thing is, that even though he never listens to country music, Jared probably knows what song it is and who the artist is.
Last Thursday was a day that makes me glad I live in Utah because my husband got the day off. The 24th of July is Pioneer Day. It commemorates the entry the first group of Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley after they had been forced by persecution from points east. What made the day even more special than just a day off is that Grandma's work had discount tickets to a National Rodeo, the Days of 47 Rodeo, and she treated us with a trip (THANKS Grandma Linda!).
I had a fabulous time, though I don't think I will go again, if that makes any sense. I love horses and horse events. I loved the barrel racing. I even enjoyed the Tie-Down-Roping, though Henry was worried that the baby cows were dead. I just loved watching the horses back in the box, they were so excited, they couldn't wait to get out there and do their part.
But, we absolutely did not enjoy watching the bucking horses or the bucking bulls - even though they say the animals LIKE it. If I was the activist type, it would have likely been enough to make me want to join PETA, and if not joint PETA then start a group called PETP (People for the Ethical Treatment of People) and start lobbying for age requirements for admittance to bull riding competitions. At one point I was holding my breath on the edge of my seat- not in excitement- but in absolute horror that quite possibly my children had just seen a murder.
The announcer kept touting it as "The most dangerous sport on the planet, Ladies and Gentleman!" The crowd went wild. When a cowboy fell, they showed the instant replay a dozen times - especially those where the bull barely misses the cowboy with its horns. The crowd went crazy again. Jared aptly commented that it felt like the Roman Coliseum where the plebians leave disappointed if no one was gored.
But, we rode TRAX downtown and had ice cream and popcorn and Grandma remembered her traditional treats for the boys. Jack liked it, I think. Jared didn't. And Henry, about halfway through (so, every minute for over 40 minutes) started asking if we could just go to Grandma's house now, which, as you can imagine, got a little old.
I guess in the end, it kind of hurt my image of a cowboy, even though it is hailed as the most cowboyish thing you can do. I love cowboys. But when I think of a cowboy I think of George Strait. Kind, gentle, loves animals. If these bull riders are cowboys, they should be termed punk cowboys. I couldn't see them up close, but I'll bet they looked something like this:
Here are some pictures of our outing. This first one was actually really something. A man and his horse corralled these two buffalo on top of this horse trailer- amazing.
Diahan was gone and the boys wanted to play a video game. Normally, this is a no brainer when I'm home - except there was something different about today.
Next thing I knew I was taking off the training wheels while telling Jack that today was a special day. Today he was going to learn to ride a bike. And Jack said OK.
Training wheels off, seat adjusted, helmet and pads on - we were set.
5 minutes later he was circling the cul-de-sac. He was ready.
Neighbors came out and cheered him on. His friends rode with him in stride. We all went inside and had a celebratory hot chocolate with marshmallows (it's 100 degrees outside - but that's what he wanted).
Now we waited for Diahan to come home.
I told him not to tell Diahan that he could ride his bike, rather to say that he had a surprise for her. He played it beautifully. He was so proud and his smile went on for miles.
What a guy.
When Diahan and I were dating (oh, nine years ago), her parents had a timeshare in Sin City, NV. Somehow we made a trip out of the opportunity (I fully realize I am trying to tell a story here about our past - And I fully anticipate the correct version by Diahan in the comments).
Two things stand out about that trip: the first is that we saw Fantasia 2000 in glorious IMAX at the Luxor. The second memory to stand out was the walk back. I remember loudly singing "It Had to be You" to Diahan - and to the other people walking the street. "Loudly singing" - as volume always makes up for quality.
Nine years later I'm lying in our Luv Sac with a boy on either side of me, watching Fantasia 2000. As much as this was part of the boys' formal music education, it was also a little bit of perfection.
Who would have thought an evening of animated classical music and an impromptu Sin City Serenade would lead to nine years of elation?
Knowing I'm entering sentimental waters here, I'd best close by posting a couple clips from that wonderful evening's entertainment. Fantasia 2000 is not currently in print (locked in the Disney Vault), but nothing escapes YouTube. I bought my copy a couple weeks ago online. Once I received it I realized why it was so cheap: another wonderful Chinese knock-off. Oh, well. The movie was the same, even if the Chinese have no idea how to spell on the DVD case.
*****
The first clip is Respighi's Pines of Rome. You have to hand it to the animators who could match a symphonic poem about trees to flying whales.
This next clip is Jack's favorite: Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. This one takes less of an imaginative leap to see the graduation march set to Noah's Ark. But it has Donald Duck.
Lastly, is the finale: Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. The music is what makes this amazing, though the story itself is a pleasant attempt at actually incorporating a firebird (the mystical creature, not the Pontiac).
Perhaps to complete the day, I ought to offer Diahan another ear-splitting rendition of "It Had to be You."
No one ever told me that the birth of a child is such a uniquely spiritual experience. No one told me how forcefully you feel the Spirit and how the spirit of this new tiny person absolutely fills the room. They also never told me of the deep love I would feel for Jared at that moment. That, for a second, it was only he and me and this little child in that room. That is ultimate joy.
I felt a portion of that love and gratitude for my husband on Sunday as he held our little girl in Sacrament meeting to
give her a blessing. It was a beautiful blessing and I was again reminded of what a special little girl we are so privileged to have in this family.
But mostly I thought of how glad I am now to have another girl in the house to appreciate Jared the way I do. Or at least partly. One day she too will be able to appreciate him as a man, as a protector, as a tender and loving friend. Not that the boys won't, but girls just love in such a different way, I am excited to have someone else to appreciate Jared with.
As you can see, the dress she wore was amazing. It was hand crocheted by dear Auntie Dee Dee. Just gorgeous. Aunt Alissa provided the under-dress to give it a little poof ('cause you have to have poof). And the delicate little bracelet was a gift from my friend Kasey.
What fun to have a beautiful little girl.
Due to technical difficulties, this post is about two months in the making. But I think you will agree it is worth the wait. Jack is a fantastic student. Even last year when I taught Joy School I was amazed at how well he sat and listened and participated in the lessons. Even his Sunday school teachers have told me what a reverent and obedient child he is.
This year in pre-school, not only did he learn to write his name, write all the letters of the alphabet, count to 100, and gain a love (or at least an interest) in coloring, he was able to make friends easily and genuinely enjoyed being there (though he didn't usually want to go).
One of my very favorite parenting moments is seeing him running toward the car from school with a huge grin on his face, and then bubbling over with the news and excitement of school all the way home.
I absolutely can't believe he will be in Kindergarten in the Fall. I know I can tell how much he has changed just in pre-school, I just can't imagine the changes I will see in Kindergarten. I absolutely adore this kid, and I am so proud of him.
Here is a video of his graduation. I would have added more, but somehow in the video editing program I am using the audio and video is not synced and it was extremely time consuming just to get this much. The rest I would have shown was of him dancing a bit to a song, him mouthing the words as other people said their nursery rhymes, and some silly faces.
My very brilliant sister-in-law lets her children have a "friends" birthday party on the years her children are turning an even number. I thought that was a great idea, so, this being an odd year, we decided in lieu of a party to let Jack choose an activity, and because we are softies, allowed him to take one friend. He decided on Kangaroo Zoo (this huge warehouse with about a dozen blow-up bounce-on/slide down toys) with his friend Kolby. We planned to go on Saturday the 19th- the day before his birthday, because then Jared could come (Jack, "Because Saturday is the day that Daddy stays home."). However, the playset construction project took Saturday precedence and so we decided to go on Thursday afternoon instead. When I informe
d Jack of the change in plans he was very upset. Finally, through the tears I discerned the blubbering phrase, "But I wanted Daddy to come!" Once I reassured him that Daddy would be coming, all was well.
it official.
