I don't know why I can't keep up with this blog. I want to as there are so many things going on in our lives, but so many times those things are so discouraging that I can't bring myself to write about them. Our financial situation and Greg's job situation have been the most discouraging over the past three or four years. It doesn't seem to end. In June 2011 when he got a new full-time job working for our county and supervising all construction on county buildings, we thought the end was in sight. Between that job and working 20 hours a week part-time at the hotel, we were able to make ends meet. That lasted a month before his hours were cut at the hotel during their slow season. That went on for four or five months, and then he went back to 20 hours a week.
He took the job at the county which did not pay much because of the opportunity to move up there. However, you have to work for them for a year before you're eligible to apply for other jobs. This June marked one year of employment there for Greg. However, no jobs have opened up 1) that pay more and 2) that Greg would be qualified for. Once again, Greg's hours at the hotel were cut in the slow season. When the slow season ended, rather than getting all his hours back, he got a 33% pay cut and most of his hours back. Now, although he's working almost as much, he's making much less money.
In the meantime, the transmission went out on his truck. Goodbye $900! That more than wiped out or Automobile Maintenance fund. Thankfully, there were other funds in our budget with money that allowed us to pay the bill.
In November, we were getting ready to head to North Carolina for Thanksgiving when Greg checked the tires on the van. The back ones had worn through the the steel core. $400 later, we had new tires on the van. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving with our very dear friends only to have the fuel pump go out on the van before we got out of Raleigh. $1000 and a day of missed work later, we made it home. Thanks to a very generous gift by one of our dear friends, we had the money to pay for that auto repair anyway.
It's so hard not to be discouraged. Greg's boss at the county will turn 65 this July and says he is retiring. IF we can hang on until then and IF Greg could get his job, we'd be in great shape. However, there is no guarantee of that. Please pray for us.
Meanwhile, Landon is finishing up a very tough semester at school and does not think he'll be keeping his 4.0 GPA intact. We knew that was nearly impossible with a Physics degree! Gerren is finishing up his high school courses and will be 95% done in early January. He plans to return to the Air Force recruiter and turn in all his paperwork to enlist. He turns 18 in March and hopes to do basic training before it gets really hot in San Antonio. :)
One more week of school and we're taking three weeks off for Christmas! I can't remember the last time I took more than 2 weeks, but we can afford to do it this year. I need the break!
Thanksgiving pictures to follow in a separate post. I think Kim sent me 390 pictures! :)
1 comment:
We can't afford to take the time off school - but we did it anyway. We needed some down time.
Praying for Greg's employment prospects....Gerren shows great foresight not to be in basic at Lackland in the summer.
As for the keeping the blog up - do it when you can - we'll enjoy whatever you do post. LOL
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