When you least expect it

It is sometimes totally unexpected the way prayers are answered. And maybe I am jumping the gun in assuming this is an answer, so let's just say this is a possible answer that we are pursuing. Scott is a used car salesman, and enjoys what he does alot. It is the best job he has ever had. We weren't praying for a new job, we were simply praying for him to sell more cars. He currently makes an hourly wage, and an extra hundred every car he sells. This has been nice in the slow months because at least we could keep our noses above water. However, the major influx of selling that we were told would come. . . hasn't. So we have been praying that the Lord would send people our way who needed a vehicle.

So yesterday, Scott got a phone call. It was the owner of a major dealership in town, and he offered Scott a job. He remembered Scott from his Daily News days, and we had run into him at the showing of Eragon back in December. He remembered that Scott worked at the small dealership, and so he called there looking for him. Of course, this is very flattering, and the offer is very tempting. The small dealership Scott works for isn't doing enough business right now to support two salesman, and the other salesman there is a really good guy. Perhaps his family is praying for more sales too.

We never thought that a possible answer would be to move to a different dealership. He would be selling new and used cars, and his clientele would be a totally different market than the one he currently sells to. It is a wider group.

We are looking into it today to see what it all entails.

Allergies? There is Hope!

Today I began a series of treatments that will free my system of allergies. I am totally thrilled about it! I can eat wheat again without guilt! (well, soon anyways.) The chiropractor that my dad shares space with, a Dr. Taylor, uses something called NAET to help with your allergies.

The theory is that your brain reacts negatively to energy fields of the things you are allergic to, creating a blockage and starting all the negative reactions. What NAET does is reset your brain so that it doesn't react badly to the energy. So far I have heard of amazing results. But you can only do a bit at a time, and he does them in a certain order. I didn't get very far. Apparently I am allergic to all things fowl. . . or I was until today. So for 25 hours I have to avoid eggs, chicken, feathers, etc. This gives time for the brain to reset and keep the new programing. The funny thing is that my stomach, kidneys, small and large intestines, spleen, and bladder all had bad reactions to the chicken. It really wasn't that much of a shock, I have always felt icky after eating eggs straight, like an omelet or something. I had to eat them with toast (which I am also allergic to) so it counter balanced it.

So, I will keep you updated on my progress, and let you know if it really works! The treatment is fast, safe, pain free, and can even be done on infants. When I am done, we will start on Danny, and just kick any allergies before they have a chance!

Nate Update

Elder Logan left the MTC this morning for Everett, Washington. He was able to call the family for a few minutes while he waited for his plane. He was so excited to go. He talked about how cool the MTC was, and urged everyone to write him. He had told people before he left that he didn't care if they wrote him, but he says that now he has changed his mind. He said that he thought he was prepared to go on his mission, and even though he worked hard for it, found there was so much to learn.

I am proud of him, and look forward to giving more updates in the future.

Guys Night

My husband is playing Halo right now with his friends at our home. It is funny to listen to them shriek, laugh, exclaim, crow, sigh, etc. The only reason to own an XBox, Halo is the next best thing to Paintball when it comes to male bonding. In fact, it has become the only thing my husband and his friends want to do when they get together over the winter time. My friend Paola got board games for Christmas that we still haven't tried because every time we meet up, our husbands beg to shoot each other up on an alien landscape.

I personally am not much into Halo. I am only half decent at it when I am in the flyer thingy picking people off, but then I am a bright purple target for the rocket launchers, and don't last long. When all his friends are gone, and Scott wants to play, he still manages to coax me into a little match. Mostly, I am just a moving target, I am getting better though, which means I am a faster moving target than I used to be. I have managed to kill him a total of 4 times, and I cannot even begin to count the amount of times I have died. Scott also plays against Danny, gave him a Profile and everything. Danny knows the difference between an active controller and a dud. He even manages to move his character around while gumming the buttons. Ah, the togetherness a little technology makes.

Do Not Starve Yourself, it Isn't Good For You!

I have a disturbing confession to make. I have been starving myself, not of food or affection but of spending money. . . on me. I am the saver in our family. It scares me to see our bank account dwindle. In times of high financial stress I don't even like to go grocery shopping. (The funny thing is that when I don't go grocery shopping, we eat out . . . thus spending more than we should, it is a vicious circle.)

My Darling Husband is the spender, but he allows me to tell him when he can and cannot spend. He knows it is hard for me, so he tends to put his requests in advance, so that I can plan, prepare, and approve. He even accepts it when I say no (although I never really say no, just "not now?") I put off buying a new iron for nearly two years.

Because I put off buying things we need, when money comes in I already have a long Priority List of what it needs to be spent on. I always put things I need or want at the very bottom of the Priority List. I can always make do just a little longer so that Scott, Danny, our home, our car, etc. can get what they need/want. I will even put off what I want for family's birthdays, Christmas, and desperate situations.

After everything is met, and I am ready to get something for me, I will put off even more on the "Just in Case" clause in my brain. "Just in Case" we need it for something unknown and unexpected in the near future, and something always comes up.

This has been building for a long time, and lately I have found myself becoming frustrated easily. Any unnecessary expenditure that puts me out a little further, grates my spirit. I don't like it, so I bottle it up. I tell myself I am being totally foolish and ridiculous (which I am, I know it) and I swallow my pride and let it go. Rinse, Repeat.

My Sweetheart tries to help me. He tells me to get something just for me. He even sets money aside for me to do it. When that happens, my little selfish side that I usually ignore starts getting excited. But I am not used to listening to it, so the voice is hard to hear. The Priority List still speaks loudly. It can take days of thinking about what I want, sifting through the many desires of my heart to find what I want the MOST! (I don't want to waste it on something temporary.) Often by the time I have settled into a few things, the money I had set aside for myself is needed elsewhere, and the opportunity lost. Why? Because I let it go. Rather than put off something else and being firm, I give up what I want and get just a little more tired of doing it.

My Grandfather was a great believer in Pocket Money. He knew that we each need to spend a little bit on ourselves, so he gave it a name and budgeted for it. Whenever I went to his house, he would slip me a $20 bill and say "this is your pocket money, spend it on whatever you want." The key with pocket money is consistency. We do not eat once a week or even once a month, that would be bad. We eat three meals a day. I am not saying we need 3 twenty dollar bills a day, but I think a little bit for ourselves from every paycheck would be nice. I just have to change my mindset and guard that little bit from my Priority List with a passion. My Husband and My Grandfather are right, you need to give to yourself too!

The Quiet will End Shortly

Daniel is currently asleep, and it has turned into his long nap of the day. Having slept for over an hour now, I know the time will soon arrive when wakefulness will disturb my present calm. It has been a nice, peaceful hour. I have been able to be alone with my thoughts, rare nowadays, and rearrange a little of my mindset.

The Teen-Age Agenda

My brother, Ryan, is staying with us for a few days while the rest of our family is in California for a cousin's wedding. I had forgotten how busy teenagers are. Since getting married, my schedule has been my own. I flit here and there some days, but mostly I relax in the comfortable aura of my home. Scott entering the door after work tends to be the highlight of the day. And suddenly my little 16 year old brother comes over, and it brings back memories of when I was that age.

He has dance classes, drama, math, goes out with friends, and has all sort of random activities. Yesterday he was in classes from noon until 6pm. Today he had seminary at 8am, and I probably won't see him till dinner, and he is talking about going on a date tonight. Tomorrow is his fun day, and he is planning basketball, ultimate frisbee, and if the date doesn't work out tonight, he is thinking about doing it tomorrow. Midst all of this, he has asked me for help with his math, he has to pass of his job at home, and get some sleep in too. Of course, teenagers don't really need sleep, they can go without it for a week and then sleep all day Sunday (minus church of course.) No wonder we give 16 year olds licenses, it makes adults tired just thinking about taking them everywhere. Oh yea, and he has Drivers Ed too.

The last time I was grounded by my parents, I was never home. My parents never grounded me from legitimate classes or anything church related. I just couldn't go to a friends house afterwards. That week I wasn't home at all. Between church activities and classes, I spent one night home that week. Insane. If I had that schedule now, I would probably die of stress.

Ummmm . . . .

I have forgotten what I wanted to say. I have been waiting for the site to let me on all day, and now I don't remember what I was so excited to share. Oh well, I will remember later. Meanwhile, Danny is learning balance. He is standing for 5 seconds and then slowly lowering himself to the ground. His vocabulary is expanding . . . he makes new sounds every day. He now says mama and dada to the correct parent, and he uses his vocal range to let you know what he wants. It is fun to recognize his various noises and translate them into english.

The Missing Member of our Family

Nathan has been in the MTC for three days now. It is strange, adapting to his being gone. Ryan is having a hard time, Nathan was his best friend. He has been a little depressed. Chrystal didn't quite realize what going on a mission meant. She asked Mom on thursday where Nathan was and when he was coming back. It really shocked her when Mom told her she would be 11 when Nathan returned.

We are all going to miss him. He added so much fun and laughter.

Which Dream?

The dream I a currently working on is an important one to Scott and I. We are working towards finding a home of our own. What this requires is a passive income that replaces not only what we make managing apartments, but will also cover a rent payment and utilities. I do not want to leave our good situation here, unless we can make up the income in another way. At the same time, I really don't want to manage an apartment while I am pregnant. . . again. I did really well with Danny, but after he was born a lot of things fell through the cracks. It took me a couple of months to get back into the swing of things. I can only imagine what being pregnant with a toddler, or a newborn and a toddler will do. No, I am not currently pregnant. . . so I am trying to figure things out now while I still can.