You know how many people will send out a newsletter with their Christmas cards giving an update on how their family is doing? Well 2011 was a very long busy year for us... and some how it's already gone! Anyways.... Here's a newsletter to all you bloggers from us:
In December 2010, Jared's remodeling/repair job with Papa came to a stand still. No body had the money to be hiring for any jobs to get done. So Jared was on unemployment and looking for a job. After lots and lots of searching... Jared was hired by McDonald's in April.
In May my nanny job disappeared when Reed was put in daycare. I was given no warning that Reed would ever be put in daycare. It was a very difficult time for Jared and I for my nanny job was our main source of income. We were already spending sooo much more each month then what was coming in. So that same day I was let go, we applied for food stamps. Those food stamps were SUCH a blessing! Then no matter how tight things were, I knew we could afford our groceries.
A few weeks later I started a job at McDonald's as well. We never got the same schedule so we were crazy busy. Plus whenever Jared wasn't working at McDonald's... He was often helping mow lawns with a friend, or working for our neighbor roofing, or the occasional odd job with Papa. A lot of people helped us out during that time and we made it through.
In July Walmart called Jared with a job offer and he left McDonald's. He is currently still working at Walmart unloading trucks from 4pm-1am four days a week. For a few weeks during the summer he would work that shift at Walmart and then get up and work 7am-12pm on a roof with our neighbor. Jared's a very hard worker. I had to convince him to start taking naps in the middle of the day to help his sleep schedule out. How he managed I'm not sure.... But I'm very thankful he was able to work both jobs back then.
Later in July I got a new nanny job! Working for Mrs. Shannon a first grade teacher with a precious little girl, Blakely. Since my job would become full time in August, I left McDonald's. Blakely has a few little medical problems, and has down syndrome, so her mom doesn't want to put her in daycare. She has speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy that each come twice a week. With my experience with high maintenance kids (my brother Sean)... I feel God wanted me for this job.
With Jared's Walmart job and my new nanny job, we now make enough money that our food stamps have been taken away. But just in time for that, Jared paid off his truck! So now we have the money from the truck payments to help with groceries!
In October I filled out a form for Financial Assistance with Family Planning. And a couple weeks later I got a Medicaid card in the mail! We've been trying to have a kid for a while.... three years... But have never conceived. Since I had never had a gynecological exam before, I was told that's where I should start for finding out why. So I made an appointment with Dr. Meriden.
At the beginning of December was my ob/gyn appointment. I was a horrible nervous wreck and was crying with nerves before Dr. Meriden even entered her office. But she was very understanding, and things went well. She says I look healthy and normal, but with three years of trying and never having conceived.... She feels something is definitely up. So she gave us a list of tests she recommends we have done before we get back to her. I am currently looking up where we can have these tests done and for what prices. Hopefully we'll be started with those tests in January or early February.
Later in December Jared got a phone call from Papa Lee telling him that Steve, the plumber they often worked with, wanted to interview him for a job! Jared called him back the next day, got an interview that same day, and was told to come in to work the next week! Things have been going well so far for Jared with Steve. Jared has now officially put in his two weeks notice at Walmart, and should be finishing that up around the 11th of January. This plumbing job will be a full time job! He'll be working 8-5 weekdays. Very much looking forward to him starting this new schedule.
In other news... This year Jared and I have made some friends!!!!!!! Jared made a friend, Jacob, at Walmart. I don't know him very well, but from what I've seen Jacob's a pretty great guy. And we have made friends with Jon & Cherish!!! We've known Jon for about 3 years, but never took much time to really become friends with him. But then in April he got married! And right after he got married to Cherish he wanted us over for dinner. And we all clicked! It was awesome! Jon and Cherish are now are closest friends down here and they are amazing!!!! They care so much about us.... we've forgotten what it's like to have such good friends near by. *happy tears* And through Jon & Cherish we are in the process of making even more friends! Which I am very excited about. =)
Oh! And we are also in the process of changing churches. We have found a new church family that feels much more like a family to us. And our views are very much the same. And they listen! The like to know what we think. We had been going to the same church since we moved down here. It's the church Jared's grandparent's go to. So mostly out of convenience of not having to search for our own church.... That's where we went. But after 3 years... we didn't feel like we had a church family. Now that we've started going to this new church... It's amazing! We've forgotten what it's like to have a church family, and now I think we have one.
In conclusion... My 2011 was a busy/ difficult/ trying/ adventurous/ stressful year. But emotionally and spiritually I feel I am in such a better place now than I was before the year happened. I know both areas in my life still need a lot of work..... But I'm sure glad things are improving.