Friday, August 20, 2010

Some good news

I have been working at least two jobs for almost three years now. At one point I was working two jobs and going to school all at the same time. I'm not complaining, just stating. I knew when we moved out here that I would have to work really hard so that Michael could go to school and get good grades. I felt it pay off as he went to school. I could see his work and see how much time and effort he put into it and knowing that he didn't have to juggle work on top of that made me feel really good. Also, when I've seen the several reels that he has put together (mhardydesign.com) I felt so good knowing that he could put all of his energy and effort into it without having to worry about a job. Then, when we went to his graduation and he had the opportunity to give a speech because he was salutatorian I felt good because I knew he earned it and he did it because he didn't have to worry about a job. Finally, he had the opportunity to go and spend time with his parents for just about a month. I knew all three of them needed that time and I felt good knowing that he could do it because he didn't have a job.

I have to be honest though...


I am exhausted. It is really hard to support a family with such a low income and two jobs. I'm constantly tired, I'm always working, and I don't get to spend the time with Michael that I want. Every time I do our budget my stress level rises knowing that we just aren't cutting it. Knowing that we are drowning in our bills and on top on that student loans are coming due is making me crazy. I've seen a million miracles and find it amazing that we have a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, and gas to put into it. We have managed to eat out, see movies, and have fun. Even when it didn't make sense we have always made the most important bills on time and those not so important bills have not bothered us too much with the late/non payments and it's been a blessing. There was one point where we didn't have an electricity bill for six months for no reason whatsoever. I have tried to be patient with my hard struggles with money. I have tried to count my blessings outside of money and focus on the important things in life. I'm far from perfect, though, and even though money is not important in the eternal perspective it can be kind of/really important in this mortal life. So, I've cried, wished, and prayed for a break. I've always received a break even if it was temporary.

Point of my story...

The biggest break that I will ever receive was given to me today. Michael was offered a job. Yes, Michael is officially employed! He is a online course designer (sort of, I can't really explain because I don't completely understand) at UC Berkeley. He starts Sept. 1st. We will have a good salary, free vision, free dental, and medical benefits. I started to cry when I heard him say, "Ya, of course I'll take it." We have a lot of plans to help us pay off debt so that when we start a family and I'm not working anymore I'll be able to be a mom with out much debt holding us down. Also, in January, I'm going to go down to one job. ONE JOB!!! I won't have to worry about juggling two and working my little buns off.

If you are one of my friends who doesn't believe in God or if believing in miracles is hard for you then read closely. Michael and I were reluctant to go on the Pioneer Trek we went on a couple of months ago. Our bishop told us we should go. After we had decided to go we ended our meeting with a prayer. In the prayer the bishop prayed that going on this trek would help Michael find a job. On the trek we meet the guy that Michael will be working for. Michael has had the Berkeley job offer, got some free lance work, and was offered a job at our local channel 5 station, part time, that he might work for a little while to help with bills. Our state has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and Michael found a job. Michael has only been graduated for a few months in a field where 400 people were recently laid off and he found a job. All the jobs that he was offered(including free lance work), the people sought out him.

All of this is proof to me that the Lord truly knows us. He loves us and works miracles for those that work hard to do good. I will forever be in debt to the Lord for this miracle.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

High School

I was talking about high school today at work. I have mixed emotions about high school. I don't really know if I liked high school or not. I had some fun times, ok I had a lot...A LOT A LOT of fun times but there were some crappy times in there. Anyway, it's funny that I was talking about it because I then came home to find my friend's blog all about her high school boyfriends and I was mentioned because we were BEST FRIENDS in high school so I was involved in some of her stories. These stories made me smile and helped me remember some good times. Also, through her blog I felt inspired to write about some good times from high school.

For starters I hung out with quite a few of different groups in high school. My freshman year I hung out with a whole bunch of punkers. My two best friends were Kayla and Kristie. We spent the majority of our time listening to Blink 182, Green Day, Sum 41, Weezer, and others like that. We got really good at sluffing school, getting in snow ball fights, jumping puddles, eating fries and shakes at McDonalds, sneaking out, liking boys, and a million other things that I can't list because it would take all day and you would get bored. They can always Lean on Me.

My Sophomore year was the year I really got into band. I spent most of my time with Rosie and Rachel. We would sit and play our instruments. We would try to find ways to amuse ourselves with the no money we had. We hung out with boys with cars and money. I listened to Simple Plan, Blink 182, a lot of jazz, and whatever was popular on the radio. *Stacy's Mom has got it going on!* We went to Pasadena and marched in the Rose Bowl Parade AND the Christmas Parade at Disneyland. "You bet your bippy" we had a good time.

My junior year was the year that I would go back to over all others. That is if it was either going back to high school or something crappy because I don't really want to ever go back even if it was good times. *Please don't be offended if you are not mentioned.* My junior year I was friends with Toni and Chelsey. I was working at Dairy Queen and attempting to graduate early. I hung out with a lot of red necks with big trucks, sexy trucks, and listened to a lot of country music and for a short amount of time we got into Gloria Gaynor. Let's just say I will survive. I could write about a million sentences and I'm pretty sure I would make Chelsey and Toni laugh so hard that they would pee their pants. "Be a tree. There are no trees in Wendy's." "Find Toni, I need Toni. She is wear green pants and a red shirt." Possibly the other way around. We did a lot of extremely crazy things. Most of which I choose not to talk about. I want to make it clear that it's not because I am ashamed of my past or that I don't want to remember it. It's not because I don't want to "blow a cover" or act like I'm something I'm not. It's because I have simply moved on. Most of my good memories come from my junior year. I still smile when I hear most country songs and I'm taken back to some really good times.

My senior year was a blur. I lost myself in a whirlwind of awfulness. I don't really feel like publicly posting all the things that were drama in my life so let's just say I was going through some hard times. I hung out with Emily, Kristen, Ashley, and Kristie. (a different one from my freshman year) We were absolutely nuts. I really think that we actually thought we were invincible. But through my senior year I learned more about myself than I ever will.

Even though I would never go back to high school I'm glad I went through it. I'm glad I learned what I did and I'm glad it has made me me. I'm a pretty cool person.