Rachelle D. Alspaugh's Blog, page 50
October 25, 2015
1 hora de música con Marcela Gandara - [Audio Oficial]
Found out today that she is coming to Lake Pointe Church for a free concert this Friday night. I am really looking forward to going. Her music is so beautiful and uplifting, and I know I've sang several of her songs in different Spanish churches throughout my life. If you speak Spanish, click on the video for a solid hour of music. :)
A new audience
About a year ago, I started writing a series of short stories/testimonials on the names of God. While reading the chapter on Focus in the Daniel Plan book, I came across a page that gave ten specific names of God to dwell on. I wrote them down on a notecard and proceeded to write a story every month over a different name of God. I took each one to my writer's group, and their feedback kept me writing more and more until I finished all ten.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/195132596326944266/
Once I finished the tenth one, I said, "Okay, God. I'm not really sure what you want me to do with these now. Compile them together as another book? Look for a magazine to submit them to? Publish them on my blog and link them to Facebook? Print them out on my own, bind them, and give them away?"
Right about that time, I found and joined a group called Community Moms on Facebook because they are Christian moms who blog about Christian topics. The host of the site ended up asking me if I'd like to participate in the group as a monthly writer.
I smiled when I read her invitation because I knew it was a direct answer to my prayer, giving me a new and larger audience to share my stories with. I also love being part of such a great group of women, sharing our own struggles with life and victories in Christ, encouraging one another and helping each other grow spiritually. I encourage you to check out the site by clicking on the button below (or on the sidebar of this blog). You are bound to find a post to uplift you, inspire you, and guide you through whatever you may be going through in life right now.
I will make sure to let you know whenever my own stories on the names of God get published each month.
https://communitymoms.wordpress.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/195132596326944266/Once I finished the tenth one, I said, "Okay, God. I'm not really sure what you want me to do with these now. Compile them together as another book? Look for a magazine to submit them to? Publish them on my blog and link them to Facebook? Print them out on my own, bind them, and give them away?"
Right about that time, I found and joined a group called Community Moms on Facebook because they are Christian moms who blog about Christian topics. The host of the site ended up asking me if I'd like to participate in the group as a monthly writer.
I smiled when I read her invitation because I knew it was a direct answer to my prayer, giving me a new and larger audience to share my stories with. I also love being part of such a great group of women, sharing our own struggles with life and victories in Christ, encouraging one another and helping each other grow spiritually. I encourage you to check out the site by clicking on the button below (or on the sidebar of this blog). You are bound to find a post to uplift you, inspire you, and guide you through whatever you may be going through in life right now.
I will make sure to let you know whenever my own stories on the names of God get published each month.
https://communitymoms.wordpress.com/
October 18, 2015
Slowly coming back to life
I am slowly coming back to life after a long week of being sick. I kept up with all the normal weekly activities, but I found myself in bed by 8 or 9 o'clock every night. I am so thankful for Nyquil this week to knock me out and help me get the rest I desperately needed. October is always a hard month, especially for teachers. Two busy weeks down and two more busy weeks to go.
This coming week holds several extra school activities, two fall carnivals, soccer games, a middle-school football game, and several church activities, including our last Daniel Plan class. I love all that October holds, but like I say every year, I wish we could spread it out a bit rather than try to cram it all into one month. On another note, I'm glad to be feeling better so I can embrace everything the rest of the month holds for our family.
Mike has officially been working at his new job for a month now, and I'm so encouraged to see how much it fulfills him. He walks around with confidence and has a greater sense of purpose. He looks and acts more professional than ever before, and he takes pride in caring for each and every customer he deals with. We also eagerly await his first full paycheck in a couple weeks so we can get back on our feet financially--just in time to celebrate our boys' birthdays.
My memory verse for the month fits quite well after those trying months:
John 13:7 Jesus replied "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
We didn't know where the money would come from to cover the bills, but it always came. I think my own pride and self-sufficient spirit probably made it harder because I wanted to have enough reserve to plan ahead, but God wanted to show me that He would provide for everything we needed at the moment. He never failed us. Not once.
Now that I see what a great fit Goodyear Tire is for Mike, I understand why God closed all the other doors and made us wait.
Remind me of this. please, when I start fretting through the next trial.
This coming week holds several extra school activities, two fall carnivals, soccer games, a middle-school football game, and several church activities, including our last Daniel Plan class. I love all that October holds, but like I say every year, I wish we could spread it out a bit rather than try to cram it all into one month. On another note, I'm glad to be feeling better so I can embrace everything the rest of the month holds for our family.
Mike has officially been working at his new job for a month now, and I'm so encouraged to see how much it fulfills him. He walks around with confidence and has a greater sense of purpose. He looks and acts more professional than ever before, and he takes pride in caring for each and every customer he deals with. We also eagerly await his first full paycheck in a couple weeks so we can get back on our feet financially--just in time to celebrate our boys' birthdays.
My memory verse for the month fits quite well after those trying months:
John 13:7 Jesus replied "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
We didn't know where the money would come from to cover the bills, but it always came. I think my own pride and self-sufficient spirit probably made it harder because I wanted to have enough reserve to plan ahead, but God wanted to show me that He would provide for everything we needed at the moment. He never failed us. Not once.
Now that I see what a great fit Goodyear Tire is for Mike, I understand why God closed all the other doors and made us wait.
Remind me of this. please, when I start fretting through the next trial.
October 13, 2015
Our story in a nutshell
I can hardly believe it, but I finally figured out how to condense our whole adoption "saga"/story into less than 2,000 words. For anyone who wants to read the full length version, please check out my book and book to come. But for those of you that want the gist of it in a nutshell, here it is. May it inspire you to keep holding on to faith that God sees every detail, doesn't miss a tear, and is indeed working out a higher purpose.
https://communitymoms.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/that-box-up-on-the-shelf-by-rachelle-alspaugh/
https://communitymoms.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/that-box-up-on-the-shelf-by-rachelle-alspaugh/
October 11, 2015
46 parent conferences later
I am wiped out.
Parent conference week has always been one of those weeks that wears me out. But ever since I started teaching PreK with double classes and double the amount of parents, it really takes everything I've got.
The last two years, I scheduled conferences in every little bit of time I could find all throughout the month of October (and then again in February). Last year my principal gave me an extra half-day sub. so I could finish more in less time. That helped a lot--until I got sick on the day I scheduled at least 20 in one day. Ugh. It never fails.
So this year my principal gave me a half day sub. AND the district gave us a half-day off just for conferences. I filled those two days with 48 fifteen minute conferences back to back, grateful that I didn't have to stress myself for a whole month. A few of them couldn't make it on their scheduled time, so I squeezed them in a day early. By Friday morning, I could feel myself wearing down. By noon, after the 46th conference (two no-shows), I went home and went straight to bed.
Now I'm sniffling and sneezing all over the place. It never fails.
I promised the boys we'd go to Six Flag this weekend (in lieu of the State Fair). We got there, I rode two rides with Mike and the boys, and then I went back to the car to take a nap. Yep. I was that tired.
(That's me in the front seat!)
I really do love having those conferences with parents. I love getting to know them and learning more about their families. I love giving them ideas of things to practice at home, and I love it especially when both the mom and the dad take off work to come to the conference together. It shows me which parents are dedicated to working with their child, and it also shows me which children are going to need more attention and patience from me. Fall conferences really do set the tone for the whole year between you, the child, and how much the parents will support you.
My favorite conference moment this time was when one of the dad's brought up the fact that he heard I learned Spanish in Argentina. He then proceeded to tell me that he is Argentine. :) It's interesting how God keeps bringing little bits of Argentina back to me, almost 20 years later.
Parent conference week has always been one of those weeks that wears me out. But ever since I started teaching PreK with double classes and double the amount of parents, it really takes everything I've got.
The last two years, I scheduled conferences in every little bit of time I could find all throughout the month of October (and then again in February). Last year my principal gave me an extra half-day sub. so I could finish more in less time. That helped a lot--until I got sick on the day I scheduled at least 20 in one day. Ugh. It never fails.
So this year my principal gave me a half day sub. AND the district gave us a half-day off just for conferences. I filled those two days with 48 fifteen minute conferences back to back, grateful that I didn't have to stress myself for a whole month. A few of them couldn't make it on their scheduled time, so I squeezed them in a day early. By Friday morning, I could feel myself wearing down. By noon, after the 46th conference (two no-shows), I went home and went straight to bed.
Now I'm sniffling and sneezing all over the place. It never fails.
I promised the boys we'd go to Six Flag this weekend (in lieu of the State Fair). We got there, I rode two rides with Mike and the boys, and then I went back to the car to take a nap. Yep. I was that tired.
(That's me in the front seat!)I really do love having those conferences with parents. I love getting to know them and learning more about their families. I love giving them ideas of things to practice at home, and I love it especially when both the mom and the dad take off work to come to the conference together. It shows me which parents are dedicated to working with their child, and it also shows me which children are going to need more attention and patience from me. Fall conferences really do set the tone for the whole year between you, the child, and how much the parents will support you.
My favorite conference moment this time was when one of the dad's brought up the fact that he heard I learned Spanish in Argentina. He then proceeded to tell me that he is Argentine. :) It's interesting how God keeps bringing little bits of Argentina back to me, almost 20 years later.
October 4, 2015
The Daniel Plan
About a year and a half ago, my doctor put me on some medication that literally made me crazy. When some random women told me that specific diet changes could help me without that medication, I started doing some research on those changes.
Basically, the research said to eat whole, real, natural food. So, I switched to all whole grains and started buying a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables. I naturally started to feel a little bit better as each day passed. My body also needed rest after five long, stressful years of trying to bring my son home from Colombia, so I listened in that area, too.
After 3 months of making these changes, summer ended (bummer), and I went back to work and back to a busy life with two teenage boys who are heavily involved in soccer and church activities. About that time, a friend asked if I'd like to go through the Daniel Plan with her and a few other friends. It's a plan that helps you take back your health in five key areas: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially). Sounded good, so we started meeting together to watch a few videos, exercise, and read through a book together.
It changed my life, and truly helped me take back my health in all those areas.
The Daniel Plan book has a section on food that is both overwhelming and fascinating. Overwhelming to see how much junk I'd been putting in my body, but fascinating to see how healing food can be when I choose to eat what God made rather than what man has fabricated and called food. It literally restated everything the research had said about how to naturally heal my body. It should be common sense, but unfortunately, it's not.
It didn't take long for my taste buds to change and even my cravings. Before, I craved carbs, chocolate, or salt at the end of a long or stressful day. I got headaches because I didn't eat a balanced meal or get enough protein, I felt trapped in a brain fog, couldn't think clearly, and didn't have much energy to give back to my family. Running my boys all over caused me a ton of stress rather than enjoyment to see their growth. I saw hardships all around me and dwelt on them constantly. They drained me.
Now that I eat better (still making more changes as I learn), I crave a handful of nuts instead of salty chips. I love dark chocolate, but rarely touch anything else. I would rather have fruit to pick me up than something filled with other sugars. I drink more water than ever before. I eat a full serving of vegetables with my breakfast every single day, and I rarely ever feel hungry.
I rarely get a headache anymore. I have more mental clarity than I know what to do with and can balance a lot more activity than before.
I found gratitude over negativity, and my spirit feels so uplifted. I start my day with gratitude and remind myself of all the blessings in my life before I do anything else each day. It's amazing what a difference it makes in my mood to focus on what's going right rather than on what's going wrong. Little did I know that negative thoughts actually release negative chemicals into your body, so no wonder a focus on gratitude lifts my spirit before I even start my day.
What I love about the Daniel Plan concepts is the science behind it all, scientifically proving that God's way is best. I mean, doesn't it just seem logical that the food He created will make us think, feel, and act more like He intended us to?
I'm so thankful my friend showed me the Daniel Plan, and I'm just as thankful the church gave me the opportunity to lead a new group now on Saturday nights after the service. We're half-way through, and I'm learning way more this time than I did the first time. If you've never heard of it, check it out! You won't regret it.
http://drhyman.com/danielplan/
Basically, the research said to eat whole, real, natural food. So, I switched to all whole grains and started buying a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables. I naturally started to feel a little bit better as each day passed. My body also needed rest after five long, stressful years of trying to bring my son home from Colombia, so I listened in that area, too.
After 3 months of making these changes, summer ended (bummer), and I went back to work and back to a busy life with two teenage boys who are heavily involved in soccer and church activities. About that time, a friend asked if I'd like to go through the Daniel Plan with her and a few other friends. It's a plan that helps you take back your health in five key areas: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially). Sounded good, so we started meeting together to watch a few videos, exercise, and read through a book together.
It changed my life, and truly helped me take back my health in all those areas.The Daniel Plan book has a section on food that is both overwhelming and fascinating. Overwhelming to see how much junk I'd been putting in my body, but fascinating to see how healing food can be when I choose to eat what God made rather than what man has fabricated and called food. It literally restated everything the research had said about how to naturally heal my body. It should be common sense, but unfortunately, it's not.
It didn't take long for my taste buds to change and even my cravings. Before, I craved carbs, chocolate, or salt at the end of a long or stressful day. I got headaches because I didn't eat a balanced meal or get enough protein, I felt trapped in a brain fog, couldn't think clearly, and didn't have much energy to give back to my family. Running my boys all over caused me a ton of stress rather than enjoyment to see their growth. I saw hardships all around me and dwelt on them constantly. They drained me.
Now that I eat better (still making more changes as I learn), I crave a handful of nuts instead of salty chips. I love dark chocolate, but rarely touch anything else. I would rather have fruit to pick me up than something filled with other sugars. I drink more water than ever before. I eat a full serving of vegetables with my breakfast every single day, and I rarely ever feel hungry.
I rarely get a headache anymore. I have more mental clarity than I know what to do with and can balance a lot more activity than before.
I found gratitude over negativity, and my spirit feels so uplifted. I start my day with gratitude and remind myself of all the blessings in my life before I do anything else each day. It's amazing what a difference it makes in my mood to focus on what's going right rather than on what's going wrong. Little did I know that negative thoughts actually release negative chemicals into your body, so no wonder a focus on gratitude lifts my spirit before I even start my day.
What I love about the Daniel Plan concepts is the science behind it all, scientifically proving that God's way is best. I mean, doesn't it just seem logical that the food He created will make us think, feel, and act more like He intended us to?
I'm so thankful my friend showed me the Daniel Plan, and I'm just as thankful the church gave me the opportunity to lead a new group now on Saturday nights after the service. We're half-way through, and I'm learning way more this time than I did the first time. If you've never heard of it, check it out! You won't regret it.
http://drhyman.com/danielplan/
September 27, 2015
Soaking up more blessings
As promised, we are still finding ourselves immersed with blessings after a very trying time. You know that verse in Malachi about not having room to store them? Yep, it's happening again. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
For the last several months, both the fridge and the freezer (and the pantry) ended up empty by Friday evening. Like, literally empty. Everybody had to scrounge around for crumbs for breakfast on Saturday morning while I went to the grocery store to restock for the week.
It's now Sunday afternoon, I haven't made it to the store yet this weekend, but the fridge and freezer still have quite a bit of food in them, and the pantry is overflowing. Every day we still find little goodies from our friends who moved away and gave us their fridge and all the food they had left before moving.
Another friend dropped by the house during the day on Thursday and left a bag of clothes for me and two big giant bags of macaroni. Now I've got cute new shirts to wear every day for the next two weeks!
Mike finally got all the clearance necessary to drive the company truck for work, which he uses to drive to and from work now. A brand-new truck that makes it tight to park all three vehicles in front. (Not complaining). Just in time, too, because something else went out on his own truck, making it un-driveable until he can get the part to fix it. A situation that could have made tomorrow morning extra stressful if he didn't already have the company truck here to drive on Monday morning.
God is so good. And we are so grateful.
I love how the boys are watching and learning more about God through these trials over the last two summers. On Thursday evening, Juan David said, "See, Mom. We just had to wait on God. You were so stressed out, and now Dad has a job, we have a new fridge, we've got plenty of food, and you even have new clothes,"
Waiting on God can be excruciatingly hard some times, but it's always worth it. Mike loves his new job so much, even to the point of saying, "I'm so glad God closed all those other doors and that I didn't end up taking any of those other jobs I applied and interviewed for." This particular job holds more blessing and potential than anything else he even looked at or considered himself qualified for.
Yes, Juan David. We just had to wait on God's perfect timing. I'm sorry for the stress I wore all over my face as the months dragged on. I hope what you learned about God's character in this situation will help you face your own trials the right way.
For the last several months, both the fridge and the freezer (and the pantry) ended up empty by Friday evening. Like, literally empty. Everybody had to scrounge around for crumbs for breakfast on Saturday morning while I went to the grocery store to restock for the week.
It's now Sunday afternoon, I haven't made it to the store yet this weekend, but the fridge and freezer still have quite a bit of food in them, and the pantry is overflowing. Every day we still find little goodies from our friends who moved away and gave us their fridge and all the food they had left before moving.
Another friend dropped by the house during the day on Thursday and left a bag of clothes for me and two big giant bags of macaroni. Now I've got cute new shirts to wear every day for the next two weeks!
Mike finally got all the clearance necessary to drive the company truck for work, which he uses to drive to and from work now. A brand-new truck that makes it tight to park all three vehicles in front. (Not complaining). Just in time, too, because something else went out on his own truck, making it un-driveable until he can get the part to fix it. A situation that could have made tomorrow morning extra stressful if he didn't already have the company truck here to drive on Monday morning.
God is so good. And we are so grateful.
I love how the boys are watching and learning more about God through these trials over the last two summers. On Thursday evening, Juan David said, "See, Mom. We just had to wait on God. You were so stressed out, and now Dad has a job, we have a new fridge, we've got plenty of food, and you even have new clothes,"
Waiting on God can be excruciatingly hard some times, but it's always worth it. Mike loves his new job so much, even to the point of saying, "I'm so glad God closed all those other doors and that I didn't end up taking any of those other jobs I applied and interviewed for." This particular job holds more blessing and potential than anything else he even looked at or considered himself qualified for.
Yes, Juan David. We just had to wait on God's perfect timing. I'm sorry for the stress I wore all over my face as the months dragged on. I hope what you learned about God's character in this situation will help you face your own trials the right way.
September 20, 2015
Putting the hat back on
I've officially put my "Soccer Mom" hat back on for the 2015 Fall Soccer Season. And with Mike working long hours here at the beginning with his new job, their soccer schedules are spreading me a bit thinner than normal. Thus, there may not be near as many blog posts as before. But I will try my best to update my blog on the weekends.
Thankfully, for the most part, I enjoy this role (except when I've had a long day and am tired). During David's practices, I walk with another one of the moms that I have known for several years. During Juan David's practices, I get to hang out with David and do different stuff than we would at home. During the games, I get to take pictures and thank God that I have two healthy, active boys that are passionate about the same thing. Both games make me teary-eyed. David's bring tears to my eyes because I realize how much he's grown and how long his legs are now. Juan David's games bring tears to my eyes because I'm just so thankful to be his mom.
See what I mean about those long legs?
Oh, and I forgot to mention that David decided to give football a try, too, so he is playing football for his school soccer team. Here's a pic of his first game. He is playing Running back and Starting Kick Return (whatever those mean-- Lol.).
Thankfully, for the most part, I enjoy this role (except when I've had a long day and am tired). During David's practices, I walk with another one of the moms that I have known for several years. During Juan David's practices, I get to hang out with David and do different stuff than we would at home. During the games, I get to take pictures and thank God that I have two healthy, active boys that are passionate about the same thing. Both games make me teary-eyed. David's bring tears to my eyes because I realize how much he's grown and how long his legs are now. Juan David's games bring tears to my eyes because I'm just so thankful to be his mom.
See what I mean about those long legs?Oh, and I forgot to mention that David decided to give football a try, too, so he is playing football for his school soccer team. Here's a pic of his first game. He is playing Running back and Starting Kick Return (whatever those mean-- Lol.).
Doubly blessed
About a month after Mike lost his last job, one of our close friends lost his job, too. Both of our families struggled through the summer months, not always knowing how certain bills would get paid, not able to spend money on vacations, and frustrated at how long the job search seemed to take. We also watched simultaneously as God provided for both of our families in very similar ways, which led us to grow even closer as friends.
Mike finally got offered the job at Goodyear within days of our friend getting offered a job in Maryland. Though sad to see them leave, we are so excited to see how God also worked out so many details in their favor and very obviously orchestrated a move for them out East.
The night before they left, just as their house officially sold, they gave us their refrigerator (much bigger, better, and nicer than the one we had). What we didn't expect was all the good, healthy food it came stocked with! :)
Not only did we get a new fridge, but it helped us save money on groceries as we still wait on Mike's first paycheck. Doubly blessed.
[image error]
Mike finally got offered the job at Goodyear within days of our friend getting offered a job in Maryland. Though sad to see them leave, we are so excited to see how God also worked out so many details in their favor and very obviously orchestrated a move for them out East.
The night before they left, just as their house officially sold, they gave us their refrigerator (much bigger, better, and nicer than the one we had). What we didn't expect was all the good, healthy food it came stocked with! :)
Not only did we get a new fridge, but it helped us save money on groceries as we still wait on Mike's first paycheck. Doubly blessed.
[image error]
Showers of blessing
God did it for us again. After a big loss and four and a half long months of not knowing what lie ahead for us financially, we have finally arrived to the blessings that, of course, exceeded all of our expectations.
Mike started working this past week as a Commercial Tire Sales Representative for Goodyear Tire. If you knew Mike 20 years ago. you'd know just how much knowledge and experience he already carries in this field. We listed his experience in the tire field on his resume, but since he's been working in the maintenance field for the last 12 years, that's the main area of employment he was looking for.
Then, out of the blue, Goodyear Tire noticed his resume on a job website, contacted him, and asked him to apply for their Tire Sales position at a new store that just opened this summer. He did, and they interviewed him and offered him the job that very day! (We then had to work through several gliches that kept delaying his start date, but he finally started to work this week). In addition to being employed in a field he's already good at, the pay is better than anything else he had even applied for!
(Here's an excerpt from a story I recently wrote about it:
Give him a storyAfter four months of my husband’s unemployment, each day drug on with no end in sight. I had no idea how long it could take to find a simple job. By now, he was ready to apply for anything, no matter how little income it brought in. “If it gets you insurance and pays more than $0, we’re still ahead of where we are now.” I know it wasn’t the most encouraging thing I could have said to my husband, but we’d come to a point of having to face reality. When unemployment hit our home, we arrogantly assumed another job would come quickly and easily. After the first month, I began to pray specifically for Mike’s next job, and I thanked God daily for the answer still to come. “Bless the work of my husband’s hands. May the job You provide him fulfill him and earn him respect quickly. Let it be close to home and provide enough to cover our current living expenses plus two upcoming needs over the next year. But, God, more than anything, may the job You provide him come with a story, proving that it came from You alone.” Now four months later, after spending hours upon end filling out applications online, using up tank after tank of gas driving to countless interviews, and meeting up with random people all over the area to give them a resume, he still came home each night without a job. “Yes, your resume looks good. But there are still 30 applicants ahead of you for this position.” “You’ve got a lot of great experience, but we need someone with this specific certification that you don’t have.” “You are a bit overqualified.” “You’re highly qualified, but we can’t hire another person for this position right now.” “We really like you. If we don’t find someone else more qualified, we’ll give you a call.” “You’re in our top five out of all 75 applicants.” Yet day after day passed, and the phone didn’t ring. I questioned God. Why wouldn’t he just give Mike a job? I know He provided enough to sustain us over the last four months for a reason. But after hearing a long series on money management and finances at church, it felt quite uncomfortable deciding whether to pull money out of retirement or college savings just to make ends meet until a job finally came around. “God, I do trust You, and I know You will continue to provide. I know You are not going to let our boat sink. But please just tell us what to do in the meantime while Mike is not working.” The more frugal we tried to live, the more our daily expenses seemed to multiply. All four of our pets became infested with fleas. Two of the animals got sick enough to need medical attention. Both of our vehicles needed several hundred dollars in repairs. Our electric bill skyrocketed over the hot summer months. Medical insurance through the government cost us more than we’d ever had to pay before. We prayed daily, begging for wisdom on how to handle our finances. God provided, unexpected people gave money to sustain us, but I selfishly just wanted my husband to go back to work. It’s uncomfortable to be the one in need. I hate to admit that I started to question Mike’s interviewing skills, while at the same time I wondered if I didn’t do a good enough job drafting his resume for him. Maybe I didn’t make him look marketable or emphasize his strengths enough. Or perhaps God took my bold prayers seriously and therefore wouldn’t give Mike a job that didn’t fit my specific prayer.Summer ended, and I went back to work. Less than a week into the new school year, Mike sent me a text around mid-morning. “I just got an e-mail from a tire company. They saw my resume online and asked me to apply for their tire sales position.” Tire sales? Mike worked for a local tire company from the age of sixteen up until right before David was born, now fourteen years ago. Although he currently sought a job in a maintenance field, we knew he held a lot of experience and knowledge with tires. Later that morning, I got another text. “They want me to come for an interview this afternoon.” Then late that afternoon, I got a phone call. “The interview went really well. They offered me the job!”
A job that will fulfill him and earn him respect quickly because of his prior experience. A job close to home, offering more income than any position he applied for over the last four months. An employer that sought him out.A job that came with a story.
Mike started working this past week as a Commercial Tire Sales Representative for Goodyear Tire. If you knew Mike 20 years ago. you'd know just how much knowledge and experience he already carries in this field. We listed his experience in the tire field on his resume, but since he's been working in the maintenance field for the last 12 years, that's the main area of employment he was looking for.
Then, out of the blue, Goodyear Tire noticed his resume on a job website, contacted him, and asked him to apply for their Tire Sales position at a new store that just opened this summer. He did, and they interviewed him and offered him the job that very day! (We then had to work through several gliches that kept delaying his start date, but he finally started to work this week). In addition to being employed in a field he's already good at, the pay is better than anything else he had even applied for!
(Here's an excerpt from a story I recently wrote about it:
Give him a storyAfter four months of my husband’s unemployment, each day drug on with no end in sight. I had no idea how long it could take to find a simple job. By now, he was ready to apply for anything, no matter how little income it brought in. “If it gets you insurance and pays more than $0, we’re still ahead of where we are now.” I know it wasn’t the most encouraging thing I could have said to my husband, but we’d come to a point of having to face reality. When unemployment hit our home, we arrogantly assumed another job would come quickly and easily. After the first month, I began to pray specifically for Mike’s next job, and I thanked God daily for the answer still to come. “Bless the work of my husband’s hands. May the job You provide him fulfill him and earn him respect quickly. Let it be close to home and provide enough to cover our current living expenses plus two upcoming needs over the next year. But, God, more than anything, may the job You provide him come with a story, proving that it came from You alone.” Now four months later, after spending hours upon end filling out applications online, using up tank after tank of gas driving to countless interviews, and meeting up with random people all over the area to give them a resume, he still came home each night without a job. “Yes, your resume looks good. But there are still 30 applicants ahead of you for this position.” “You’ve got a lot of great experience, but we need someone with this specific certification that you don’t have.” “You are a bit overqualified.” “You’re highly qualified, but we can’t hire another person for this position right now.” “We really like you. If we don’t find someone else more qualified, we’ll give you a call.” “You’re in our top five out of all 75 applicants.” Yet day after day passed, and the phone didn’t ring. I questioned God. Why wouldn’t he just give Mike a job? I know He provided enough to sustain us over the last four months for a reason. But after hearing a long series on money management and finances at church, it felt quite uncomfortable deciding whether to pull money out of retirement or college savings just to make ends meet until a job finally came around. “God, I do trust You, and I know You will continue to provide. I know You are not going to let our boat sink. But please just tell us what to do in the meantime while Mike is not working.” The more frugal we tried to live, the more our daily expenses seemed to multiply. All four of our pets became infested with fleas. Two of the animals got sick enough to need medical attention. Both of our vehicles needed several hundred dollars in repairs. Our electric bill skyrocketed over the hot summer months. Medical insurance through the government cost us more than we’d ever had to pay before. We prayed daily, begging for wisdom on how to handle our finances. God provided, unexpected people gave money to sustain us, but I selfishly just wanted my husband to go back to work. It’s uncomfortable to be the one in need. I hate to admit that I started to question Mike’s interviewing skills, while at the same time I wondered if I didn’t do a good enough job drafting his resume for him. Maybe I didn’t make him look marketable or emphasize his strengths enough. Or perhaps God took my bold prayers seriously and therefore wouldn’t give Mike a job that didn’t fit my specific prayer.Summer ended, and I went back to work. Less than a week into the new school year, Mike sent me a text around mid-morning. “I just got an e-mail from a tire company. They saw my resume online and asked me to apply for their tire sales position.” Tire sales? Mike worked for a local tire company from the age of sixteen up until right before David was born, now fourteen years ago. Although he currently sought a job in a maintenance field, we knew he held a lot of experience and knowledge with tires. Later that morning, I got another text. “They want me to come for an interview this afternoon.” Then late that afternoon, I got a phone call. “The interview went really well. They offered me the job!”
A job that will fulfill him and earn him respect quickly because of his prior experience. A job close to home, offering more income than any position he applied for over the last four months. An employer that sought him out.A job that came with a story.
