Cuttrell 2, Jobs 0

Well, I guess there's some news to update.

As some of you know, Friday, October 31, I was informed that my contract with my current employer was not going to be renewed. I was assured that I had done nothing wrong, they were pleased with my performance, etc, etc. I have until November 14th to work here, then I am done. Do you hear God in this?

This is the job that I have been unhappy with for several months. I had discussed this with my bosses several times, as a grown up, not whining or complaining, but discussing what changes may improve morale here in the clinic. Laying off the PA was not on my list of things to do to improve morale.

So, on to the God part.

I prayed and prayed (and prayed more) for God's hand to be present in all this hoo-haa that is my current life. Monday AM, I asked God for a break. There's been so much pressure, and to walk back into a clinic that laid me off was mentally killing me. Monday AM, a friend from church came to me to ask if I would accompany her and her daughter to a conference, all expenses paid, to chaperone her daughter (who is a good kid, and I like hanging out with her anyway).

Where is the conference? Disney World.

That's right, the mouse with the most.

I leave four days after my last day at work for four days at WDW. While I am there, I will see another family there who have adopted J and me as surrogate children and get to hang with them for a while too.

It gets better.

Jeremy and I have decided (and I can't tell anyone this in person, it makes me cry) that we will put resumes out wherever. My very scary idea about getting a job outside of H-town is that we will have trouble selling our house. The market isn't great, but it's not terrible. I was telling God that's what I was most scared of. So, Saturday, less than 24 hours after learning my contract would not be renewed, a friend of a friend offered to buy my house. Sight unseen. Just hearing me describe it on the phone.

Wow.

I insisted that they at least come over and look at the house. They will be coming over next week to look. We have made it clear that we're not ready to sell just yet, but if they are interested after they see it, we'll offer the house to them first. And guess what they're preapproved for? Yep. Very, very close to what we're asking.

Does it get better? Of course.

We both have let go of the bitterness and anger that we felt initially. How can we be mad at someone who was just doing what God wanted? If it wasn't handled just the way it should have been, I can learn from that. Once I personally let go of the anger, God reached blessings into my life. I had asked for a few considerations, and was told, unequivocally, that there would be no considerations. No reason was given to me, but it was clear that they wanted as little to do with me as possible.

After the anger was gone, guess what? My boss came to me and apologized for his behavior and actions. He gave me everything I asked for. I told him that I didn't want him doing anything he was uncomfortable with, but he assured me he would be okay with what I had asked.

There are a few things that have gotten me through the nights.
1. If God wanted me to work here, there would be no way I could leave. If God wants me to leave, there's no way I could stay. I'm done here, and it's all in God's hands.

2. God promises me strength and faith for today. Not tomorrow, today. When I am laying in an emotional fetal position and thinking "I don't know how I can go to work tomorrow and face these people," I am reminded that I don't have to have faith for tomorrow. I will get that strength tomorrow from God. And he definitely provides. But enough for today.

3. Ralph said this Sunday and it stuck with me. If the apostles had known on Friday that Sunday was coming, would the joy have been so deep? Would they have grown? Would it have been as meaningful? We are definitely on Friday. But Sunday is coming. And it's gonna be cool.

We are praying fervently for Jeremy to get a job to replace our incomes. We want this prayer prayed specifically. Please put us on all the prayer lists you can. God is using this situation to allow both of us to grow enormously. We will keep you up to date on what's going on. It's gonna be a wild ride. I wish I was more patient, but God works in his time, not mine, and it will come when we're ready.

Keep praying!

Update on AB

Several of you have asked for updated photos of AB. OF COURSE, we took pictures while we were there last weekend. Here are several of my favorite:

The face I love:

Special time with Aunt D:

Uncle J has the touch:

Open Letter

This is an open letter to those who blew by me on my way to San Antonio this afternoon:

To All of You Who Must Have Missed the Speed Limit Signs:

I am in the right lane because I go 70 in a 70. Please do not zip up behind me and flash your lights. Where would you like me to move to get out of your way? The shoulder? No, thank you. I will piddle along at my middle aged pace in a futile attempt to obey the law (mostly) and drive at a safe rate of speed. And save gas.

So please pass me by in the left lane. Wave at me when I let you in, nicely, after you got close enough to lick the chrome off my bumper. I am patient and long suffering, I suppose. And I am not a rule breaker, including speeding.

And I think that I'm a safer driver than you. But just a little.

Daesha

Quilt Giveaway

Go to the link on the right hand side of my blog to enter to win this beautiful quilt!

When Did That Happen? And Other Musings

This is my Five for Friday, but I needed to ask a question of myself, and hopefully get an answer. Hmmm.

1. I think I'm getting to be an adult. At least, I am more adult than not these days. I actually had a converstaion about fiber in breakfast cereal last week. And said it was awesome. *sigh* But the cereal itself is really, really good, is that a mitigating circumstance? FiberOne Autumn Harvest is worth picking up. Yummy and full of fiber. Awesome. *sigh*

2. At what point does one just throw in the towel and resign? Probably when one has another job lined up, for starters. Some really petty things are happening at work. When my manager came to me to discuss how these things would be impacting me (and only me), she shrugged when I asked her what she wanted me to do, how she wanted me to work. Shrugged! Yeah, dusting off the resume. Perhaps.

3. I get to see AB next weekend. I am so excited. Of course more pictures to come from that trip. I made all my Bunko friends endure photos of her last night. Thanks O and K for the cute photo album. I get almost as many compliments on that as I do of her.

4. I can confidentally say that I can fix and serve 150 servings of spaghetti with bread and cookies. That is the equivalent of 5 of the LARGE pans of spaghetti. I can also confidentally say that it is way more fun with a friend, and that I do not want to eat spaghetti for a long time.

5. The most important news: Jeremy had a pre-interview this week that was promising. He's supposed to hear from the company themselves sometime soon to set up a *real* interview. He knows a little bit about where the job is and what he would be doing. The worksite is not too terribly far from us, considering where we live, and it seems to be something he would enjoy doing. Please be praying for the doors to open if that's what is in God's plan. And as much as it hurts me, if this isn't in God's plan, we don't want the doors opened.

This time next week I hope to be snuggling a baby! Yeah! And I just realized last night that my target date for taking my boards is 6 weeks away. Gulp. I gotta get cracking!

Party Animals

When do you people find time to blog?!! I don't even have time to read all that I want.


August was filled with celebrations, and I promised pictures for those of you who couldn't be there. Or wanted to see photos of my brother intensely studying a pacifier label. It was cute. I know this is crazy late, but we had a hiccup called Ike in the middle of September, and this never got posted. So there you go. Parties from two months ago that were fun!


Wedding





Two handsome ushers!

Setting: metropolis of A. The guy getting married is my cousin's son. We drove around with the windows down in August because the humidity was under 80%. The wedding was beautiful and we wish both of them blessings on this marriage.


2 Year Old Birthday Party







Setting: metropolis of LC. The theme was Sesame Street and was SO CUTE!! Beware, I'm taking notes! The boys seemed to really enjoy themselves, and the rest of the kids did too.

Baby Showers! (I know AB's already here, but here are her parties!)

Setting: metropolis of SA. My brother and SIL picked ladybugs for the nursery, and it's SO CUTE. The theme of the second shower was ladybugs and was SO CUTE.

Jeremy is still looking for a job. He redid his resume and started sending it out again. So far there's been some interest, so please keep that in your prayers.

So now we're caught up. Work is back to normal, life is back to normal. For us at least. We're going to enjoy the calm before the holidays. Can you believe they're just around the corner! Now that I have instilled panic, I will sign off. Enjoy your day.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

My brother and his lovely wife gave me a niece today.

The new family:

AB was born September 28, 2008 in the afternoon. She is 7 lbs, 6 ounces, and 21.75 inches long. She was born by cesarean section after a loooong labor by one tough mama (and her tough birth coach.)

I drove like a crazy woman, leaving here Saturday night late, and returning home exactly 24 hours and 42 minutes later. I didn't sleep much. But I did get to do this before I left:

So, thanks, to the wonderful friends who kept me company while driving by myself on the lonely highway, even into the wee hours of the night. Thanks to the makers of Dr. Pepper who allowed me to stay awake on the way home. Thanks to the NewsBoys, whose music played at top volume makes my ears ring and the time go by faster. And thanks to my brother and his wife for letting me get to be there for this wonderful occasion. It means alot to me.

And one more picture to make your heart melt before you click to someone else's blog. At least, it made my heart melt: