Needing a Plan

Until we know what Dean's job will be, we have no way to really plan. I have 3 ideas for plans.
Plan 1 is pack everything for a regular move - the kind where we take everything we want to keep.
Plan 2 is pack everything but sort it into two sections - one to store and one that we need to keep living wherever we end up. This would be say if we moved to another place in the USA temporarily.
Plan 3 is pack to store everything except just what we need as in clothing and personal things in order to move out of the country.

What to do? What do go?


Waiting in hard. That scripture that says wait on the Lord - does it mean to wait as in sitting patiently or does it mean wait as in serving? Does it mean I need to keep sending resumes or wait and see if any of these come through?

One thing not waiting is the wedding for Joy Anna and Jeremy. I think we found the bridesmaids' dresses today. A great deal $25.00 each! Now just need to find junior bridesmaids' and flower girl's dress. Making progress. We have the save the date card ready to go! We have the hotel arranged. Still hammering out the details.

5 weeks, 3 pics and a 1 Resume Package Sent Overseas

5 weeks from today is Dean's last day. Yep. We have known almost 2 weeks. We have sent out tons of resumes. There have been lots of 'great jobs' and lots that would be 'ok jobs.' We have had no responses except rejections from any that we have sent out. We have had one repeat email from a company in the middle east. Our first response was no because of the location. Then, we were told that he would be based out of another country and I could go with him. That, of course, changes everything. We are open to going to another country. We were not really planning on a middle eastern country, but we are open to wherever God leads us. We have gone back and forth for two weeks. It was interesting that this job is not one that we applied for, but the request for information came at the same time of the news of the lay-off. Maybe it is a God thing? They had asked several questions he had to answer and they needed copies of diplomas and certificates. And so tonight we scanned everything, made a pdf, and sent it off to the other side of the world. We would really appreciate prayers. This could be a great adventure for us. We have always wanted to travel and enjoyed the opportunities we have had- this could give us lots more opportunities to do that.


I got a little behind on my ABC pics. I had things in mind that I never found. Because of that I got a little behind. I did get them caught up and posted tonight.

 W is for Wide Open Space

 x is for Xylem (ok, I googled words that start with X)

Y is for Yolk.

One more day on the ABC challenge - Z here I come! Not sure what we will do for the next challenge, but I must say I have really enjoyed this one.

Fun in the Sun

After church this morning, we went to Mesilla with the McCartney's. Lee has a new bike, and he wanted to try it out. On the way over, Joy Anna rode with Jeremy. Dana, Josh and I rode in the van. Of course we had to eat at La Posta. It was very good. After lunch, we walked around town and took a few pics. Joy Anna rode home with us. We made a couple of detours - for ice cream and photo ops. There happened to be an art show of sorts in the plaza.

This guy was using a magnifying glass to burn Aztec designs into the gourd. He said when it sales, he will get $300 for it.

 I needed a V pic for the day - so I took several trying to get a good one. Below are the Vents in the front of the building.

Then I went sort of overboard with Vines

This was cool below with the shadow- this is tree as art - it is painted.

Beautiful Blue Gate

I am a little obsessed with the blue sky and shooting into lately. :)

There is a local artisan who does these great faces from concrete.

 This is Jackson, a therapy dog.

 Really cool shadows.

 dried peppers

 Green barn

U - is for untied

U was the letter of the day. I had a few ideas, but decided on untied. I think it pretty much sums me up right now. Most of the time, I feel like I have it together with the thought of the lay off. Other times, when I am alone, or just sitting quietly with Dean (yes, I do know how to sit quietly) I feel untied, undone.

The only two possibilities that have come up would probably not be under consideration if there were other options. One is in a middle east country. I think the adventure would be there, but we would live in another part of the world for three years.

So we keep praying. We keep sending out resumes. We keep waiting.
Psa. 27:14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

Friday - wow!

Goodness, not sure where the week went! I did spend one evening and one afternoon with the aunt and uncle. I went with Joy Anna and Jeremy to register at Target. Save the dates are now printed and ready to mail. I went to a funeral this week for a very special gentleman from church. A busy week.

And then there is the job hunt. One night Dean had to take tests- actual tests that actually had something to do with what his job entails. Lots of apps sent out, very few do we hear back from. We keep plugging along. Last night was rough. Dean had a meeting yesterday with his current employer. After the visit, we know that we have about 10 weeks of pay left. Maybe 11. Talking about it really depressed me last night. I try hard not to let it get to me.  

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting a new friend and taking photos of her little one. He is a little old for the baby photos where he is easily placed. He is a little young for the sitting up and making great expression pics. We did have lots of fun taking pics and visiting. I got to snuggle him while he napped. Such a great feeling. He just happens to have a name that starts with T, so he is my T pic for today.

And now I owe a few more alphabet pics
Q is for quite a view - this is taken from Anne's and Jiggs' back porch - over looking El Paso and Juarez.

R is for Razzle Resting. This was Wednesday - a day full of job hunting, so I found something here at home.

Yesterday, I had 2 pics. I had a free coupon for a sandwich at Schlotzky's. I did that and took a pic. Later during the afternoon, I was at Anne's and Jiggs' and saw these great shadows from the scroll work. I decided to post both.

The next 6 days on the photo challenge, may really be a challenge: U,V,W,X.Y & Z - could be interesting.

Engagement Pics with my girl and her boy

I was really excited to be able to take the engagement pics for Joy Anna & Jeremy. We had planned it for this afternoon- the same time the good Lord planned for high winds and dust to blow in to El Paso. The west side was brown by 2:30. We took a chance and drove over the mountain. We were concerned when we got to the top of Transmountain and couldn't see the city for the dust. We decided to try my old stand-by McKelligan Canyon. It was pretty windy out in the park, but we did much better in the amphitheater and the area behind it. Dana, Jeremy's mom went with us. We did some mountain climbing and got a good workout. We met a nice young man from London who is a composer and working with UTEP for their production.

 The double kick was a joke - not Jeremy's norm :)

And my pic of the day is P is for plain old branches, but I think there were really pretty!

Facebook sermons and pics from today

Facebook sermons

Many of my friends post scripture, inspirational and motivational quotes on facebook. Today there were several that really spoke to me. I have been thinking a lot about the next six weeks. Well, probably more about what happens after the six weeks is over, and Dean doesn’t have a job. I can’t say I am worried, but I can’t say it is not on my mind either. When I found out unemployment will pay our rent and not much else, I must confess to feeling a tad overwhelmed. There will be nothing for insurance, utilities, gas or food. I have wanted to go on a diet, but seriously- not like that. Prescriptions will also be a problem. Dean takes so many. We counted things out today. We will get 5 more paychecks. We read Dave Ramsey’s advice on being out of a job. It is pretty much what we were planning. 

Six weeks used to seem like such a long time. Remember in school, how long a six week grading period seemed – especially if you were grounded?  Now, six weeks seems like it flies by. We have just about 6 weeks. We will keep praying, applying, and saving as much as we can. I will cancel the gym. We think we will cancel direct tv as soon as the super bowl is over – it is going up that week anyway. We will keep internet and use it for television – our tv allows us to watch hulu and netflex, and together they are much cheaper. We will keep exploring ways to cut the costs. We are scheduling doctors’ appointments and having our teeth cleaned. We have paid for the insurance, it would make sense to use it. We’ll try to sell the bug, have a garage sale, and pack up and get ready for the day that we actually do have a job and need to move. 

We really do have positive attitudes about this. We are not being defeated. We know that God will meet our needs. We know He has a plan. We know His mercies are new each morning. We know that He has not abandoned us. We do believe Him. If you were one of my facebook friends who posted one of those promises or encouragement today, thanks! I am so thankful for friends who allow God to use them – even in their facebook posts! 

Gary Hall  ‎"My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

Haley Marie Green  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future!! (Jer. 29:11)

Jessica Eubank  ‎"But I will still dare to hope when I remember this: Great is the love of the Lord. His mercies begin afresh each morning."a

Cheryle McClenny Barnes “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NIV)

Rick Snow  Don't just believe in God, believe God.

This morning I had the honor of photographing the baptism of Timothe. He did really well. No screaming. The church is pretty dark in the mornings, so they are shot at a really high ISO. I shoot these from the pews without flash in order not to distract. The other shots, we have to hurry to enable the next service to set up. These are more for documenting the event- we will do baby photos later this week. :)

 After church, we went across the mountain to watch Jeremy ride in from his 35 mile mountain bike ride. 

 

 Tired, but what a sense of accomplishment! Those are the mountains he rode over.

While we were waiting for Jeremy, I found an O pic for today

O is for Orange fencing