Blessings Amidst Trials

(This is a REALLY long one!)

When Blair got laid-off on the 9th of January, we were very scared and really unsure about what we were going to do. Even though it was such a hard situation to face, we were extremely blessed in the following weeks. I had several interviews and job offers throughout that week and on Friday morning, randomly decided to apply to Melaleuca, a company in Idaho Falls. I didn’t think I would even get it, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to apply. I got a call from HR that afternoon and set up an interview for Monday morning. I met with several people that day, including the President of the company. By Wednesday afternoon, I received a great job offer, and on Friday, I accepted the offer. Everything went so quickly and so well. I started work on

Monday, January 23rd, just two weeks after Blair was laid-off. In those two weeks Blair received his final check and a small severance check, helping us make it through, and with me starting work so quickly afterwards, we didn’t even miss a paycheck – unbelievable! We were very lucky!

When we bought our car in December 2010, we took had to do a secure loan, since neither of us had taken a loan out before. We did that to raise our credit so when we get to medical school and have to take out several loans, we can get a better interest rate. Well, that means that the bank was just holding onto a bunch of our money, until we paid off our car. (I promise there is a reason for this.) Once Blair got laid-off, we decided to pay off the last few months on our loan, so we could have access to that money if we needed it. We also used that money to pay-off the remaining balances on our two credit cards. We didn’t have a ton on them, but we had purchased some Christmas presents on them. We got rid of the debt we had and that was a huge blessing too. Even though we didn’t have a lot of debt, I can’t explain how wonderful it felt to know that we didn’t owe money to anyone. We would have had those things paid off soon, but when we found ourselves in a tight situation, we just wanted to get rid of as much stress as we could, and it has been wonderful. Since then, we haven’t put anything on our credit cards, and we have no other debt. That feeling is unexplainable.

Back to work: A few days after I started my job, I got to know several employees, and so many people asked me where I had worked before working here. When I told them that I had been staying home with Brock, they were all shocked. After talking to a few people I asked why that was so crazy, and I learned that it is usually pretty hard to start in a position like mine, without transferring from somewhere else. Most people who work here work in the call center for a few years, before they transfer out to a corporate position, or they have to apply several times before getting an offer. Several people have told me how lucky I am that I got an offer within two days, especially after my first time applying.

It was really hard to have Blair get laid off, but there are so many things we have realized in hind-sight that shows us that everything is meant to be. After just a few days on the job, I came home and told Blair, “This is exactly the job that I would want to do if I had to work. Now that I am, this couldn’t be more perfect.” Everything about the company and my position is wonderful. I have met so many fun people and made some great contacts for the future. Half of my job consists of talking to people and interviewing them for various things, and everyone knows how much I love to talk. I also get to do a wide variety of writing projects, which is very fun. I hate to do the same thing over and over, so the variety has been great. I just really couldn’t have asked for a better job right now (except maybe being home with Brock).
With me at work, Blair has been playing Mr. Mom and he has actually done a great job! Being home with Brock is something that he will probably (and hopefully) never have the opportunity to do again, so this is another blessing in disguise. Brock loves hanging out with Daddy. I have had a few sad moments though. There have been several times, where I need to ask Blair how much he usually eats, or when he will be ready for bed. I sometimes still need Blair’s help for different things that I used to know, but I guess I’m just getting used to it. Blair also does a great job of doing the dishes, doing the laundry, and making the bed. I have had to just accept that we do things differently. He and I fold clothes differently and I think my way is the right way. But I have learned to just be grateful for him doing it all, and really, his way isn’t bad at all…it is just a little different. But honestly, if the way the clothes are folded is my biggest concern, life is pretty good! Whenever I ask him to do something during the day, I get home and it is done. He does a great job of keeping the house clean and tidy, and even though he hates the decorative pillows on the bed, he puts them on anyway, because he knows I love them.

Swapping roles has been quite an adjustment for both of us, but mostly Blair. My hardest thing was leaving my little Brocky, especially since I had been with him every day for 6 months. But for Blair, it has been pretty hard. It is hard on his ego, knowing that I am driving for 90 minutes each day and working for 8 hours, while he is home with Brock. He is still embarrassed by the situation, but he knows, he didn’t do anything wrong to get laid-off, it was just a poor budget at the hospital. He also knows that this will not be our situation forever. Come August, he will be back in school and I’ll be home with Brock. And after school, he will be a doctor, and will hopefully never have a situation like this again. Knowing that we only have to deal with this situation for another few months has helped us both. We can do anything for a few months! Even though it has been really hard for Blair, he has enjoyed it too. He likes seeing Brocky do new tricks and hit new milestones.
Ever since January 9th, everything about our situation has not been traditional and normal, but we have experienced several blessings. And even though things have been hard to adjust to, we do feel so lucky for how well everything has turned out, considered the circumstances.