Smoke Over Idaho

There are a lot of forest fires in Idaho this year and the mountains look like this up past Idaho City.

I'm Lame

No, my legs aren't broken.

I was bored out of my mind for one week... had quite a personal crisis with doing this job for any length of time. So, on Monday morning, after one week of work and many phone calls to friends and family for support (emotional not financial... at this point;-). I quit.

Hi Ho Hi Ho...

I have started my new job... which at this point is just studying for my license. It has been awhile since I have had to study for a test. I will be working/studying about 25 hours a week to begin with. Then after I get my license and Misty needs me less, I will move to full time.

I like my co-workers... Geoff and Matt... they are easy-going guys that like to laugh. (both married for those of you who are curiouss).

At least once a day I mourn the loss of my unemployment... I was really enjoying myself and wonder every once in a while if I really want to work in an insurance office... It seems so 'tame' compared to my former job. Oh well, I will just have to see what God brings along.

No Longer Unemployed

Wahoo! I was offered the job at the State Farm Insurance office. Unemployed for only 6 weeks... and only half-heartedly looking for a job for 2 weeks.

I feel like this job was also lined out by God (like so many other events regarding my move). When I bought my car I went in to the local State Farm office, where my sister also goes, to transfer my account. I mentioned on my way out that I now needed to get a job. The agent told me that they were looking for help in their office if I was interested. I told him I would bring by my resume the next day. That was Monday, I took my resume in on Tuesday. I called this Monday to follow up. I had an interview on Tuesday and was offered the job on Thursday. I will go in on Monday to start working on my licensing and other scheduling. It is so cool to see how God works things out.

A job interview

I had a job interview with a State Farm Insurance office on Tuesday morning. I thought it went really well... and I think it would be a good job. It would be interesting to learn the job... not a 'change the world' kind of job... but I could support my travel and photography habbits with it. I should find out by Friday if I get the job.

My only hesitation is that I didn't really think I was turning my world up side down to be in insurance. I guess I will just have to wait and see what God brings.

Picture Postcard

Here is a little picture postcard of my scenic drive on Saturday. It was nice to putter around the mountains and play with my new wide angle lens.

Evening

This is a fun shot of Joseph in the car seat and Katherine in the swing last night.

Life has been fun around here... all the kids have had colds and Lizzie has now begun potty training... always an adventure.

Night Shots

I found a web sight that taught me a few tricks on my digital camera last night and took this night shot in the backyard with my new wide angle lens. It turned out pretty good for my first attempt... and it has me excited about trying some new things.

Thoughts on a job

So I went to the orientation for Alaska Airlines call center today. It was interesting and it would be a good way to get into Alaska Air's world... if I had aspirations to do so. However, I am not sure if that is what I am looking for... and to be hooked to a telephone for 8 hours a day at $10 per hour... it might be worth it for the travel benefits... but not for a while. So I opted out of the interview part of the day... and if I change my mind, they have another interview day in a couple of weeks. I am not desparate for a job at this point... I love hanging out with my sis and the kids.

I do have another job lead in a state farm insurance office. When I went into get insurance on my car this week I mentioned that I was looking for a job... they have an opening. So I dropped my resume off yesterday and we'll see what God has for me.

For now, I think I might go exploring in the mountains this weekend...

Cupholders and Resumes

Ok... so I was wrong about the cupholder... Misty found it today and I can enjoy my car fully now. She and Peter think it is quite funny... and they are right.

I visited a church today. It seems to me that they are about the same size as WBC, but they are much more 'together'. They had a guest speaker today so I will go back and check them out on a normal week. It was interesting to sit in a service where things are unfamiliar and people don't know you. Makes you reflect a lot.

This afternoon I started reworking my resume. It is interesting to note that I have never been hired for a job with my resume... I just put one together after I was hired for my file. And I have written and edited many resumes over the years... but they were mostly for classes. So now I have some work to do. I think the resume is just about there. Now I am onto the cover letter. Good times.

Lizzy and I took a walk out to the garage to see her dad and played in her mom's '61 Impala for a little while. She is checking herself out in the mirror. She says 'cute babe' when looking in mirrors... too cute!

Settling In

Ok... so I 'pulled the trigger' as my brother-in-law put it. I bought a car. I am now the owner of a green 1996 Subaru Impreza... wagon. It is a 5 speed, 4 door, no-frills model. I didn't quite realize how no-frills it was until I got in it to drive home and found that it has no cup holders for my coffee... which in trying to balance my americano and remember my manual driving skills I promptly spilled on my lap. So I will be working on a solution for the cup holder delema shortly... because that is not a frill... it is a necessity. Really, the car reminds me a lot of my escort wagon I just sold... about the same wear and tear on it... but with less leg room for those sitting in the back.

Having spent a chunk of money I am now focusing on the job... there is a part time opening at the Sears photo studio... but they start at 7.50 an hour and I just don't know if I can do it for that. So I am sorta on the look out for something. I think I am going to go to an Alaska Airlines interview day next week. They have a call center here and the job comes with travel privileges! My hope is to work evenings and weekends so I can be available for Misty during the day when Peter is at work.

It's almost like London

It is about 80 degrees with a slight breeze. I am sitting outside with my laptop on cobble stones, sipping earl gray tea with milk, listening to classical music. And I can close my eyes and imagine that it is London...

In reality I am sitting in a camp chair on a half finished patio, sipping earl gray tea out of a Christmas mug, and listening to classical music over the baby monitor. Almost the same as being in London with my friend Anita... right?!

The Twins

By the way, for those who have been asking about pictures of the twins... their link is on the right. or click here. TWINS

Ready or not, here I come

So, in the craziness of the last month, I have really neglected my blog... my apologies to all my faithful blog-checking friends.

To sum up... I headed back to Alaska on July 11th. I had a few days before I packed up my camping gear and headed north with 18 freshmen. We split the group in half and I went with the first group rafting down the Gulkana river. We spent 3 long days rafting 42 miles from Paxson lake to Sourdough. It was a little cold, but the sun did come out the last day on the river. Then the whole group spent the day playing together. And I had a life-time first of water skiing... and I didn't even crash. It was a beautiful thing. Then the second group took off down the river and my group hung out at the lake for 3 days ...where I had another first... I learned to pull water skiiers.

It was a very good trip... hard, but good. I began leaking tears halfway through the 9 day trip. Each time my girls started singing I got choked up. I am so proud of them and I am really going to miss them. It was the last night of the trip when I was able to tell them who their leader would be next year... and she will do an awesome job... in some ways I think that they need her to help them through this stage of their lives.

When we returned the whirlwind began... I had a week to meet with my close friends and finish my purge-pack sessions. It was full. I have many ponderings from the last few weeks... but they will have to wait for another blog. As well as some pictures.

I arrived in Boise on Monday... and so begins the next season of my life. It is nice to know that God has me firmly in the palm of His hand and I don't have to worry about what will come next.
PS I will keep my cell phone for a while and you can email me at my hotmail account.