Clint has been busy interviewing people to fill positions under him. He has found a replacement for his old job which means he will have someone to take a lot of the burdens off of his shoulders. He has been leaving early a few days a week. Having a few long weekends a month is extra nice!
Clint has also been asked to be on the Virginia Peninsula (formerly Thomas Nelson) Community College's Electrical Engineering Technology Advisory Board where he will represent his industry and will influence the procedures and methods to strengthen their educational program so that their graduating students are well equipped to enter the workforce. He will also inform them of industry needs and trends to assist in keeping their programs and training relevant to practicing electrical engineering.
Many people do not know this, but Clint developed his own testing board for electrical engineering at his company. I am very proud of my husband and his excellent character which earned him this position. He deserves every bit of this and much more! It is good to see God continually pouring out a blessing on my hardworking husband who taught himself by taking home and reading the manuals to the machines when he was in his 20s. He is an example to follow!
Clint has also already received a review in his new position and will be getting another raise in January! We are very grateful to the Lord for granting Clint so much favor.
Brandon is LOVING his new job and the travel involved. He is learning a lot about new industries. I've learned some interesting facts about different industries. Interestingly enough, Brandon works at one place which has a military and FBI presence. It is very strict about what he can and can't do and what he can and can't share. I miss the every afternoon talks with my oldest, but we still make time for each other. His dog Girly died so there is no need for him to pick her up every day. Since he is traveling so much, he rehomed Courage to a young couple who wanted him for their one-year anniversary. From the pictures we have received, Courage is currently very spoiled! Brandon has only his two cats at his place now which is a huge difference from a few months ago. All of his livestock came to the home farm. He said with the incredible amount of pay and the perks he's getting he MAY be able to pay off his house in three years! WOW! He purchased it seven years ago. His new employer pays very well and offers many perks which cut his cost of living a great deal.
Amanda is adding to her reef tank. We are taking her out for her birthday to purchase more fish or coral. We are also taking her out to eat to get one of her favorite meals: Thai Basil Beef. She is still enjoying her new hybrid car and is taking it on a 10-day family vacation where Clint and I have rented three mountain cabins in a secluded area in another state next month. She has been working a lot of OT so she can pay her car off as fast as possible. JSYK, Amanda followed her daddy's example of taking home the machine manuals and reading them to become proficient in her job. She has moved ahead of people with far more seniority because of her drive and skill. We are very proud of her!
Joshua says he likes working for RV dealership more than he did CFA, but he misses working with his friends from CFA. However, he can see them more often because they are not working different shifts. He's been able to go out and do a lot more in the evenings. Joshua says that if you are looking to purchase any brand of an RV--to build one instead. FYI, Caleb echoes that sentiment. After hearing the issues in different makes and models of all years, I have no interest in purchasing another one. He and Caleb ride to work with each other nearly every day. We took Joshua out for a delicious barbecue and sweet potato fries meal from Rick's Cafe and to the Pick and Pull parts yard. We purchased him a new grill and lights to fix what was broken on his truck when he hit the deer.
Caleb is spending as much time with Abby as their jobs will allow. They took a trip together to meet her mother and brother in Covington. Abby is the youngest in a family of eight children, so she has been adequately prepared for our family. In October, Caleb is flying to Indiana for certification in October. Now, he's told me a couple of things they want to train him for, so I am not sure which one this is. I'll have to check in with him to verify and will try to remember to add it here. Caleb also replaced, at his expense, our driveway gate. He has also started building us a new pumphouse with the scrap wood he has been bringing home from his job. We picked him up a part for his Excursion while we were at the parts yard.
Bethany is joining our family weekly through the internet to do Bible study and just "hang out" with the family. She is enjoying the cultural offerings in Chicago and has recently attended a concert with her friend Dave. She asks that we pray for her as she travels to and from work. She works until 11:45 p.m. and has to take a half an hour ride plus a ten-minute walk home. The train is right next to where she works but it is a walk from where she lives.
Emily is working her way through her high school course. Once she finishes that, we will enroll her in driver's ed and work on that. Then we will enroll her in college. With other children, we have had high school and driver's ed going at the same time, but the requirements for parent-taught Driver's Ed are a bit wonky. It's not self-paced. It is timer based, and that is very frustrating for children who can grasp the concept quickly and desire to move on to the next. She's spent a lot of time in our pool this summer. She painted a picture for Joshua's birthday that really touched his heart.
Hannah is eager to be enrolled in her high school course. We have to wait until she is 14 to do so. She has grown taller and is a delight to be around. She is a tremendous help in our home and on our farm. She is 13 years old and can start a seed, transplant and grow it, harvest the produce, and safely pressure can it. Brandon's goats are on our farm, and one of them kidded recently. Hannah has found the newborn kid to be adorable! She even asked for a plush baby goat for Christmas.
While I am still missing my sweet Maggie and the comfortable routines we had with each other, Clint bought me a poodle puppy! I will share the story about her when I am able. A significant portion of my life is very joy-FULL. However, this season of life is filled with more than a few friends who are in great difficulty, mostly regarding their or their loved ones' health. Quite a few have confided in me, and I am receiving updates on things that are very troubling to the heart. I am not complaining. I feel very privileged that people trust me with this very private information and allow me to minister to them through prayer and a helping hand. It's just very hard especially when there is little to no good news. Some concerns I have shared on the blog, and others I have been asked not to share even with an initial. If you would like to pray for me specifically, pray that I am a good friend, a source of Christian encouragement, and minister to my friends in practical, meaningful ways that truly help lighten their burdens and show them God's love in a way that gives Him the recognition and praise.
Dear Reader, God is good all of the time. Even during times of trouble. Even when He says no to our desires for healing. He knows more than we do and gives us His best for us even when it causes us more difficulty or breaks our hearts. Like a parent refusing their child something that sounds very good but truly isn't good...like junk food or a very late bedtime, God does what is best even when we can't understand it. We know He cares deeply over our sorrows because it says He saves our tears in a bottle and will wipe every tear from our eyes. He's taking an account of what hurts us and will make it right. My love to all!
