My Anxiety, God My Relief

The economy has brought about trouble and discomfort throughout the whole country. Families and individuals are facing different financial scenarios and making life changing decisions. Our family is no exception.

Two years ago I decided I needed to go back to patient care, the stress of a governmental management job was eating me alive. I found a job in hospice, (my first love for a job). The job was a an hour an a half drive away from my family, working four ten hour shifts. I found a hotel that would work with me on pricing and I stayed during my days of work. I thought this would help with decreasing stress and still give me time with my family.

Family dogs during a family outing.

Unfortunately, the economy also affected the company I was employed at. Many changes occurred, including reorganizing and shifting of nurses and selling of the company (again). In the ten months I was there I had five different positions and a few different pay rates. Agreements and promises weren't upheld. I decided I needed to leave, giving my two weeks notice once I found other employment.

My next position found me back in nursing management at a home care agency. Still another hour an a half drive away from my family one way. My family needed me home more, just as much as I needed to be home. Trying to meet everyone's need, I chose to drive back and forth each day, instead of staying at the hotel. I really didn't like the job, but I needed it and the pay was really good. The position, travel and being away from my family was once again another stressful situation for me.

Relief came from the job stress when I fractured my knee and was temporarily disabled. I was out of work for nine months, drawing disability. This was a healing time for my body and my family.

Family, Great Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma. 

Husband and wife with Max the pup.

Son with Max graduating from his first class.

After my knee healed and I had some physical therapy sessions, I went back to work this past June. Working part-time at the local surgery center. Least amount of stress I've had in a  long time. I get to spend a  lot of time at home enjoying my family, animals and my simpler life.

With part-time work comes a part-time income. With injuries comes medical bills. With a slow economy comes periods of decrease in business for many companies, my husband's included. Fortunately we're not in financial trouble. Things are tight but we're making it. Business has been better the last two weeks for my husband and surgery cases have increased recently. I'm grateful for these blessings.

With the times as they are, I've felt the need to look for full-time work. Not only for an income but also for health insurance. I have Systemic Lupus and I'm uninsurable through private health insurance. My husband has no insurance.

I've applied for three different jobs in the last month; one I haven't heard from, one was filled and one I interviewed for this past Wednesday. The interview I thought went really well. The interviewers said I would be called next week.

The job is in the local hospital in infusion therapy, with possibly cross training for surgery (per my request). I would be working three days, twelve hour shifts on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. I would still have four days off and the drive is only about ten minutes away.

Wouldn't be a family without a cat.

I've prayed about this and I'm ok with whatever the Lord wants, but I worry. I worry if I don't get the job, what does the Lord have planned instead, I worry about our needs being met if I don't get the job and also about the attitudes of the people I'll be working with.

God tells us in His word how to handle all of this. I just have hard time letting things go. In the New International Version Matthew 6:25-27 "Therfore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

Jeremiah 29:11 "'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 hope and a future.'" NIV

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Ravendale, CA

Clearly looking at scripture, I see I don't have anything to worry about. And if God's word and His promises weren't enough, as I was writing this post my husband got a call about a large rush job that will bring in $360! Isn't God amazing and so worthy to be praised!! (and trusted!)

Bedtime Puppies

I love our family pets, especially our dogs. Our dogs count on routine in their lives. Each night around 8:30, they expect to go "potty" outside and then immediately go to their bedtime spots. Max sleeps with his boy, Chris, my son, and Princess sleeps on "her couch". Bedtime is definitely routine but fun with a bit of a sweet side.

Princess waiting for the lights to go off. 

Frugal Friday-Like Mother Like Son

Our local furniture store has a large trailer they load cast-off furniture into. Anyone in the community is welcome to pick up any of the items in the trailer. (They even have a sign to let you know it's ok to pickup but not to dump.)

My son, whom I've been trying to teach to be frugal, decided he had a need for the light blue recliner he found in the trailer one night. He called my husband for help with loading and transportation. Now he is the proud owner of a "free" recliner.

I've been trying to rub my frugalness onto my family, I guess it's working. (Don't you just love free stuff?)

In good condition, just needs a good cleaning. 

Frugal Friday-Trade

One way of saving (and my most favorite), which is a win-win situation for you and a friend, is trade. I have a friend who grows many different vegetables I haven't tried before. She frequently will provide me with various vegetables and herbs. My last trip to her home I came back with a Red Kuri Squash, a white colored radish (I forgot the name of it) and different types of tomatoes. In trade I give her home grown chicken eggs and fruit from my trees.

Part of my latest trade; we ate the squash already. Yummy!

Frugal Friday

I recently found a few Crab Apple Trees on the trails I hike. At my request my son went foraging for me and brought home a backpack full of apples. I already have a lot of dried apples from my own tree. I don't make apple pies (too much work) so what do I do with all the apples? Make apple bread!

Foraged Crab Apples.

Homemade bread is a frugal alterantive to store bought bread. The apple bread I made was inexpensive for several reasons, the apples were free because they were foraged, the flour and sugar were on sale for less than half the normal price and the eggs came from my own chickens.

Farm fresh eggs, straight out of the chicken, into the carton.

1/2 price flour with other ingredients for bread. 

 I used a recipe I found from allrecipes.com.

Apple Bread Recipe

3 cup All-Purpose flour
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
2 cups apples-peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl, place oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and apples. Stir into flour mixture. Add walnuts and mix. Divide mixture between two greased 8" x 4" bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack before removing from pan.

Egg mixture. 

Egg mix with apples and cinnamon applesauce. 

I made a few adjustments to my bread. I didn't use walnuts and I added 2/3 cup of cinnamon applesauce, decreasing the amount of cinnamon I used from the recipe, because the mixture wouldn't come together well due to it being so dry.

Finished apple bread. 

I made several loaves; wrapped them and put them into the freezer. Hope you enjoy this recipe.

Frugal Friday-Foraging

Foraging is a great way to save on your grocery bill. On the trails I hike, I found three apple trees loaded with apples. It was fun to pick free food. Now I'll have to decide what to do with them, dry, can or use them in a recipe; decisions, decisions!

Weighted down with apples. 

Ready to be picked.  

Fruit from my foraging. 

Frugal Friday–Late Entry

We've been crazy busy this weekend with a yard sale. Yard sales are a frugal activity where shoppers can get bargains and sellers can make money and de-clutter. A win-win situation. Unfortunately, yard sales, as a seller is my least favorite activity. I do like them when I'm in the need of something.

This weekend's yard sale occurred at a storage unit business. All the renters were allowed to open their unit and sell their stuff. It was also open to anyone who wanted to rent a unit for just the sale, cost being $10.

One view of the sale.

My husband joined in to sell some of his office equipment.