Yesterday Denton accepted a job at MeadWestVaco (MWV) as Senior IT Auditor in Richmond, VA.  Now, this hasn’t been a cake-walk, so sit back while I tell you the drama:

When Denton lost his job in January, we felt peace right away knowing that we would be taken care of.  We had savings, food storage, and we were really good about soaking our beans overnight and baking lots of bread!  It wasn’t actually until we received the offer from MWV that the stress set in.  Ya see, Denton has to travel 2 weeks out of every month and WE ALL KNOW that I don’t do well when Denton is on sabbatical.  So my first reaction was to NOT accept the job, I felt like if he did we would not be putting family first, which is the most important thing.  On the other hand, Denton felt like he should take the job.  So we were and still are very grateful to even have a job offer, we just didn’t know what to do yet. 

So we fasted and prayed, and prayed, and prayed.  We knew we couldn’t go forward w/o a definite answer.  Last Sunday I was talking w/my friend’s husband who use to work at Circuit City as well – he said to me that having talked to many people who have lost their jobs,  what we need to do is take what jobs we can get and grow our careers from there.  Now, this wasn’t anything overly poignant, or overly spiritual (sorry Skip, but thanks) but it was what I needed to hear and then it clicked for me.  At this time in the economy, we need to sacrifice time away from Denton to provide for our family.  And in that way we WOULD be putting family first.  Make sense?  It finally does to me.

So we’re trying not to be big brats and be grateful for what we have been given (there were 200 applicants for the position), and we really are.  But we aren’t excited about the travel part of the job.  I don’t think Noah was really that thrilled to build an ark, but he did it.  I wasn’t excited to wear skirts for 18 months on my mission, but I did it.  I’ve always said that Denton traveling would never be worth any amount of money.  And it’s not, but it’s worth providing for our family and having a job in troubled times.

Another perk – we have a great friend John Pilch who works at MWV and was the one to send this position to us right when it opened up.  We recently found out that a few other people in our ward work there and like it.  

So there you have it!  My next project after Denton starts his job:  build up to ONE YEAR of food storage!

You’ve only got 3 days left to make your Valentine Aardvark pouches! For those of you who don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, let me give you a run down:

As most of you know, my Dad passed away two years ago. He had great enthusiasm for many things, including family traditions. One tradition my father invented (being that avid Biologist that he was) which our family has been celebrating for more than 30 years is the Valentine Aardvark. When I was little, on Valentine’s Eve my brothers and sisters and I would make and decorate Aardvark Pouches and set them out that night. While we were sleeping, the Valentine Aardvark would come in the night and fill our pouches with little treats and presents. I never understood why my friends at school didn’t get a visit from the Valentine Aardvark. My extended family has been busy creating a website to share this tradition and help us remember Dad – consider it our free therapy. It has brought back so many great memories of Dad and I love that I have carried on this tradition with my children. You can visit the site at www.valentineaardvark.com.

Yesterday, I was able to go into Leo’s class and share the legend of the Valentine Aardvark with her classmates and make pouches with them. They had a BLAST and were so excited! It was really so fun for me and Leo to share this tradition with the kids. Makes it all worth while.

I hope that by sharing this with you, you and your family will consider adopting it as a tradition of your own. Let us know what you think and feel free to spread the word about the Valentine Aardvark.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday dear Marissa.
Happy Birthday, Thirty-two!

I’m in big trouble for posting Marissa’s age, but at least I left the pictures out.   She’s freaking out about being 32, so I figure the more she see’s the numbers, the less weird it will be.  Right?  We had chocolate cake for breakfast to celebrate, and since I didn’t actually have 32 candles, the kids and I formed candles in the shape of the 32.  With the candles that close together, it made about a 12 inch flame–Marissa’s lucky to still have eyebrows.

Anyway, here’s wishing you a special day, my older and wiser dear.  May all your (32) dreams and wishes come true.

If you’re wondering how I paid for Disney World while being unemployed, this is how: I Heart CVS

My sis-in-law Lindsay is a fellow Coupon Cutter… the other day she asked me if someone could be cheap and classy at the same time. 

My reply: no one has to know I paid fitty cent for my class!!!!