Catching Up and some news!

Wow, I really have missed all of my blog friends!!! It feels like I've been gone forever and I'm really looking forward to catching up on how your summer is going!!

Our summer has not been one bit like I was expecting it to be! Now with only about 3.5 weeks until school starts I can hardly believe it is almost over!

When Pat lost his job in - was it May? - we were worried but still had no idea how difficult it really would be to find another job. He's really good at what he does, but the auto industry just isn't what it used to be and it's looking like it may never be again, at least not for a very long time! There are NO auto jobs here (and it's the same everywhere else) - at least not for top level managers. Businesses are not hiring right now, not even when people leave. They are just making due with the staff they already have. If there is an opening, where are hundreds of applicants.

I'm going to be honest here, because I know that so many of you are in the same circumstances that we are. Pat brings in 75% of our household income. It is impossible for me to cover everything myself no matter how many hours I work - and I have worked every available one! It broke my heart when Hanna had to give up her horse and Rylee gave up gymnastics and really everything else that is extra has had to go. We are eating as cheaply as possible and have gained weight -why is it that the least expensive food is so fattening? We have had to say no to everything the kids ask for. It is hard, really hard! And yet, we are all okay. We are for the most part all healthy, the kids are happy and we have somehow managed to keep up with all necessities so far. The biggest thing that has gotten me through all of this, is knowing that ultimately things do not matter. That no matter what happens here, in this life - is not what is most important. But even knowing that and believing it with my whole being - doesn't stop the burning in the pit of my stomach.

It is hard to know what to do in this economy. How have we come to a place and time when a top level manager with an excellent track record of growth in all areas of his responsibilities does not get one phone call in response to his resumes? How can it be that this is a common story right now? We are not alone here and so many families have the same story - highly successful families that have worked hard all of their lives building the American Dream only to watch it all disappear?

So what to do??? Well... we have decided to go out on a limb and are investing every last remaining penny into our own franchise business. We are in that last stages of finalizing a Snap On Franchise and he (Pat) will be ready to go about mid-August. It's scary but exciting at the same time. It is more diversified than being with just one car line (Chrysler in our case), and we have high hopes for what he can do with this. The girls are very excited and I even overheard Hanna telling her friends that her dad was going to be the new "Clip On Guy" LOL!!! So next week will be taking ownership of our own mobile tool store...

For the first time ever Pat will not be going to his office everyday, well I guess he will - but his office will have wheels!! This is a big change for him - for both of us really and I really hope it turns out to be something that he loves! He is very excited and can't wait to get going.

After spending the entire summer with the kids, he really needs to go back to work LOL!! Or he needs Rylee to stop talking constantly...

So that's our big news - what have you all been up to???

I have so much more updating to do and lots of pictures to post, I want to get back to my weekly iheartfaces posts and there are a few new things I want to participate in too!

Now I am going post a random photo that has nothing to do with this post... I wanted to use it for Wordless Wednesday but never had the time to get it posted. Here you go - it makes me smile every time I look at it!!