These Are the Blessed Days

Wow, I don't even know where to begin.  So much has changed since my last post.  And so much that I can't even remember all of it.  The most major change, I'm guessing, is that I am no longer working as a medical transcriptionist.  Actually, I cannot remember what all was going on when I last blogged, but I am pretty sure I was still slaving away as an MT, making those measly cents per line, working every single Sunday while my family had Sunday time between church services.  It always bothered my husband, Travis, that after morning church I had to work until just about evening church.  The constant "shhh" and "be quiet" from me was quite annoying to them all, I know, but he hated the fact that our Sundays were ruined because of my work schedule the past three years.  When I first got the warning in January that I was on probation because I couldn't pass my audit I was scared, worried, terrified...I felt like I was becoming obsolete in a career that itself was becoming nothing more than obsolete.  But, being 43 now, it was a scary thought to imagine losing my job, the only job I've really ever known, at least the only skill.  Saince was my second at-home company to work for and it was pretty interesting work, behavioral health, that is.  My first warning phone call with my supervisor and the QA supervisor left me in tears at the thought of losing my job.  The unknown was so scary and unsettling, I felt like fighting for my job was the right thing to do.  Travis assured me time and time again that we would be fine if I wasn't working, that his work had picked up and I didn't make hardly enough for anything other than my car payment if that.  Still, I fought on.  Some of my best friends had been telling me for years to quit my MT job and focus on my embroidery.  The embroidery side didn't make much money at all.  It, however, was almost able to pay for itself each month (I still owe some $$$ on my machine and all my profits go towards paying it off).  So...I prayed and prayed and sought God's guidance and when I got the call saying I had failed yet again to pass my final audit and that my job was gone, I had a strange sense of peace.  I didn't cry like I had the week before...I didn't fuss and try to get my job back...I let it go.  And that was back in January.  Today it's April 16, 2017, and I have no regrets.  My embroidery job is still paying the monthly payment, so that's a plus.  And this month I am working on my biggest EVER order of 112 items.  I am at number 65 on that order as we speak and I'm also working in several individual orders as I go.  No, it won't make me rich and no, my machine won't be paid for anytime soon, but it is working!  God has always had a plan.  And my friend, Jill, reminds me that I would have never quit that job on my own and God took care of it for me.  You know, when things like this happen we have to really put our faith to the test.  There are days when I find myself wishing I contributed more to our family financially, but time and time again Travis ensures me that what I do for our home, for our kids, and for our family--there is no salary that could pay for all of that.  It makes me feel good to know he values what I bring to the family even if it's not financial.  I tend to think his thinking process is a little bit biased because for two weeks now my house has gone without a cleaning and the laundry is only getting done when we're on our last pair of undies or socks, etc.  This big order has tested me, but it's also taught me that God will bring blessings at the least expected times if we just let me take control.  With that being said, I should be wrapping it all up this week and will receive a final shipment of about 36 more items next week to complete the order and then the housework will be done, the laundry will be caught up and my machine will get some much-needed "her-time."  And I'll be able to look back on these past weeks as blessed days.