We're boycotting Pickles Deli

Last Thursday, Adam went around to all of the places he applied asking if they had received his applications and also if they were hiring.  It was amazing, but he got asked in for an interview at Pickles (one of our very favorite deli restaurants because you can get just about any food you want, prepared any way you want.  They even threw chocolate chips in Sophie's waffles when she requested it.  You don't find that in a restaurant very often.).  The interview went well, and about two hrs later, they called him to say that he was hired!  We were all dancing and very happy.  But then a thought came to me...did Adam make it very clear that he would not be able to work Sundays?  He called back and told them that, and they said no problem, he didn't have to work Sundays and could he please start at 9:30 Monday morning?  Again, we were so excited (me more than anybody else).  But then, 15 minutes later, the Pickles manager called and fired Adam, saying that they had talked to the boss and he told them that they specifically needed someone who could work Sundays.  I think Adam is the first person in history to be hired and fired in 15 minutes.  Truly, that was SO unprofessional of Pickles.  Why didn't they read on his application that he wouldn't be available on Sundays.  And why did they say its ok when he called to confirm it?  I was and am actually pretty crushed.  That boy is taking up so much of my time and mental/emotional energy that I was enjoying the idea of spending more time with Sam and Sophie while he was at work.  Stupid Pickles.  Also, when being faithful about keeping the Sabbath Day holy, there are blessings, right?  I thought that the blessing would be getting a job that was good and right for Adam.  But Chad pointed out that maybe the blessing is that Adam shouldn't have a job right now.  He will have a lot of things on his plate in the fall - he tried out for and made the school choir, and there's cross country, and a full schedule of classwork.  And there is only 1 2/3 months left until school starts...so I am trying to have faith.  My faith is tested every single day.

Working hard to find work.

I spent three hours this afternoon driving around Newbury and T.O. looking for a job for Adam.  It was exhausting.  We must have applied at 10 different places, and if you've ever filled out job applications, you know how long that takes, and what a pain it is.  My arm aches, and I only actually filled out 4 of them (Adam's writing is pathetic).  Sheesh.  Now I am praying as hard as I can that he will find a job.  We will be back out there tomorrow.  And it is a lucky thing I went with him - he was exhausted after two hours.  Go, Adam, Go!
(Also, anyone know of a job opening for a high school student who can't/won't work on Sundays?)

A new calling

Today I got a new calling.  I was called and sustained within 15 minutes...my head is still spinning.  But I am so excited!  I get to serve with women that I admire and like, and I get to work with 12-13 year old girls.  The calling?  2nd counselor in the YW presidency.  It has been 10 years since I served in YW, and I have wanted back in for years.  I wanted to serve while Meg was in YW but it wasn't to be.  Which was fine, because if I had been in there, she wouldn't have become the awesome woman that she is - the Lord knows what is best.  

A calling in YW is super busy but really rewarding!  I look forward to getting to know those 15 Beehives and learning all that they have to teach me.  They'll think it is the other way around, but I know the truth.  The truth is that the learning has already begun. :o)

Sophie was so upset when they released me from my calling as Activity Day leader.  She thought, for some reason, that I had chosen to be released and asked for this new calling.  She pushed me away in tears and wouldn't speak to me all of Sac. meeting.  But I explained to her that callings come from the Lord.  I didn't make the choice, but the Heavenly Father did.  And I explained that she could come to our activities (since Chad is involved in YM, and obviously, Adam and Sam are there too).  When I was set apart, the Bishop mentioned that Sophie would be able to come to the activities and learn from the older girls.  I peeked and Sophie was smiling big.  Our bishop is so great.  

I love this ward.  It is a pleasure to serve here.  I've had three callings in the past year that we've lived here, and every one has been great.      

Why is my power bill so high and it isn't even July yet?

Everybody who lives in Ventura County CA knows, June is a gloomy month.  We call it June Gloom, and it is in the lower 70's (there is steam rising off my pool in the mornings!), and overcast almost the entire month.  It is not summer weather at all.  And yet, the schools let out for the summer between June 7-15.  WHAT is the point, I ask you?  Nobody wants to go swimming or to the beach when it is so dang cold.  My suggestion is that the last day of school should be the very end of June, and the first day of school should be the last day of September, when it is so hot and the kids come home hot and sticky and want to swim.  Where is the logic of the current schedule?!
You may be wondering why I am whining about this since most of my kids are homeschooled.  Well, we do our homeschooling through a great charter school and of course, their programs start on August 23rd, and end on June 7.  I need to talk to them about that.
Anyway, I got the power bill yesterday and about passed out.  I don't even want to say how much it was, you would all pass out too.  The pool is probably the biggest offender, but it wasn't this expensive in the winter, and we run the filter about the same amount of time every day.  Also, think about all the extra power that is used at Christmas when we run all those decorative lights?  Is it possible that the power company is jacking up the cost of electricity on the same schedule as the school year?  Sounds logical.  And lame.  So it really scares me what that bill will be in August and September when it is REALLY summer!

Hooray!!!

We finally got an email!  This arrived at about 8:00 this morning, and totally made my day.  I'm a happy mama.

Ok, now I'm just annoyed.

7 days without a letter from Meg?  Really?  I thought they were supposed to have a P-day once a week, but she has been gone for a week and no letters.  Does that equal no P-day yet?  Or did she have to do snail mail and it got lost?  I know she didn't decide to not write.  Not my Meg.
Anyway.  I can't be the only missionary mom that is checking the email every 10 minutes and meeting the mailman in the street.  Am I?

My proud, aching heart

We took Meg to the MTC on Wed. I'll post more about the days leading up to that another time. It was such a bittersweet day and I have had very mixed feelings ever since. But Meg was ready and she marched off into the MTC doors without looking back once even though I was standing there watching with tears streaming down my cheeks and Sophie was wailing. I kept telling Sophie that she needed to cry more quietly because we didn't want that to be Meg's last memory of us, a bunch of blubbering idiots. I was and am so proud of Meg. She will be the best missionary ever. But here's the odd thing, something that I feel a little ashamed about. I used to text, FB, or call Meg about 25 times per day when she was at school. Especially right before bed. I would often send her a little inspirational quote or just a how are you. Then we would text back and forth for just a few minutes but it was enough for both of us to feel connected. Now that I can't do that, I am going nuts. I have written to her 3 times, sent her a package, and literally check the email about 800 times per day, just hoping for a response. And she's only been gone 2 days!!!!!  It's killing me. I feel empty. I miss that connection. It's not really getting much better but maybe I haven't given it enough time yet.  Ya think??  I'm not much good at this missionary mom stuff.