Well, a LOT has gone on in the last couple of weeks. On Friday, May 6th, my work decided that they were going to downsize due to declining enrollments and I was one of the unfortunate 5 that was let go. As you can imagine, I was distraught. We have bills to pay, things to do. How was I going to get all of this done without an income?
I immediately called Ethan, crying of course, and informed him of the news. He was as sweet as could be and asked if I would come to his work and meet him for lunch. I started my trek down to Concordia, tears flowing and thoughts racing.
We talked a lot about what to do next. File for unemployment. Cancel memberships to Weight Watchers and the Gym to save money. Call my student loan processors and ask about my options. Contact my old nanny family and see if they could use a couple hours of work next week. Through out this whole ordeal, Ethan remained calm (although he said he was freaking out inside). His strength really helped me cope and realize that there were options and that there were bigger things for me. Then he said this one thing that changed my mindset from feeling helpless and like a failure to feeling comforted and taken care of...
He said: "Jenna, God knew this was going to happen 20 years ago. He has your whole life planned and He knew that we were going to go through this for a reason."
WOW.
I sat there in awe. He was right. I needed God more than ever and I had forgotten about His plan in that moment.
I went home after lunch with Ethan and thanked God for my mini-vacation. Luckily, I was already searching for a job and had a 2nd interview set up before I was laid off. This was a blessing, not a curse, that God was giving me. A mini-vacation before setting out on my next career move.
I spent the following weekend surrounded by family back in Iowa. It was the most perfect way to spend the days after being laid off. We returned to our home on Sunday night and I had received a call from my nanny family that they would need some help on Monday. God was already working his magic.
That week I nannied on Monday, Thursday, and over the weekend. I went to lunch with co-workers that I was unable to say goodbye to. I prepared for my second interview. And, I continued to lean on Ethan for strength. I remember him coming home one night and telling me that this was the happiest that he's seen me in a while. That I was enjoying being home because I wasn't stressed about going to my old place of work. We talked about how, yes, I was enjoying the time off because it felt like a vacation, but that I was ready to return to work.
Another weekend had passed and I was gearing up for my interview. Monday, May 16th came and I left for my interview as nervous as ever. The interview was great. I was able to talk to the two directors before meeting with the Dean of the Graduate School and calm my nerves down. It just felt so natural, like I was meant to be there all along. As I was leaving my interview, one of the Directors told me that she was going to recommend me for hiring and that we would just be waiting on HR to finish their end of it all. I almost cried. This was amazing. I loved the people I was talking to and I loved the mission and values of the place that I was potentially going to work. Again, God had this planned and was working very hard.
This time off has been great in a way I never thought possible. I have taken the time to thoroughly clean our house and do some things that we just weren't able to do because of working so much. I've gotten to spend great time with my old nanny family, my nephew, and best of all, my amazing and supportive husband. I am generally happier which has been so beneficial to our marriage. We are stronger than ever.
So, for now, I am just waiting on the official offer for the job and then I'll be back on track to doing something I love...
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Strange Things Are Happening
We started out our marriage living in a 3rd floor apartment above a bar. It was a perfect sized apartment for just starting out. The summer was hot and we just happened to have gift cards. Ethan went out and bought an air conditioner unit for our front room. It was magical. Just what we needed!
One morning I was making Ethan breakfast before work. I saw this small flash out of the corner of my eye and I looked down and there was a mouse, staring up at me...probably hoping to get a taste of what I was making. I froze, panicked. Ethan was in the shower and I was being a HUGE wuss.
Finally Ethan came out and noticed that I was upset about something. I told him that I had just seen a mouse to which he said "we don't have a mouse, Jenna." I again told him that YES WE DID. Ethan just couldn't understand how we would have a mouse in a 3rd story apartment above a bar...hard to believe right!? ;-)Anyway. I asked him to check around. He did and didn't find anything.
Right before he left, I asked him to take the trash down in hopes that it would scare the mouse away. I also asked him about the large air conditioner box that was still sitting in our dining room (this must be a guy thing to want to keep all the boxes). I had originally thought that it was being kept to neatly but the air conditioner back into. Boy was I wrong. It was, apparently, a "man cave trash can". Yes, my darling husband had been throwing his wrappers from various food items in it. I took one look and said "I'll bet you anything that the mouse is in there." Again Ethan replied "We don't have a mouse, Jenna."
I told Ethan to hold open the back door and I was going to grab the box and run out to the dumpster. As I was rushing down the 3 flights of stairs a little mouse jumped out of the side of the box and over the railing and SPLAT onto the pavement. I yelped and Ethan asked what was wrong. "The mouse that we didn't have just jumped out of the box and it is on the ground."
Still, he didn't believe me and peeked his head over the railing of our deck and I heard him say "Hmmm...I guess we really DID have a mouse."
Oh, how naive I was to think that this would be an isolated incident...
Fast forward to the fall. It was November of 2010 and we had just had an AMAZING weekend with our family and friends at the Iowa/Northwestern game. Ethan and I were cleaning up the apartment and putting things back in order from the hustle and bustle of the festivities.
About 3 days later Ethan was storming around the apartment in a mad dash. I quietly sat on the couch, thinking it was better that I stay quiet and still than get in his way trying to "help". Finally I asked him what he was looking for and he replied "my Zune, I realized I didn't have it when I was working out and I can't find it anywhere!" I went through the usual 'Did you look here? Did you look there?' and it was no where to be found. This panic went on for a couple days, each day getting more frustrating than the last. One night Ethan was frantically searching again and exclaimed "SOMEONE IN THIS HOUSE IS STEALING STUFF!!!!"
Now, you can imagine my surprise given that there are only two people living in 'THIS HOUSE'...
I burst out laughing, I couldn't help it! "Yes, dear, someone in this house must be stealing stuff..."
Eventually we DID find the Zune...in the pair of shorts that Ethan had worn the day of the Iowa/Northwestern game....right where he left it. ;-)
These are just two of my favorite stories of overlooked or lost items. I'm sure I'm not the only person with a husband like this, but Ethan has a tendency to overlook certain things. They aren't there because he doesn't see them.
Most recently, this was true with left over enchilada's. ENCHILADA'S!
Ethan was going to take them for lunch and went to get them out of the fridge. He opened the door and didn't see them right away so naturally he asked where they were. I pointed out that they were in the fridge with the other left overs. He still didn't see them. Finally I replied "Well, I guess someone in this house is stealing stuff again...."
He gave me that look that only Ethan can give....that "I can't believe you really got me with that one" look. Of course they were in the fridge...behind something....but they were there. We laughed hysterically and "some one in this house is stealing stuff" has become our go-to whenever we think we have lost something.
One morning I was making Ethan breakfast before work. I saw this small flash out of the corner of my eye and I looked down and there was a mouse, staring up at me...probably hoping to get a taste of what I was making. I froze, panicked. Ethan was in the shower and I was being a HUGE wuss.
Finally Ethan came out and noticed that I was upset about something. I told him that I had just seen a mouse to which he said "we don't have a mouse, Jenna." I again told him that YES WE DID. Ethan just couldn't understand how we would have a mouse in a 3rd story apartment above a bar...hard to believe right!? ;-)Anyway. I asked him to check around. He did and didn't find anything.
Right before he left, I asked him to take the trash down in hopes that it would scare the mouse away. I also asked him about the large air conditioner box that was still sitting in our dining room (this must be a guy thing to want to keep all the boxes). I had originally thought that it was being kept to neatly but the air conditioner back into. Boy was I wrong. It was, apparently, a "man cave trash can". Yes, my darling husband had been throwing his wrappers from various food items in it. I took one look and said "I'll bet you anything that the mouse is in there." Again Ethan replied "We don't have a mouse, Jenna."
I told Ethan to hold open the back door and I was going to grab the box and run out to the dumpster. As I was rushing down the 3 flights of stairs a little mouse jumped out of the side of the box and over the railing and SPLAT onto the pavement. I yelped and Ethan asked what was wrong. "The mouse that we didn't have just jumped out of the box and it is on the ground."
Still, he didn't believe me and peeked his head over the railing of our deck and I heard him say "Hmmm...I guess we really DID have a mouse."
Oh, how naive I was to think that this would be an isolated incident...
Fast forward to the fall. It was November of 2010 and we had just had an AMAZING weekend with our family and friends at the Iowa/Northwestern game. Ethan and I were cleaning up the apartment and putting things back in order from the hustle and bustle of the festivities.
About 3 days later Ethan was storming around the apartment in a mad dash. I quietly sat on the couch, thinking it was better that I stay quiet and still than get in his way trying to "help". Finally I asked him what he was looking for and he replied "my Zune, I realized I didn't have it when I was working out and I can't find it anywhere!" I went through the usual 'Did you look here? Did you look there?' and it was no where to be found. This panic went on for a couple days, each day getting more frustrating than the last. One night Ethan was frantically searching again and exclaimed "SOMEONE IN THIS HOUSE IS STEALING STUFF!!!!"
Now, you can imagine my surprise given that there are only two people living in 'THIS HOUSE'...
I burst out laughing, I couldn't help it! "Yes, dear, someone in this house must be stealing stuff..."
Eventually we DID find the Zune...in the pair of shorts that Ethan had worn the day of the Iowa/Northwestern game....right where he left it. ;-)
These are just two of my favorite stories of overlooked or lost items. I'm sure I'm not the only person with a husband like this, but Ethan has a tendency to overlook certain things. They aren't there because he doesn't see them.
Most recently, this was true with left over enchilada's. ENCHILADA'S!
Ethan was going to take them for lunch and went to get them out of the fridge. He opened the door and didn't see them right away so naturally he asked where they were. I pointed out that they were in the fridge with the other left overs. He still didn't see them. Finally I replied "Well, I guess someone in this house is stealing stuff again...."
He gave me that look that only Ethan can give....that "I can't believe you really got me with that one" look. Of course they were in the fridge...behind something....but they were there. We laughed hysterically and "some one in this house is stealing stuff" has become our go-to whenever we think we have lost something.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Fresh Cut
This past weekend provided some really great weather (THANKS MOTHER NATURE)!!
Saturday I was able to go and hang out with my nephew and sister. We did a little shopping and then went to eat at Pomegranate in Evanston. AMAZING. They had really great hummus and the food was really fresh. Meghan and I both said that we would go back any time!
Sunday was a day of cleaning and yard work. Ethan brought out the new weed whacker and showed the grass who was boss. Our yard is the size of a hot tub so there is no need to get a big mower. The weed whacker worked just fine and I'm sure it didn't annoy our neighbors one bit! :-)
It's fun to watch Ethan take on this roll. He finds such joy and ownership with our yard (no matter how small) and wants to make sure it looks the best. I think he did a pretty fabulous job!!!
There are few things that I enjoy more than the smell of fresh cut grass. It reminds me of summer, playing so hard that your shoes turned green, and watching my dad work in the yard. Ethan and I both agreed that the smell of fresh cut grass is just one of those things that brings back really good memories. I was leaving the house this morning for my workout and the grass was just wet enough from the dew to emit this intoxicating aroma. The smell literally stopped me in my tracks. I stood on the deck for a couple minutes and just breathed in the freshness.
Saturday I was able to go and hang out with my nephew and sister. We did a little shopping and then went to eat at Pomegranate in Evanston. AMAZING. They had really great hummus and the food was really fresh. Meghan and I both said that we would go back any time!
Sunday was a day of cleaning and yard work. Ethan brought out the new weed whacker and showed the grass who was boss. Our yard is the size of a hot tub so there is no need to get a big mower. The weed whacker worked just fine and I'm sure it didn't annoy our neighbors one bit! :-)
It's fun to watch Ethan take on this roll. He finds such joy and ownership with our yard (no matter how small) and wants to make sure it looks the best. I think he did a pretty fabulous job!!!
There are few things that I enjoy more than the smell of fresh cut grass. It reminds me of summer, playing so hard that your shoes turned green, and watching my dad work in the yard. Ethan and I both agreed that the smell of fresh cut grass is just one of those things that brings back really good memories. I was leaving the house this morning for my workout and the grass was just wet enough from the dew to emit this intoxicating aroma. The smell literally stopped me in my tracks. I stood on the deck for a couple minutes and just breathed in the freshness.
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