Job searches

The job search is going along- we tried a job fair today, not much. Graham scours the internet and has been contacting just about everyone for contacts. I have been trying to find a job that would pay for daycare, so far there is nothing that is scheduled that would pay- the jobs at the job fair today were mostly part-time, on-call or seasonal. I will have to see if there is any daycare that could flex like that in the area.
I am trying to prepare for unemployment days- trying to work with the budget and numbers, it will soon be here. Trying to think of what to stock, how much to save. Luckily we have a well-stocked pantry, and I am hoping we qualify for state health insurance. That is one of my big fears, being without insurance and needing the doctor and our medications. Stocked on my prenatals- still taking them while I nurse Capri, and some allergy meds for True, especially if we can't get shots. They ordered more shot serum, so all we would need to pay is the shots. Tasha stocked on her meds for the trip, and still has a good inhaler for her asthma.
Tasha goes to the Netherlands in a few days, on Sunday. I hope she can do most of the things she is planning, I have no idea about how expensive or easy it is to use transportation there- It seems strange that she will be having experiences so separate from what I've done- I could predict part of what going to Mankato was like, but have no visual picture or idea of this new part of life for her-
Tash, have fun, be safe, take lots of pictures to show your mom!
It also seems so unreachable, there is no way to see her in a little bit, she's going for months. I hope you know I want you to have some grand adventures, Tasha. I also hope you email me!
True seems to be going through a little grumpy phase. Maybe this is hormones for boys, less dramatic, but making an impact. Cherish, on the other hand, is definitely going through a dramatic phase. She wails, she sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button, she wants to be a baby and Rapunzel, and a princess, and a big girl all at once. She wants to play upstairs with her sisters, and have me rock her, and get her pink milk in a bottle, and sneak big girl toys, all in the span of about 7 minutes. She is enjoying the attention of two parents at home more, I think it is helping her, although she is not any calmer. She is going to be an interesting teen.
I have been thinking I want to start a prayer journal for about a year now, but something holds me back. I look at blank books- simple or a little decorated, at Walmart, but can't seem to commit to this simple faith building step. I think I should ask one of the women at church how they do it, I feel I need a prayer journal mentor.
Challenges in the next few weeks- money- we are on our last check before unemployment, plus Promise is aging out of MAC and I am off WIC and I lost my little coffee shop sale all at the same time as the job loss. God provides and will take care f us, I just don't know how, right now. I KNOW that in the posts coming up that everything will have worked out, I just can't see what path will work out to be solutions for us now. In the meantime, another church friend gave us a $20 Cub card yesterday- she gives the kids mittens and hats, she gives the baby clothes, last year she gave us four nice teddy bears to give the kids at Christmas. I think the kindness of friends is God present with us now. That should be enough for now- what's that saying, about a few worries being sufficient for the day? Maybe it's time to slow down and look at the smaller tasks and worries vs the big scary ones-
Small pleasures- True nicknamed Capri "baby hippo" with her 4 big teeth, Graham gave me a long back rub last night, the subzero weather broke, everyone is healthy, the cars are running well, for dinner I made popcorn and cocoa with marshmallow fluff.
Your sister in Christ-
Tracy

Graham lost his day job

I feel like we are entering an economic crunch- there aren't many copywriter jobs around.
Here is the budget I sent to the financial advisor we had with our star tribune story, she has kindly agreed to help us with our finances again-

budget-
church $100
mortgage and home equity loan- $1359 + $500= $1859
heat $193- monthly average, budget bill
electric $107, higher due to furnace running
garbage $22
water and sewer $45
phone $45
gas $200
Graham's money, his gas, etc. $250
credit card payments $700
money paid to last college for dd to close out $122
groceries $350
auto insurance and my life insurance $145
internet, needed for work $61 this includes $15 for basic cable, not needed for work.
medical averages $250 with several prescriptions, could be higher this month, asked our doctor to see everyone who needed to be seen before health insurance runs out.
will need to pay some towards Tasha's school. She is going down to her college tomorrow to meet with financial aid.

We will not be spending for gifts, clothes, household, car or home repair, entertainment, dining out, fast food, lattes, vacation, recreation, 401K, subscriptions, haircuts, or any other easily cut catagory. Did spend $5 to park at the zoo, we had free passes, went for the kid's break. (Also $5 for a little tray of chocolate chip cookies there.)

Total- $4449 plus college $.
Will take $ from the grocery budget to take 4 girls out to lunch at McDonald for Promise's 6th birthday, on Thursday. Homemade cake, presents that I held back from Christmas, thank goodness.
Income $4612 this month, one more month of $4612 in Feb, then down to $538 in unemployment a week, times 4, plus my job at $300 a month and Graham's FedEx job at $600 a month, will be $3052. Luckily our tax refund will come in time to keep the payments going for a little, but not long.
We need internet for work, we need the high speed for Graham to send work samples.

We still have those credit card payments.
I can't find $1200 to cut-Graham will work one more shift and so will I as he can pick-up Promise, and we've both applied for jobs, but so far I can only realistically see $200 in additional income, $1000 still to cut/save. Graham is trying hard to find a job, but there really is not one in his field right now, I think we need to save as much as we can to make the unemployment months and first month of work with no paycheck AND no unemployment work.

Small savings- returning 2 Christmas gifts-$100, someone anonymously sent a $50 Cub card, my friend Fran gave us 15 lbs of pasta products, I applied for state health insurance for the kids. Friends at church gave us $25 cash. My aunt sent a $50 check to go towards hosting Christmas- we had 45 people here.

I will figure out taxes this week, refund will be lower due to increased income.

That is what I sent- I know our monthly total seems high, but besides the credit cards, most of the bills seem in line with the cost of living. I am trying to do what I can, applying for jobs and taking any shift I can. Any ideas are more than welcome.
Capri had her first birthday two days after Graham lost his job. We bought her a present and my parents came over for cake. They brought lots of practical presents, she is very low weight, they brought lots of baby food and two packs of Pediasure, sippy cups and a bottle.

Promise's birthday is Thursday, I am giving her a doodle bear my friend gave me last year, she had seen it in my closet before Christmas. I also have a clock for her, and I bought a pony beanie out of the grocery money. She wants to take three friends to McDonald's and back to the house for cupcakes on Thursday, when she is six.

Getting Tasha the money she needs to make this study abroad will be a challenge, to say the least. I hope financial aid comes up with a whole lot of loans tomorrow, we don't have that kind of money.

The high note of this past week was Capri and her birthday. What a delight our tiny girl is!