Its Late...I am tired...Lets call it a night

Well the days of being unemployed are going ok. I am still working contract for the company who took us over, but the work is very tiring. I am learning some new things which is always good, but I have been putting in some late nights. So since I have signed out I thought I would give my demanding Friends an update..

So I had an interview that went really well. However they want me to take a $20K paycut. Ok TOTALLY not going to happen. I have worked too hard the past 8 years to be where I was at 3 years ago. Hello people....I want to make steps forward, not leaps and bounds BACKWARDS!!!! So I told them what I wanted, pay vacation the whole shabag. I got a call for a second interview... Funny I think. So it is suppose to be tomorrow. But the guy hasn't called me back to give me the address. So I am thinking since its 9:44 my time that this will be pushed off until Monday.

It would be a good job, and I am excited about it. But I would just need to be sure that I won't be canned in 7 months, since part of the work they want me to do is clean up... Maybe I could work contract. That wouldn't be so bad I guess..

So anyways that is the scoop on my job search.

Well as for the family all is well. Taylor is about to finish up her 10th grade year. Hard to believe. We have reached a turning point with her and plans are now to have her move home with her Mom. Her mom I think can give her that support she is yearning for. Things that I can't give her. Jamie and I are very torn and we wonder if we are doing the right thing. Taylor is a wonderful girl, but very challenging. We will see how the summer goes, and if we all agree she may be back. Which is ok. We truly want what is best for her. Her mom is getting her into counseling which I think will help. My insurance SUCKS when it come to that. So $ wise, it was not feasible for us to do it. So I am excited that she will be able to start that. I think with what she has held onto from Springboard and maybe more maturity, just maybe a light bulb will go on. I just ask you all to pray for her, pray for her well being. Pray for her four parents who are torn on what the next step should be. Pray that we all continue to work together to make the right choices for her. Pray for her brothers. One will be missing his sissy and the other will be so glad to have her around. Just pray for all of us. LOL.

Well I suppose I should close. If anyone does read my blog, and you have any helpful hints or suggestions on either matter, please leave a comment. :-)

Good night... If I had my book of scriptures that my friend Lori gave me I could end in that... But I don't! LOL

So Good night!!

Demanding Friends, Taylor Sweet Sixteen

This is for Sara L…. Didn’t think many people read this blog.. But since she DEMANDS and entry… Here you go!!!! (Deep down thanks for motivating me)

First –

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN TAYLOR!!!!!!! I hope your day is fill with much love and happiness. (We will be posting a pictures of the roses we got her along with the balloons Jackson picked out when I get home…) I can Hardly believe that she is 16…. Thank goodness we are not allowing her to get her drivers license…. EVERYONE YOU ARE SAFE!!!! Until she moves to SD. Then watch out, because I think she will get her license there..

Friday is our big party at Amazing Jakes…(Geez my copier keeps Jamming… I’ll be back…) Ok I am back…. So the party should be good. We will have ALL the grandmas here as well as our good friends the Castertons. So we should be able to have a good time..

As for me and my job search well its going… I spent 2 weeks in MN to unwind, which I needed to badly. My brain was fried and my stress was high. But a massage before I left and being surrounded by Family was good. I ended up at my sister Sarah’s most of the time. I got to babysit her kids for a week. We all had a good time and Jackson loved playing trains with his cousins!! I cam back to AZ to work my contract job, which is ok. Pretty boring but it pays the bills for now. I have an interview today with a recruiter, so those are always fun. But a real promising interview tomorrow and one other great lead from one of Jamie’s friends. That job is close to Jackson’s daycare so you can’t go wrong with that!!!! I am praying that one will pan out the best.

Other than that, I am enjoying some time with my mom. Writing my blog for my DEMANDING friend Sara. (However, its good to know you are reading it!!!) and going to get back into scrapping. That is thanks to my friend Nancy (from church)! We had a great time scrapping last Saturday night. Oh and loving a new drink called an Apple Tini (Thanks Kim, My neighbor and friend who has gotten me addicted to those! Can’t wait for eggs rolls and clue on Monday!)


I will fill you all in on my interviews and let you know how they go. Please pray for me that I find a job soon.

Taylor's Sweet 16

So Taylor....She is going to be 16 soon. So to ensure I am ready for this big event I have done a ticker!



So as you can see.... 2 months 1 week 4 days until the big day! Now if you are reading this 2 days from now note the above will have changed...LOL

So we have begun to plan our big day. Taylor had many ideas of what she would like to do for the big day, but not all were that cost effective. I mean come on, she does want presents right??? So we have agreed on Amazing Jakes. Which is a cool fun place with an all you can eat buffet, laser tag, arcade games, and all that other fun stuff that kids just LOVE!!!! But this too is not cheep at all. We are talking $15.99 a kid!!! I mean come on people do people not realize that in ..........


I mean I will be unemployed!!! But I figured since the last three years I have gotten away with not very big parties that we could do this. So 14 kids later, 15 with her, plus 4 other adults and 1 Mr. Jackson we are talking 20 people. $319.80 PLUS Tax later! But you know a girl only turns 16 once so I have agreed. But I mean come on!!! $320!!!!! Now I have asked her mother to help. But I am not going to count on that until the monies are in hand. I am sure she will help out, so don't get me wrong, but I mean $320!!!!

So to be more frugal, I have asked Taylor to make her own invites. So I am saving at least $20 there. That has to be worth something! LOL

But in the end we have one happy girl and hopefully we will have a fun party. I will have to post pictures of Taylor's creative invites. She is a good card maker and really has a talent for doing that. I will try and add that to my list of tasks!!

So stay tuned for more Birthday updates!!

Playing Catch Up...

Well I can hardly believe its been a month since I last posted... Boy am I am slacker... Well lots has happend... In no particular Order:

1. Got notice I am loosing my job....Will be done on or before March 31 of 2009

2. Jackson got moved up to the 2 year room. Very tramatic for his mother.

3. My parents came to town! very exciting to spend another early Christmas with them.

4. taylors Orchastra Conert

5. Jackson Debut in his Watch Me Grow Christmas Pagent

6. Jamie busy with Photography..

7. Lost my Cell Phone....The worls as we new it, ended until today when I got my new one!!

(Laura, since you are the only who reads this blog... You can call me again!!I have a new phone! Yeah!!)

We had another exciting time with my parents. We took an ASU Boy BBall game, the park n swap, food, more food, desert, more desert. Open presents and just had a blast. We pack more into 4 days than most people can! Jackson had a blast opening up his presents and playing with his new toys. He still pull the Thomas the Train backpack "Gamma and Gamma (no Pa)" gave him.

From our family to yours we wish you a very merry CHRISTmas and a happy new year!! Remember that jesus is the resaon for the season!! Let us Celebrate his birth!!

To Close...I will just share some pictures of Jackson's first ever Christmas Pagent!!

Taylors New Room

The Pictures should speak for themselves... But this is Taylors new room and she LOVES it! Amen to that!







Jackson Trying to help by making funny faces while Taylor is trying to work!!

JOb Well Done TAYLOR!! LOOKS AWESOME!!!


Mama J -

Springboard Graduation

Well on September 29th we will be heading down to Tucson to attend the annual graduation for Springboard. Taylor is very excited to go back and see her counselor Ms. Trish, the house parents and others from the house. Of course all of the gals that she met on this journey as well.

We are also very excited as this will a big part of Taylor journey. To get the recognition of completing this program and making all the changes she has made. We have also been given the honor of being selected to give our testimony about how Springboard has impacted our lives /family. This is a huge honor not only for our family but especially for Taylor. She really impacted so many people and touched so many people’s lives. I am really proud of all that she has accomplished.

You will have to stay tuned to read our testimony. As for now, we are hoping we don’t get rained out this weekend. We are holding a garage sale in honor of Springboard. We are going to buy items for the house and hopefully give a donation as well. So pray that we have lots of traffic at our sale!!

Have a wonderful Weekend!

Fine Time with Taylor

Taylor Taylor....She can be so funny!!!! Since her arrival home she has made so many positive changes that I can even begin. So far so good is what we are saying...

Last night her and I had a fun night. After Jackson went to bed I went in and just "hung out" with her. We chatted about her friend Jesse and other stuff. Then I begged her to scratch my back. Literally begged! She has fake nails so when you have that itch...it feels good to have your back scratched. But what was so funny and I am sure this does not do it justice is that she and I got laughing so hard. She made this cat noise while we were talking about something...I don't even remember what the conversation ones. But then I was on the floor laughing and she was in her bed, acting like a cat making these weird cat noises! even the dog came in to check it out.

But it is sill moments like this, that maybe make no sense at all that are so enjoyable. It shows me that we have all learned to laugh again, have fun and take time out of our busy day to just sit, chat, laugh and be a family. It also shows me that Taylor continues to thrive in the changes she has made. She has found God and is serving him.

What a blessing!

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them all." Matthew 18:19,20

Taylor Jordan Hines

Taylor Jordan Hines:

Springboard:
Well first I just want to say THANK YOU to all the staff at Springboard. It is a truly amazing facility and without it who knows where our family would be. It was by the grace of God that we heard of the place and we are ever so thankful that God guided us there. Taylor’s counselors really loved her and really work with these girls 24/7 to help them see there blessings in life, bring God into there lives, and help them prepare for there lives outside of Springboard. Our counselor Trisha was amazing. She is truly and Angel. Taylor learned so much at Springboard, not only about herself, but about relationships, and how different things impact her life. She has made so many positive changes.

She started school again at Desert Ridge High School. She is in 10th grade. She is about 3 credits behind, but she will make that up very fast. She is focusing on her studies and choosing who she will have a part of her life.

In honor of her time at Springboard we will be hosting a garage sale this weekend and the earning will go towards a care package for the girls. I am sure it will include mostly yearn, because the girls can crochet in there down time and they are sparse on "cool" colors as Taylor would say. So are hoping to raise some good Dollars to send them more yarn than they know what to do with.

She is getting anxious for our trip back to Minnesota over Labor day. She can hardly wait for the fair. Plus she can't wait to see her cousins. It will be nice to take her away for a long weekend since she didn't really have a summer or a birthday. I hope we can surprise her with a cake and celebrate with family their if time permits. She will have a blast and I hope that everyone see the wonderful changes she has made and welcome her with open arms.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy Children" Isaiah 54:13