Getting back to normal-sort of

I had a bit of a nice shock this past week. Hubby got his waiting week unemployment check payment along with his regular unemployment check. With that extra money, plus the blessings we've had over the past couple of weeks, we were actually able to make our February mortgage payment ON TIME!!!! I couldn't even believe it! I was prepared to call the mortgage company this next week and set up a payment arrangement. Now, we can wait to do that until March (if we have to at that time). I don't think I've ever enjoyed making a mortgage payment as much as that one.

The "Big Guy" is taking care of us just as He always has. But, he does have a pretty quirky sense of humor too. On Friday, our home computer crashed. I mean, super crash like a NASCAR type crash. Hubby was trying to download a VB.net update when-KABOOM! We didn't even get the "blue screen of death". It went straight to black. To make matters worse, he couldn't find the recovery cd to repair the computer. We have XP Professional on that computer. The only place in town that had it was OfficeMax...for $300! So, at 8:30 pm, I was driving to OfficeMax to pick up this box that, by weight, shouldn't have costed more than $10. On the way back home, Hubby called to let me know that he thought he had found the recovery cd. After I got back home, I took the box upstairs to him and came back down to check on our son, who was mysteriously quiet. When he is unusually silent in a sign of one thing-he's in trouble. He had decided to use our leather couch as a blank canvas on which to draw with a ballpoint pen! His artwork was quite spectacular. However, my anger overshadowed my appreciation for great art at that moment. Luckily, I remembered from "How Clean Is Your House" that hairspray will remove fresh ink from leather. I was able to get most of it off. Maybe, if we ever sell it, the buyer will have an appreciation for 5 year old artwork.

Our son loves watching videos of himself when he was just a baby. He gets such a kick out of watching him talking and playing. As I watch these videos, I can't help but think what happened to that time. I see our little house we had and wish we were back there. Not for financial reasons, but just because I miss that house. It was our first home. Don't get me wrong, it was small-950 square feet. It has old wooden windows that were really drafty. It has these old white curtains that came with the house (my mom HATED those curtains). It only has 1 bathroom and small closets that barely held our clothes. But, it was the first house we had ever bought. It was where we brought our son home from the hospital. It was where we had some great times and spectacular arguments. It has a huge backyard (although most of it was downhill and wooded). It had great neighbors too.

Hubby said it best today-I wonder what the future holds in store for us. Looking at those videos, back then I wouldn't have thought we would be living in the house we are in now. Nor would I have ever believed that we would be going through this tough time right now. I mean, everyone uses computers. The entire planet uses the internet. If a company doesn't have a website, they are considered obsolete. So, why is it so terribly difficult for my husband, who is great at what he does, to find work? As Christians, we are supposed to trust in God. But, the control freak in me also wants to know what to expect, what's going to happen.

I know I say this each week, but I'm hoping we get good news about a job this week. Hubby has heard about a couple of opportunities, and I'm hopeful that at least one of them pans out this week.