I have a job using my degree

well a non-paying one that is... LOL. In order to complete the second/third degrees that I have been working towards while attending Bismarck State College I have to complete an internship of at least 93 hours.

Today I went and interviewed (if you would call it that) with a local Retirement Community and I really think I am going to be a good fit. It is going to give me a lot of experience in the Human Services field... I will be working with the Life Enchancement Group within the community and also doing some office/clerical work as well.

I am really looking forward to this next step in my 'career' and I just know that it will give me some wonderful experience. I know that my goals for my human service degree weren't in with the eldgery population, but honestly, if our family is going to be staying in the area I need to be realistic and there just aren't a lot of adoption worker or NICU support staff careers here.

I go for a meeting next Friday before we leave town, and will start work after the Labor Day holiday! Wish me luck!

Pluses and Minuses to Chad’s new job

Pluses:
Chad has been at his new job for two weeks (tomorrow will be the beginning of the third week) and to be honest HE LOVES IT!!! He loves what he is doing and loves that he is getting to use his brain. He also loves how he feels that he is appreciated for what he knows rather than feeling like a computer/robot could replace him. He loves the change in our benefits as well. Chad is now paid every two weeks rather than the weekly that he was paid previously, so that means that our benefits are paid every two weeks instead of every week. Well after having received his first actual pay stub we realized that while he took a small pay cut to have the job change, we will be ending up with more money in our pockets…and who can’t appreciate that during the current times. We are now paying less every two weeks than we were weekly…we will save thousands of dollars…woohoo!! Chad has been able to come home for lunch with the kids and I and it has been nice to know that I have ‘back-up’ when it comes to bed time.

Minuses:
I never realized how lucky I was to be able to leave a kid or two home with Chad during the day…it has been a delightful experience taking 5 children (ranging from ages 4.5 – 4 months) places. Granted the places we have gone had all been kid friendly activities but I couldn’t imagine if they weren’t… PRAISE to all you families who have more than 4 kids…YOU ROCK…
Another minus, I have to do an extra load of laundry each week. Before Chad just wore “whatever” to work and now that he has a ‘grown-up job’ (his words not mine) he has to wear business attire. So it has certainly taken some getting used to, to make certain that his ‘work clothes’ are clean, ironed etc. I actually had to go OUT and buy an iron and ironing board…which of course gave me several ideas for when we redo the basement for my laundry room. Oh…and a side note, I think the Duggars had a good idea with the family closet right off the laundry room… I mean I know it won’t fly here, but what an amazing idea!!!
And lastly my biggest minus of this new job…having to redo my monthly budget. You see we were used to being paid every week so I knew how to pay bills that way… so now this every two weeks is going to take some getting used to and never mind that the parents of the little boy that I babysit also pay me on the same weeks that Chad gets paid, so while it will be nice to have a lump sum in our checking, it is going to be interesting to redo the budget to make certain that everything is paid properly etc.

Oh…Chad visited his old work this past weekend to see some of his friends and I think he was a little ‘too’ pleased to see that things weren’t running as smoothly as they did when he was working there…to bad the company didn’t realize it before just how much Chad accomplished.

CHAD GOT A NEW JOB!!!!

We are so excited to announce that Chad received an offer for a new job (at a totally different company) yesterday and he has accepted. We as a family are very happy to hear this for several reasons (1) He will have day hours, (2) paid vacation, sick days and holidays, (3) day hours, (4)NO WEEKENDS, oh...and did I mention DAY HOURS?!?!?!

Chad and I are going to have quiet the adjustment period to this change as Chad has worked night for 5 of our 6 married years together (well as long as we have living in Bismarck actually). It should be interesting to see if any parenting dynamics change etc.

It will be wonderful to have him home with us in the evenings and on weekends and not have to worry about anyone calling and interrupting our family time. Oh...and another plus (for me anyways) is that he will have to dress up some (well for him it is dressing up) as he has to have office attire... ha! Granted that is just going to add to my laundry issues... HA! Win some you lose some.. LOL