A few days ago, I was stumbling around on Facebook when I came across something that made me chuckle. Under our account settings, I had at one time set up a link to this blog. What made me chuckle was I have not updated this blog in over a year! So this morning, after breakfast, Connie said to me, "You know what you haven't done in a long time?? Updated the blog!" So...after a brief hiatus, the Late-breaking Details blog has been resurrected!
I'll try to reach back and remember some details from around the time I stopped posting here. Don't worry, I won't bore you...too badly.
There have been a few changes in our lives since you last heard from us on this blog. In August of 2008, I lost my job as a Corrections Deputy with the Kent County Sheriff's Department. It's a long, crazy story so I won't get into it. I was able to find some part-time work with a Deputy I used to work with. We did some commercial cleaning and stripped/waxed tile floors. Also around this time, we were preparing for the arrival of our son, Ian. Connie was planning on quitting her job at Starbucks, but then we found out the company had decided to close 600 stores nationwide, and Greenville, Michigan was one of the lucky chosen stores to be closed. So, Connie stuck around until they closed the doors in September 2008.
One of the best moments in our lives came on the afternoon of November 24, 2008, when we welcomed our son, Ian Joshua Sanders, into this world. Connie had been due on November 15th, but Ian was just not ready to come yet. So we waited for him, and I suppose he did give us a few more days to prepare. On the evening of November 23rd, Connie and I were sitting in our apartment enjoying a quiet Sunday night together, when all of the sudden, Connie bolted from the room, exclaiming that "MY WATER JUST BROKE!!!!" So off to the hospital we went! Mind you, we had taken a "false alarm" trip to the hospital the Wednesday before, but we knew THIS was it! So after a sleepless night, an epidural, and an hour of pushing, a blessing unlike any other was brought into our lives at 12:58pm. Ian is now 1 year old and growing fast. As I'm typing this, he's here next to me, bouncing in his Johnny Jump Up, practicing a word he just learned: "Hi!...Hi!....Hi!....Hi!" He says "hi" to anyone and everyone who walks by now.
After bringing our little boy home later that week, another reality set in. With unemployment payments as our only income, there was no way we were going to be able to stay in our apartment in Rockford. But God knew that, and my parents were already in the process of purchasing a foreclosed house in Greenville. Now this house had been empty for over a year, and the people who occupied it before us had absolutely no interest in it's upkeep whatsoever. So, to say the least, there was a lot of work to be done! But, with the help of family and friends, we got everything cleaned, painted, and repaired. We moved in January 2009, and we're still fixing things here and there, but this little house has become our home, and we enjoy it here. Parents make pretty decent landlords, too.
In May 2009, I was able to pick up some more part-time work with a large farming operation here in Greenville. My uncle is the farm manager who oversees the crops that feed over 2,000 head of dairy cows. So I was able to work all summer picking rocks, merging alfalfa, spreading manure, and trying not to break the expensive equipment I was running.
On June 22nd, I had to say goodbye to a very special lady in my life. My Great-Grandma, who was 87, passed away less than one year after we had said goodbye to my Great-Grandpa, who was 90. I guess after 70 years of marriage, two people just can't handle being apart for too long. Well, they're back together now, and probably driving each other a little crazy now and then, like they did when they were together here on earth. It's going to be great to see them again someday.
Here's a little tip for anyone who's job-hunting. If anyone ever comes up to you and says, "Hey, I know someone who knows someone and I think I can get you a job,"...don't get your hopes up! After experiencing this several times during the summer, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to resort to full-time panhandling to make a living. But, as He always does, God just kept providing for us.
In September 2009, Connie and I found out that we were going to be parents again! While this came as a bit of a surprise, we were thrilled to learn this and we are very excited. She is due in May 2010, so we're getting ready to have two little ones in the house. We have an ultrasound next week and we're going to try and see if it's a boy or girl. We'll keep you posted...
Well, just last month, in early November, I was bouncing along in tractor, discing up a harvested corn field, when my phone rang. It was another potential employer who wanted a job interview. Now, I was excited, don't get me wrong; but after experiencing this several times over the last few months, I was keeping my excitement in check. I'm now happy to say I can unleash my excitement, because as of December 07, 2009, I am officially employed full-time again! I'm working in Loss Prevention for Meijer, a large retail chain here in the upper Mid-West. I'm just finishing up my first week, and still have a lot to learn, but I'm thoroughly enjoying every minute of it! Thank the Lord for his provision!
We're getting ready for Christmas now. The tree is up, and Connie has decorated rather nicely around the house. So far, Ian is being pretty good about getting into the tree; although he has transgressed a few times and just had to touch an ornament or two. We've also got some snow to deal with now, too. But, it wouldn't quite be the same without snow around Christmas time. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And, to quote the famous Tiny Tim from Dickens' Christmas Carol...
"God Bless Us, Every One!"
