General Updates

So I'm starting my New Year's Resolution today, so I can actually keep it next year. My goal is to blog at least once a week again to stay caught up. I love using the blog as my journal and recording the things (minor and big) that happen in our lives. I've gotten out of the habit so I'm going to play catchup and hopefully be caught up so I can start the New Year off right!

So first I'll go over some basic updates and then do specific blogs about events after that.

Jon still has one semester left in school. He was enrolled in enough classes to finish this semester but since he was unemployed through mid November, he had to drop a couple classes because we couldn't afford it at the time. He was denied financial aid for some reason, but then in December he was awarded financial aid...confusing, but that also means he still has one more semester. But thankfully he's finished the last one for his certification. He is now a certified H.V.A.C. technician, and in 2 more classes he will finally have his A.A.S. It's been a long time, but he's really working hard.

He finally started working out at the Gila Bend Solar Plant in November. He had originally gotten a temp contract job at the nuclear power plant out here but due to some complications with his old boss false information was provided about him and they decided not to hire him. He had already turned down the other job because he was on at the power plant, so it took another month before he finally started working. However, it was definitely a blessing when he started. His first day he was promoted to team lead and crane operator and now is making enough $$ to bring us back out of the hole we were in. He is now working swing shift, from 230-11, and they bus him to and from work so he doesn't need to pay for gas which is great! He enjoys his job and is grateful to have one, and that his unemployment period wasn't longer. (As am I!)

It was really hard getting by during our unemployment period; when my mom passed away she had life insurance which helped us through a few months. We didn't really spend much and the church helped us out with some bills for a couple months. Now we are grateful to be able to help others. I was really worried and kind of upset when Jon came home in June because I didn't know how things were going to work out. Sometimes we just need to remember that it's not always going to be easy, but the Lord has a plan and we need to trust him. If Jon hadn't come home when he did, he wouldn't have been here for me while I was having c-section complications, and wouldn't have been there for me, my mom, or the kids, while my mom was sick and when she passed away. Times were rough financially but it would have been much worse dealing with all the other stuff without Jon around to help support all of us. He is such a great husband and father and we are very lucky to have him.

Want another good example of why he's so great? He really dislikes peanut butter and chocolate together. This week I made some chocolate PB cookies and asked him to try one to make sure they tasted good...I totally forgot that he didn't like them; he looked at me and hesitated for about 30 seconds. I didn't respond so he took a bite, and said "Good, considering it's PB and chocolate!" "Oh yeah!" But he was willing to try it even though he really doesn't like it at all.

Before Jon started working swing, he had a calling with the 11 year old scouts at church. I know he really enjoyed it and was kind of bummed when he got released. But considering they met Tuesday nights at 7 and he was at work then, it wasn't going to work out. That was the second time he's been asked to do scouts since we've been married, and he was excited he could finally do it. Hopefully he can do it another time! :)

My business is doing very well, and I actually got kind of overwhelmed when Jon started working. We didn't have much notice when he started working, so I had a huge sale over the weekend and he started working on Monday. Yikes! So after that the only time I had to work was nap time or bed time, and I was having a hard time keeping up and figuring things out. I actually closed mostly down for the month of December since we had family down here part of the time and I wanted to enjoy the family time and the holiday; starting Jan 1 I will be implementing a new business plan (not sure exactly how yet) but am hoping it will work well. If I didn't mention before, I officially opened my etsy shop under Miskin Makings in August, and now also have a facebook page. I'm still trying to figure out what I enjoy most, so I have done some aprons, fabric hair accessories, coordinating ties/hair items/skirts for the holidays, Halloween accessories and costumes, and a few party items. These are just a few but it's been fun. A year ago I never would have thought I'd be here sewing for my own business, but it's fun. I actually took an entrepreneurship class in my last semester at BYU and decided it wasn't right for me; however, now with shops on Etsy or facebook, it's easy to control your growth and to control how much you can and need to spend to get going. It's been nice to go at my own pace. In a matter of a few days though I jumped from 50 fans to 200 fans on my facebook page and I was very nervous. But it was definitely great! I was busy during October and sold a lot of mini witch hats, and a couple of candy corn tutus. It's fun being creative and I love seeing my creations. I actually made my boys reversible cuddle robes for Christmas with a Marvel comic print on one side and a ultra cuddle fabric on the other; the whole time I was making them I felt like I was sewing for a fancy resort and felt so important! :) I think I also enjoy the sense of accomplishment knowing I created something so beautiful and fun. I signed up for a few boutiques during the holiday season but didn't get to attend; one I couldn't go because I would have been alone with a nursing baby (not going to work for 5 hours at a booth) since Jon was sick, and the second I was so busy I ran out of my inventory. What? I definitely didn't plan for that one. But hopefully I've learned from this and will be better next year.

Jon's birthday was in October, but I don't have any pictures of it because we didn't really do anything. He was let go from the power plant on his birthday (the same day he was supposed to get his first paycheck with them) so we didn't have any money to do anything and weren't in high spirits. But Brenda gave us money so we could go see the movie "Real Steel" with Hugh Jackman, which he'd been wanting to see for months. Jon and I have both gotten good about spending wisely (or not at all) in tight times, but it was still hard not really doing anything for his birthday. Maybe I should give him a late present huh? :)

I guess that's about all now for the overall update. Now I'll start adding individual updates with pictures and fun topics. I'm sure I'll miss some but at least I'll be getting caught up.