Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A great day!
What a day it has been. It started off as any other day, as most days usually do if they're called "days". I called my buddy Brian and went over to his place to practice some Hapkido. He is going for his black belt very soon and he wanted to run through some stuff. It's the first time I have been locked and thrown since leaving the Hapkido school here. It was a total blast! In spite of everything that has happened with my old teacher, I have discovered that I still LOVE Hapkido!
While we were running through some stuff I received a call from the Manager in Swift Current informing me that everything had worked out and wondering if I could start work on Monday. Hoo-yeah baby, I could start on Monday!!! I didn't say "hoo-yeah" to him, nor did I refer to him as "baby", as that wouldn't have been very professional but I do believe that my voice indicated my emotional state when I told him that Monday would be just fine.
I got home and spoke with a great lady from the HR department and then had some forms emailed to me. I got them faxed back and everything is a go. It's been quite a ride so far.
In all this I have seen God's hand. From the situation with my old employer/Hapkido teacher, to the extended holiday I have had (2 months) while our financial situation has been met, to getting the job and then the issue with the HR department. I do not remember a time in my life of being so stretched with the only hope being that Christ was in control of it all. The times of just waiting have been the hardest. Waiting for everything. The waiting has been the part of all of this that has killed me. I'm a guy that has to do, not not do. There have been moments of wavering in my trust, but thankfully God's faithfulness does not depend on me. I am so thankful that Jesus Christ IS, and that I don't have to conjure up that pull-up-your-bootstraps feeling and continue on. I am just me, nothing special here, and He does what he is going to do (all those things that God requires of me He takes care of in me) and we both continue on. That's rest. That's freedom. That is Jesus Christ in my life.
And so, all this continues to be Him at work taking care of me, my wife and my family. So far, it's be quite a ride!
While we were running through some stuff I received a call from the Manager in Swift Current informing me that everything had worked out and wondering if I could start work on Monday. Hoo-yeah baby, I could start on Monday!!! I didn't say "hoo-yeah" to him, nor did I refer to him as "baby", as that wouldn't have been very professional but I do believe that my voice indicated my emotional state when I told him that Monday would be just fine.
I got home and spoke with a great lady from the HR department and then had some forms emailed to me. I got them faxed back and everything is a go. It's been quite a ride so far.
In all this I have seen God's hand. From the situation with my old employer/Hapkido teacher, to the extended holiday I have had (2 months) while our financial situation has been met, to getting the job and then the issue with the HR department. I do not remember a time in my life of being so stretched with the only hope being that Christ was in control of it all. The times of just waiting have been the hardest. Waiting for everything. The waiting has been the part of all of this that has killed me. I'm a guy that has to do, not not do. There have been moments of wavering in my trust, but thankfully God's faithfulness does not depend on me. I am so thankful that Jesus Christ IS, and that I don't have to conjure up that pull-up-your-bootstraps feeling and continue on. I am just me, nothing special here, and He does what he is going to do (all those things that God requires of me He takes care of in me) and we both continue on. That's rest. That's freedom. That is Jesus Christ in my life.
And so, all this continues to be Him at work taking care of me, my wife and my family. So far, it's be quite a ride!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
What a weekend (part deux)
With our wild weekend in Swift came the opportunity to view two acreages. The Realtor we contacted did call us back thereby ruining the perfect no-contact theory I had about Swift Current Realtors. Hey, whadaya gonna do!?
The first place we saw wasn't too bad. However the price was pretty high and there is some work, necessary work in my opinion, that needs to be done. For one, the furnace is an oil burning furnace that is bigger than the fridge in my home. Calling it low-efficiency would be an insult to all low-efficiencies everywhere. The second is the wiring. I counted three different kinds, colors and ages of wire going into the panel in the basement. Up to code? Do they have "code" out in the stix? You see, I picture old furnace and lots of oil mixed with various age groups of wire altogether in the same tight quarters. I'm not liking that marriage too much however the hotdogs would cook nicely over that fire. GREAT yard though, with a double detached garage with a pit for oil change, a large quonset to store my lawn mower, and many other barns and buildings of various sizes and many odors.
The second place we looked at could best be complimented by the large fire I just talked about. I remember commenting to Stacey, "You know, when we have a showing we make sure our place is clean and organized when we leave it." Too many things to mention however I will describe one area. The first property we checked out we looked in the barn. It had large cobwebs full of dirt dangling from the ceiling. It's a barn so what does one expect? The second house's basement ceiling was an exact mirror image of the first house's barn. Needless to say we left shortly thereafter but not before petting the very cute puppy in a cage outside.
The first place we saw wasn't too bad. However the price was pretty high and there is some work, necessary work in my opinion, that needs to be done. For one, the furnace is an oil burning furnace that is bigger than the fridge in my home. Calling it low-efficiency would be an insult to all low-efficiencies everywhere. The second is the wiring. I counted three different kinds, colors and ages of wire going into the panel in the basement. Up to code? Do they have "code" out in the stix? You see, I picture old furnace and lots of oil mixed with various age groups of wire altogether in the same tight quarters. I'm not liking that marriage too much however the hotdogs would cook nicely over that fire. GREAT yard though, with a double detached garage with a pit for oil change, a large quonset to store my lawn mower, and many other barns and buildings of various sizes and many odors.
The second place we looked at could best be complimented by the large fire I just talked about. I remember commenting to Stacey, "You know, when we have a showing we make sure our place is clean and organized when we leave it." Too many things to mention however I will describe one area. The first property we checked out we looked in the barn. It had large cobwebs full of dirt dangling from the ceiling. It's a barn so what does one expect? The second house's basement ceiling was an exact mirror image of the first house's barn. Needless to say we left shortly thereafter but not before petting the very cute puppy in a cage outside.
The next few weeks are going to be interesting.
What a weekend!
It was a pretty good weekend, this last. We, that is, the whole family and I, went to Swift Current as I had a job interview on Monday. I had been preparing for a little while but was incredibly nervous about the whole thing. I really want this job and I think that want really added to the anxiety. I finally got to the point where I just said, "Screw it!", and stopped the mental stomping of myself.
I went in and wrote some tests which were not bad. The math section really messed with my mind. You see, I am NOT a math kinda guy. Never was. To this day I still suffer from childhood trauma due to my lack of math skill. Needless to say I was not too confident in this section.
The interview was pretty good. Along the same lines as the interview for the Calgary Police Service. I received a call later that day with them giving me a conditional offer of employment. We ended up staying in Swift another day so I could go to the RCMP detachment to get a criminal record check done.
As of right now I am waiting to get the official offer letter. Once I get it and sign it I am an employee. The Manager said he wanted me to start this Monday. So, I packed up my things and have been making ready to go.
Stacey and the girls will have to remain here while we are selling the house and I will be working and looking for places in Swift.
It's gonna be quite a time the next few weeks. Now, if they would just send me that offer letter.
I went in and wrote some tests which were not bad. The math section really messed with my mind. You see, I am NOT a math kinda guy. Never was. To this day I still suffer from childhood trauma due to my lack of math skill. Needless to say I was not too confident in this section.
The interview was pretty good. Along the same lines as the interview for the Calgary Police Service. I received a call later that day with them giving me a conditional offer of employment. We ended up staying in Swift another day so I could go to the RCMP detachment to get a criminal record check done.
As of right now I am waiting to get the official offer letter. Once I get it and sign it I am an employee. The Manager said he wanted me to start this Monday. So, I packed up my things and have been making ready to go.
Stacey and the girls will have to remain here while we are selling the house and I will be working and looking for places in Swift.
It's gonna be quite a time the next few weeks. Now, if they would just send me that offer letter.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Realtors in Swift Current
So we're planning on moving back to Saskatchewan to get away from the insane stupid craziness that is Calgary and be closer to our families. Our house is up for sale and Stacey and I have been searching the MLS for homes and acreages in Swift Current and area. Sometimes the listings aren't too clear regarding the location of an acreage in relation to Swift Current.An example of one said, "Located near a town with all amenities." The acreage looked nice and I was interested so I emailed the listing Realtor asking for more information about the place. You know, minor stuff like, "What town?" I was surprised to get no response. So, I emailed the Realtor again. Again, no response. It is sad to say that I have emailed Realtors in the Swift Current region in the past and have never received one response. It makes a guy wonder what's up. Surely they must want the business? Surely they're not just interested in local clients? Surely they...okay I can't think of a third "surely" but there's gotta be at least another.
So we are heading to Swift Current this weekend as Monday I have a job interview and some testing I have to do for the job. Pretty exciting. Stacey thought it a great idea to email a Realtor we had heard was good and see if he could show us some properties while we are there. So I did. I am still waiting to hear back from him. We decided that if he does not respond to the email that we will call him.
I mean, sheesh! What does it take to buy a place these days?
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