God is Good

Guilty. That's what I feel. Why? Because for Christmas, I got about $200 in Best Buy giftcards and I spent them on myself. Every year for holidays, I usually get quite a few of them, but I usually turn right around and spend them on other people. Brian told me this year was to be different... I did spend it on myself like a week ago, and still feel guilty!! Haha... I'm a weirdo!

I interviewed at another National City today. It's so funny that I have to interview for my own job, especially since it isn't my fault that my branch is closing. When we found out it was closing, we were all promised out jobs when we closed. Well... there are a few of us from my branch trying to get this ONE spot... the manager at the new branch said that quite a few branches would be cutting back on staff... That raises a question... "What happens to those of us who won't get the position at this ONE branch??" I don't know. The manager asked about the other girl who is in line for the position. I was honest with her. V is an amazing person to work with and I spoke highly of her. Some of you may be thinking, Why on Earth would she praise her competition?? Well... because #1, she is my friend. #2, I can't say anything bad about her... she is SO flipping funny! #3, this year, I'm not going to bash anyone... well... wait... I'll try not to bash anyone. So far, I've done pretty good!

Brian is supposed to find out his test results from Grand Rapids today. I'm excited, because I feel so peaceful about going that way. It would be hard to be even further away from family and friends, but God is good. He is faithful and doesn't give us anything we can't handle.

My stress level has been through the roof again. I am not quite sure why. I start classes again. One of my profs sent us an email telling us this is going to be the hardest class we take at Liberty (which is funny, because most of my teachers have always said that about their own classes). Anyways, she sent the email stating we needed to log into blackboard to get our first assignments... and blackboard is down for a few more days yet. That sucks! I will have a few late nights trying to get ready for the first assignment... we have to write a HUGE BIG NASTY term paper...

Let it be known: I HATE TERM PAPERS!


I have really been missing relationships lately. I desire to show more of my heart (Godly) to people and still have a shield around it. I want people to see what God has done in me and work through me. My bible is going to be my new best friend this year. I want to learn more and more about Him and use my new learnings in every day life!

One last thing... for those of you who are of the praying kind. My co-worker has been stressed out a little bit lately. Her ex-boyfriend had a stroke a few days ago. I think he is close to 24 years of age. His family lives in Detroit (about 30 mins from here) and they won't come see him or spend time with him. It's all on my friends shoulders to take care of him and make sure he is still doing ok. He did get released today on lots of medication and his family still wont come to see him... because it's "too far away." Please pray for him and for my coworker.

Thanks and have a great day!

Grand Rapids??

Brian tested in Grand Rapids yesterday. If he passes (which we will find out today) he will go back next week for an interview; and then conditional job offers are sent out March 16th (I think). They are hiring 14 people and there are over 400 applicants. If we had to move there, I don't think I would mind because the cost of living (houses) are much cheaper over there. It would just be difficult being away from family when we decide to have children.

I start classes at Liberty University next week. Scary... funny though because my classes aren't showing up online yet... i hope everything gets worked out so I get everything I need!

My hours at work have been cut. I worked 35-40 hours a week for the past 1.5 years, now I am at 20... no warnings... no nothing. Ah well... it's all in Gods hands!

Welcome Baby Herr

Chris & Christina gave birth to Christopher Paul Herr II on December 27th!

Welcome to the group little man!!

And CONGRATULATIONS to the new parents!

:o)

Post Christmas Update...

Christmas has come and gone and it was a good one.

Christmas Eve we spent in Port Huron with my family. I got to see & spend time with a few of my cousins that I don't usually see. We shared funny stories and watched the kids open presents. My mom had a great idea this year and made everyone baskets of food items she canned. Overall, it was really inexpensive and really delicious! We had to leave a little early though because Brian had to work Christmas morning.

After he got out of work, we went to Metamora, to have family Christmas with the Wilson's. It was fun and Grandpa & Grandma Wilson were down with Aunt Frieda. We sang, we read a story, and just spent time together. Yet again, another successful Christmas.

On the 26th, we went to Caro to spend Christmas with the Wilson/Kreh/Kosloski/Frederick families. Such a fun time. Traci, Brian's cousin, got engaged on Christmas so it was another time of celebration. We also celebrated Brians graduation from the police academy. It was a nice to have a lot of different celebrations going on! We actually just found out that Brian will be featured in the County Press in Lapeer. He goes to test in Grand Rapids next week for a written test, then oral boards the week after. I'm so proud of him.

A customer of mine came in and we were talking camera talk. I told her to ask her son about an editing program called Lightroom from Adobe. She talked to her son and he gave her his activation code to give to me. Therefore, I have a super sweet editing program that I was going to use my BestBuy gift cards to get it, and now I have it for free. It's awesome... of course, I have absolutely no idea what I am doing with it as of yet, but I am oober excited to get to know the program!

Tonight we are heading to Lapeer for New Years Eve. I still don't fully understand why NYE is such a big holiday. I'm not a big drinker and I don't stay up late... to me... it's just another day of the week. I don't think we will be out too late though, so that will be nice.

To all of you celebraters... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What a Good Day for a Graduation!

I get to go to it... that's the jist. It was interesting how it all went down but nonetheless, I get to go. In my attempt to be able to go, I told my acting manager that I would come in this morning to do the ATM, then go to the graduation and come back if need be. Her big issue now was having coverage for lunches. One of my coworkers who has been off since Wednesday (using up the last of her vacation) volunteered to come in to cover lunches.

We are slow at that branch most of the time... but wait... lets add what is going on today...

It's snowing realllllllllllllllly hard. For a branch that doesn't stay that busy, today is going to be mega slow. I called and they are just going to audit the ATM so I don't have to drive in this just to be there for 20 mintues. But in all honesty, it's going to be dead there today. Personal opinion, they don't even need Susan to go in to cover lunches because it's going to be dead. Last year when we had a semi-storm, I cleaned the whole branch from top to bottom, and had about 3 customers for the whole day...

Anyways... good news on another front...
I have 2 interviews coming up. One at Fifth Third Bank and one at Citizens Bank. They both sound good, although there is one place that is "really excited" to talk to me. We'll see what is to come from those...

Today is Brian's graduation. Mom & Dad Wilson are supposed to come down, however due to the massive amounts of snow here, I doubt they will be able to make it. I'm glad it worked out for me to go because if I couldn't then he would have no one there to support him.

So... to sum up the past 24 hours. I have one amazing co-worker and a graduation to go to.

Holy Crap on the DRAMA!

***DISCLAIMER*** I'm venting...

Drama. I have to admit one thing about it. I HATE it. Why? Because it is so freakin high school. Last time I checked, I've been out of high school for 7 years. Brian graduates in 2 days from the academy. What should be a time of celebration is turing into a time of turmoil for me. 5 months ago, I requested this Friday off of work. It was approved by then manager Tammy. Well, she left and David took her place. He too, approved it. He sent me plenty of emails stating, "it's on my calendar." Then, David quit... we now have Diane; who told me Friday of last week that she would not give me the time off.

Here's the kicker.

The reason why I am not allowed this day off is because "N...... C... does not give UNPAID days off." That is a direct quote from Diane. Ok... that makes sense... NOT!
FACTS:

1. I am a part time employee... which means I am supposed to work 20 hours a week. (If I were sticking to that schedule, don't you think I would have some unpaid time off?)
2. I work 38-40 hours a week... although the money is better, I am not labeled as a full time employee, which means I get not full time benefits. I pay $110 more a paycheck for insurance than a full time employee. When asked if I can be labeled as Full Time, I was told no because they don't want to give me the benefits... BUT!!! They won't give me the part time hours. Make sense?? NOPE!
3. The employee handbook specifically says that "any absenses after the 6 allowed days will be unpaid." Wait a minute... wasn't I just told that work doesn't allow unpaid days off.
4. Our branch is closing in February... at first we were all promised jobs, but that was just a ploy so we wouldn't all quit during the time of the closure... we now know that only two people (besides the 2 who were already promised positions elsewhere) will be going to other branches.

In talking with Diane today, she said, "even if I were to give you the day off, we wouldn't have coverage." Ok.. let me try to paint a picture for you... if you're in banking you will know the lingo, if not I will try to explain...

When I first started at my branch, we would fill our sorts (50 checks total) every hour or so, meaning we were very busy. To date (since our branch is closing) I don't even fill my sorts for a whole day... = we are SLOW.

So here I sit in the biggest dilemma... I have 2 days to finally decide what to do. I am expected to be at work on Friday and if I don't go, then I might be getting fired. Yep. That looks HORRIBLE on a resume, but is it fair that this has been approved for so long until just this past friday? I even found someone to work for me but that is no longer allowed. You're not allowed to have people cover your shifts... RIGHT... that's a bunch of bull.


What do I do?
OPTION 1: Go to the graduation and support my husband in a very big day in his/our life. Who cares anyway?? The branch is closing in February and my job isn't guaranteed. During this time (if I do get fired - and I am already doing it) I can look for another job.
OPTION 2: Care more about my resume and don't have to worry about losing my job or filing for unemployment, which I GUARANTEE my job will fight.

Oh... let me add this in... I was told if I go to the graduation, I will be terminated... If I don't go to the graduation and DO go to work, I will be terminated at the end of business day on Friday. So I can skip the graduation to make my employer happy, but still get fired at the end of the day. Hmmmm....

Wait... One more thing... I love my job... haha... talk about being stuck between a rock & a hard place!


THOUGHTS???????

It's Almost Over

10 days left of the WCC Police Academy. 10 days... you know... I thought this day would never come. In the beginning, I thought this was going to go by so slowly, but here we are... at the final lap. It's crazy to think that a week from Friday, Brian graduates. I'm so proud of him and all of his accomplishments. He has succeeded at so many things... that I just have to commend him for all of his hard work.

We are on the hunt for jobs now... I guess you could say both of us, however, I cannot really start looking until he gets a police officer job. If we have to move, it's really no big deal for me to just start looking later. However, due to some extrenuating circumstances in the banking industry, I would really like to start looking for another job. Our branch here on Packard/Brockman will be closing in February and I would really like full time work to make sure all of our bills are covered. Our savings account has been depleted and I am really hoping just to make it through this month. We went from $4000 in it to $600... and still have bills to pay... not to mention my hours getting majorly cut. Ah well... I'm faithful that God has something in his big plan for us...

I really want Brian to get a job right after the academy. I know jobs in Michigan are far and few, and moving out of the state is really no option for now. I wouldn't mind it because there are a lot of places outside of Michigan that are hiring, but having to relocate can be a difficult task. Maybe that is what we will do... I don't know. I'm just super stressed about it.

In other news... I start Liberty University this coming January. I'm excited about that... as I am on a new career path with hopefully lots of money.

I also, am really wanting my camera. I would really like to get it but I know that wouldn't be a wise financial decision on our behalf.

So yeah... if you are the praying type... please pray for our finances. I'm wiggin out.