Friday, August 22, 2008

What's Been Happening


Foyer Wall

A few people have asked what happened with my husband's job (when I ended my last blog my husband position was about to be eliminated do to the poor economy). Well they decided to keep him on in a position he used to do. He's back to being a District Manager. He's not happy about it because it involves alot of traveling but we're happy to still have our medical benefits and of course a steady paycheck! His salary now is almost $1300 less A MONTH than what he was making before. That's quite a "chunk o change"! So as you can imagine this has thrown a wrench into lots of our plans for the future not to mention how we live day to day.


Our daughter is a junior in high school so she will be off to college in two years and of course the college she really, really, really wants to go to is the Savannah College of Art & Design (right now tuition is about $25,ooo a year. Yikes it gives me palpitations to even think about it! Also this house is a fixer upper and somethings just can't be solved with paint (what??? - no way!!!). Then there's retirement to think about. Not to mention just buying groceries and paying the bills.


So it's a challenge that's for sure. But I have faith that it will all work out. Not the I'll leave it in the Lord's hands and just go along my merry way kind of faith. But the kind that requires me to put out some effort to make things happen. That may mean getting a job outside my home at some point or starting a business (at some point you can only make but so many cuts to your budget). So we'll see what the morrow brings as they say :-)


Anyway, my husband is getting back from Baton Rouge this afternoon and I hope "Fay" doesn't cause him any delays/turbulence. He doesn't like flying and yet his job requires that he fly someplace every week - what a great guy I have!






21 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Welcome back Manuela. I missed your blog very much! We have alot in common, very similar decorating tastes and more. It is nice to know that you will be posting again. I look forward to them.
Hugs My Sweet Friend!
Penny

Free Art Printables said...

Manuela! I am so happy you are up and blogging again! I jumped for joy when I read your new address! I've already put you on my blogroll and will help you get the word out! Jen

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Manuela, I am thrilled you are back. I have missed you! Thanks for updating my new address and I'll update yours as well.

On the college tuition, it sometimes pays to be poor when your kids go to private colleges. There are often lots of scholarships and grants out there and it has been our experience that you might be able to cut that $25,000 down a lot depending on what is available for your school.

Blessings on the journey ahead,

Melissa

Rue said...

Hi Manuela!!

I'm so glad you're back :)

It was so depressing to delete your blog from my list, but now I'm putting your new blog right back on there!

I hope your hubby has a safe flight home.

hugs,
rue

Mrs. Jones said...

Glad you're back. Before I scrolled down and officially learned that it was your blog, I thought "that sure does look like a Manuela picture!"

~Heather

Debra from Bungalow said...

I've missed you & looked for you several times! So glad you're back, Hugs, DebraK

AJ said...

Well I'm glad you are back! You left when I had just discovered the world of blogging! I so understand the job situation. My husband lost his job in July. It stinks and has definitely put a kink in my redecorating plans:) I look forward to keeping up with your new blog! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

So good to see you back, Manuela! Glad to hear your husband is still employed, even if it's not the ideal situation. I'm probably going to have to buckle down and find some real work - besides our household, my daughter needs all the help she can get with college expenses. Plus our two 23 year old sons really need help too. Aargh! So glad I found you.

Jacki

vintage girl at heart said...

Oh I am so glad that you are back.. I missed you and kept looking for you thinking I was typing it in wrong!!
Sorry to hear about your Hubby's job. Hope something wonderful happens so that he will not have to travel so much.
Looking forward to seeing more of you and your wonderful sense of style!!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Welcome back, girlfriend! I will definitely check in on you often. Missed you & glad you are back.

xo,
Rhoda

Vee said...

Wonderful to find you again via Linda's Blue Gate Blog! It makes me happier than you can possibly know. Interesting challenges you are facing like so many of us. I look forward to seeing how you work through them.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you won Brenda's (Coffee, Tea, Books and Me) drawing! I was delighted to find out that you have a new blog.

Anonymous said...

Manuela,
So glad you are back to blogging - you have a gift for sure.

That is wonderful that your husband still has a job. I'm sure the cut is not easy but the alternative would have been a lot worse I bet.

We lost more than 50% of our income since last year so I truly understand. We're doing all that we can and I know things will somehow work out. These days it's a positive thing just to have a job.

I wish you and your family all the best!

Niki said...

So nice to see you back "in the neighborhood", Manuela. I missed you!
Blessings
Niki

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Hi Manuela!
Welcome back. Glad to hear your hubby still holds a position with his company (sorry about traveling aspect, though).

I completely understand about the challenges of a fixer upper. I think I've taken the virtues of paint as far as they will go. LOL

Oh, and no we don't spray our peaches, or anything else in the garden.
We dusted the tomatoes because of worms one year, and found several dead birdies! :(
Turns out they were eating the dusted worms. That was enough to make me stop.

Kimberly

martha said...

Missed you! Glad you're back. So many of us are in similar financial situations. Looking forward to any money making or saving strategies you might find. Welcome back!

Jenny said...

I just stumbled across your blog. I'm so glad your back. I loved your other blog and have missed your wonderful posts. I'm adding you back in my blog roll.

~Jenny

Kathleen Grace said...

I saw the name Manuela in my comments and thought it MUSt be you! Yay, I have thought of you off and on since you quit the old blog and wondered how I would find you if you started fresh. Thanks for leading me back here! Regardeing your husbands job, I can relate, we are in much the same situation. This year our youngest is attending a private university that we could have never afforded in better times! The cuts hubby has taken in pay in the last 18 months means she got enough financial aid to go to the university of her choice. The silver lining in the cloud!

Anonymous said...

Manuela,I am an avid blog lurker and was so saddened when you left the blogging world. Imagine how happy I was to find that you started back. Love your blog, I feel that I found a long lost friend..welcome back!

Rhondi said...

Hi again. My husband's salary was reduced $500 a month at the start of this year, plus he didn't get his Christmas bonus which was usually a large one, so I know a little of what you are going through fiancially. His job has been tenuous this entire year, so we have really had to rely on the Lord too.
Hugs, Rhondi

Gen said...

you've been busy everything looks great. I just recently moved into a new home myself. Loved your bookcase you did with the toile wallpaper found here http://thepleasuresofhomemaking.blogspot.com/2009/06/change-is-refreshing-bookcase-makeover.html

could you please tell me the manufacturer of the wallpaper or where I may find it I cannot find that shade of blue anywhere! I want to put it in the back of my bookcase I think its' just beautiful you did a wonderful job.