Reduction

Cat two months ago was booming bigger than ever! The global market however is not. Both Adam and my jobs are in related industries supplying to Cat, over time was unlimited, and sometimes I felt like I was drowning in paperwork. Cat has changed their projections substantially, therefore this slow down is effecting our companies. I work in accounting and have been quickly catching up on work and assisting others. I knew my hours would be reduced eventually. At our monthly company lunch yesterday it was announced that rather than layoffs we were all working shorter days for a couple months. The good news is that it's just until the New Year hopefully. We figured we'd compensate with Adam working some over time, until they announced they were cutting that off. We are lucky to be maintaining Full Time, yet it's still going to be a struggle.

This is no new feat as we've been through an 11 month layoff before. We made a lot of necessary cuts then. Cable - home phone - switching cell phones - refinancing - etc. We mostly maintained our sacrifices but we definitely got comfortable having spending money, sent the kids to preschool, Adam got a motorcycle.

So we are brainstorming some ways to make this as seemless as possible, the first being trying to sell the bike and Adams old truck eventually.

When it rains it pours though my friends, truck windows won't roll down, and expenses are around every corner.

It's been a tough year so I'm taking this opportunity to reduce not just my hours but stress. To soak in every extra moment I've been granted with the kids. To use this opportunity to humble ourselves to our needs vs our wants. I'm thankful for going through the lay off that I know we can do it again, that it's not as severe and that we can get through this with out being bailed out.

Tides are changing for the better and have been for a month or so even amongst this hardship. In the past ive wondered, why this is happening or why can't we catch a break?! But this time around I'm not waiting to see the silver lining. I already see it.

I have a memory like an elephant, it's one of my worst faults. My first reaction is to always relate scenarios, reactions, or circumstances to a previous experience. This time though - we got this!! I've learned so much through these tests, more in the last 5 years than my first 23! I know what I want for my family and it's always worth fighting for. I know we can make it through and each time we become stronger. Thankfully we have a fantastic support group of family and friends. We've weeded though the insincere, those that didn't have our families best interest at heart and were amongst the best people I know.

This is not a poor me stream of consciousness - its a thanks for the reminder of the life we should be living to the Man upstairs. It's a reminder of where we've been, how far we've come and been so close to loosing so much, yet instead pulling it together for our kids and our bright future ahead! I have a feeling wonderful things are on the horizon and even though patience wasn't my strong suit, I've developed a calmness in letting it be.

Thanks for listening...I needed to get that off my chest! :)