Thanks, guys. Really. Dh has to decide today. He talked with the Head of school yesterday - but unfortunately, the school he works for is so wishy-washy, we doubt he'll get any kind of decent answer today. And then, can we trust them after the "surprises" they've given us? A few people have suggested we move with dh to work in Iowa. But it will be my ds' senior year; we've got a college student who lives at home; and I'm not sure how we'd rent our house for 9 months and then where would my college dd live? Wish this were easier. . . .

Hard to believe my son is heading into his senior year. . . . He's looking at a STEM major. This year, took Pre-Calc with TPS (Karen Nelson is an EXCELLENT teacher. Highly recommend) So, I'm looking at next year. TPS has Calculus (AB/BC) + AP. Whew! Cost is $666. Pros that I see? Live class with a teacher. Ds really enjoyed that this year. Text used is Prentice Hall's Calculus 4th ed. Derek Owens, AP Calculus AB. Less expensive - $58/month, so if he takes 10 months it's $580. Text is Calculus by Foerster, which is apparently oop so Mr. Owens makes his own materials available based on that text. The local CC isn't an option for us; heard quite a few horror stories there. We also have the option of a local tutorial using Saxon Calculus; I have mixed feelings about that and would likely drive ds there 2x/ week (REALLY not liking that option, but we don't have the $$ for him to get a license/car) I'm not sure it's necessary for ds to take AB/BC Calc - I'm pretty sure as a STEM major, he'll have to take his uni's calculus anyways. Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

Hey Hivers - To sum up for those of you who missed the original thread: Dh was offered a job in Iowa; we live in Alabama. It's a 1-year job teaching college (his career goal). We would stay here, he would live there and fly back as he was able. The position pays a bit more money (not a lot) than he is making now and more than he would make next year. Originally he was going to turn it down. He had just started a new job here, full time, after about 5 years out of his field in un- and under-employment. BUT THEN he found out that this new job MIGHT go part-time, FIRST we ever heard of it. So. I'm asking my fellow hivers for prayers - dh is going to talk with the head of school today, Lord willing, tell her that he has a job offer, and he needs to know if he will be full time or not. Then we'll have to decide if he takes the Iowa job, or risks it by staying here and *hoping* something else turns up. I'm surprisingly fairly at peace with all this. The kids are taking it pretty well, too. We'd just appreciate prayers for wisdom and clarity. Thanks! (Oh, and btw - got the used/new to us car. WHAT a nightmare.)

I did the same thing as Garga; went to Aldi's, bought a variety of items, then compared at Wal-Mart. I saved 15%, easily. We are VERY blessed - there's an Aldi's less than a mile from Wal-Mart. I hit Aldi first, purchase my major items, then finish at Wal-Mart. With all our employment woes, if it weren't for Aldi, I don't know what I'd do. Things we like: milk eggs oats natural peanut butter honey their brand of nutella pretzels hummus string cheese all kinds of shredded cheese Produce, Produce and MORE produce their whole wheat bread is DELICIOUS and only 1.19 a loaf here in AL (comp to 1.59 at WM) I've returned things that weren't of a good enough quality, no hesitations and no questions at all. Bring your quarter!

:grouphug: It's hard to let go of dreams. Sometimes, the only thing that gets me through is the thought that I am in God's story, and He is weaving the perfect story of my life. I can't see the ending, but He does. Perhaps that may be of some comfort to you. :grouphug:

:grouphug: and wisdom and favor for you, dear. Praying!

We do a reverse Advent wreath - we have a styrofoam wreath with 6 purple candles in it, and put a cross in the middle. Each day, we snuff out 1 candle. Then on Holy Saturday, we change the candles to white and add flowers. Easter Sunday, we eat breakfast by blazing candlelight. I can't remember where I got the idea, but we've done it for ages, seems like. If you'd like, I can take a picture and post it. I thought I'd done a blog post about it, but can't locate it. We're reading Amon's Adventure; that's a great story for Lent or even just have a reading marathon and get it done Holy Week! Also try Ann Voskamp's blog - A Holy Experience. I think she has some printables/ideas there.

OK, so 5 phone calls later, we finally get the car salesman to commit to us coming in at 4 to get the car. Dealer closes at 6, We show up. Sales guy is NOWHERE to be found. As we approach the door, another salesman (or maybe manager?) asks can he help us? We tell him we're here for Mr. A, to pick up our car. "The Camry?" he asks, with a half grin. I think by now we're - um - famous. (Back story: when we got back to the dealer yesterday, with the car, after having it checked out, the salesman (who we think is new - he didn't even know how to enter two owners for the vehicle) said he was in trouble, he wasn't even supposed to let that car off the lot b/c it had JUST come in as a trade-in and hadn't been cleaned or inspected yet) We sit for an hour. Ask 3 times where the car is. Are told 3 times they're getting it. Finally, the big manager comes, apologizes, says they're finishing it and it will be right here (it's a big city dealer - the detail area is a few city blocks away from the used car sales area) Finally get the car. It is indeed spotlessly clean - still wet, actually. :glare: But it's ours, it's in our driveway. We. Are. Done.

Wish me luck, girls - after dh calling all day, we've finally been told it will be ready at 4. I'll keep you posted!

Sounds fairly similar. Bleh. These guys are why people HATE used car salesmen.

:grouphug: Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming. . . . .

Read too many bad reviews. And plus, maybe I've been smelling too many paint fumes :) (Been painting my younger girls' bedroom) You wanna come with me, Remudamom? You could larn' em. You woulda been proud of me, though. Right before we went to finish signing papers, the salesman came back with a plea of, "Just another $100 on the price, or I'm going to get in trouble with my boss." This, after we had left the dealership once, he called us on our cell phone with a price we could work with - THEN pulled this whole "extra $100" cr*p. I picked up my purse and started to leave. Got steaming mad and told him no way. My dh was playing the "good cop", and later he said he was shocked at how mad I got. He didn't get the extra $100. That's for sure. Never going back there again. I'm just getting madder, the more I think about it.

Good. Now I need about 10 more people to tell me to :chillpill: So I can go from this: :willy_nilly: To this: :closedeyes: I made the mistake of reading reviews of this dealer online AFTER we bought the car. . . if I'd read them before, I wouldn't have gone. But it's our car, and we paid for it, right?

Urgh :glare: We bought a used car today. From a dealer. After sitting through some high-pressure sales tactics, we got out of there with a pretty decent priced used car. No financing, paid cash. (check) The car had just come in as a trade-in, and hadn't even been cleaned. We took it to our mechanic, who said it really was a good, solid car, so we feel good about the condition. We left it at the dealer to be cleaned and ready for delivery. We were told tomorrow (Saturday) at noon. But now I'm FREAKING OUT that they're going to do something shady. We have the bill of sale, all the paperwork, EVERYTHING that says we own the car. We even have keys. Tell me to chill out? :chillpill: They wouldn't do something - sneaky - would they?

Squee!!!! :D Oh, I'm SO happy for you!

That's funny, Bethany - I've gone from "What???" to "Wow!!!" It's actually been good for our marriage to hash this out. Your prayers mean a LOT to me :grouphug:

Yes! We're relatively close to ASFA, which is still running. He interviewed for a position there about 6 years ago, and was the first-runner-up. The new position is a 1-year replacement for the professor, who's going to get his doctorate. We're really thinking that gentleman will return, so it really is temporary. BUT could open the doors. . . . Thanks for your kind words. Back at you :)

The job is in Iowa. We live in Alabama. He'd come home 1x/month at most; probably more like once every 6 weeks. Not sure what his course schedule would be as of yet, but dh did mention that they maybe could tweak it to work with him. We did this once before - dh worked in Chattanooga, and came home on the weekends, that was 4 years ago. Now, the kids will be 21 (college), 17, 15, 13, and 9. I'm most worried about 17ds - it's his senior year, and I would HATE for my hubby to be gone.

Yeah, when it was a full-time job he would be leaving for the 1-year position, the thought was "no way". But now that it might go part-time? Rethinking.

First, I've got to thank everyone for your responses on this thread. Y'all were great in helping me think through and process a very difficult situation. The plot thickens, however. (Doesn't it always?) Sub-plot #1: Dh finds out, early this week, that yes, he will be offered a contract at his new school. (It's a private school; they run on a year-by-year basis, no tenure) Sub-plot #2: Dh calls college where he's offered the position; says thank you, I'm honored, but it's just not enough $$ and too much time away from my family. Sub-plot #3: Dh finds out, mid-week, that his current position may drop to PART-TIME!?! :confused1: This is the first he's EVER heard this was a possibility. (He was hired to rebuild their orchestra program) Sub-plot #4: He continues to receive calls from the college. Calls of encouragement, what a great fit he is, etc etc etc. They are working to find him more money, cheap housing, and the ability to take all his meals on campus to reduce living expenses. Sub-plot #5:Dh contacts a closer uni here in the SE; they are hiring next year, likely a professor position in his specialty (instrumental/education) Sub-plot #6: Dh starts researching online degrees (EdD, to be exact) So, the researching and thinking and praying continues. Many thanks to whoever it was who mentioned him starting his doctorate next year; he's really pursuing that option. He's still VERY hesitant to leave us for 10 months. He and ds are going to have a huge pow-wow about it, and that may indeed be the deal breaker. We'll see. It's never simple in our house!

Take. A. Break. You will feel like a new woman. Ask me how I know ;)

We're in the middle of our stay-cation - it's been LOVELY. yard work done, a little sewing, a little school planning. . . . . and a little car shopping! :D Enjoy yours!

Gah, I FEEL your pain. . . . . I used to laugh at the line in Veggie Tales, "Is it my imagination, or does Aunt Ruth have a beard?" No longer. :glare:

This makes me :D Go for it, girl! And of course, keep us posted!

Ours is 100 per card. . . . . . Which I've maxed out more times than I care to count! B)