Things Happen For A Reason

Today I am feeling very blessed and very humbled.  In a comment to an earlier post, Mara made a very good point.  She said, "this is good news, lori.  funny, the paths that take us to where we are now, isn't it? when i first started reading you, you were waiting for the company you worked for to close down...things happen for a reason." 

This time last year I was beginning to feel a little blue about my whole department being outsourced.  I'd stayed upbeat and had stayed with the company, doing my job well and watching my teammates leaving for other jobs outside the company or being practically forced into other positions within the company that they really didn't want.  I stayed 'til the end and took my severance pay.

At about the same time Thomas' work really began to slow down, and although he loved the company and the people he worked with, he made the decision to go back to a company he'd previously worked for for 11 years, even though it was right before their union contract, and there was no guaranteeing that the job would remain stable.  The money and the overtime were good, and he'd be doing something he liked and working for someone he respected.  Doing so would also make it possible for me to stay home, if not forever, at least for the time being.

Then we made the decision to take Eler Beth out of school and home school, a move beneficial to all of us, and one that we didn't need to put off.  With the way Thomas' work has been going, we were fairly sure that I'd be able to keep from even having to have a part time job.  So far, so good.

And now, another bit of good news.  Yesterday they voted on the contract where Thomas works.  I have never seen such a good contract, especially from this company!  Starting next week Thomas will see a raise in his wages of 15.25%.  The company is matching 150% of 401(k) contributions if you contribute at least 5% (match the first 3%, then half of the next 2%).  Medical, dental and vision benefits are either a bit better or haven't changed, and etc.  The contract passed with only 28 out of almost 700 union members voting "no".  The company has a lot of contracts and Thomas' department continues to be one of the busiest there.  The first thing he said to me after he'd told me about the voting and I'd read the contract was "Looks like you'll be able to stay home for the foreseeable future."  They also get a $350.00 ratification bonus in April.

Things can change in a heartbeat, and we should never take anything for granted.  I want to thank Mara for reminding me that it is a good thing that my job ended last year when it did.  It is good that Thomas made a job change just when he did.  It's good that we decided that Eler Beth will be better if she's educated at home.  Things do sometimes happen for a reason.  Everything fell into place like falling dominoes, one by one.

I do pray.  I believe in God and I thank him every day for my life and for my wonderful family.  I know that at any time "time and unforeseen occurrance" can befall us and we may have a crisis to deal with or an important decision to make that we'd never dreamed we would have to make.  Sometimes bad things happen to good people.  But we need to realize and acknowledge when good things happen, and give thanks where it is due, and not take it for granted.