Happy New Year!!

Wow! How I am reminded how I really stink at this blogging thing! It's good for me and I really need to keep it up. Not so much for anyone else (like anyone else ever even read it {except for Tee-you're the bomb Tee!} but it's good for my mind. With so many memory issues, it is good reference to not just wonder what exactly happened a day or two ago!
In December...Fernie got a job through the temp agency on December 6th, worked like crazy for them - and was happy as heck (he's been out of steady work since May!!)! Only problem is the company was closed from December 22-January 2! Still we feel blessed to have a job paying more than minimum wage! And they were sure that once the guy on vacation returned, they'd find a place for him as a real employee.
On that note...I hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas and New Years Celebration. Christmas was the worst financially that we have ever had, but we triumphed, if you ask me!Christmas Eve, we went to my aunt's house in Mission Viejo. We dropped Fernie off at his parents house in Santa Ana on the way down. He went to spend time with his parents, brother, cousins, etc. Although he had the week off from his new job, he wanted to come home instead of staying with his mom/dad/sister/brother for the week (we were going to be in Orange County the following Saturday).
SIDENOTE/BACKGROUND: Last year, he chose to spend a considerable amount of money (and TIME) on a single 'mother'(term used VERY lightly) and her two daughters before Christmas!!! Then went to his family's celebration and his mother TOLD ME OFF just after midnight! Fun, fun!
Fast Forward: Haven't had issues with that other hooker since about May. I thank GOD EVERY DAY!!! And on Mothers Day and one or two other occasions I bit the bullet, spoke to the 'mother-in-law, told her I love her and moved on.
So we have this place called 'Kenmart'. They sell discount/clearence/irregular stuff - at a price I can ALMOST afford! For Christmas my girls (Kae, Emi & Rach) each got 2 cute little screen printed tees (1.99ea), a jumbo soda-flavored lip gloss, and some furry gloves. Fernie got 2 polo shirts (from Kenmart for 2.99ea!). And basically, that was the end of our Christmas. Yet everyone was happy to be together and didn't seem to mind a bit. These are the times when I KNOW I have done something correctly in raising my kids (and Sunny with Rachael too). They did not get but those little things - yet there was not one sound of disappointment or resentment among them. Makes me super proud and I look forward to surprising them with goodies as we are more able!
For New Years, we were home alone.(Emilee got to go stay with Tia, Rob & Rachie for the week) Fernie and I just chilled, watched a movie that I can't even remember now, and went to bed.
Fernie returned to work on the 2nd and on the 3rd was told they didn't need him any more. This SUCKED ALL KINDS OF ASS! We went and applied for assistance for which we were denied most of because he had worked more than 100 hours in the past 30 days. WTH?????? We did get approved for medical assistance which of utmost importance because of me needing meds that I have been off of for too long.
Now, Fernie has been called back to work for the same company. And although through the temp agency, they intend to hire him after the waiting period. It is several dollars less per hour than he was earning at this time last year and we may barely make rent, but it should be permanent, and once they hire him directly he should get some kind of increase in pay - 30-45 days! He likes it there and because of the drop in pay, we have medical and food assistance for now - which helps immensly! We were actually able to buy some cheap meats, mayonnaise and a couple of other items we just haven't been able to scrape out in a couple of months!
Please pray for us and know that we are not here to drain the system, but we certainly appreciate every single drop of help we can get right now. My kids are fabulous for not complaining through this crappy time! And our landlords...Greg & Michelle - - have worked with us through this entire ordeal and we thank God every day.
Phew!!!! - that was a dorky, long rivisitation of the last couple of months, and I have other stuff, but I think that's enough for today!
PEACE!