So let's skip right to the positive stuff.

Briefly: Blaine got laid off from his job last Friday at end of day. No warning, no severance pay, no two-week notice.

So we had an interesting weekend, with emotions pretty much all over the map. That's to be expected, right? But here's how the landscape looks now, five days later.

For the last few months while B worked at the printing company, they had one client in particular, a Mexican restaurant chain plus corporation, who was sort of courting him to work full time for them. He already designs all their promotional materials, menus, etc. He never got an actual offer, but there was a lot of talk.

Now negotiations are less tentative. They can't offer the wage he was making, which—though a decent wage—was just barely adequate for our needs (family of nine and all that). And they don't really have enough graphics requirements for a full 8 hour-per-day job, but they'll find other things for him to do besides graphics to fill the workday hours.

But there's this other old client who also loves his guts, and who wants him to work for her, pretty much full time, freelance at home.

And another client of printing company's who considers B an essential part of his company.

So anyway, it looks like, after six years of blissfully regular paychecks, we may be plunging into freelance work again. He has three bread-and-butter clients to get started, all of whom have accepted his hourly rate and who have long-term, recurring projects for him. They love him. If these potentials become certain, they "job security" would be good: all three companies are growing, with increasing earnings and success, despite the recession.

So our prospects are good. I'll keep you updated. Here's to making our next house payment!

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Now playing: Radiohead - There, There

The fiery depths of hell

Just finished morning scripture reading with the kids. Libby was hesitant to speak the word "hell" when she came across it. She sort of stuttered and almost said "heck" instead, which spawned a whole conversation about how those words are actually words, they're not solely for swearing, and it's okay to say them in certain circumstances. They don't need to be afraid of the word.

And Emma said to Libby, hilariously, "Are you afraid of getting vernacular disease?"

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Now playing: Greg Laswell - Your Ghost
via FoxyTunes

Always the same question, asked seven times.

So I'm in the kitchen filling a pot with water. Kyrie comes in and asks, "What are we having for dinner?"

Pasta with vegetable sauce and chik nuggets.



A few minutes later, Macklin comes in while I'm chopping vegetables. "What are we having for dinner?"

Pasta with vegetable sauce and chik nuggets.

Macklin's still in the kitchen working with me a few minutes later when Jackson comes up after taking a shower. "What are we having for dinner?"

Haven't even had a chance to answer Jackson yet when Ethan wanders in from another room. "What are we having for dinner?"

So Macklin, knowing the answer, replies while Ethan stares fixedly at me, rubbing his nose. "Pasta with vegetable sauce and chik nuggets."

Ethan continues to look at me blankly. I point at Macklin. Ethan blinks, looks at Mack, and says, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. I was wiping my nose, and that's pretty loud. What are we having?"

Macklin repeats pasta with vegetable sauce and chik nuggets while I collapse on the floor laughing.

Driving, dates, and dreams

Sixteen years ago on 5 January 1994, just after midnight, my Emma was born, and forever changed my life for the better. I thought sending her away to the academy was a shock to the system, but this is shockier. Soon she'll be driving and dating and in general too grown up for me to even comprehend. Thanks for being a wonderful daughter, Emma—for being a great big sister to a large family, for always being willing to play, for listening to your parents, for making good choices, and for working hard. You're amazing, and you get more and more amazing every single year.

Down to only five

Christian's off at the Academy today with Emma. We're in the middle of the application process for next year, and they want him to attend classes (he'll be tagging along with a boy who is a freshman this year) and they want to interview him. At the end of the day I'll go have an interview as well when I pick them up.

I'm going to miss him!

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Now playing: Kurt Bestor - Savior, Shepherd, And King
via FoxyTunes