Career: CPA to RN to SAHM

My senior year I took a business class  and Co-oped at the Board of Education. I decided then to go to college to be a CPA. I took the summer off then started JCC in the fall to complete my gen ed. Meanwhile, Scott decided to go back to school himself. He enrolled at Louisville Tech. I waited tables at Steak n Shake and Scott changed tires at Sears.  In the spring of 97 we were flooded out of our tiny, one bedroom apartment. We began renting a cute little two bedroom house but it had NO central air. Scott graduated with an associates in mechanical design drafting and started working at Cardinal Aluminum for $10 per hour. I finished my gen ed on schedule, applied, and was accepted to UofLs school of business in the fall. I was sitting in my first class and the teacher asked everyone why they chose accounting. The guy before me said, "I chose it because it was one of the higher paid jobs at career day. I don't really like it but I'm almost done".  He was a couple semesters ahead of me. I felt my heart sink into the pit of my stomach. WAS this what I really wanted to do the rest of my life? Everyday 9-5? Sure I was good with numbers... But could I really sit behind a desk all day. I don't remember my response exactly but I choked down my fear. I decided to just concentrate on school.

On November 8th I got a big fat positive on a pregnancy test! I was suppose to be infertile... But that's another post. I enrolled for spring classes and decided to co-op for the tax season with Jackson-Hewitt.  You would think being pregnant I would be happy to sit all day instead of being on my feet. I was good at it. It just didn't feel right.  God had put my answer in my belly, I just didn't know it yet.  All I could think about was being pregnant and having that tiny newborn in that hot little house in the middle of the summer. My Papaw died in April and after 30 years in the same house, my parents decided to upgrade. After all this was going to be their 6th grandchild (eventhough we had lost one in 96.) The family was just getting too big for that house. They decided to rent it to us... My AC prayers had been answered.

My first was born June 30, 1998. We had saved up enough money for me to stay home for 12 weeks.  I decided to take the fall off from school as well. Around October I went back to work at Steak n Shake. Taking care of this little person let me know that I needed a nurturing career. In spring 99 I enrolled back into JCC to become a nurse. I got a job as a CNA at a private nursing home. I enjoyed the work.  With the credits I already had I was ready to apply, and was accepted into the program in the fall. Joshua was 13 months old. Up until that point I was working 12 hour shifts, at night, on the weekends so I could be home when Scott was at work. Clinicals were Monday through Friday during the day. We had to put lil man in daycare for the first time. I HATED IT! I couldn't do it. I decided my "career" would have to be put on hold. I'd keep working weekends until he went to school.

My best friend had moved to Winchester. It was about an hour and a half from Louisville. She was looking to buy a house there. I went looking with her. The houses were cheaper there, I thought, "Hey, we could afford one of these!" On October 23rd we signed a contract on a three bedroom, 1400sqft house. We didn't have jobs there yet but, it felt right. The house was still under construction so we had time. In December Scott interviewed, got hired, and started working for a company who subcontracted at Toyota for $15 per hour... 50% raise... Not too bad. Plus he was guaranteed 20 hours a week overtime for the first two years! That's $54,600 annually, almost triple what he was making. This was going to require him working 6, 10 hr days. If I got a job outside the home, I would have to have childcare for Joshua. I wanted a nurturing job... Why pay someone to take care of my child, to take care of someone else? Could God have made the decision any clearer this time? We closed on January 7th.  Scott only commuted for about 2wks. Both of our careers had taken a turn for the better.

How I met my Hubby

June 19, 1993.... I was 16... it was the summer after my sophomore year. I had made plans with a friend to go to Hurricane Bay Water Park at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. She canceled on me but my brother(who was going to take us) was getting ready to leave for basic training, so we decided to go ahead and go just me and him. I was floating around on a tube out in the deep end when caught my first glimpse of him from the back. He was reclining on a tube as well... He had dark hair, a dark complexion, and big muscular arms and shoulders. I thought to myself... "Please don't be ugly!"... he swirled around and was far from it. He had a couple of friends with him that he started horsing around with. I managed to attract their attention somehow... One of them pushed his tube into mine. We laughed... Then the waves started up. We both ended up getting washed down to the shallow end but his friends didn't. He glanced around a bit then asked me if I had seen where they went. We started talking and after a few minutes he said, "So when are you going to give me your number?" I replied, "When are you going to ask!" We headed for our chairs to get some cash. A few of my friends happened to be there... I was walking ahead.. Pointing behind me giving a thumbs up! Then we went to the snack bar to get a drink... And a pen and paper. I had to be at work at three so we parted ways.  He called me at work(Po Folks) the next night and picked me up that evening. We tried to find a movie to go to but they had all started. So we decided to drive up to Iroquois Park.  He started telling me about how he had went to college for a year then went into the army for 2 years AND he had been out for a couple of years.... I said, "Good Lord... how old ARE you?!".... he was like "why... how old are you?!".  He was 24... He thought I was 18 or 19...  I about died! So he took me home and I thought that would be it. He called the next weekend but I blew him off. Then again the next... But this time I agreed... I thought what the heck... he's hot! He took me to the Olive Garden. We found out that the age of consent is 16 in KY unless there is more than 8 years difference... There are 7 years and 11 months between us.  So we started dating. I lied to my mom about his age for the first 8 month but she eventually figured it out the same way I did but by then I was in love with him and so was she... I had done alot of screwing up my sophomore year and after I met Scott I straightened up and started thinking about my future. One night we were at a friends house hanging out in the hot tub. The song "Groovy kinda Love" was playing on the radio. I knew then and there I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this guy. After he left, my friend and I stayed up for hours... I had butterflies in my stomach and couldn't wipe the smile from my face.  When my brother graduated from basic I went to the ceremony with my mom in GA.  While there I wrote Scott a letter and told him I loved him for the first time. In February we broke up for the first and only time. It ended up being a good thing... It gave him time to realize that he never wanted to be without me again. This is when my first evolution happened. Scott never really proposed to me. We both just knew it was the next natural step. Being from a Christian family he knew I wouldn't/couldn't live with him without being married (at least not if we wanted my dad to pay for my college). So while on our way to Red Lobster one night in June of 94 with my family he says to me... "So do you want to go pick out a ring one day this week?" I nonchalantly said, "Sure".  And thats what we did.  We went to Dan's Pawn shop and I picked out a $600 1/2 carat ring. We originally picked a November 95 date (can't remember why). But as senior year spring break approached I had a choice to make. Go to Florida with my friends or go to West Virginia to meet Scotts family. I chose WV but my parents didn't want me to go on an overnight trip with Scott alone and unmarried. It just so happened that my 18th birthday was on the Saturday that started spring break. We got married  March 11, 1995... almost three months before I graduated from high school on my 18th birthday!  My mom offered to pay for the wedding or give us the money she was going to spend on one. I don't think she (or anyone else) really took our marriage seriously at the time. My SIL threw me my tiny shower and my mom didn't invite the slew of friends she invited to my sisters that she threw 4+ years prior.  We chose the cash prize and got married at the court house by a justice of the peace. My mom and dad came, and my moms best friend. My sister didn't bother to ask off work, my BIL brought my 6 mo nephew. One of my brothers stood up with Scott and brought my two nieces. Can't remember where my other brother was, (AIT in Texas maybe). One of my good friends stood up with me. I am reminded of the song "You're still the One" by Shania Twain... We beat the odds together.  Afterwards we visited my Papaw who was ill and then Scott took me to the Olive Garden again. We went every year on our anniversary for a long time.. But sometimes now we choose Red Lobster which is fitting as well.  We've been together almost 18 years and are about to have our 6th baby. Our marriage is stronger today than it has ever been thanks to finally letting God lead it. I don't believe in chance or coincidence. I know now that He guided my decision to still go to KK that day and that there were no accidents. That our wedding date was predetermined we just had to figure it out. Yes, I believe in free will but in Gods eyes this life has already been played out... He knows exactly where we're all going, we're just along for the ride. Sometimes we take detours when we don't follow our hearts but if we trust in Him we can get back on course.

Next up.... CPA to SAHM

From the Beginning

It's so temping to jump to current events in my life because they excite me so much but I must resist. To understand the person I am today you have to know where I came from. I was born in 1977, the youngest of four to a stable family.  My parents are still married. My mom worked in the school system so she had our summers off and we vacationed.  My Dad worked at GE he would visit my mom family with us in LA but he opted out of the fun stuff. He loves us but has a hard time expressing it... plus he's a bit of a couch potato! We lived modestly in a tiny three bedroom house.  I didn't mind it, and never wanted for anything.  My mom and I butted heads majorly when I was a teenager.. makes me glad I have four boys and one girl so far.  Our relationship has grown since I became an adult.  We still have an occasional spat but are close over all. I was raised United Baptist, I guess you would say I am nondenominational at the moment. I threw together a rough time line of important events in my life from the time I was 16.

Past Timeline

1993-met Scott
1995-got married, graduated from HS, started college to be a CPA
1996-Tara(2.5 yo niece) died, told I was infertile(HA!)
1997-got flooded out, moved to Upper Hunters Trace, got pregnant
1998-papaw died, quit school, moved to Wilkie Rd, had 1st bb.
1999-Went back to school(2 semesters) to be an RN, quit again, moved to Winchester
2000-became SAHM, got preg again
2001-2nd born 1st natural birth, tried going back to work, preg again
2002-3rd born
2003-one semester at EKU
2004-attended Landmark, trying to conceive(clomid)
2005-still trying, another family tragedy, bad year, faith shaken,  attempted homeschooling
2006-still trying, continued bad year... Near divorce, turning point in marriage for the best
2007-preg again, 4th born, babymoon
2008-hawaii, attempted Mary Kay, Cambrey's diagnosis(6 yo niece), loss of faith
2009-preg again, moved to WV, 5th born
2010-Cambrey's relapsed then stopped treatment, regained faith, Cambrey died, Aunt Brenda died, attended Calvary, preg again!
2011-yet to b determined

My next post will be about me meeting Scott... for friends that were on my myspace it will be a repost with a few updates as well as a few others.