kissing unemployment goodbye

Eleven months and one day after Papa’s last day of work, he was hired for another woodworking company! That’s right, he’s back in the workforce, just one month before the state unemployment reimbursement would run out. What a blessing!

(photos in this post show some of Papa’s past work as a carpenter)

The company he is now working for is about 15 miles from our home, and coincidentally is the same company his dad was employed by for several years in the 80’s. Kind of neat that it has a generational twist!

The pay is not nearly as good as his last job offered, which means we still can’t afford the mortgage, but it is more than unemployment is paying us, so we should be able to save a little for another car (still borrowing one from family).

Papa will be using his carpentry skills, so he won’t have to learn a new trade, and the work that is required uses creativity; something that is very important to him.

We are very thankful, but it is also strange. No more late mornings, doing devotions as a family and seeing Papa off to his work outdoors or to do odd jobs for friends. Now he’ll be gone from 7am to 5pm every week day, as the sun rises and sets during the winter. Eleven months is a long time to be on such little income, but it has also been a blessing in some ways. We were just discussing how he has been home for more than half of Pal’s life, a precious gift to our young ones.

Some day we hope that we’ll be self-sufficient enough that our physical needs will be covered by odd jobs, leaving most of Papa’s time for family pursuits, but until then this new company is offering a chance for Papa to put his skills to good use, and the things we’ve learned over the past year will help us to save even more while he is employed. We are still planning to have an off-grid house built within two years!

Even though we are no longer unemployed, American Family Now will continue to follow the same direction it has – sharing our story as we learn to thrive in a poor economy, use our resources as wisely as we can, follow this adventure as a family, and hopefully encourage others along the way.

This is now

We said goodbye to our librarian today. Only two weeks left before we pack up the last of our belongings and say goodbye to this home. What a strange feeling, almost like we don’t belong here anymore. At the same time, we are so busy there isn’t much opportunity to dwell on the sad aspects of moving. A blessing in disguise?

The last of the woodwork for the camper is complete, we (mostly Papa) have made trips out to the property to store our belongings in the old camper, and of course there is the packing.

There have been other exciting things going on in our household too, though. I attended my 20th birth as a doula; a wonderful birth of first time parents, assisted by a Certified Nurse Midwife. It is such an honor to be a witness to the birth of a new person, protecting the parents’ space as they cry and giggle with amazement over their little creation.

It wouldn’t be a family blog if I didn’t write about the kids too! While Pa and Ma are getting ready to move, they’re busy with their own accomplishments. Pal is walking, and has decided to skip the incisors and grow molar teeth! Buddy is learning how to run YouTube and use the programs on our old Razor cell phone (how do kids learn technology so fast?!), and Girlie has been reminding me how to say “may I please” instead of plain old “please” when I want something.

“Girlie, where did you put your sippy cup?!”

Even though we are very busy and there is always so much to do, we still feel very blessed that things are going as smoothly as they are. There are so many roses among the thorny bushes, and while no one could stop the downturn in the economy (except for the global banks who got us into this mess), I wouldn’t have had all this happen any other way. I’m thankful that we are thriving, that there is so beauty around us, and despite the thorns, those roses just keep on growing.

Life is going to change drastically, but wherever we find ourselves dwelling our family will be together enjoying life. These are the things we cannot lose, and will not be forgotten.

But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa’s fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods. She looked at Pa sitting on the bench by the hearth, the firelight gleaming on his brown hair and beard and glistening on the honey-brown fiddle. She looked at Ma, gently rocking and knitting.

She thought to herself, “This is now.”

She was glad that the cosy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.”

(Laura Ingalls Wilder, from Little House in the Big Woods)

God Provides

God is the Great Provider. The greatest example of His provision is of course when He sacrificed His son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins which spared us from eternal damnation and enabled us to renew our eternal relationship with Him.

On a day-to-day basis God also promised to provide for the material and spiritual needs of those who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation (Phil 4:10-20). The thing that bothers us is that we live in a culture which believes we are entitled to have all of our wants met, as well as our needs. Today, many people cannot tell the difference between needing a warm home and a luxery four-bedroom, four-bathroom house, or the difference between food for sustenance and a four-course meal three times a day, or the difference between transportation to work and the latest model of their favorite car on loan.

As a culture we have lost sight of reality, and we have become greedy, selfish brats who feel we need the latest whats-it to be comfortable. Now, I have no problem with money or things it can buy! I enjoy shopping just as much as the next person. Yet, Christians who tell us they will remain unaffected by the coming depression because “God will provide” are going to come crashing to their knees when the seemingly sudden lack of work or food prices slap them in the face. God provides, but He doesn’t promise comfort.

While punishing the Israelites for their sinfulness, God allowed them to feel hunger and then provided them with strange food to eat. He let them wander in the desert for fourty years, but He kept their clothes from wearing out all that time. They had to walk, day in and day out, but God kept their feet from swelling on their long journey. Does that sound like provision we ask of God today? Or are we expecting Him to save us from the journey through the desert altogether? Does God owe us that? I should say not!

In Pilippians 4:10-20, Paul shares how God allowed him to experience both need and abundance, hunger and fullness, but in all God provided for him and Paul learned contentment.

God has not promised that you will be spared job loss. He has not promised to keep your house from the bank. He has not even promised that you will be able to afford a car, new clothes, or a good school for your kids.

Yet God provides, and often in unexpected, amazing ways. The Bible teaches us that Christians are never in the grip of blind fortune, chance, fate, or luck. Everything that happens is divinely planned and is an opportunity to trust God, rejoice in His providence, and recognize that it is all for God’s glory and our spiritual and eternal good.

Reading a library book about St. Patrick with Buddy recently, I saw yet another example of God’s providence. After God helped Patrick escape from slavery, Patrick and the people he was with became hungry. They complained to Patrick saying, “if your God is so good, why don’t you pray to Him for food?” So he did, and what happened next? Did they stumble across a tavern or home with people ready to cook them a hot full course dinner? No. God sent a herd of pigs across their path, and that night they feasted on pigs roasted over the fire. Their bellies were full and their strength returned.

Some people after reading this may think we’re not hoping or trusting enough, or we’re just pessimistic. To the contrary, we have great hope and peace, but we’re also realistic. Instead of whining to God that Papa can’t find a job, we are praising Him for all the wonderful little miracles we see Him working in our lives on a regular basis. Here are a few examples:

•  God has been timing everyday events in our lives so that everything fits perfectly together. Last year we were unable to resell the well-maintained truck we bought for an extremely good deal and then family members we had borrowed money from to buy the truck forgave our debt. Now we have a good truck, for free, to pull our camper.
• Another blessing in timing. We have been looking at campers since last fall and “just happened” to find one that would fit our needs that was also within our budget. Just after our tax return came, the snow in our driveway melted enough that we could park the camper where we needed to. The following day ice fell off our roof, blocking the camper in. If the ice had fallen just a day before, it would have prevented us from bring the camper home.

• Our chickens were pooping on the neighbor’s yard so were giving eggs to them to thank them for their patience. A friendship grew, and the neighbor generously offered to give us his truck cap this July because he wouldn’t be needing it anymore. Its design would fit our truck perfectly, but we didn’t expect to get it because we’ll be moving in May. His truck broke down last month and we got it early as a result.

• We haven’t had to use our food storage.
• At this point all our bills are paid.
• I have more clients and I’m teaching more classes than usual.

• Some of our appliances have been breaking down the past month or two (coffee maker, toaster oven, etc.) If it had happened earlier we would have had to spend money to replace them, so the timing is again, a blessing!
• Papa’s ex-boss and his wife stopped in recently. He said he wished he could give Papa his job back, but wanted to help how he could, so they gave us a gas card that will last a while.
• We’ve been wanting to purchase sleeping bags for each member of our family. Papa has been shopping around for good prices and found a clearance at Cabella’s. His dad works close to the nearest outlet and stopped in to pick up five of them for us. He went with a coworker who just happened to notice as they were leaving with the sleeping bags that there was a sticker on one of them which had an even deeper discount. They took the sleeping bags back in and we received a refund for the difference on all of them!

Isn’t God so good?! He provides for our needs just as He promised, and even some of our want, and we are very thankful for all He has done for us, despite the fact He owes us nothing and we could never repay Him. It just goes to show how merciful, gracious, and how great a provider He is.

Tell us! How has God been providing for your family in these troubled times?

our awesome solar dehydrator

camper and stuff update

Moving with Young Kids

After I got off my soapbox yesterday I thought, I need to even out my serious tone with something a little more lighthearted. Today I’ll share with you some of the ways we are preparing our kids for the big move coming up in less than 2 months. Okay, so that’s not completely lighthearted, but it will keep you up to date on our preparations.

Recently, Renee @FIMBY wrote a post at Simple Homeschool about preparing kids for a big life change. She offered insight into how her family is preparing for their own upcoming move, with the premise that moving with older kids is more challenging than moving with babies. While it was helpful, our own little brood is kinda stuck in the middle between babies and older children. Pal is only 12 months, and Buddy is basically in the age range Renee referred to, but Girlie doesn’t fit in either. So I thought I might share my own two cents on what we’ve learned so far about moving with 1-4 year olds.

While talking with Papa about this subject I was suddenly reminded of a scenario that took place when I was a young girl. My family was packing for a week-long trip to the Allagash, sans dogs. But all the feverish packing and the growing mound of luggage on the kitchen floor was clearly upsetting our canine pets. They followed us around as we moved from room to room, smelling everything and eyeing us closely, anticipating some big event, but obviously not understanding what our plans were.

If you’ll forgive my comparison of kids to dogs, I find they really are similar in behavior when it comes to moving. Buddy and Girlie know just enough to get concerned when we start packing and moving things, but not enough to understand what happens next. While we have done our best to keep the kids involved in what we’re doing, we’ve had to be especially careful to let the kids share what’s on their minds. Based on what we have learned so far, here are some ideas you might find useful:

• A paper chain calendar. The kids and I made a construction paper chains to decorate for Pal’s birthday party, and this turned out to be a wonderful visual for the passage of time. I counted out one loop per day before we leave and disposed of the rest. This left about 60 loops. Every day, Buddy and Girlie take turns removing one loop. This gives them the reassurance that we won’t leave until the loops are gone, and keeps them involved in tracking the days we have left. They love reminding me whose turn it is every morning, so this idea of Papa’s is working quite well so far!
• Get them involved in family discussions. I know my kids well, I can see when something is concerning them, and they may not feel comfortable speaking up. So I’ll ask them what they’re thinking about, how they are feeling, if they have any questions, and so forth. It leaves them feeling more comfortable, and their thoughts respected. I’ve learned that I need to be very clear when packing a box if it is for things we are keeping or selling, because it can be scary for a young child to watch mementos which have become common place (something they depend on) being put away, and thinking we are getting rid of them.
• Ask for their opinions, and let them make small decisions. It’s hard to know if the kids really understand the implication of moving, but they are excited about the camper. Girlie told me cheerfully that Buddy needs his diesel trains on his bed and the girlie stuff on her bed! They obviously want to participate, and giving them a role communicates that they belong as a part of our family transition. For example, Papa and I narrowed down the choice of accent paint for the livingroom to two shades, and then let Buddy and Girlie decide which one we’d use. We also invited them to pick out their own bunk beds.
• Involve them in the packing. During one of Girlie’s naps I took all the paintings off my bedroom walls. When she got up I excitedly placed her on my bed and said, Look! They’re all gone! And then I left the room, to pick up Pal I think. Next thing I know Girlie was crying and saying, They’re all gone! Tears were actually streaming down her face! Perhaps she was too sleepy to see something shocking like that, but I’ve learned that it’s important to even young children to be kept in the loop when it comes to packing. Another example. Buddy had a gazillion matchbox cars. He didn’t use them enough for me to think it was worth keeping all of them, so I asked Buddy to pick out his 10 most favorite ones, and then asked his permission to find a new home for the others. He quickly, but calmly agreed. I don’t think he would have been okay with that if I had assumed I could pick out some for him and packed the rest on my own.

Honestly, I think the kids will love moving to the property. They had a blast out there last year, and the accomodations will be far more comfortable now! The part I wonder about is, what happens when they realize we’re most likely not coming back? We have been clear about this move possibly being permanent, and Girlie is fairly adaptable, but I wonder if there will come an emotional time when they realize we were serious, or if they will easily transition to our new home.

We do have one family we are friends with in this town, but we’ll still see them at mom’s group. My grandparents won’t be able to babysit as often, but we’ll of course make visits a priority. But then there will be the walks to the general store, or the railroad, or to the river that we won’t be taking, the trips to the playground and the library that won’t be easy anymore, and “Mr. Epmunds”, the older gentleman the kids like to visit next door, who they won’t be able to see whenever they feel like. What happens then?

These are the big questions I have about moving with kids, but I pray God will help us make this big transition. And I’m thankful for the small steps we’re taking which are going so smoothly, and that the kids are as positive and lighthearted as they are. We’re proud of them!

Here are a couple more links to blogs written by other fulltime RV families:

• The Ticknor Tribe – Two adults and ELEVEN children sharing life on the road together.
• Happy Janssens - “modern nomadic living powered by straight veggie oil”.
• We Choose This Life – Family of seven that recently spent 14 months on the road in a camper.

D-Ration

The epic D-Ration

by Papa

Here is a fun little treat I found online searching for some survival bars. It is called the D-Ration, and it was made popular amongst the troops during WWII. This started in 1937 when U.S Army Col. Paul Logan ask Hershey to develop an (energy/emergency) bar meeting his four requirements. Which are:

1. it weighs 4 ounces
2. be high in food energy value
3. be able to withstand high temperatures
4. taste a little better than a boiled potato

So  knowing a potential government contract could bring in huge money, Hershey and his chief chemist Sam Hinkle got straight to work on the task. Using common chemicals know to us as; chocolate, sugar, oat flour, cacao fat, skim milk powder, and artificial flavoring they scientifically designed a high-tech power bar. Unlike soilent green D-Ration did not contain people, or at least it is not listed in the ingredients. However, the Army did welcomed this new bar and by the end of WWII a whopping 3 billion had been sent to soldiers.

I should mention that D-Ration was altered slightly in 1945 to have a sweeter taste because the troops were detesting them so. “Hitler’s Secret Weapon” was one nickname they gave to it until the alterations were made. To say the least, D-Ration did become popular and owns an epic history that no other emergency bar has.

Camper Update #2

Papa has been hard at work on the camper. This week we managed to paint the livingroom/kitchen area, although we were unable to go with the stripes idea. Wainscoting and curtain rods have been installed, and I purchased enough material to make curtains for both the living area and our bedroom. The kids will have individualized curtains made from material I already have.

The paint job was a rather risky process because we’re painting ontop of vinyl, but I’m so glad we’ve done it because it really does make the place feel more cozy and less plastic. I can’t wait to see how the curtains turn out, but I’m going to keep working on the second rug and get that finished up before I start the curtain project. One thing at a time!

Papa’s Forecast

Ten things I expect to see these next ten years:

1. Economic collapse worse than seen in the 1930′s. However, it will be perceived less difficult because of technology with microsized multimedia and cheap communication and a national surplus of STUFF from clothing to housing.

2. What we know as the modern church will become 100% universalist. The last fifty years those “stale, boring, and devisive doctrines of our grandparents” has been repugnantly replaced by absolutely NOTHING. This yet apparent chasm caused by a redshift in theology will at some point break wide open resulting in a massive fallout amongst all the churches. Home churches will be the natural  supplement to fill the deficit of good theology.

3. Shock and awe will vanish from advertisements. There comes a point when a choice between “ultra high potency” or “industrial grade” are not competetive anymore. It is impossible to differentiate what they are saying, and by default the customer distrusts these exaggerations. Labels such as The Energy Star are only irritating clutter on packages. Public fatigue from supersizing of descriptions may bring about a new trend in advertising. Think practicality, utlity, and longevity advertised through personal experiences.

4. IQ’s will rise due to much fewer people attending college. Translation of knowlege and information is now free and easy through modern comunications. So why pay for that transaction? Degrees will be out of need and not just to fill cultures status quo. Reality check for those comunity colleges!

5. Many more women will CHOOSE to be stay at home moms and wives ditching other career options. Driving this will be a reconciliation of natural instinct, desires for simplicity, urban homesteading, and to protect their children from outside influences.

6. Walmart will get bigger, but only in the world market share.

7. This one is not a prediction but something I believe could play out. Revolutionary spats between government and the people. As unemployment explodes and taxes go up government employees will seek inflation adjusted sallaries. These will be bad times for teachers, police, public workers, and local politicians. Hopeless people who have nothing to lose will go out in a bang against the easiest targets. I call them “suicidal killing machines” hell bent on revenge.

8. Less malls but more warehouses. Less stores but more shops. Transactions of trade or bartaring for local hand produced goods or labor will be be filed through these small shops.

9. Destruction of todays middle-class comes to fruition. Not by taxes but the depletion of overpaid redundant or unnecessary jobs (streamlining), and the large debt still owed by most of the people in this quasi middle-class. Remember if a person’s net worth is in the negative and they fold, those negative dollars become an added burden to the whole society.

10. I do not see any technological break-throughs regarding energy and transportation. I do see us revisting nuclear power, starting to replace batteries with super capacitors, and LEDs replacing all lighting. One day the scam of the CFL will be recognized for what it is!

camper living entertainment system