These last 8 weeks are the first time in a very long time that I have been without employment. It has been strange, frustrating, fun, hard and just what I needed for the time being. The first week we were here I was relaxed and happy with where we were at in life. My husband just got a job of his dreams and we had a whole new adventure before us.
As the second week rolled around I anxiously awaited the arrival of our internet package so I could begin the job hunt. Once the internet did arrive, it was overwhelming how many jobs there are to choose from. Most of the jobs I wasn't even interested in. Praying and hoping that one would appear out of thin air, I continued to browse Craigs List and the Oregon Employment Department site daily.
I then got the idea to just start subbing. They make pretty good money in Oregon and I could do that for the rest of the school year. I called the school district, they directed me another state office where I was informed they only hire subs in June and July for the following school year. Also, if I want to get signed up to sub I am going to have to get an Oregon teaching license which is a small fee of about $200. Wait a second, I want to make money- not spend it. Well, check that one off my list for now.
Continue praying and hoping, and even applied for a few jobs here or there. No response, nothing. Had the feeling to wait for the Oregon FFA State Convention. Went to it and had a fabulous time! Did some networking and made some connections for two possible job opportunities. As soon as I returned home I pursued more information about them. Both ended up being dead ends for now.
Questions keep coming here and there, "So do you work? What do you do with your time? Aren't you going crazy just being at home? Or telling people what my degree was in their response is, not many jobs like that around here."
This is where I started to get really angry and scared. What if I never find a job? What if I am never able to have kids? Great, I will just be a person who has no future and no ambition.(Crazy thoughts that aren't true, but that is what I was thinking).
You know that quote by President Monson, "Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.” Over the past couple of weeks I have implemented that on multiple days. Finally, through scripture study, prayers, encouragement and wisdom of others, and because of my dear sweet husband, I have come to realize my worth does not come from my work. My worth comes because I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who has blessed me with specific atrributes and abilities.He knows where I am at right now and knows who he needs to be. Be patient and trust Him.
I am still hunting for a job, but am finding so much joy in being able to serve my husband, my family, and those around me. Being able to learn about things I am interested in and being able to index names and cook and sew and build my abilities to present myself as a skilled person with many abilities to employers.
My prayers have changed from, "Please help me to find a job," to rather, "Please bless me with the abilities I need to be able to find a job." I can say my back has been strengthened to endure this little challenge in life and my hope has increased.
There has been days that I have wondered why I got my degree in Agricultural Education? I have felt recently that the word agriculture can be a turn off to many outside of the agriculture profession. However, I know that I made the right decision while in college. I was taught by the best and while my education is in agriculture, my work skills reach far beyond that industry.
I have a friend in my ward who has helped me network with some people in her company. I am hoping all goes well with this application, but if not I know I will still be ok and to keep pressing forward with hope and joy in my life right now.
I truley am so blessed in my life and this little discomfort is so much easier to go through than what so many around me are experiencing right now. There is much joy in the journey, but sometimes I believe it is a journey just to find it, but always well worth it if we will put forth the effort.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Showing posts with label Jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jobs. Show all posts
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Animals
When we first moved up here, my very good friend's parents asked us to take care of their animals while they went on a trip to visit their kids and relatives for two weeks. I quickly responded that it would be no problem and we would be happy to do it.
Like planned we began taking care of
Sydney the Horse
Max the Bull
Ingrid and Kierstin the Heifers
and the Dandruff Cat on March 31.
The first couple of days were uneventful and went relatively smooth. Then, on Tuesday April 3 it all began. Justin was getting home very late that night from work because he had been out at the coast working with a logging operation. I went out around 6 p.m. to start doing chores.
I started getting the feed ready and figured that Max the bull and his hungry tummy (or 4 tummies:) would make his way to the barn. When he didn't come I went out there to shake some feed at him. He still didn't come. The only thing on his mind was the 'ladies' (Ingrid and Kierstin) and how he was going to get with them.
I should back up a step. Max and the heifers cannot be in the same pen because, well we all know what happens. They both also have the same daddy (not a good thing for registered cattle to do) and the heifers are still too young to be bred. However Max loves the heifers, and Sydney the horse loves Max the bull. This means we had to get Max locked in his stall before Sydney would go in her stall, and then we could move the heifers up from their pasture to their stall. (Co-dependency not a healthy thing.)
I called my friend to ask what the trick was to getting Max to come up and eat. Her and her mom are only like 5'2 so I thought, "Surely I can do this if they can."
Her advice, take a show stick out there and hit him on the head and get behind him and push him up to the barn. "He thinks he is tough, but he really isn't," were her parting words.
I entered the pasture with all the confidence in the world and my show stick. As I approach Max in the middle of the pasture close to NO fences (aka escape routes) he looks at me. I proceed towards him and for maybe a split second have a regret. I begin the process of hitting him on the head and trying to get behind him. His response dropping his head and proceeding to try to charge me. This escalated for probably 30 seconds and I was getting REALLY scared. The thougth occured to me as the horse graciously ate grass and watched near by, "What a great place for Justin to find me when he gets home, dead in the pasture." (sarcasm)
Finally, something scared him and he took off in the other direction and I quickly sprinted to the closest gate. I then called my friend back and she said he was fine in the pasture and just let him come up when he is ready to. (she also chuckled at me a little bit)
Max didn't come in until 8:30 a.m. the next morning to eat. Which meant neither did the horse and neither did the heifers. Thanks Max, your a butt.
From that point forward for the next 11 days or so remaining, Max was a challenge. Actually he even progressively got worse in his behavior. Everyone who works with cattle says that bulls like to test the limits. I don't know what to do correct them when they outweigh me by 1,500 lbs?
When our friends returned I asked the wife if she had any problems with him. She laughed and said, "Well, he threw his head at Brad in the stall the first night we were back, so he hit him on the head with a shovel. No more problems after that."
Why didn't anybody tell me all it took was a shovel?
Sydney the horse also experienced an abscess in her back right hoof, which meant a few different visits from the horse vet. (She was a huge help!)Syd had a great personality though and was the most consistent with her behavior of all of the large animals.
The dandruff cat was rather fat and my theory is she was depresesd. She laid around in her cat bed all day long except for when we were on the deck to pet her. I mostly only touched her when I had my gloves on.
As for the heifers, they were pretty good, except for one time, one did try to charge me. Still not sure about that one.
It was a great experience, I learned alot and I would probably even maybe do it again.
P.S. For all those of you who haven't been around cattle alot, it is ok to hit them on the head with large things. They have very hard heads and it doesn't hurt them.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Like planned we began taking care of
Sydney the Horse
Max the Bull
Ingrid and Kierstin the Heifers
and the Dandruff Cat on March 31.
The first couple of days were uneventful and went relatively smooth. Then, on Tuesday April 3 it all began. Justin was getting home very late that night from work because he had been out at the coast working with a logging operation. I went out around 6 p.m. to start doing chores.
I started getting the feed ready and figured that Max the bull and his hungry tummy (or 4 tummies:) would make his way to the barn. When he didn't come I went out there to shake some feed at him. He still didn't come. The only thing on his mind was the 'ladies' (Ingrid and Kierstin) and how he was going to get with them.
I should back up a step. Max and the heifers cannot be in the same pen because, well we all know what happens. They both also have the same daddy (not a good thing for registered cattle to do) and the heifers are still too young to be bred. However Max loves the heifers, and Sydney the horse loves Max the bull. This means we had to get Max locked in his stall before Sydney would go in her stall, and then we could move the heifers up from their pasture to their stall. (Co-dependency not a healthy thing.)
I called my friend to ask what the trick was to getting Max to come up and eat. Her and her mom are only like 5'2 so I thought, "Surely I can do this if they can."
Her advice, take a show stick out there and hit him on the head and get behind him and push him up to the barn. "He thinks he is tough, but he really isn't," were her parting words.
I entered the pasture with all the confidence in the world and my show stick. As I approach Max in the middle of the pasture close to NO fences (aka escape routes) he looks at me. I proceed towards him and for maybe a split second have a regret. I begin the process of hitting him on the head and trying to get behind him. His response dropping his head and proceeding to try to charge me. This escalated for probably 30 seconds and I was getting REALLY scared. The thougth occured to me as the horse graciously ate grass and watched near by, "What a great place for Justin to find me when he gets home, dead in the pasture." (sarcasm)
Finally, something scared him and he took off in the other direction and I quickly sprinted to the closest gate. I then called my friend back and she said he was fine in the pasture and just let him come up when he is ready to. (she also chuckled at me a little bit)
Max didn't come in until 8:30 a.m. the next morning to eat. Which meant neither did the horse and neither did the heifers. Thanks Max, your a butt.
From that point forward for the next 11 days or so remaining, Max was a challenge. Actually he even progressively got worse in his behavior. Everyone who works with cattle says that bulls like to test the limits. I don't know what to do correct them when they outweigh me by 1,500 lbs?
When our friends returned I asked the wife if she had any problems with him. She laughed and said, "Well, he threw his head at Brad in the stall the first night we were back, so he hit him on the head with a shovel. No more problems after that."
Why didn't anybody tell me all it took was a shovel?
Sydney the horse also experienced an abscess in her back right hoof, which meant a few different visits from the horse vet. (She was a huge help!)Syd had a great personality though and was the most consistent with her behavior of all of the large animals.
The dandruff cat was rather fat and my theory is she was depresesd. She laid around in her cat bed all day long except for when we were on the deck to pet her. I mostly only touched her when I had my gloves on.
As for the heifers, they were pretty good, except for one time, one did try to charge me. Still not sure about that one.
It was a great experience, I learned alot and I would probably even maybe do it again.
P.S. For all those of you who haven't been around cattle alot, it is ok to hit them on the head with large things. They have very hard heads and it doesn't hurt them.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Monday, March 12, 2012
Transitioning to Life in Oregon
Just an update of what life now consists of for us. It has been really strange not having to go to any classes or do homework every night. Somehow we have managed to still be happy without it. :) Justin leaves at 6 in the morning, so I get out of bed at 5:35, make him breakfast and get his lunch ready. Depending on the morning and my ambition I either go back to bed, or stay up and am productive. Usually the bed wins. Something I have really enjoyed about our new ward is that they do a workout group Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
It has been a great way to start my days off, get to know more ladies (outside of just church), and hold me accountable for exercising. I have even been motivated to exercise more becuase on the days we don't have workout groupI remember how good it makes me feel and then I want to keep working towards more endurance and stronger muscles.
After exercising, I check the internet sites for jobs, cook, read, pay bills, buy groceries, talk on the phone, complete job applications, and wait for Justin to get home. It has been extremely strange for us to be living in an apartment. The two homes we lived in before moving here had large yards and even a garage for us to go work in. This has put a limit on our gardening, crafting, and woodworking, so we are looking for new hobbies and saving our pennies for the down payment we would like to put on a home of our own with a yard and garage.
Justin comes home somewhere between 3 and 6 p.m. depending on the day. He LOVES his new job, essentially it is actually like him going and playing all day because of how passionate he his about the forestry industry. Evening consist of- well actually every night has been different since we got here. We got cable so a little bit of television (BYU NCAA game last night) and dinner.
Having all this extra time each day has been a blessing and a struggle. I am really enjoying not feeling rushed to get the things done I enjoy doing every day, but feel like I need a greater 'purpose' in life. As I have pondered, prayed, stressed, smiled, and run I have come to this conclusion- I just need to exercise my faith in the Lord and His timing. Enjoy the time I have right now, realizing it won't last forever, but don't quit trying to find a job and make the future better. I would have to say our Troutdale Adventure is off to a great start and many lessons we are needing to learn.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Oregon Logging Conference
Justin went to the Oregon Logging Conference the year before we were married. It was like a huge toy box for him and his uncle. They have wanted to go back ever since then. Last year, we thought Justin was going to be able to attend, but because of a variety of reasons it didn't work out. This year, he went as an employee for one of the companies that is showcased at it. Crazy how life works out.
Here are a few pics of the day. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what Justin will be doing for his new job.
These are a couple of the products his company sells. They are called grapples and are used for picking up wood and moving it around.
The Grappel Processor or the GP.This is the brand new product that Pierce Pacific is releasing this Spring. It combines two processes into one. There was a lot of hype about it at the conference. There hasn't been very many new products released in the forestry industry for a long time. This created some excitement at the conference. Justin is currently learning the ins and outs of this product in preparation to sell it.
A big log loader.
A booth at the conference was selling these wood logging models. Very cool and precise.
Chainsaw Art.
This is called a Skidder.
Also, I saw many real life loggers. I recognized them by the resemblance they had to Paul Bunyon. Maybe he was there ancestor? They wore flannel shirts, suspenders, jeans that were cut off at the top of their boots, and logging boots. They also had beards. It was rather entertaining. Great conference, lots of wood- we felt at home.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Here are a few pics of the day. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what Justin will be doing for his new job.
These are a couple of the products his company sells. They are called grapples and are used for picking up wood and moving it around.
The Grappel Processor or the GP.This is the brand new product that Pierce Pacific is releasing this Spring. It combines two processes into one. There was a lot of hype about it at the conference. There hasn't been very many new products released in the forestry industry for a long time. This created some excitement at the conference. Justin is currently learning the ins and outs of this product in preparation to sell it.
A big log loader.
A booth at the conference was selling these wood logging models. Very cool and precise.
Chainsaw Art.
This is called a Skidder.
Also, I saw many real life loggers. I recognized them by the resemblance they had to Paul Bunyon. Maybe he was there ancestor? They wore flannel shirts, suspenders, jeans that were cut off at the top of their boots, and logging boots. They also had beards. It was rather entertaining. Great conference, lots of wood- we felt at home.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Sawing Trees and Ripping Out Stumps
What Justin and my brother Kevin did over Christmas break.Thought this was a pretty sweet pic, so I had to post it.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Portland
If you haven't heard yet, we are moving to Portland Oregon. In a previous post I talked about our trip to Portland. The purpose of that trip was for Justin to go and interview with a couple of different companies that work largely with the forestry industry. Upon our return home we really had no plans of moving there because the job offers weren't really anything better than what we had there.
At first we felt really good about our decision to stay in Logan, UT. As time went on though, things just weren't what we wanted. On a Tuesday night after work I asked Justin what he thought we should do. He smiled at me and said, "Pierce Pacific called me today."
The General Sales Manager had contacted him for the second time and said that they would really like Justin to come work for them. A week later we got exact measurements for the position and they got a commitment from us.
We are so excited for this move and feel like the Lord has really guided us to this point in our life. The company, Pierce Pacific, is a manufacturing company that produces specialized equipment for big machinery. Alot of this equipment is used in the forestry industry. For that reason, Justin is really excited.
He will be training for the first six months and then will move into a position as a sales/product support specialist. The only thing that concerns me about this move is the rain. When I was 18 I spent a lot of time on the western side of Oregon and that was the hardest thing for me. However, I know this is what we are supposed to be doing, so I trust I will adjust ok.
We will be sad to leave the wonderful friends and people we have met in Cache Valley, but are so looking forward to the new people and experiences we will get to have. I am looking forward to the Outlet Mall we will be living next to. :)
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Portland Trip
To kick off our two week christmas vacation, we headed up to Portland, Oregon for Justin to investigate some jobs in the logging industry. We stayed with one of my good friends, and team mates from my State FFA Officer year, Kaci Sinteck. Her Dad is actually the general manager of one of the companies Justin went and looked at. It was a fun trip, full of rain or mist, great food, great company, and a ford focus for a rental car.
This is the suitcase I packed. I had to take a picture because this is the first time I had ever traveled that far with something that small. It worked out great (for the most part) and no checking bags at the airport!
Us at the airport before leaving Sunday morning. I had to borrow a couple scarfs from my sisters, just so I could make a trendy impression. :)
Here is our trusty car. We went to pick it up from the rental car office and the guy asked us what type of insurance we wanted. I said, "Well we don't have to get insurance right?"
He responded with something about laws in Oregon and this is the cheapest insurance you can get etc.
I was still confused. So I asked him again, looking simply for a yes, or no answer.
Again he had some elaborate answer about laws in oregon and if the car is out of comission, etc.
We didn't pay for the insurance. It was fine. Great sales answer thought car guy. We also ruled out ever buying a Ford Focus in the near future.
Before we went up there my family and Justin and I had a discussion about 'real loggers' who spar trees and pack their chainsaws with them. Well, I just so happened to see one of these 'real loggers' while in Portland. My friend Kaci's boyfriends Dad was having a person trim some trees for an advertisement for a winch line. It was pretty cool.
Justin as a Jedi at the movie theater.
Our last day there we had some time to go see a few tourist attractions. Multnomah Falls is east of Portland and is right off the freeway. It is a giant waterfall you can hike up to and is beautiful. Not to bad of a hike either.
Portland Temple. Beautiful!
Lastly we went to OMSI (cool science museum in Portland). As we were coming over the bridge we saw this huge submarine in the water. Justin commented on how cool it was to see one and a little weird too. He said they cary nuclear warheads. Well when we got to OMSI we discovered there were no nuclear warheads on this submarine. It was an old World War II sub and we could tour it. It was really neat to go through, smelled like diesel fuel and was very tight living quarters for those who ever had to stay their longer than 35 minutes. This sumbarine is still in working condition and has been used in several movies, one being The Hunt For Red October.
When our trip was over I was grateful to be flying back to Ontario where it was sunny and there were less people. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun with the Sintecks!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
This is the suitcase I packed. I had to take a picture because this is the first time I had ever traveled that far with something that small. It worked out great (for the most part) and no checking bags at the airport!
Us at the airport before leaving Sunday morning. I had to borrow a couple scarfs from my sisters, just so I could make a trendy impression. :)
Here is our trusty car. We went to pick it up from the rental car office and the guy asked us what type of insurance we wanted. I said, "Well we don't have to get insurance right?"
He responded with something about laws in Oregon and this is the cheapest insurance you can get etc.
I was still confused. So I asked him again, looking simply for a yes, or no answer.
Again he had some elaborate answer about laws in oregon and if the car is out of comission, etc.
We didn't pay for the insurance. It was fine. Great sales answer thought car guy. We also ruled out ever buying a Ford Focus in the near future.
Before we went up there my family and Justin and I had a discussion about 'real loggers' who spar trees and pack their chainsaws with them. Well, I just so happened to see one of these 'real loggers' while in Portland. My friend Kaci's boyfriends Dad was having a person trim some trees for an advertisement for a winch line. It was pretty cool.
Justin as a Jedi at the movie theater.
Our last day there we had some time to go see a few tourist attractions. Multnomah Falls is east of Portland and is right off the freeway. It is a giant waterfall you can hike up to and is beautiful. Not to bad of a hike either.
Portland Temple. Beautiful!
Lastly we went to OMSI (cool science museum in Portland). As we were coming over the bridge we saw this huge submarine in the water. Justin commented on how cool it was to see one and a little weird too. He said they cary nuclear warheads. Well when we got to OMSI we discovered there were no nuclear warheads on this submarine. It was an old World War II sub and we could tour it. It was really neat to go through, smelled like diesel fuel and was very tight living quarters for those who ever had to stay their longer than 35 minutes. This sumbarine is still in working condition and has been used in several movies, one being The Hunt For Red October.
When our trip was over I was grateful to be flying back to Ontario where it was sunny and there were less people. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun with the Sintecks!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
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