New Every Morning, Part Ten

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Read previous segments here:

The Beginning
The Injury
The Furnace
The Waiting
Employment
The House
The Phone Call
The Truck
The Car


The Business

With the settlement we received back in January, Fernando and I knew we could survive for a little while, paying for the basics plus our new modified mortgage.  But Fernando needed to work.  We both felt that given that no other work was promising on the horizon, Fernando should start repairing amplifiers on his own.  Yes--Fernando was ready to start his own business.

This is an amplifier.  (It's all knobs and switches to me...)

He started looking on eBay and Craigslist for pieces of equipment he could us to repair amplifiers--components of electronic equipment used in satellite news gathering trucks and satellite earth stations, in the broadcast communications industry.  This equipment--oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other things which I can't remember but could probably spell--can be costly, to say the least, and that was a major concern to us.  We had a set amount we could spend on getting this thing off the ground.

Miraculously--and we're no longer surprised by this--Fernando found and purchased several pieces of equipment for much less than what he thought he would have to spend.  In fact, he was able to purchase most everything he needed.  Doors continued to open, and we stepped through them for Fernando to go into business for himself.

Fernando hired lawyers, created an LLC, and put up a website.  Some work came in, and his truck operation with Arctek was billed and paid through Fernando's new company.  There was something special about receiving a check made out to Soto Satellite Repair & Services!

A colleague in the industry, who has had his own business for decades, came alongside Fernando over the summer to offer advice and even some work.  We were on our way!

Fernando's logo, which he created himself!

Part Eleven is now waiting for you to read.

Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
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New Every Morning, Part Eight

Read previous segments here:

The Beginning
The Injury
The Furnace
The Waiting
Employment
The House
The Phone Call

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

The Truck

Well, here we are at the beginning of May, spring is (finally) in the air (and the trees), and we're feeling a little curious.  Curious about what exactly we're supposed to be doing.  But first, let me go back and tell you about March.  And the truck.

After securing our permanent mortgage modification, we were again open to what employment the Lord wanted to bring to us.  Fernando made a few moves to start up a new business--filing paperwork to create an LLC in Illinois, purchasing more needed equipment, organizing thoughts for a website--even scheduling an appointment with an accounting firm since we had tons of questions.

By the end of February, Fernando and I agreed that he needed to start making phone calls to test the waters, to see if anyone was interested in hiring him.  One call yielded a result:  a month of work with Arctek, driving and operating their satellite truck.  This was the third SNG truck company Fernando would work with, and we thought maybe this was where the Lord was leading.  Arctek uses their truck operators heavily for one month, then gives them the next month off.  That would leave Fernando plenty of time to start his own business, repairing, installing, and training others on amplifiers in his off months.  We thought it would be an ideal situation--operate truck for a month, repair amplifiers the next.  Nice steady income if the repair side was slow.  I like feeling secure, and that felt secure to me.

Fernando picked up the Arctek truck in early March, and boy did he go right to work, one job after another, on and off throughout the entire month.

In the middle of all that we were finally able to meet with the accounting firm, after Fernando received all the paperwork for his LLC from the attorney.  He was officially Soto Satellite Repair & Services, LLC.  That felt pretty special.

Fernando kept working all of March for Arctek, gaining experience, meeting new people, solving problems, and uplinking satellite feeds.

I wouldn't even know where to begin if I sat down in that chair (above)!  Fernando wasn't intimidated at all, being familiar with the equipment and electronics inside.  I took these pictures while he checked out the satellite and made sure everything was ready before hitting the road to the next job.

It was a privilege to watch him do his work, right there in our driveway!  As much as I've loved having him home a lot, being able to interact with him on a mostly constant basis, it was fulfilling to see him back out of the driveway and drive off down the street toward the next job.

Fernando submitted official Soto Satellite invoices to Arctek for the month's work, and I was tickled to deposit checks made out to his company--how exciting!

The whole month of April, I had the thought in the back of my mind about when/if Arctek would hire him back for the month of May, or even offer him permanent employment.  By the end of April, I found it harder and harder to rest easy and trust the Lord.  We thought this was it--a regular job, with the opportunity to bring in extra income during the off months.  I wondered why the Lord wasn't cooperating with what I thought was an ideal situation.  Okay, that last sentence was tongue-in-cheek, really.  I did wonder, though, what the Lord's plan was, because it definitely wasn't what we saw in front of us.

Spring at The Morton Arboretum.

I was reminded once again that we aren't in control.  Just now, Fernando found out that the Arctek truck operator working the truck for April was allowed to keep it an extra month to get a little more income.  There would be no truck for us in May, and no income from that source.

I was reminded once again that the Lord has His own plans, and we as His children must follow Him.  We needed to trust.  I don't know about you, but this is one of the hardest things to do.  And I don't know why that is, because He is completely trustworthy, all the time.

Just as His mercies are new every morning, He asks me every morning, Do you trust Me for today?  I'm not asking for tomorrow.  Just today.  Can you do that?  My answer is yes.  I can do that.  Just for today.  Tomorrow is a new day, and today, I trust Him.

Update:  Part Nine of our journey has now been published!


Back to life,
Christine

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WWU -- Contented Celebration

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Saturday, 11:24am--starting this post.  (I want to see how long it takes me to get this posted!)


Home Life

As I listen to Jacob's less-frequent cough, I thank the Lord for health.  No one else has caught his cold, which is a good thing since next week is finals week for Jacob and Danny.  Will I ever be especially glad when Danny walks through the door after completing his Rhetoric final.  He agonized his way through the class, and obsessed about every essay paper assigned.  But he's pulling an A so far, and as long as he gets his outline prepared for the final exam, he should be fine.  (The students are allowed to bring an outline for the in-class essay final.)

Jacob is an excellent student, and rarely asks for my help--except for commenting and making suggestions on his papers, proofreading them, and typing them for him (he can't stand typing!).  He offered me Trader Joe's dark chocolate peanut butter cups to type his final Psychology essay.  That was a no-brainer "yes" for me!!

Joseph likes to read through his brothers' papers, too!

Christmas decorations are all up, or at least the ones I'm willing to put up!  If you step into my home, you'll be greeted by a cheery Christmas-y foyer, and you'll see the tree--with my grandmother's manger set nestled at its base--in our front living room.  If you step beyond the hallway, however, the rest of the house is as it appears each and every day.  I just don't have storage space for lots of decorations, and I'm also way too practical to have lots of decorations!

It has been a peaceful season, since we aren't shopping for gifts this year.  We, along with our extended family (a small crowd at 11 people), decided to celebrate Christmas differently this year.  There is no hustle and bustle, and so far our outside activities have been minimal.  It's very nice.  :)


My Kitchen

I've been enjoying cooking a bit more, because it warms the kitchen and I can fend off feeling cold for a little bit.  (I'm almost always cold all winter long.)  I have a Nutri-Mill recipe for whole-wheat peanut butter cookies in my plans for the next few days.  That might be the only cookie recipe I prepare this month!  We'll see how it goes.

We've been blessed with some fresh vegetables and fruits, and a few other food items, over the last few weeks.  We have used them to create and enhance some delicious meals, and we are still in the mode of giving thanks for what the Lord has provided.  God is good.  He has blessed us beyond measure, and we need to remember Him in this abundance.

Enchiladas for dinner

I turned my portion into Enchilada Salad!

Though my vegetable garden is "closed," I still have a few little purple onions in the fridge, and I slice them up for salads and things.  Though they are little, they are strong!  Plus we continue to enjoy the various salsas, jalapeños, tomatoes, and apple products that I've canned this year.

My Project Desk

I actually altered a blouse this week!  I have hooks/eyes to sew on between the front buttons, but I have taken in the sides.  I found this blouse at a resale shop some friends took me to a few months ago, and it was brand-new with the tags still on!  It is a very tailored, very well-made blouse, and I hope to wear it for a long time.  Photos soon...


Behind the Lens

I have been busy getting my ducks in a row with Christine Anne Photography.  I now have a business checking account, and have filed my business name with the county.  Once I hear back from them, I have to publish a notice in the local newspaper for three weeks, then make sure the newspaper files (I can't remember what document) with the county.  Then I'm official!  It seems like a long process for this little business.

I try to take pictures of something every day, but life happens, and my business is not my life.  It really is a hobby, and a passion, and I don't want to lose the heart of my love of capturing people and things on film.  I do have some upcoming business opportunities, about which I'm excited and nervous all rolled into one!  I'll tell you about it soon.  For now, enjoy this photo of a cinnamon-oat muffin to which I added blueberries.

Heart Thoughts

Since we're wrapped up in the Christmas season (hey, that's a nice pun!), I thank the Lord for His peace and His perspective during this time when our culture has mega-commercialized the greatest event in history and in our faith.  But we are to enjoy this season of reflection, waiting, and celebration, no matter our circumstances.  We are to be content in the current situation in which we have been placed.  For truly the Lord has led us here--or has allowed us to walk here--and we need to remember to celebrate with joy and contentment.

...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means,

and I also know how to live in prosperity;

in any and every circumstance I have learned

the secret of being filled and going hungry,

both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11b-13 nasb

I frequently quote "I can do all things..." when I am faced with a challenge, but it is interesting that in context, it is linked to contentedness.  Contentedness is the secret to the knowledge that I can indeed do all things through Him who strengthens me.

End Note:  It's only 12:26pm!!  I thought I'd be working on this post over a couple of days--thank You, Lord!!  :D

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne