So much has happened. so much has changed. so much is different. Yet, some of it remains the same.
We are living in Alabama now. We moved back in July 2013 to buy a house here while Chris was overseas. He is not in the Army anymore, but works for a defense company. We were supposed to have our house paid off before Chris came back to work in the United States, but he had "enough" after a year and transferred to a position in Oklahoma. When he transferred to that position, he took a huge pay cut that we did not anticipate. The first year with him back in the U.S., we struggled. We struggled to cover expenses and honestly it was not a great period. The stress of worry and lack of funds caused a significant toll on our marriage. We struggled to pay every bill we had. We fought and it didn't help with him being in Oklahoma and Wes and I in Alabama. I remember during late November/ early December 2014 not even being able to get out of bed. I was desperately searching for a job, but as I looked at numbers, it still wouldn't be enough.
By the grace of God, we were able to get a loan with USAA in early/middle December 2014 and catch up on a few things and provide a fantastic Christmas for Wes.
I had been applying for positions with local preschools and had a few replies. I began a position with what I thought was a preschool, but ended up being more of a daycare. If all I wanted to do was care for children, I would do that in my home with more flexibility.
I received a call from another "Preschool" which seemed like a school like my former workplace, All Star Readers, and jumped at the chance to become part of a community like that again.
I informed the first preschool that I would not return the next day and showed up to work at the second school the next day.
It was not like anything I had been told. I was working in a basement with what seemed like a daycare. I went home and cried that evening. I hopelessly missed El Paso, my former preschool, and the friends who had become like family we had made there. All I wanted was to find a real preschool where I could actually teach while I worked on my degree in education.
Finally, I decided I was going to email the preschool director back that had emailed me before all of these schools. It was a brand new school being built in Homewood, AL. It was located about 40 minutes away from my Home, but I figured at this point I had exhausted all my other options nearby and it was worth a try.
I left the second preschool without any warning.
The school that I was leaving for was called Covenant Classical School of Homewood.
Looking back, I know God had a hand in guiding me there.
I began training at the Pelham location on January 26, 2014. It seems funny how I remember my exact start date. I have now been with Covenant Classical School for almost 3 years. This is the place I found friends who became family. I have an abundance of wonderful students who I have had the pleasure to teach. I feel like when I was struggling to find my "home" again after All Star Readers, God was making that place for me. I had to go through a few places to realize the importance of my current school. When I get offers, when I hear of other schools from other people, I just remember what I endured to find "my" home here at Covenant.
Things seem to be falling into place with money. We were catching up, we weren't ahead by any means, but it felt like we could "breath."
Then, in March 2015, we realized that my husband's company had failed to withhold federal taxes for the entire time he had been working for them. Let's just say we owed thousands. We were not in a good place. I remember being in that hopeless place again. We weathered that storm again. By the grace of God, Chris received his VA benefit money that was such a welcomed surprise. God was providing for us. He never left us. We were on the brink of losing everything, maybe even each other, but God held us in his hand.
We have since caught up on our bills, we are out of collections, and we are working on recovering our credit scores. We are in a much better place. We are happy. I could not say that in May of 2017 or even early September 2017. Chris and I would very well be divorced had we have been in a better financial place. I am thankful for the storms because it reminds me how far we have come. How beautiful my family is and always has been. That no matter what we have or don't have, I will always have my boys. My family is more precious than anything. I don't think I always put that in the forefront of my mind. I don't think I always showed my husband how much I cared for him and not the money he was making overseas.
This is us.
Wes is in 3rd grade at the local Catholic School. We are so very blessed that he can receive his education there. He is doing well in school despite a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD. He was given this diagnosis the end of his 1st grade year. He is actually an A/B student.
We found out that sports is just not what he wants to do right now. He is heavily involved in CubScouts, takes piano lessons, drawing classes, and has recently began martial arts training. He is happy and that's all I want in life.
I am back in school, as of August 2016, and am working towards my degree in Elementary Education. I'm actually considering switching to Early Childhood Education because my heart is in the early years of learning. Everything is new and fun and exciting. I work fulltime as a Lead Teacher with 3-4.5 year olds. I love it. I still struggle with infertility and maintaining my PCOS. My doctor here in Birmingham is amazing and I feel like we have a great plan. Currently my levels are out of whack and I blame the stress of struggling with money and our marital problems as a result. I hope to make a really great turnaround this year with my health. I still miss my angel. Everyday. After experiencing my Cursillo (another blog for another day), I was able to name my angel and come to terms with her death. Elizabeth Grace Evanko. I chose grace because I feel as though through all my years of infertility, doubting our Lord, I did not deserve such a gift. God bestowed his grace upon me when I conceived and when I was able to see my daughter. Elizabeth- my middle name. I still miss her everyday, but it does get easier. or maybe just the pain numbs a little more each day. I often see butterflies and I pray that is my girl watching out for her momma and being with me. The best times are when Wes is running outside playing and laughing and I see her fluttering right by him. How I wish she was able to be here with us.
Chris is still with his defense company and is based in Oklahoma. We are trying to decide what we will do to reunite our family. We have not lived together since 2012. We are praying that day will come soon. I am trying to be better about my needs and wants and where the Lord is guiding us. We have lived in our house for 3 years, so if it comes to that, we will sell and follow together where we are led. This past month has been a big one. I know that I get attached to places and I have attached myself to Alabama. I pray that we will go where the Lord will send us- together.
Our life is not an easy one, but who's life is "easy?" I hope to blog on a more consistent basis. I love going back and reading previous blogs.
Until next time.
