New Beginnings!

Four years ago we sold our home and moved into a rental. With the money from the house James started a solar company with 2 others only to have the company taken away from him in a lawsuit the following Spring.  The last of our money was spent on lawyer fees to defend us and to have the lawsuit finally settled. But the hurt and anger are still there. No matter how much I have tried to forgive and forget, it hurts that one of the parties involved hasn't acknowledged any wrong doing.

Anyway, with bills to pay, a son on a mission in Paraguay and 4 children still at home to support, it was getting difficult to make ends meet. James was taking any and every consulting job that he could and still worked on other new company ideas, but without a steady paycheck money was very tight. We had already cancelled gym memberships and satellite tv, we didn't go out to movies or dinner, vacations were out as well.  We were fortunate to have wonderful family and church family that helped pay for Samuel's mission.

Eventually we lost our health insurance, which was scary because Shelby is an Epileptic and takes medicine daily to keep her seizure free.  Right about the time that her last refill was filled I was able to sign the kids up for health insurance with Healthy Families.

In 2011 we were told  by our landlord he was selling the house, we had to move.  Without a steady paycheck and our credit score now suffering because of late payments we were concerned if we would be able to find and be approved for another place to rent. We found another house and were approved just days before we had to be out of the other house.  A month after we moved in, Samuel returned from his mission.

The plan was for Samuel to return to BYU in the Fall. Well, plans change.  He got a job and differed his enrollment until Winter semester.  It ended up being a blessing having him home.  He was a great support to Cameron when he ended up coming home after only a month from his mission.

Meanwhile, James continued to look for a real job, while also pursuing other business ventures.  We were struggling financially still and had to rely on others for help.  We discussed filing for bankruptcy with our Priesthood leaders and family members, but always felt that we would have a job soon and we'd be able to make it on our own.  Plus we didn't want a bankruptcy to hurt our chances of getting a job or a home to rent. But it was always on our minds.

In April of 2012 our landlord called to tell us the owner would be moving back into the house and we had 30 days to be out. I was able to convince the landlord to let us stay at least until the kids got out of school in June. So, on my birthday we moved.  This time we sold a majority of our furniture and put the rest in storage and moved in with James' family in Hollister. Our plan was to be there only 3 months.  Again, plans change.

James was still applying for jobs. It was very frustrating when a recruiter would call him and love his resume, just to have the hiring people say he was overqualified. This happened time and time again.  Thankfully I was offered a job, and since it was for childcare in the family's home I could take Kaelyn with me and still be home for Kendall after school.

In January of this year, Samuel was able to finally go back to BYU and continue his education.  The job that he had here moved with him to Provo, so he is on his own and supporting himself.  I am so proud of him and thankful that he has this opportunity now. 

After applying to well over 200 jobs (just this yr alone), and taking a class to help boost his resume, James got a job in July with a consulting firm, working at Cisco.  We were so excited! Our plan of only living with family for 3 months actually turned into 15 months. We are eternally grateful to them for supporting us for so long. Labor Day weekend we were able to move into our own place.  We had hoped to go back to San Jose, but because of our poor credit we were turned down for the rentals we wanted and were nervous that we wouldn't be approved by anyone.  Then I found a house in Hollister and went and talked to the landlord in person and explained our situation. I guess she took pity on me, she approved us! We are so happy to finally be in a home of our own again.

With James now employed fulltime and our family settled in a new home, we decided we needed to go forward with the bankruptcy. So we went through the process to file chapter 7. Which included a 3+ hrs of an online bankruptcy class.  We went to court on Tuesday. Our debts have now been "discharged".

This was a very difficult decision for us to make. But in the end decided it was in the best interest of our family.  We strongly believe in paying our debts but in our case it wasn't working. We tried our best, we were on hardship programs with our creditors. But we couldn't keep borrowing from family and friends.

We are grateful to all of our family and friends who have helped our family throughout our difficulties.  We are grateful that we have this New Beginning!

Gizdich Ranch

Today Kaelyn and I went apple picking in Watsonville with friends. It was a fun little trip, for some yummy apples and strawberries.

Kaelyn loved picking the apples up off of the ground, but I kept reminding her just to pick the ones on the trees. Here she is with here small bucket of goods.

Yummy freshed pressed Apple juice

Riding the tractor

We had a fun time at the ranch and can't wait to go back!

Elder Cameron Shaw Wright

On August 24th we went with Cameron to the Oakland Temple. It was such a wonderful day! Being in the Temple with my boys was such a special experience and I loved every second of it. I know that I have said it before and I am going to say it again. I am so proud of my boys and for their willingness to serve missions. They are great examples to me.

On September 3rd some very dear friends of ours hosted an Open House for Cameron. The weather was perfect and the yard was beautiful! We enjoyed visiting with friends and family, who came to wish Cameron well on his Mission.

James and Samuel were able to take the time out of their busy schedules and make the long drive to Utah with Cameron. They left on Labor Day. Cameron's report date wasn't until the 7th. So they were able to visit with family in Layton and Riverton. And even made it to the Salt Lake Temple. As of this morning, Cameron is on his way to New Mexico. He called us from the airport. I loved getting that call. He is going to be a Great Missionary, I have no doubt. He has already had a great example in Samuel, his older brother whom he looks up to so much. I look forward to hearing from him in his weekly emails. I will try to be better at posting about his mission here, but I am a slacker so be patient with me.

Cameron's Mission Call

This is pretty much how Cameron spent his days after submitting his Mission Papers. If he wasn't inside waiting for the mail to drop in his lap, he was outside stalking the Mailman. I was happy when he finally started his job and wasn't home to wait anymore.

So here is the story of how Cameron had to wait and why.

His papers were successfully submitted to Salt Lake on May 3. Normally calls are received in about 10 days. So we expected his call very soon. Each day that went by and there wasn't a call, Cameron became more and more discouraged. Friends of his began getting their calls and he was still waiting. We decided that his call was taking longer because we moved and Salt Lake didn't get our current address in time. After a few phone calls and e-mails to the Stake President and Executive Sec. and a trip to the post office, we found out that his call actually left Salt Lake on May 31st. and was sent to our old address but that it should be forwarded. We were then told that if it doesn't arrive by June 13th it will be resent. The 13th came and no call, so I called our contact and let him know. Apparently he was out of town and didn't get the messages I left, so on Sunday June 18th Cameron talked to the Stake Pres. at Stake Conference and he took care of it. The next morning Salt Lake was informed that Cameron hadn't received his call, so they resent it and he got it on Wednesday the 22nd almost 8 weeks later.

The wait is finally over and we are so excited that Cameron will be serving in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission. He enters the MTC on September 7th. We are so proud of his choice to serve a full time mission.

Samuel's Weekly E-Mail

I love getting Samuel's weekly e-mail's, and since it has been forever since I have posted anything here I have decided to post Samuel's e-mail from this week. He is an amazing young man (I know, I am a little biased) I hope you enjoy this letter as much as I did.

During his talk at the end of the Conference, Elder Holland invited us all to reflect on the miracle that is General Conference, and it took me back. I remember dozens of Conferences spent at home, playing with Legos in front of the TV screen until my dad said it was "time to stop playing and listen to the prophet." I do not remember a single thing that President Hinckley said in any of those General Conferences, but I remember that when the Prophet of the Lord spoke, my family listened.

I remember receiving the Aaronic Priesthood and therefore going to the church with my father and later my brother to watch the Priesthood Sessions of Conference, and soon as they said the final Amen, running out to be first in line for ice-cream. I do not remember more than one or two of the talks delivered in sessions such as these, but I Do remember the brotherhood I felt with my fellow Priesthood bearers, ready to receive instruction by the Spirit.

Now I am older. I've experienced more. I've felt the Spirit in ways or to levels I never had thought of before. And I wait in anticipation for the Conference, preparing questions that want answered. I root through the Ensigns and Liahonas stacked in our apartment, searching out the Conference issues. I hang on to every word uttered by those men ordained of God inspired to chastise and build me up. I scribble notes of the modern scripture coming from the pulpit and any inspiration that the Spirit distils upon my soul.

General Conference really is a Miracle. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the duely ordained Speaker of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Earth. I know that the First Presidency and Quorem of the Twelve are just as qualified as were the Apostles of old to be witnesses of the Living Christ to a world hungry for the truths of Heaven. I know that this is not the church of men. Christ Himself directs this work and gave the Church His name, for by none other can we be saved.

This was my last Conference in the mission. I'll be finishing the mission the last week of July. Plenty of time to "make these things known unto the inhabitants of the Earth."

Later Days

Elder Wright

Cameron's Senior Year in a Slide Show!

Cameron (or as he was announced at graduation, Cameron Shaw Wright, esq.) had so many fun activities this year in and out of school. I decided to sum up his Senior Year in a slide show. We are so proud of him and all of his accomplishments. Now that he is finished with school, he will be working until he leaves for BYU-I in January. Enjoy the slideshow.

Samuel's new friends

In Samuel's e-mail this week he sent us pictures of some of the little critters he and his companion have found in their apartment. I would not like to find these guys in my house! I guess he is going to have several encounters with unwelcome guests while serving a mission in Paraguay.

He is really enjoying his mission. He and his companion, Elder Swink get along great with each other. They have a couple of investigators that they are working with, and they have a baptism scheduled on April 3 for 3 women. One of the women, the grandmother, told them that she had a dream where she is wearing all white while standing in water next to a man with long hair and a beard. The work is moving forward and he loves being a part of it. I love getting his e-mails and reading about what he is doing. He has grown so much spiritually since being on his mission. I am so proud of him.