Grateful for a Job...or two...or three...

(#29) My husband.  I have the best husband for many reasons, but today I'll pick just one.  He works so hard to provide for his family.  He isn't a work-aholic, but he does put in a lot of hours with the 3 jobs he holds.  Yet, he still makes time for his family.  He teaches government and history to high school students (and he even makes it interesting).  Kids love taking his classes and being involved in his "We The People" and "Capitol Forum" programs.  And it's always rewarding to hear from former students who come home over break, find him up at the school, and tell him that he really helped prepare them for college and that he made a difference in their lives.  One former student enjoyed his government class so much, that he pursued a college degree that led him to an internship in D.C., and now he's working on Capitol Hill - a opportunity that my husband could only dream of.  My husband's passion is evident, and it rubs off on his students.  Not only does he work full-time teaching, but he also works just as many hours coaching football during the fall, and soccer during the spring.  He absolutely loves building relationships with his athletes and students.  He is definitely making a difference.  The annual football banquet fell over the weekend, and it's always fun to get a not-so-quick recap of the season (the good, the bad, and the ugly), followed by hugs and "thank you's" from his senior athletes.  Here's the autographed picture the seniors gave him this year.  He gets a bit of a break now, until soccer practice begins in March.

(#30) My husband's 3rd job - a seasonal mowing business.  It isn't very glamorous, but he enjoys being outside, getting a little exercise, and seeing the freshly cut lawns after he's finished.  We thought it would be good for the kids to get involved also, so they could earn a little spending money -- but they haven't been very involved....yet.  It was supposed to be a "seasonal" job, but in Nebraska, this type of work actually means every season except winter.  He mowed for the final time of the "season" last weekend.  So now he gets to put his mowers away until next spring.  One of the perks to mowing these yards, is that there are a lot of grass clippings.  Why is that a perk?  Well, Chad has a friend who gladly takes our grass clippings for his cattle, in exchange for farm fresh eggs.  That's what you call a win-win, my friends.

 

(#31)  Farm fresh eggs are the best!  If I told you that farm fresh eggs have seven times more beta carotene, twice as many omega 3′s, three times more Vitamin E, a 1/3 less cholesterol, AND 1/4 less saturated fat than store bought eggs, would you believe me?  Maybe? (You should because it’s true.)  According to Motherearthnews.com, the benefits of farm fresh eggs FAR exceed those of standard eggs.  When you accept a job, you expect to get paid, and you hope that it will be rewarding.  But jobs provide so much more than that.  They provide relationships, opportunities, and sometimes they provide eggs.  I am so thankful that God provides more than what we expect.