Elonna's Silence on The Corner

[Elonna]

Everyone,

I got to thinking about the below post I put up last week and realized that I did not give you enough information. As I do not want anyone to be stressed out over my absence, please see the updated post below:

==============================

I must apologize for my recent silence on The Corner. Over the past several months, many events have happened to our family that have had to take priority. The following is a few of the reasons why I'm so behind on The Corner and have not been readily available to you all here:

1. In case any of you were worried about this, none of us are sick, most especially not me.

2. My husband, Rob, has been laid off from work since the middle of June. We found out about the middle of August that his place of employment was permanently closing, we had no more sub-pay (extra weekly payment from the company due to a union negotiated contract) and that our insurance was ending as of 8/31. Great news to get about 10 days from this date. We had a feeling this could happen, but were praying/hoping for the business to be reopened under a new owner. My husband has worked at this mill over 23 years, my father and grandfather both retired from this mill, Rob's father and uncles worked and retired from there (except Rob's father who passed away at work one afternoon). So, this mill has been well established and productive to remain open this many years. At the time of its closing, it was making a profit in the range of 4 million to 10 million every month. We were all shocked that it was closed in the first place. However, the most recent owner had 2 other steel mills, both of which were massively losing money. The mill Rob worked in could not make up for their loss. So, the owner threw the entire business into bankruptcy. The bankruptcy judge ordered that our local mill be sold by auction within 50 days. This deadline did not allow sufficient time for an industry to get a working prospective in place to purchase it. On auction day, 2 liquidators showed up and the top bidder was awarded the mill. This mill employed around 1,200 men.

Rob has, of course, been seeking employment since the middle of June. However, at the age of 55, it is extremely discouraging to be in this position as well as not as employable as he would have been at age 35. He is a journeyman industrial electrician which is often referred to as "motor inspector". Unfortunately, he skilled trade does not include residential; therefore, he cannot step into the construction industry. Those of you who live in the US are aware that our economy is in the tank, industry is closing right and left, finding a new job is extremely difficult at the pay comparable to the skill set.

We are extremely excited that he was called on Friday last week and asked to come in for an interview on Monday 9/24 at 10:00 a.m. for an interview. If you see this note prior to this time, please pray with us that he find favor with the interviewer(s), that the job be in his skill set and that he be offered the position at a reason pay rate with benefits similar to what he had prior. Thank you!!

3. Part of the reason I felt the need to return to work is because of Rob's lay off as well as the fact that a bit of extra money at this time, helps fill in the gaps. However, returning to work has provided issues of itself as I have not worked away from my home since December of 2005. While it is usually for 2 days a week, these days are quite taxing on my body and my pain level has been greatly increased because of going back to work. With each passing week, I do believe that the job is helping my legs to get into a stronger position much more like my physical abilities prior to fracturing my leg and crushing my knee several years ago. At times it feels like I'm walking over 2 miles a day at work. Doing the amount of physical activity that is required for the job is taking me some time to adjust and for 1 to 2 days of the week, I'm icing down body parts and staying off them as much as possible as well as just not feeling up to doing much of anything. I'm sure this will change and leave with time -- it is just taking time.

4. Most of you know that I do a lot of my writing late at night. This is in large part because the house is quiet and I can really think about what I am writing and to help insure that I am giving out adequate suggestions. With my husband home right now, I find that I have no time to myself as someone (either Rob or our 2 girls that still live at home) are home. With the need to get adequate sleep because of working once more, I also do not have the luxury of working through the night and sleeping late into the morning any day of my choosing as I had before. So, I'm still having difficulty finding quiet time just for me as well as quiet time in order to work on The Corner.

5. Now with the changing of the seasons, my pain levels are increased with the up and down of the weather from damp/cold to warm/muggy, etc. As the winter season sets in more, this will change and get better as well.

6. Finally, one of our daughters is getting married in early December. Off and on through the earlier part of the year, we have been working on her wedding. We are now in the final crunch, so I'm a bit distracted by this.


While I realize I've promised this before, I will do my best to get everything caught up on The Corner at my earliest possible convenience.

As always, if there is an urgent matter, please give me a call. It is usually much easier to talk through an urgent matter on the phone. Take into consideration my work schedule is Mondays/Tuesdays. So, evenings those days after 7:00 pm would be best and not after 10:00 pm. The other days is catch as catch can.


==================================
Of Note: I've not taken the time to proof read this post. I hope there is not too many typos or misplaced wording./elonna

[Elonna]

Up-Date #2:

I would ask for you all to bear with me a bit longer with my inability to be on The Corner more regularly.

As I mentioned in my prior post, we are now in the final crunch, so I'm a bit distracted by this. We are less than 5 weeks away from our daughter Taryn's wedding on 12/1. With all the last minute arrangements and making sure that everything is ready and beautiful for her/them, I have very limited extra time, which seems to be taken up with phone calls that are able to catch me at home.

I'm really sorry about this as I know that your posts are important; however, I can assure you that most, if not all, of the answers to the commonly asked questions can be found by doing a Corner "Search". I understand that there are unique questions where answers cannot be found through a "Search" -- for these questions, please give me a phone call.

As a reminder regarding phone calls, right now are a catch-as-catch can type thing as I'm in and out most days. Often, you will find me home in the evenings and on Saturdays. I would appreciate, though, that you respect the time frames clearly noted under the telephone thread herein. Thank you!


As a WONDERFUL, AWESOME, MARVELOUS answer to prayer: Rob got a new job. He started Thursday 10/18. We wanted to thank those of you who were praying for and with us during this time of job searching. While we were confident that God had a better position available (eventually), that unknown factor of "when" is so easy to allow oneself to worry and fret over. We really feel that Rob has been given a much better job in a cleaner plant and while the pay is slightly less, we believe that this will be much offset by the potential bonuses that he can earn. Thank you again so much for your diligence on our behalf.

[ann td]

So glad your husband got another job! Praise God (know you do). Sorry I haven't been on the Corner much the last month. We've sold our home and most possessions and are currently 'living' in California on the coast. I just reminded myself to get back to routinely checking the Corner and was so grateful to get a new post to respond to. Love you and all you do!

================================
Editing Reasons: Removed duplicate info.

[Elonna]

I just wanted to give you all a quick update from my corner of the USA.

Our daughter Taryn's wedding was 12/1, absolutely beautiful and absolutely exhausting! LOL The several weeks prior and the week leading up to her wedding were packed with all the last minute acts that take place be for a wedding: Showers, decorations and decorating, rehearsal, and making sure everything goes off without too much of an issue the day of the big event. Things were good. She was absolutely beautiful and walking on air. We are so blessed to have so many friends that pitched in to help us accomplish this undertaking. Without them, I do not believe we would have been able to do everything she wanted.

Rob and I just got back last night (Monday) from a quick trip to North Carolina to be with our daughter Brenna during a time where her husband Dan had to undergo a very risky surgery on his brain and C1 vertebra. This was done on Friday in the early afternoon. He was diagnosed with a condition called Chiari Malformation. This is a condition where brain tissue protrudes into the spinal canal. It occurs when part of your skull is abnormally small or misshapen, pressing on your brain and forcing it downward. When this happens, it blocks the proper circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is the protective fluid that circulates through the brain and the spinal cord. Our son-in-law has experienced pretty horrific headaches since he was about 15. Recently, they have been happening on a daily basis and he was experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, imbalance at times with the headaches; things along these lines. So, our daughter encouraged him to have this investigated. The investigation lead to this diagnosis and recommendation of surgery. He was told that if he continued without surgery, he could expect continue and advancement of the loss of neurological function, numbness and tingling in his hands, arms, feet and legs, and that if he did nothing, he was expected to become completely paralyzed. They decided to do the surgery. It appears that the surgery was a success. He has been told that recovery was 6-8 weeks and that he could still experience the headaches for about another year. We all would appreciate prayers for his full recovery, including the resolution of the headaches; so, if or when he might cross your mind, please take a minute to pray for his recovery.

We are back home now. But this quick recent trip involved 8 1/2 hours of riding in a car on Friday and then again on Monday. For me, this will most likely create a lot of pain this coming week. So, I appreciate your continue patience as well as prayers for my quick bounce back from this trip which was so close to our other daughter's wedding/reception and my pushing through that.

For those of you that have been trying to reach me by phone of over the last month, I apologize for not being a readily available and hope that you can understand that family events must take presence. I do apologize for any issues my unavailability might have caused in your life/lives and pray that my gap was covered for you. You are still welcome to call me whenever you need to talk or have questions/concerns. Please know that while I would love to be able to return phone calls, it is an impossibility for me to do so. Just periodically keep trying to reach me. Please respect also the day and times that I have noted for availability.


Thank you all very much!

[Elonna]

I find myself apologizing once again for being behind on my Corner replies.

Due to circumstances beyond my control in our lives. Things have been quite out of the norm for us lately with too many things to relate. Some of these are listed in the post right above this one.

Several trips back and forth and back and forth to North Carolina -- These trips throw my daily life routines completely off and also always take a toll on me physically. It takes me some days to recover physically, especially with working again.

Our daughter and son-in-law: This was a very scary time in their young lives to have to face, but they did so with great courage. He did not have to have surgery because of a cancer scare, but rather due to another condition that was causing debilitating migraines. Thankfully, the situation appears to have been corrected with surgery and he has even returned to work.

My phone has been ringing off the hook, so Protocel time has been eaten up with phone calls when I have been home. I know that many individuals have not even been able to reach me by phone as well. It has been crazy. I'm hoping things are settling back into a more manageable place for me and that I can get back to posting more regularly.

As always, if something is urgent and it is possible, call me to talk about your unique situation.