"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind... We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith." -- Margaret D. Nadauld

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Changes Are A-Foot

I have been dreading the end of 2010. The beginning of 2011 is looming closer and closer and I wish it would just STAY AWAY!!!

Do you remember.... way back in September... when I wrote this post about faith and knowing what's coming up around the corner? Well, I can be less vague about that now.

Max has made a job change. We knew it was coming. For his employment, he owns a business that does consulting in health care, focusing on hospitals. He either

a) goes into a hospital that is in financial crisis and in need of leadership and helps them through the rough time, offering leadership and the ability to make difficult choices.
-or-
b) offers his accounting services as CFO for small rural hospitals. He does this off-site and personally visits the facility once a month.

It's not an easy job. It has involved a lot of traveling, being away from home and family. But he has done well and while we didn't get rich, we've survived and been able to meet our financial obligations.

The contract with Max's current client has come to an end -we knew it was going to end -and we had to make a decision: does he hit the road and try to find more clients (which are few and far between) or do we search for more permanent employment... meaning we close our business and probably move from Florin?

After much prayer, personal reflection and a serious look at our financial position, we decided on the latter. We are very lucky --no, BLESSED -- that hospitals all over the country are looking for qualified CFO's. There were dozens of jobs to apply for.

Sadly, even with the plethora of jobs nationwide, no hospitals in our area are hiring for this position, so Max focused his job search in our geographical region... which would keep us closer to family and friends; to the mountains we love; and our National Park. There were 4 hospitals in neighboring states that offered interviews. We chose to interview at 3.

One hospital, which is run by a corporate office, finally made an offer. The position was ACFO (Assistant CFO) and was temporary. He would be in training for 3 months...6 months... or a year and they would ship him out to another facility... anywhere from Texas to Alaska... where he would be CFO. That position wasn't ideal. We would like to be more in control of our destination. And we have heard that this company can be difficult to work for. Burn-out rates are high.

Finally, another offer came in. This is at a small, rural hospital in Max's home state. It's a county owned hospital that doesn't answer to a corporate office. Again, after much prayer, pondering, visiting the town and looking at our options, we decided to accept this offer.

He begins his new job on January 3, 2011.

The hardest part about this new job is that we have decided that Inigo and I will remain behind in Florin for a while. Buttercup has just finished her first quarter of Cosmetology School and will finish the program later in 2011. We are not prepared to sell the house... we don't even know if we will try. Buttercup needs to live here while she's working on her certificate and after looking at different options, we decided it would be better if we sent Max off on his own while I stayed here to help her through.

So it looks like we're back to the "weekend dad" thing. We've done it before. We know we can do it. But we don't like it.

Max has updated his pilot's license and has found a reasonably priced airplane to rent for those weekends he doesn't have time to drive home. We will also visit him at his new home. And when Buttercup is finished, Inigo and I (and possibly Buttercup) will pack up and join him.

Ultimately, it's our desire and our goal to return to Florin (HOME) to work on a different aspect of his health care business as well as start our retail business. I hate to put a time line on when this will all happen. I know when I HOPE it will happen, but HOPE and REALITY may not mesh.

So, you can see why I'm dreading the start of 2011. In my mind, this is the LAST WEEK that our family will live together -- the 4 of us -- the way we have always lived together. We are going to miss Max so very much, and that's bad enough, but when Inigo and I join him in a few months, Buttercup probably won't be coming with us. And I hate that.

I just wish time would stand still. I'm enjoying this last week we have together!

5 comments:

Sarah Miller said...

Sounds like you're handling a tough situation like you should, with lots of prayer and faith and a positive outlook eventhough it's hard. My question though is that I don't know where Max's homestate is? Any clues you can give? We'll be thinking of you and we love you!

Unknown said...

I can tell you Sarah.

Unknown said...

Smelli,
I'm sorry this is a difficult time for you. But I'm sure you'll find the silver lining. Just think, if you had stayed in Florin forever, you never would have met me! I think you will get to go back someday. Change is rough but I'm glad you have had an answer to your prayers.

thorkgal said...

I feel your pain.
I recently quit fighting the current that life has given us and I'm starting to go with the flow and it's much easier... if that makes any sense. People have come into our lives with incredible stories of resilience and trial that put ours to shame. I know there has been a reason for this "detour" if it's even chalked up to lessons learned.
Florin seems like it's in a protected bubble and we felt so alone in what we were going through. When we got out we found that we aren't alone. The struggles continue... but I think we have found our feet in faith and family. :) Love you, best wishes.

Yvonne said...

This must be so very hard. I know that you will deal with all of this--you are AMAZING. i always marvel at the way you deal with things.

I wish you and Max all the best and hope that everything comes together for you and that you don't have to spend too much time apart. (We have done that, too, and I know it isn't easy)

Hang in there.