We're Considering a Life Change---

[Kitchen Diva]

Hey y'all (I'm practicing for when I move to the Suoth)

Being that DH and I are unemployed- I got to thinking about jobs and careers and what do I really want to do with my life. My #1 passion is FOOD- so culinary school is a must for me in my very near future. I was accepted to a top culinary school last year but because of family reasons, I had to move my start date. After having to move it 4 times, I felt it just wasn't the right time to attend Culinary School, so I put it on hold.

As I was sitting at my desk earlier this week I started writing down other things that interested me. I've always been interested in helping troubled teens and kids, and with the event of learning that my 4 year old niece was molested by her dad- I added sexually abused kids to my list.

DH sent me two emails the other day inquiring as to my level of interest in packing EVERYTHING up- selling most of what we have, taking a 50% pay cut (well 50% less of what we were making when he was employed, it would be more like a 65% paycut if we included any of my income) and moving to either Texas, or NC (where these two positions were) to be "house-parents" for troubled kids and teens. These positions are essentially minister positions- we would be not only these childrens "parents" but their spiritual mentors as well...

They provide either an apartment or a room in the home- they pay you a fairly decent salary, and all utilities are covered. We wouldn't have a mortgage and we could sell one of our vehicles, and just have my car and the Goldwing. I told him that it was funny that he sent those emails to me because I had been drawn to the same thing- working with teens/trouble kids...

Has anyone out there ever done this, or known of someone who has? What did you like about it? What didn't you like?

Taking a job like this would be an amazing LIFE change- I think it would be good for us, and both my husband and I have a heart for troubled kids. I'm not sure if we even qualify- but it's been on my mind, and it would be one way to get us to NC! By the way, where is Falcon, NC and is it nice there?

I'm not too fond of Texas (mainly because of their freakishly LARGE bugs) and no water to cool you when you get hot unless you have a pool- but that one looked like the better of the two.

I was just wondering if you guys had the chance to start over what would you do, and would you be willing to sell almost everything you had, take a big paycut and do what DH and I are considering?

I was just curious on your thoughts and experiences and wondering what would you do if given a chance to start over?



TIA

 

[janetupnorth]

Well, Kacey - my friends who are now on staff at Fort, SERIOUSLY considered going to Rawhide and were in the process of that before coming to Fort....and on the pay cut...well, my DH has not made over $21K in the last 10 years since his pay is missionary support (by the way he works 40-80 hours a week depending on the season). I moved up north to make half of what I used to in an engineering job (and that was half of a recent college grad salary...)So to the answer of would I take a paycut and move to do something like that - OF COURSE! Life isn't about money..."Be content with WHAT YOU HAVE, because God had said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."Will life be grand, not in the least bit...and I can guarantee you will have a whole new set of trials! But with those trials will come many blessings.I am trying to finish some last minute things to get out of work...I'm already 40 minutes past time so I'll check in later but that's the start of my thoughts...

 

[janetupnorth]

Oh, let me add, you need to really go into the process with a clear plan financially...there are ALWAYS emergencies...

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Well the income would be enough to keep us in the same financial state we are in now because of the fact that there will NOT be a 1st or 2nd mortgage! And there won't be $200-$400 per month in utility bills- so we actually wouldn't be that bad off. It would just be less than we are used to. The salary is about 3/4th of what DH is used to making at one job-

And he still has his military retirement to fall back on should there be emergencies. But it sounds like they take care of all the landlord type house up keep like if the fridge breaks- they fix or replace it.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

If I had a chance to start fresh, to start all over again, I would be a multi-millionaire playboy.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

If I had a chance to start fresh, to start all over again, I would be a multi-millionaire playboy.

Awww, that's touching.

 

[chefann]

KG- I thought you wanted to be a boy toy to some wealthy heiress.

 

[pamperedlinda]

If I had a chance to start fresh, to start all over again, I would be a multi-millionaire playboy.

Maybe have your own realiy show and a bunch of fake girlfriends? LOL!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

KG- I thought you wanted to be a boy toy to some wealthy heiress.

I was so disappointed to find out that you're not a wealthy heiress and you're married anyway.

Besides, I've already been married to an unwealthy airheadess.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Maybe have your own reality show and a bunch of fake girlfriends? LOL!

[shrug] Why? I've already got CS. [/shrug]

 

[pamperedlinda]

[shrug] Why? I've already got Chef Success. [/shrug]

Yeah, but you can't sleep with us!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

That's why I do my morning updates while most of you have retired.

 

[BethCooks4U]

WOW! I envy you the opportunity to even consider such a change! I would do it in a heartbeat if I were in a different place in my life. You could do so much to infuence those young people.

Falcon NC is 1 1/2 hours from me. Pretty much due south of Raleigh NC.

 

[chefmeg]

Kasey, I think I had told you that I lived in NC for several years, 13 years ago! It is a great place (as is Virginia) because you are a few hours from the beach and afew hours from the mountains. I think that you already know the answer to your question for you & DH.....let me know when you get to Falcon! It is only a few hours from me!

 

[janetupnorth]

I'm trying to figure out if KG called this a reality show or us fake?!?!?!I think it's more like a bad soap opera combined with clips of Last Comic Standing. I get really disturbed when Burt Reynolds shows up on the scene though...

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I'm considering a nose job. What do you think of this look?

 

[chefmeg]

eeeeewwwww Burt Reynolds! I never saw the fascination with him! Didn't we talk about this in another thread a while back???

 

[janetupnorth]

I'm considering a nose job. What do you think of this look?

Fine, as long as the clothes stay on and the bearskin rug does NOT come back out...

Ewww......... :yuck: :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Well, you KNOW what that means!http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/lugnuts/weird_stuff/Cosmo1BurtReynolds.jpg

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Well, you KNOW what that means!

 

[janetupnorth]

You HAD to bring that out, didn't you...

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I never would have, but NOOOOOOOOOOOO, you had to go and throw down the gauntlet. Poor Kacey.

 

[merego]

Hey y'all (I'm practicing for when I move to the Suoth)

Being that DH and I are unemployed- I got to thinking about jobs and careers and what do I really want to do with my life. My #1 passion is FOOD- so culinary school is a must for me in my very near future. I was accepted to a top culinary school last year but because of family reasons, I had to move my start date. After having to move it 4 times, I felt it just wasn't the right time to attend Culinary School, so I put it on hold.

As I was sitting at my desk earlier this week I started writing down other things that interested me. I've always been interested in helping troubled teens and kids, and with the event of learning that my 4 year old niece was molested by her dad- I added sexually abused kids to my list.

DH sent me two emails the other day inquiring as to my level of interest in packing EVERYTHING up- selling most of what we have, taking a 50% pay cut (well 50% less of what we were making when he was employed, it would be more like a 65% paycut if we included any of my income) and moving to either Texas, or NC (where these two positions were) to be "house-parents" for troubled kids and teens. These positions are essentially minister positions- we would be not only these childrens "parents" but their spiritual mentors as well...

They provide either an apartment or a room in the home- they pay you a fairly decent salary, and all utilities are covered. We wouldn't have a mortgage and we could sell one of our vehicles, and just have my car and the Goldwing. I told him that it was funny that he sent those emails to me because I had been drawn to the same thing- working with teens/trouble kids...

Has anyone out there ever done this, or known of someone who has? What did you like about it? What didn't you like?

Taking a job like this would be an amazing LIFE change- I think it would be good for us, and both my husband and I have a heart for troubled kids. I'm not sure if we even qualify- but it's been on my mind, and it would be one way to get us to NC! By the way, where is Falcon, NC and is it nice there?

I'm not too fond of Texas (mainly because of their freakishly LARGE bugs) and no water to cool you when you get hot unless you have a pool- but that one looked like the better of the two.

I was just wondering if you guys had the chance to start over what would you do, and would you be willing to sell almost everything you had, take a big paycut and do what DH and I are considering?

I was just curious on your thoughts and experiences and wondering what would you do if given a chance to start over?



TIA

I lived in Austin for 1 year and Dallas for 3 years and I miss it so much. I was so bummed when I was relocated back to Cincy. I LOVE TEXAS , what part of Texas would it be? If my ex husband didn't live there my husband said he would mind moving there, but unless my ex moves, we wont be going to Texas anytime soon to live.
As far as house parents, I have a friend who did it and had a good experience with it.
I wish you the best of luck in making the decision that is best for you and your family.
I still say consider comedy

 

[pamperedlinda]

Well, you KNOW what that means!

excuse me.....there is MORE to this picture....shall I post it for you or keep it all to myself?

 

[pamperedlinda]

Now, back to the serious matter at hand.

My brother had drug induced 'issues' several years ago and had to go to a live-in rehab farm type place. It was awesome! My grandparents are (well, were, my Pop died several years ago) farmers and my grandmother (at 91) still lives on the family farm. There is a lot of acreage, and my family seriously considered turning it into a drug rehab/working farm again. I was all for this idea as I thought it would be a way to not only give back to the community and also give those who have made bad life choices another chance, but also (a bit selfishly) it woud allow my grandmother to live out the rest of her life in her home. My uncle poo-poo-ed the idea so it didn't happen.

Personally, I think it would be very rewarding. It would be hard and quite trying at times, but in the end it would be rewarding to know that YOU were strategic in changing someone's life. That YOU were able to give them back their life, and family, and reason for being.

Go for it!

 

[KellyTheChef]

Here comes my reply BEFORE I read the other responses...so I can pray that God gives me the right words that you need to hear without other's responses to cloud what comes into my mind:

Here are some things that come to mind: (after prayer)

Getting paid to do WHAT YOU LOVE is the best way to live!

Isn't rent/mortgage/utilities about 50% (or more) of most people's salary's nowadays? Look at your actual EXPENSES and compare them to your salary from before and from this new possibility

Sounds like God has been speaking to BOTH of your hearts at the same time...that's usually a very good sign!

Once you get there and get settled, could you add some income doing PC? That could be your "play money" and "savings money"...

This could get you to NC, which is where you want to be....


OK, that's all that is coming to my mind. I pray that God directs both you and DH to take the road that He has planned for you...

Love,
Kelly

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

excuse me.....there is MORE to this picture....shall I post it for you or keep it all to myself?

I have it.

I was just trying to keep everything in good taste.

Although, maybe we're past that point, anyway.

 

[pamperedlinda]

We're always passed that point!

 

[susanr613]

I echo what Kelly wrote. Seems to me that G-d has cleared the path for you in many ways - no big time job to leave, no kids to uproot. So...walk down the path!

Plus, it takes very special people to work with troubled kids, and the impact is immense. From reading your posts, I can tell that you will be a Godsend to whomever you take under your wing.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Moooooommmmmmm- they hijacked my threadOkay, I don't mind my thread being hijacked- but hijacked and being FORCED to see a neked Burt Reynolds is more than my pure little eyes can handle!

Kelly, Meg, Janet, Beth, Linda, thanks for all the advice and info- I appreciate that very much...DH and I had a great conversation in the car on the way home from seeing Prince Caspian (which I HIGHLY recommend you go and see) and I told him that I really think we should look into this.

We are being given a remarkable chance to start fresh- to go back towards the basics. I have always had a soft heart for the underdog and for those that could not fight themselves or for themselves. I have quit numerous jobs in my not so recent past because God placed me in situations where a wrong was being done, and in my bringing right and "justice" to the situation I would be persecuted or worse... After seeing Prince Caspian tonight I knew I wanted to fight the good fight- and I believe working with troubled children is a good fight- and who better to stand up for them, than someone who has had one tragic situation after another since being 23 months old? And who better than DH, who comes from a severely abusive childhood after his father was tragically killed in a car accident when DH was 10 years old?

This is more than just a life change this is a chance for us to take a completely different direction- to bring encouragement and love and guidance into chaotic and painful little lives.

As long as we can take the pets with- I'm there... And if they give us a horsie- I'll be there by next week.

The positions in Texas were in Lubbock and Amarillo- The other one was in Falcon, NC. My grandmother was from Texas- I've been there several times and I just don't know if I can handle all those huge, freaky bugs- but I'm willing to try...however my heart is on the East Coast- so I'll keep you informed!

Thanks for listening to me and for coming along on my ride- you all might wanna fasten your seatbelts