Turning the Corner

A few years back, life was grand. You remember 2008, right? Before that whole financial melt-down started. House prices were soaring, jobs were abundant, credit was flowing.

We enjoyed two well-paying jobs, a newly renovated condo, rising career paths, in essence sort of what you are looking for in life: a good job, a nice family, a nice home in a good neighborhood.

We got married, got pregnant and then hemmed and hawed about how could we pay for this baby and daycare and all her stuff. Hahahahahahahahahaha

Fast forward a year to 2009, when I am out of work, Jason's pay has been slashed and the economy is in shambles. Home prices are dropping with no end in sight. Our industry has been decimated with projected architect unemployment in Chicago reaching 60% or more.

Our joy, our sweet girl, was here and thankfully bringing the ray of light we needed with her. We cut back, we scrimped, we made it work. Turns out we wasted on awful lot of money on stuff we didn't need.

Fast forward a year to 2010. I have completed my license, gotten a steady stream of work consulting on construction project management, designing remodel projects. Layla is in a new room at school with amazing teachers. She is walking and talking and showing more personality and independence by the day. But, Jason is increasingly unhappy with his job and looking for a new opportunity. None come.

Fast forward a year to now. I have designed and have under construction my first single family home in they city of Chicago. Layla is thriving in school and delighting and challenging us every day in the life of a two year old. We bought a new home for our family and find lots of 'together time' remodeling and enjoying our new back yard. And Jason? Well, Jason has finally found a new job!

After looking for more than two years for a new job, Jason was offered a position by two companies in the same week. What an amazing blessing! He struggled with the decision and in the end accepted a project manager position with another luxury home builder in the North Suburbs. This is a construction company that is doing well and building primarily new homes. The office is located about 15 minutes from both the condo and the new house, which is mighty convenient. He is focusing on project management with responsibilities in other areas of business development and marketing for his new employer. He will miss doing architecture directly but is in a position to work with a variety of designers and architects on the projects he is overseeing.

He left Orren Pickell after more than 12 years of employment and took only a day off between the jobs. The new company wanted him to come on board right away! He began the Monday or Thanksgiving week. The first few days were a tough transition, as all new jobs or new assignments are. Or, at least, should be. I reminded him that he wanted and needed a challenging job or he would be bored and unhappy.

The other night while we were making dinner I asked him how he liked his new boss (owner of the company). He was beaming while telling me how much he liked and respected him.

So that's what makes me say that I think we are turning the corner..............