Welcome to the Outnumbered podcast with Joey and Ali, where we talk about our life with our kids,
our jobs, our family, marriage, relationships, things like that. This is episode two. If you're
interested in our story and how we got from being high school sweethearts to outnumbered by three
boys in our house, you can check out episode one. But here's episode two, where we're going to talk
about where we are now, our jobs and our crazy life at home with our three boys.
Let's talk about how we got here. So yeah, last time we talked about kind of our relationship
mostly in the first episode, but we don't really talk about our careers because we both work and
have three kids. We both try to work. You work. You try to work. That's true. You're at home
trying to work with the three kids. Yes. Trying to work is a good way of putting it.
Yes. So I'll, let me go first. So my goal was always to work with kids. Even when I was in
high school, I liked working with kids that were younger than me. I would volunteer at youth camps
and things like that in the summer. And so I knew I wanted to be that. So naturally I thought I'll
be a teacher. And I kind of had that year off as we talked about with between high school and
college, because I joined the military. That was just the military part-time. So when I started
going to school, I decided I wanted to be a history teacher. I think mostly I wanted to be
a teacher and then coach and history was the only subject I liked in school and did okay at in
school. So I thought, I guess I'll be a history teacher. In hindsight, I should have been a PE
teacher. That would have been way more fun. I was going to say meal prep, not meal prep. Lesson
planning. Lesson planning. Yes. And grading. Yeah. Like year three of teaching, I was like,
why didn't I become a PE teacher? Yeah. Anyway, so I became a history teacher. So I went to school
to do that. Student teaching my senior year, which was the first year of our marriage. I was student
teaching and even student teaching, I really liked it. And I kind of dialed in. I knew I wanted to be
an eighth grade history teacher and I was going to take any job that I could get, obviously. But
that was kind of my goal. I really liked middle school, liked the curriculum for eighth grade
history. And so that's what I wanted to do. And that's the first job I got was as an eighth grade
history teacher. And that was tough. I don't know. Would you say that was a tough year,
first year teaching? Just an adjustment. I think it was just kind of like figuring it out and then
getting to a point where like, this isn't working. You know, we just need to adjust a little bit.
With what do you mean? Like you would just bring home. Oh yeah. Stuff and do grading or whatever.
Yeah. I mean, you had a lot to do. Like it made sense. But also I was like,
so are you ever going to stop doing that? Yeah. No, I remember that really clearly. We were in our
apartment and I think it was because when I was student teaching, we were married and I was just
always doing stuff at home because I was still a student in college. I had college assignments,
but I was also teaching full time. So I was teaching stuff that I was doing. And so then
I just was used to that lifestyle. And then my first job, I just kept doing the same thing.
And I remember I was sitting at the table one night, like working on my lesson for the next
day. And you just looked at me and you're like, you remember, I don't remember exactly what you
said, but you were like, you shouldn't be doing this anymore. Like you work all day,
like don't bring it home. And then it kind of clicked and I was like, Oh, that's a good point.
So I tried my best. I mean, you were, you were creating like a curriculum because you had
nothing. I mean, it was year one. It was, there was definitely a lot to do, but also like,
I didn't see you all day. And then I was like, you were home, but I still didn't see you.
True. I got better at that throughout the years.
Because I think I was like, this isn't going to work.
Yeah. And as I was teaching, I was always looking for coaching opportunities. I loved
coaching and middle school is fun. So you can kind of coach a lot of sports. So at that first
school, I, I taught or I coached wrestling at the high school and the middle school,
and then also cross country, which was fun because that was my first time coaching
girls in a sport because I was used to just coaching like boys wrestling. And I realized
that middle school girls respond differently than middle school. And I was like, I was just
like, yeah, like they're running. And I was like, come on girl. And they looked at me like I was
nuts. And I was like, Oh, sorry. You do your thing. So we spent two years in that school
and then made the decision. And my first year at that school, I was like, man, I'm going to teach
this school for 30 years. I remember thinking that I was like, this is a great school. I liked
the people I worked with, had a good relationship with the principal, but they didn't pay a whole
lot. And so after year two, we, I think we were, no, we never second guess. We just, we had one
kid, but things were starting to get tight and we're like, I don't know if this is sustainable.
We just didn't realize we didn't, we didn't pay attention to that.
So I think we kind of realized that this isn't sustainable. And so I started looking for jobs
in other districts and Lord, I got the first, yeah, Lord was awesome. I got the first one.
for, um, in a better district.
And thanks to your pump up song or what, didn't you have a specific interview
pump up song?
I did. I don't remember what it was, but I did, but I, but that was like the
first round, my first job, I interviewed a bunch, but then the second time it
was a lot easier cause I had experience. Um, but that was great. So, so that
was like spring break of my second year of teaching. And so then the end of
that year, I got to go on a trip. Remember that? You do remember that cause you were
alone with my house, but I got to go to Boston and New York with 35 eighth
graders and two other teachers. The dream that was wild. I went because the
teacher told me that we would go to a baseball game at Fenway, which is the
Red Sox stadium. It's like the oldest baseball scene. And so, uh, I was like,
yeah, I'm in. And then, uh, and then we did that on the first day and then I
had to do the rest of it. But, uh, that was fun. So that was like kind of my
last experience that first school then transitioned. And then the, I got another
eighth grade history job in the second school. So I was really excited about
that cause I got to teach the same thing. It wasn't like I was starting over.
And then at that school I have lots of opportunities to coach. I think I was
coaching for sports. Yeah. I was also coaching volleyball at the time. Yeah.
Yeah. Cause we did a little skirmish between our schools. Oh yeah. Did we set
that up? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I coached soccer, cross country wrestling
and track, but my first year at that school was 2019, 2020. Yeah. And so I
knew it was good. It was a different experience to that school, but again,
really liked my principal, liked the people I worked with, was planning on
doing it for a long time, closer to our house. I had just finished my master's
degree. And so that bumped me up and pay a little bit and the four coaching
opportunities were great. And so we were definitely felt like we were in a
better spot. Yeah. And then spring of 2020 happened. And, um, that was wild
cause I was the week before spring break that we just finished wrestling
season. They canceled school for a week. And then next week was spring break.
So I said, we're going to close for two weeks and we'll see what happens. And
so we tried to do, they want us to like give the kids, I'm teaching eighth
grade. Okay. So they want us to give kids assignments. I think we did. I
don't think any of them did anything after spring break. They said, no, we're
still going to be closed. Yeah. And it was kind of like a week by week thing.
And then eventually they were like, we're not coming back this year. And so
that was a weird time for us. I don't know. What do you remember about that?
I just remember being like, so back and forth and like kind of chaotic just in
that, like if any kids like were sick, I don't even think it was the next year.
So this was just that first year when we were just close. Oh, you said 2020.
And then I was thinking 2020, but spring of 2020. Yeah. It was a little crazy.
It was just kind of hard. I think cause our house was so small, just like
getting into a routine of like doing our own thing. And then you would just
like pop upstairs. Yeah. Cause I wasn't teaching that year. I wasn't teaching
the kids live. So they would have us just like post assignments daily and
then respond to emails from kids and stuff. And so I didn't have a ton to do.
So I would like do some stuff and then come up and I thought I was being
helpful. I'm like, Hey, no, but I was probably just disrupting whatever.
Then I felt like we were just like upstairs waiting for you to like come up.
It's probably just disrupting whatever rhythms. And I was just, I mean,
there was nothing really to do during that time, you know? So,
and we had, how old was Miles? He was almost two. And so, yeah, I don't know.
That was a weird time. But we made it through that. And again,
at that point I was still thinking like teaching, we'll figure it out.
And then, um, that summer was weird. Cause you were hearing a lot of stuff
from the district about what we're going to, what fall is going to look like in 2020.
And like so many back and forth things are, we're going to start in person. We're not
going to start in person. We're going to do this, that, blah, blah. And so we,
I think we did the first two weeks not in person. And I remember just teaching in my
empty classroom from my laptop and all the kids were at home. So my,
and that was my fourth year of teaching. And the first day of school is when you meet all the kids
and I'm meeting them all through a computer screen, which was super weird. And so that's
how we started the year. And then when we came back, I forget all the words that they used,
but it was like asynchronous or I don't know. So I had, I had half the class in my room and half
the class at home and I had to teach them all at the same time. And then they would switch. So like
some kids came Monday, Wednesday, some kids came Tuesday, Thursday. And then I don't remember what
we did on Fridays, but, uh, maybe it rotated. That was the beginning of burnout. Yeah. It was
so, it was so hard and it just completely changed my style of teaching and how I taught.
When you're basically possibly creating two lesson plans. And I think it was also, yeah.
I felt like the kids at home were getting gypped because they're not really getting
the full experience. And then, and then everybody's wearing masks. And so I would,
I don't know if every teacher did this, but I would, it was middle school. So we'd like 55 minutes.
class periods, but we would go outside at least once a class period so that
everyone could take off their mask.
Have you ever even seen their face?
You know, some kids wouldn't, some kids wouldn't take their masks off outside.
And so I don't really know what they look like.
Yeah.
That's hard to connect.
It was weird.
But the worst part of the school year, not the worst part, I guess the worst
part for us financially, I should say is that they said no coaching middle school.
So they, so high school was allowed to play sports, but they said
middle school is not doing sports.
And we relied on that heavily.
Cause that was four sports that I was coaching.
And so it was a good chunk of money.
And at the beginning of the year, they're like, Oh, middle
schoolers don't need to do sports.
Yeah.
We're like, what?
And so that's when I think we were starting to think, man, like what else
could I do because this isn't a, it's, I'm not really liking it and all the,
the, yeah, trying to teach with a mask on and trying to make sure kids keep their
masks on and like, I'm not feeling, I'm not really teaching anymore.
Cause I'm all this other stuff.
And then the other thing they would do that falls like the quarantine stuff.
So like if a kid came to school sick, like they would quarantine the kids
and teachers that they were around.
So that's the year then that it would be like, Oh, you're like Sunday
night, you'd get an email and it was like, Oh, you're in class or you're not.
Yeah.
And you'd be like, okay, now I need to address my entire lesson plan.
Yeah.
Cause there was one week where it was like, they sent me home that week.
Cause I was exposed to a kid who may have maybe, or maybe had COVID,
even though they had a mask on an item.
Anyway.
So then I'd go home and then I didn't find out till like Sunday night if I was
even allowed to go to school on Monday.
It was just chaotic.
Even though I wasn't sick.
So yeah, it was kind of exhausting.
You have all these extra stuff going on and then I'm making less money cause we
took a pay cut and I couldn't coach.
Um, which the school is great.
They, they tried to make up some like intramural sports stuff after school that,
that made us a little action.
It was out of their control.
I think it wasn't the same.
So that fall we started thinking in my military job, uh, that I did one weekend
a month and during the summer, how it worked is I worked with a lot of, uh,
civilian government employees in the same job.
I was military, but they were civilian.
We worked at the same job though.
And so I was up there one time, I don't know if it was a, if it was a drill
weekend or something, but I was just talking to, and then all of a sudden I
had this thought, which I had never had in like nine, eight or nine years, this
had never occurred to me and it just hit me.
And it was like, what if I worked up there full-time as a civilian?
I think it was totally from the Lord.
Cause I never considered that before.
I was like, I'm gonna be a teacher.
I'm doing military thing part-time.
And it just hit me.
And so the guy I was working with was a civilian.
And so I was like, how much you guys get paid?
And I just started asking some questions.
And I remember coming home.
Do you remember that?
When I pitched that to you?
I remember you came home and you were like, here's the salary.
And I'm like, cool.
I'm in.
Like, that was, that was it.
Like, sure.
And it being more than what we initially thought.
But, and I don't, I don't know.
I kind of felt like an easy decision at first.
I think just because it was necessary.
We're just sick and tired of like, yeah, just constantly feeling so tight.
And, but it took forever.
So we first, the idea popped in, in May or in that fall of 2020.
And I knew a lot of those people really well cause I'd worked
with them for nine years.
But, um, and so I started asking questions.
They're like, yeah, of course we'd hire you.
We need somebody.
And that paperwork and the government took forever.
So I didn't get hired until February.
And so I left teaching that February and in the middle of the school year, we were
still doing the weird asynchronous thing and half the kids and all that.
And so, which I think you felt bad doing that.
But also, but I'll back up a little bit.
I remember praying into that decision.
Cause I was going back and forth like, man, am I really supposed to leave
teaching?
Cause I thought I was going to be teaching for 30 years.
And I remember thinking like, well, I could go back, you know, and things
aren't as weird with teaching.
But I, it's funny.
And there'll probably be a couple of examples of this in this story, but
cause usually if I'm like praying into something, I'll put on worship music.
And there's always a song that speaks to me.
And so I remember, I think it was that, um, you make me brave song.
And when I was considering it, cause it was a hard decision to leave teaching.
And then I didn't realize how hard it was until the day that I left.
You remember that day?
I was like a Friday.
It was my last day in February.
And I'd put in two weeks.
Do you have tears in your eyes now?
Right now?
No, but I, I always call you.
I'm on my way home from work.
Any job that I've had, I always call you on my way home.
But that day I didn't.
I think I even picked up groceries.
I think you had me pick up groceries on my way home.
Yeah.
Uh, from like the pickup or whatever.
And so I was doing that, but I didn't call you cause I knew I
was going to start crying if I called you.
And it was a good day.
Like the kids were awesome.
They like threw me a party.
They like signed this huge poster for me, which they should've, I was
leaving in the middle of the school year.
I mean, it'd be nice to me.
And then, um, so it was a good day, but then I got home and I just
like lost it, I think.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
I just started crying.
You definitely cried.
Yeah.
And I didn't even know why.
So then for like two months, I didn't know why I was having such a hard time
with it because I didn't mind the other job.
Like it wasn't teaching and it wasn't kids, but it was a job that I didn't hate.
I had done it for nine years.
I felt like I was pretty good at it.
called airfield management. So I did flight plans. I did checks and inspections of the runway and
pavement. And I got to be outside on an airfield with like jets flying over. It was pretty cool,
but I was, I was, but like, that wasn't even that bad yet. It was like two months in and I was just
really struggling with, I was like, man, I left my dream job. Like I left the career I was going
to do for 30 years. Like, what was I thinking? And then, uh, we got together with some random
friends. It was really my brother's friend. Like, I don't even know if we've had them over since.
This was like a couple of years ago. And we've talked about that. The Lord does it all the time.
We'll just plop random people in our lives to say something to us. And, um, but I was talking to him
about it and he was like, well, dude, if your identity is, is wrapped up in anything other
than Christ and that thing goes away, it'll feel like a part of you died. And I was like, Oh,
that's it. That's exactly what I'm dealing with. And I, and I guess I knew that, but just for him
to word it that way, really clicked. And so I was like, man, my identity was wrapped up in being a
teacher. Like, I know I didn't make a lot of money. I know it's not a glamor shop, but like,
I was proud of being a teacher. Like I liked telling people that I was a teacher. I was like,
yeah, like this. Well, you liked the response too. Yeah. Cause people are like, why would you teach
middle school? Yeah. And so I liked it and I thought I was going to do it for a long time.
And I liked history. I like teaching history. And so, and I wasn't doing it all. Suddenly I
wasn't doing any of that. And I was doing something more important though. Right. I was,
I changed jobs to provide for my family. I knew the Lord was leading me in that direction. That
was the confusing thing too, is cause we had peace about it. I'm like, well now Lord, I'm
doing something where I'm not using any of my gifts or passions. And so that was, that was
really hard. Um, but when he said that it got a little bit better. And then I had another friend
at the time who is, I was asked, talking to a lot about it as well. And he, he kept saying,
well, you know, if your gift is teaching, it doesn't mean you have to be a teacher.
You know, like the Lord can do lots of things with your gifts. It does. You know,
anyone who's gifted in teaching doesn't have to be a teacher, which I know now,
but at the time I was like, well, I'm not really teaching in this, this airfield management job
either. Yeah. And I think looking back on that, it's like, you could, you know, pinpoint ways
that like that job, maybe it wasn't a long season, but like it opened the door for us to be able to
buy our current house. Cause we were outgrowing our last house, but like, could not afford
anything. Tell that story. That's a cool story. Which part? Getting the house. Cause that was
right when I started that job. Yeah. We had, yeah. You'd maybe been in there like a month,
two months maybe. And, um, our last house was three bedrooms, but it was like a split level.
So upstairs there were only two bedrooms and yes. And we're, uh, our second baby was, uh,
do that fall. It was probably early like January, maybe February. And, or was it more like March
and spring? Yeah. Okay. Spring of that year. And, um, yeah, we just felt like we were outgrowing
our house. Like we had one bedroom that was like upstairs besides ours. And it was tiny,
really tiny, felt hard to host people. Cause we had such a tiny little kitchen and dining area.
We had like four chairs. So it was just hard to get a new house. We had to sell our current house.
Yes. So we had the income to buy a new, to buy a bigger house. But yeah,
the contingent offer was tricky. But if we didn't sell our house or if we sold our house first,
then we could have ended up like, yeah, there's kind of two options. You can try to put a
contingent offer. Like, Hey, we want to buy your house, but we have to sell ours first,
which most market was hot. Most people are not going to take that. So the other option,
which our realtor was telling us to do was sell your house first and then look for a house.
So then you only have a small window of time. Yeah. And so it felt risky. So yeah. Anyways.
Yeah. So that, that was our plan. And then. Yeah. So then we hadn't even started looking.
We were like working hard on, we got a storage unit to like just declutter and, um, Facebook.
Yeah. We were like painting, touching up, whatever. But, um, I, the neighborhood that
my parents live in that I grew up in, I was still on their Facebook page and I got on it
for some reason, or I just saw it on Facebook that somebody had posted somebody that I knew
had posted that they were selling their house in that neighborhood.
You played volleyball with his daughter, right? Yeah. And I was like, wait, I know him. And it
was like in our price range. It was in our price range. Great plan. Yeah. Three bedrooms upstairs,
um, in my parents' neighborhood, which has a pool. So we asked a realtor, super nice. We were like,
are we crazy to try that? So we went and saw it. And, um, I think I had asked him like, Hey,
we're, we would love to see your house, but we would have a contingent offer. Like,
would you consider that? And I think he said in the right situation, he said normally no,
but I know you guys said, yeah, so go for it. So we were like, okay, well, we'll at least try.
So we went and saw the house. It was the only house we saw. We didn't even look. I mean,
we could have looked around, but we didn't. And, um, we put in an offer.
Offer. And then I think there were like one, two other offers and better than
which, yeah, which, but also it was the, so either something was wrong with the
house, which we haven't figured that out yet, or, but like, no, there wasn't like
a ton of offers. Like we just assumed there would be so many offers cause the
market was kind of at that point and there wasn't. So then it was like either
something was wrong at the house or it was just supposed to be ours, but there
was a cash offer higher than ours that he was going to. So he accepted our
offer and then he messaged you. And you remember that? And he explained, he's
like, I just want to explain why I picked your offer. He was like, yeah, we
got a cash offer. I was tempted to buy it, to accept it. But he said that he
felt like God woke him up at like 2am, 3am and was just like, you need to pick
them. So anyway, if you have a contingent offer, do it. So yeah, that was really
cool. Cause it, and it was just, I think a confirmation that we were doing the
right stuff with changing jobs. Cause right after that, and then the Lord shows
up like that and tells this guy to pick our offer. It is crazy story. And so
that's, the house has been a huge blessing for us and, um, been there for
almost three years now. So yeah, it was, we made that transition. So I'm doing
this job. I'm commuting to Denver, which is tough. It was really early morning.
So I had to, I had to get up at three 30 in the morning and then we was, it was
10 hour shifts. So I'd get up to the, I'd get up to Denver by five 30, wouldn't
get off shift till close to four. And so then I want to get home until five 3pm.
So it was like 12 hour days away from the house. And then, and then we'd work,
I'd work a night shift every week, which wasn't your favorite thing.
No, I can't stand that.
Yeah. And during this time period though, because I wasn't doing where I felt like
my giftings and passions where I started volunteering with the youth group at the
church we'd been attending for a couple of years. And so I got plugged in there,
started serving volunteer basis. I wasn't that consistent just because the job was
tough with the shift work and night shifts. And I felt like I was tired all the time,
but, but I loved that. And it was, it was super, um, life-giving for me and just
felt like we had loved our church and we didn't serve a whole lot. So I felt like
it was a way where I could serve in the church we've been visiting and hang out
with kids. Yeah. Which I love doing. And so that was fun. So I, I started,
I did that for about a year while I was in that job.
And then we had our second and then in the fall of 21,
second kid, and then still doing the job. But I remember that during that time,
I was home on paternity leave, kind of,
I was home whatever days I had saved up for a little bit.
And I felt like at that time we were talking a lot about like what's next.
You were like, just don't go back. Please don't go back.
And we knew it was not going to be a long-term thing. Yeah.
It was good for us financially in the moment,
but it wasn't what we were passionate about. And so, oh,
you might hear our baby a few times. He's in the corner.
He's noisy. He's happy. He's just noisy. Yeah. He's loud. He has to be loud.
We have three kids. Yeah. Yeah.
I just remember having a lot of conversations when we were waiting for Adler to
be born. And then before I went back to work about like what's next, you know,
I think it was during that time I was praying hard about what was next.
And I think I was feeling frustrated. And I remember saying to you like,
I'm praying I'm not getting anything. Well, you try.
You were like you try and then you left. And I remember even like at that time,
I don't even remember feeling like I intentionally was like, sure,
I'll pray about it. I mean, not that I wasn't willing,
but I don't remember like starting to pray about it.
It was just kind of like, okay, sure. And then I felt just like this clear,
like, I don't know, it didn't make sense at the time. At the time,
it felt like, like I was like,
God was telling me that like I was like the next season was like me,
like I needed to be financially providing in the next season.
And I took that. No, but I took, I, the way I received,
it was like, like totally, like, I don't, I don't know what that means.
Like I don't, I don't, I'm not doing anything like really that would.
I remember being like, sweet. I get to be a stay at home dad.
No, but I, I remember thinking like, wait, but like how,
but then I just felt like this, like, well, you have everything you need.
You're going to have a role. And well,
that's what we got to eventually when it like came together and we figured it
out. But yeah, at the time I was just like, what does that mean?
Like I had a blog, but like,
it did not make anywhere near enough money, like 50 bucks a month.
I don't know. So yeah. And then I just felt like this clear, like, well,
you have everything you need. Cause I was like, oh,
I don't know how to do that. I don't, I'm not prepared.
I'm not set up for that. I don't know where that would even come from.
And then I want to say just like a few, few weeks later,
I don't know the timing. I got a referral from somebody with a,
no, so hold on. So it was quite a bit later. So that was,
cause that was like right when Adler was born and then we just,
and then I ended up going back to work and then we just kind of kept doing what
we were doing,
but it was getting tougher with the commute and now having two kids and a
newborn.
night shifts and, you know, night shift, like if I'm not there, you know,
newborns are needy at night. And so you're doing that by yourself. And then,
I mean, yeah. And then we kind of do it for a while.
Like I was applying for all sorts of stuff going into that next spring I was
applying for, I don't know. I, I didn't feel like I should go back into teaching,
but I was applying for, um, like there was this one job I really wanted.
It was like an online ed education technology company.
And I'd be like writing curriculum for their videos.
And I was really excited about it.
And I think I did a couple of interviews with them and then didn't get the job.
Working sounded fun to us.
Working from home. Yeah.
Like we'll move to the mountains.
Yeah. And I just felt crushed that I didn't get that. And then I was,
we were exploring all sorts of options.
We were willing to do pretty much anything.
And then ultimately it came down to like, the job was just too much.
Commuting was too much. Um, our, our dog tragically died.
On a night shift.
On a night shift. And you had to deal with all of that. And we were like,
can't be stuck in Denver anymore. Like we can't do this.
And so then I remember we were at this event at our church that they do kind of
the beginning of the new year.
And another song was playing in the line of the song was, um, you silence fear.
And so I remember we were just been talking about like, well,
maybe we just, we just need to quit the job. We just need to quit. Yeah.
I was like, but I've got two kids and I've got wifi.
Oh, but how do we pay bills or how do we do this?
I have nothing lined up. And so I was like, Lord,
if this is what we're supposed to do, you need to silence my fear.
Cause like, I, I'm afraid to quit when I don't,
I have to support my family somehow. And he did,
I just felt an overwhelming sense of peace in that moment. And, uh,
I think we talked to some friends at that event too,
and they were kind of encouraging us in the same direction. So,
but then I think we still sat on it for like a month and then finally we're
like, no, we've had peace. We've got it. We're like,
we feel like we need to do this. So we, we quit nothing lined up.
Yeah.
Put in my two weeks and I'm done. Now I've been spring of, of 22.
And then soon after that,
Lord opened the door to interview to be the youth pastor at church and the youth
group that I had been volunteering at. And that was just, yeah,
that was so cool because...
What month was that?
I don't know. It was all that spring. Yeah. Um, of 22. And so,
and that was cool because that was not really something I ever thought that of,
of pursuing, you know, being in full-time ministry.
And in hindsight though,
it's really cool because I didn't even realize how the Lord had been preparing
me for it through my time in the military and leadership skills I picked up there.
And then my time in teaching, I'm still teaching, you know,
I could teach the Bible now, which is way more fun than teaching history.
It's still teaching history, but it's different.
And then just the relationship I can have with, with students as a youth pastor.
But anyways, so Lord opened that door and I was like, man,
I guess this is the direction we're going to go. And, and he was kind of,
I think turning our hearts both in that direction.
I think we were definitely on the same page for it. And then when crunch time
happened, had the interview, had to make the decision. Yeah.
Talk about that a little bit. Cause then that's when the job stuff happened.
Yeah. My timeline was fuzzy, but yeah, we were like, definitely that's the job.
Like we both felt good about it. But again,
we were unsure about the numbers financial because it was definitely less than I
was making in like... It would have worked in our last house,
but then we were making more.
And so we bought a little bit bigger house and then all of a sudden we didn't
have, it wouldn't have worked in that house.
So that was kind of when that like that word that I got kind of came into play
where I think it was May, beginning of May.
I still had no clue what I was supposed to be doing to make money. Like that,
I don't know. It was kind of on the back burner that I have to do something.
Yeah. And so I remember I got a referral from somebody that we know that was
like, Hey, are you, are you taking design jobs?
I have someone moving here and they want their whole house furnished before they
get here and they need someone to do it. And I said,
I want to send them your info. And I was like, okay, sure.
So they literally reached out and it was like this big job.
You learned a lot.
Like months of covering like our financial gap. And yeah, I learned a lot.
And then because of that referral,
which happened literally like right when I accepted the job,
you decided to head in that direction and pursue design,
which has always been something I've been interested in. It's always,
that's what my blog is about, but I had never thought I,
I didn't think I wanted to work with clients, but you're trained,
certification. You've always been, since you were what, like in middle school,
you're pushing furniture around and you're probably like seven. Yeah.
And watching HGTV the whole deal. But yeah,
it was just funny timing because it was literally like, okay, sure.
And I feel like I was just kind of like thrown into like, well,
this is your business now. And it's been super great since.
It's definitely looked different depending on the season,
just because I have two children. Yeah. And like right now,
I feel like I'm in an adjustment period where I don't really know how to,
I don't know how I'm supposed to find time except when like your home,
but just the juggle of like, that's.
family time. Yeah, there's a lot to balance for sure.
Like obviously there's Saturdays,
but I don't want to spend my whole Saturday working, you know?
And looking back,
cause we're coming up on two years now of that transition from me into full
time, really us in a full-time ministry. Cause you, you do it with me.
And then you with the, your design business,
I think it's cool how you haven't really done any advertising.
No, none or promotion zero. And these jobs, word of mouth,
God just keeps giving you jobs,
but I like how he's given him to you. Not like too many at once.
Like literally they kind of come in one at a time.
I feel like I'll get to this point where I'm like, Oh, nothing. I have nothing.
And then all of a sudden it's like, yeah, yeah.
And it's, and so I feel like he hasn't given us like too much where we can make
work, but it's enough financially.
It's enough and it's also enough where we can mirror our schedules and give you
time. And, and with the way my schedule is, you know,
in my off days and off pockets, we were able to work in giving you time.
But then, yeah, as you mentioned,
there is that struggle of where do we find family time,
relaxing time, you work time, me work time.
And that's the balance of working parents and kids, you know?
Yeah. But it's kind of nice too. Cause it's like,
I'm not working every day nine to five, like in the fall and the, um,
and winter, like Thanksgiving and Christmas ish time this last year.
Um, I had two huge jobs that we were then able to like tuck a bunch away
to the timing of that. Cause that was,
and you were pregnant with our third. Yeah, that was a little,
I was a little, a little tired.
We talked about how the timing worked out.
Yeah. I had two jobs and, um, the timing,
they were supposed to be separate.
The one was supposed to be like early November that we would be like in the
house, like working on the house. Our third baby was due November 1st.
Someone asked me that last night and I was like, was he due the first?
No. Yes. Yeah. I think so. Okay. So anyway,
I choose a week late. Yeah. Yeah. So I was like, okay, yeah, sure.
Actually when I said originally I could do it, I was like, yeah, no problem.
Great. And then later I'm like, Oh my goodness. I'm, I'm literally due then.
Yeah. And so anyway, I kept checking in like, Oh, are we still on time?
Are we still on time? And they were like, yep, we're still on time.
And I'm thinking like, okay.
But also kind of was hoping it would be super delayed and the construction would
be like super pushed back just for the timing. So anyway,
it kind of was which worked out.
And the reason you should explain the reason why you're worried about that is
cause like we've learned with the first two kids, how important.
Oh, I don't want to be out there a week postpartum. Exactly.
Just even like a month. I'm not doing that. So,
but I had to get the job done. I mean, I had to do it.
So the first job I was like super pregnant, like almost due.
That one was supposed to be done way earlier. And then this other one,
she got that one done before the baby. We did barely, barely. Yeah. Well,
I think it was wrapping up as I was like in bed a few days after your part was
kind of hands off. Yeah. Yeah. So my part,
I was able to send someone thankfully to like finish it up for me. But yeah.
And then the next one was like three weeks postpartum,
which worked out better than it would have.
But also we were in the hospital with our third who had like a respiratory type
congestion type virus.
And I was three weeks postpartum or so training thing.
Christmas was right there. It was a little, it was a lot. Um,
obviously a big blessing financially,
but also then it was nice to be able to tuck that away and then like not have to
do anything for months because you know,
our financial gap that we're always covered.
You've had a few jobs, a few smaller jobs, but like, again, I can't,
I don't know how many I could really take on at this point. So it's, yeah,
I have one right now that's just a little more low key, which is good. Yeah.
Yeah. I feel like, um, that's been an adjustment for sure,
but definitely a huge blessing and, um, still figuring it out.
I don't really know how to get it all done. We don't get it all done.
Our house is a mess. Yeah. We have boys that try to destroy everything.
But I think, yeah, through that though,
we've learned a lot in terms of like how to budget better and how to like.
Learn a lot. I was just thinking how to keep track of details. Yeah.
And I think we both,
one cool thing is we're both doing jobs that we didn't expect. Yeah.
To be that we weren't necessarily aiming towards. And so,
and I think going back to that identity thing that I had to realize when I left
teaching was that if your identity is in Christ,
if your identity is rooted in Christ, it doesn't matter what you're doing.
And I love to tell students that,
that who you are is more important than what you're doing. Yeah.
And I'm careful when I tell students that because I'm like,
you should be doing something. I'm not saying you don't have to do anything.
You should be doing something,
but never forget who you are and who you are as a child of God. Yeah.
And so what I realized.
through that transition, and I didn't even talk about that, but that year that I had
in that military setting where I wasn't teaching, I wasn't working with kids, the Lord grew
me big time and I was like, you know what, I'm just going to be bold in my faith, I'm
going to talk to my co-workers, I'm going to make an impact as long as I'm here.
And God opened up so many cool doors for me to share my faith with co-workers in ways
that I never—and I had known these people for almost 10 years, and I'm sitting there
talking to them, and that house story that you told of how God—I told everybody that
story that way, and I'm like, isn't that crazy?
God got us this house?
And I was just bold in a new way, because I had realized, no, I'm a child of God, that's
my identity, and it doesn't matter what my job is, I'm going to do it for His glory.
And when you do that, when we do that together, that's kind of the direction we're moving.
It's like, then the Lord opened up jobs for us to do things that we love and we're good
at, and it's providing for our family, and we like it, and we never would have—if we
had controls, we wouldn't have set it up this way.
Yeah, for sure.
And I think it also has put us both on a track of growth in—well, you and just what you
shared, but also growth in teaching.
This is a different caliber of teaching than in a classroom.
But also, for me, knowing how to have clear boundaries and expectations with clients,
which is something I've always been good at, to just be clear and also stand up and
not let people just kind of—not push me around, but just kind of push me in whatever
direction.
I just always struggle to put my foot down and be like, no, that's not how I do it.
And I've just learned a lot in regards to that, like just how a project should run,
just all sorts of things like that.
I feel like we've both grown a lot inside of those newer—or those paths, even, that
we've taken.
And we've gotten to work with each other a lot, which is really cool, too, to come
oppose the different careers where you serve with me at Youth Group.
You're super involved with the decisions we make for our youth group, and then I get
to help you on my off days with your jobs, and sometimes I'll bring the kids, and I'll
bring boxes to you or lunch or whatever, and so we get to kind of help each other out in
our careers, which is really cool.
When I was in the military, you never came to my work or teaching, so it was different.
This is cool where we get to be around each other a lot, even on work days when we can,
and bring the kids, and kids get to see what we do.
They know what you do.
They know what I do.
And yeah, as you were saying, ways he's grown you, ways he's grown me, too.
I've gotten to preach on a Sunday morning, which is something that scared the snot out
of me two years ago.
I would never want to do it.
We're growing in different ways.
Yeah, but again, when you submit, and you know where your identity is, and you submit
to God and His plan, He opens up really cool doors and opportunities, and He won't just
open them and push you through them.
He prepares you, and that's the other thing is He puts people in your circle to help you
in that regards, too.
We've both had mentors and people pop up out of nowhere to help us through these seasons
and transitions in what we're doing.
Yeah, our parents have been super making it work, too.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, my mom's the reason that you are able to come to youth group every Wednesday.
Yeah, I wouldn't be able to be here if it wasn't for a consistent every Wednesday it's
covered.
Yeah, it would be a little stressful trying to find a babysitter every single Wednesday.
So yeah, that's been huge.
But currently, you are coaching wrestling.
Yeah.
Yeah, we're in the figure right now.
It's okay.
And that's how ministry works, where it's like sometimes you have just really busy seasons
where we've kind of piled on some big events.
Yeah, well, and you kind of missed that coaching sport aspect, so we're like, oh, I think we
can handle it.
Right.
I had not coached wrestling, which is something I really enjoy and a passion of mine.
I hadn't since I left teaching, so it'd been a couple years.
And then the Lord opened up multiple opportunities to coach this year, and so we felt like we
should take one.
Yeah.
Well, and this one felt like the lower key one.
Does that make sense?
Yeah.
And we're learning a lot right now about, oh, man, we need to do some things with our
schedule and space out events and make sure we're aware of what we're saying yes to and
committing to, which is good.
And it's a couple more weeks here in the busyness of it.
And that's kind of how ministry works and ebbs and flows.
But we could do a better job next year of just spacing things out a little bit.
We're learning.
So, yeah, always be teachable.
Always be willing to grow.
Write things down.
So you remember.
My mom always says assess and adjust.
Assess and adjust.
That's good.
Yes.
Yeah.
That's kind of erratic.
Yeah.
And so day to day, our life is.
It is.
is a little crazy and loud and hard to have.
That's why this podcast is really fun
because we can have a mostly uninterrupted conversation.
Our baby is making noises in the corner,
but usually we can't talk for 45 minutes
without being interrupted by at least 20 times by a kid.
So that's fun.
We should keep doing this for that reason.
Yeah, so just, I don't know,
anything else to add from just kind of where we're at,
what life looks like now?
Yeah, I mean, I don't think,
I don't feel like we really have it all figured out
at the moment.
Yeah, people keep asking, like, how is it with three kids?
And I'm like, up until like this week,
I feel like it's like, oh yeah, it's not really a big deal.
And then our two-year-old has become
a full-blown two-year-old
and is into absolutely everything.
And I was just like, what is happening?
So I don't know, I think the answer maybe
is different this week than it was last week.
I feel like my answer is different every day.
Probably true.
But yeah, it's fun.
It's fun talking back and seeing how we ended up here
and just the Lord's fingerprints on it all.
Yeah.
And just, that would just be my encouragement is.
Yeah, and also just like how, like in the moment,
you might not see where it's going.
Like, it makes no sense.
Oh, there were so many moments.
And even like quitting your guard job,
like, or the civilian job.
Yeah.
We were like, so what was the point?
Yeah.
But then looking back, it's like,
oh, this and that and this and that.
And like, it makes sense looking back,
but it's like, first of all,
maybe not everything is supposed to be forever.
There's seasons of things,
there's seasons of teaching that is doing something specific,
but it was never supposed to be forever.
There's season, one year of that job,
and it wasn't supposed to be forever.
It was just a, almost like a holding place until,
cause this, I don't know that we would have pursued ministry
anywhere, like this job,
if we would have been searching for like our,
you know, like our next meaningful ministry
or I don't know, teaching job at the time,
this wouldn't have been available.
So that placeholder of the guard was like essential.
And I grew a lot in that time and yeah,
but they're like,
that got us to the timeline of when this job
would have been available.
Yeah.
There's so many moments where you can't see the full picture
like you said, and it's frustrating and confusing.
Doesn't make sense.
But man, if you just continue to pray and trust
and follow the Lord's peace,
then you do have these moments down the road where you're
like, oh man, that's so cool.
And I'm thankful for that period,
even though at the time I was like frustrated by it.
And so, yeah, that's really cool.
But yeah, we, despite the chaos, love where we're at.
Yeah.
Even the busy times and no,
and I think we love where we're at
because we know it's where we're supposed to be.
Yeah.
We would like a little more sleep, but otherwise.
A little more sleep.
Yeah.
It's coming.
Baby's sleeping pretty good right now.
He does sleep pretty good.
I sleep pretty good.
You're the one that has to get up.
The other ones have been getting up early.
It's all right.
Everything's a phase, a season and we love it.
So.
Yeah.
So we're thankful.
And then just final encouragement would just be
to know your identity, root it in Christ,
submit to his plan.
Yeah.
And you'll never know what doors
and opportunities the Lord will open up for you.
So, yeah.
So thank you for watching episode two
of the Outnumbered podcast.
Again, if you missed episode one, that's our story.
We go into our younger days as teenagers and all that.
So make sure you check that out,
but thanks for watching episode two.
We'll see you guys next time.