Taking Leave

I spoke with my two directors today.  I don't qualify for FMLA, but they're willing to work with me so as not to lose me as an employee.  

So now I've got a little weight lifted off my shoulders.  Now I need to come up with a working solution for all involved - Vincent, John, myself and work.  

Thanks for the prayers, folks.  

Financially, thanks to my husband's fiscal responsibility, we are in a good position.  We'll have to cut back on some things, but we're blessed to be weighing our options at all in this regard.  This is only a short-term solution.  Even should we cut back on yearly vacations, change the way we spend money for holidays and birthdays, alter our eating and entertainment habits, I'm not sure we could justify the thirty-some thousand dollar hit we'd take should I leave my position indefinitely.

That's a lot of money.  A LOT of money.  

And that puts a lot of pressure on John to be the sole breadwinner.  Already he takes on so much responsibility in this regard.  I'd hate to burden him with a $30+ thousand deficit to boot, ya know?

Then there's always the question of job availability should I officially leave.  There's no guarantee that I'll be able to quickly find a job should I need to when Vince rejoins school. All these things are what have me on what feels to be a teeter-totter.  

But again, the fact that I can weigh these options at all is a blessing, and I thank God for his generosity.  

I just wish I had a better idea of what the best course of action would be.  Ah well.  In time, I'm sure He'll reveal it to me.  That fact that, right now, I was given respite by my company is a blessing, indeed.  A much welcome one in light of this past weekend's anxiety of "What now?"

And again - thank you to each one of you who has sent me messages, comments and e-mails.  This is going to sound really silly, but I felt my heart jump each time I saw one pop up.  The joy of hearing from folks was enough, even for a moment, to lift my spirits.  The suggestions are all being taken to heart, I promise.  It takes me a while to process and read all the links that are sent, but I promise, promise, promise that I do, in fact, read them all.  

Eventually I'll get around to responding to everyone.  Just... please accept my humblest thanks for all the support and love you have shown to my son.  It hurts me so much to see him ostracized by his peers and shirked by school systems who are unfamiliar with his unique set of challenges, but I am buoyed by the love you have shown him.  I am hopeful for him, and you feed that hope.  

Blessings to you all.  I thank you with a mother's appreciation.  

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