The year 2009
“more hard than fine”
This has been a long year! On the other hand— it feels like it was just barely Easter! The days move very slowly, yet are packed with so much, and the months just flew by!
In January we decided that we could not keep up with the downturn in the economy and run our business the way we had for the past 6 years. We decided to close our business front of Mike Shaw’s Tae Kwon Do. We moved our student base to the nearby gym and began teaching our classes 4 days a week there. Danny was 3 months old when we started teaching, and Jared was 3 months old when we stopped...
It seemed like a good change and was at first. They were able to squeeze us in here and there, but not really do us any favors. Gradually it became very hard to deal with the gym management. They treated our students rudely and were unaccommodating to our needs or even simple advertising. At the end of August we left the gym and began meeting at the park for class. At the end of September we dissolved our student base completely and became unemployed and looking for work.
Our hopes and dreams had changed and we knew that we needed to find some other way to support our family. It is hard to do something that you really love and feel strong about for a living. You get your emotions involved and wont sell out! So, we contemplated several different avenues and decided that personal protection or Bodyguard work would be a good transition.
In September 2008 Mike enrolled in ESI (Executive Security International) distance education and completed 9 different courses. In April 2009 Mike was able to attend Frontsight in Pahrump, Nevada for 3 day intense training on his handgun. In May he went to Grand Junction, Colorado for ESI 15 day Resident training. All the while carrying on classes at the gym. Natalie covered many of the classes and the kids came too. Mike was invited to attend TRIAD, 3 day additional training in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was intense training: he had pepper spray sprayed in his eyes and mouth, he was attacked by an attack dog, and other craziness!
He loved every minute of it!
After the training he finished up his courses and was totally CPS (Certified Protection Specialist) Certified by June! However, no jobs on the horizon.
Mike did many odd jobs during the summertime to keep occupied and to help with the diminishing income received from the gym/taekwondo students. Mike worked many hours on the neighbors yard and business property. He tore out over 100 stumps (20 big ones) from his backyard, put in tons of gravel, put up a fence, built 2 retaining walls, chopped down the plum tree, and more!
Mike also spent June pulling up the tams from Gary and Brenda’s yard. There was a monstrous wall of 30 year old bushes that had to go! He even spent much of Daniel’s birthday and our anniversary doing just that! We did have an outdoor picnic for Dan’s birthday, we lots of food and family! Hailee got a terrible ear infection that night, so I spent the late evening with her in instacare!
Mike chopped down a pine tree from the front neighbor's yard that was starting to pull up their driveway. He chainsawed off all the branches, loaded them into trailers and took them to the sewage processing plant-the kids call it the “poo poo farm.” Then he began work on the trunk and roots. A large dump truck happened along and asked if we would like a pull. Bro. Smith had already come over and brought his heavy duty cable over, so the tree was ready for a tug. The massive trunk crashed down without a struggle. Then the guys jumped on it and cut it into small pieces.
Mike then worked at the Litchfield’s pulling out their old weird sour apple tree! It felt like it went very quickly-only 2 days to completely get rid of all the evidence.
We spent many summer nights around the campfire in the yard sitting on the old apple stumps. It was great to burn some of the pine or apple wood and roast marshmallows and hot dogs. We spent a lot of time talking and being with Mary and Kara and various friends of theirs. Beautiful starry skies and warm summer nights! Great family home evenings!
Mike has spent lots of time training with the EST or SWAT team on base, and they really enjoy working with him! He has made some good contacts there, but still no financial gain or job prospect.
The Shaw's had a great Gibson Family Reunion in the summer! It was wonderful to see everyone and spend time together. Carl, Stephanie and Lillian came from Florida. Paul from California. James, Melanie and family from Colorado. Richard, Connie and family from Idaho. Brad, Sheri and family from St. George. We loved having everyone so close for a week!
In August Mike and Natalie went to Las Vegas for a Bodyguard Convention for ESI alumni. Grandma Shaw cared for Danny, Hailee and Jared. We stayed at Uncle Jeff’s to save on hotel expenses. We both participated in the steel shoot challenge. It was really fun, and Natalie’s first time shooting. Mike was in the top 5 of high scores (#4). The conference was good. We were able to meet with many of the people Mike had trained with and meet new contacts as well. We had a networking period and were able to handout about 15 resumes.
Mike has applied for work at hundreds of places, and seems to either come up short on his experience or appearing "over-qualified". It has been frustrating.
We have tried to be brave. This has definitely been a trying year for us. Mike is patient with me and my monthly meltdowns. We are brave most of the time.
We had a yard sale at the Litchfield’s yard while Kay and Barbara were in Europe picking up Tony from his mission in Italy. Ron & Anji and Gerald & Christina came too, bringing lots of stuff to sale. We were able to clear out much stuff, and make a good amount too! I am already planning another one for the spring!
We have been blessed of the Lord. We have learned many things this year. We learned to have more patience, humility, happiness amid trials, and not to sin against the happiness and the good things that the Lord has and does bless us with. We have grown closer together, and love being together. I told Mike “someday we may have more money, but we will have less time together.” I am thankful for the time I have to be with my true love and my sweet babies.
During conference weekend in October Brenda, Kara and Natalie pulled everything out of Grandpa's room and totally repainted, redecorated and hung up pictures while he was out of town. It feels much more roomy and more inviting and was necessary after 10 years of living there.
Halloween was fun as usual, but we didn’t get too involved this year in costumes. The neighbors had a spook alley, and we dressed up for that. Mike wore a mask and scared the kids. On Halloween night we dressed up BOB, our punching bag dummy just like Mike dressed at that party, mask and all. We put Bob out on the front porch and he was very frightening for many of the neighbor kids, even the teenage boys-they thought it was Mike for sure! We dressed like skeletons with scary painted faces.
In October when the leaves turned red, we went up Farmington Canyon after church with Jeni and Janell and had them take some family pictures for us. They turned out great. Perfect for our Christmas cards!
I was released from Young women's in November and called as the first counselor in the primary! I love it! There is no better place than primary!
Mike applied with the Federal Air Marshals in November. He was sent a contingent offer in December, so we are hopeful to get work with them, although it seems like a long process. Maybe 6 or more months. He will be able to get through his EMT course before then most likely. (January to April) And we are praying that he will be able to find some work before then too.
Mike has had the opportunity to work as a bouncer/security guard at The Rail event center in Salt Lake. He worked a concert, a dance and he will work another concert tonight for New Years Eve. It is good experience for him, and have him practically second in command.
Gary and Brenda have decided to serve a church service mission. They will serve for 6 months in Illinois at the Church farm office. Brenda will set up the office, and Gary will be used for maintenance and repairs. They are kind to us, saying that the only reason they felt like they could do so was because we are living here with them and can help take care of Grandpa (and Kara & Mary) while they are gone. They report out there on April 1st until October. It will be a great experience for them.
In December, Hailee had her tonsils and adenoids removed. She was very brave and recovered very well and quickly. They were out on Monday December 7th, and by the next Sunday (December 13th) she sang in gospel doctrine and gave a talk in primary. She still talks cute and has a nasally voice. But she has made progress of not wetting the bed at night! Yay! On December 21st, Mike had 3 moles on his back removed as well. (Might as well, now that we have insurance!)
We did the 12 days of Christmas for a family. We had a great time, and it was really fun for Danny. We put him in charge of the ninja delivery. He snuck up to the door and left the presents. On the first night Mike went with him. Mike realized they didn’t have a doorbell-we had an extra one from our school and gave it to them on the second night. Then Danny just had to get the present to the front door and head back to the car. He then rang the doorbell with the second wireless doorbell button we had-so he didn’t have to run to the car and slip on the way! I think it was a good experience, and I hope the family enjoyed it as well.
We had some friends over for dinner a few times this month. And we have been invited over a few times to friends houses. We feel like we have definitely made more friends in the neighborhood this year because we are around so much more!
We were very blessed for Christmas. Natalie had gone to a few yard sales during August, Sept, and Oct, and was able to find things for Christmas that were super cheap or even free! I think I spent $20 on Christmas gifts for Daniel, Hailee and Jared. We had many anonymous envelopes and gifts that we didn't expect. Kay and Barbara had mike paint the family room, back entryway and the downstairs hallway. It took half of December, but it looks great. They paid for Mike to enroll in EMT training at the DATC that begins in January.
Here’s hoping 2010 will turn the tide for us and we will be able to make a better situation for us! We are excited for the new year, a new start and hopefully a new chapter to our book! I am thankful for my many blessings, and most especially for Mike.
It has 4 layers that make the Haunted House have dimension!
