Bonus Day

These are tulips from Paul that I came home to yesterday. I got them because Paul was in a very good mood! I was shopping when Paul called me in the morning and asked if I was sitting down. My heart stopped because I knew he was about to tell me had just been laid off! Instead, he told me that he had been called into the office of one of the owners and handed a bonus check - a check we had no idea was coming! Apparently, it's part of the pay package at Loziers. Once you have been there an entire year you are eligible for the bonus which is based on the company's performance the previous year, how much money the employee generated for the company that year, and the employee's overall attitude. $500 of it was directly deposited into our 401K and the rest we got in cash.

Of course, now this means we actually have a 401k! Paul was eligible to start contributing last spring, but I never got around to setting it up. I had just taken over our finances in March and wanted some time to see just what we had to work with and could contribute. I have mixed feelings about the whole retirement $ thing. I really think the rapture is going to occur before we get to retirement age. And, even if it doesn't, I don't know how safe those funds are going to be from the govt. Very scary things are happening with the American government right now and I don't know if there is such a thing as "untouchable" money. But at the same time I know Proverbs admonishes us over and over to be wise and prepare and saving for retirement would fall into that category. Even if the rapture happens the day before our retirement party I'd sure hate to get to Heaven and have God be displeased with us because we had acted more like grasshoppers instead of ants! So, anyway, now we have a 401K, in addition to Paul's small pension from his workplace in Omaha. I'm quite sure we will not be retiring wealthy, though! Actually, getting this thing set up was one of the things Paul's boss talked with him about yesterday. He strongly encouraged Paul to get that going and now Paul is really enthusiastic about it. I plan to call the lady at Loziers that handles these things and find out what we need to do to start contributing regularly.

But anyway, Paul is just thrilled with this. You know, I don't think he has ever worked for a better company than Loziers. They take such good care of their employees. When Paul started in this line of work and we moved out here we were burned really badly by his first employers. They were Christians but treated us very poorly. It was a learning experience, though, but it kind of soured us for awhile on the whole career path Paul was starting and made us doubt if we were even in God's will. But I can see it now, and the subsequent job that came afterwards (a good employer, but a small business, so they couldn't offer much to employees) that God was preparing us. When we needed it the most - I was newly unemployed, pregnant, and without maternity coverage - this offer from Loziers came. And God was totally behind it all! And we are thankful!

And we'll be more thankful when hours pick up! This is a typically slow time of year for heating and air and this year is no exception. His last check was nearly only 1/3 of a normal paycheck! Kind of tight there! But it will warm up and soon Paul will be working 12 hour days getting air conditioners tuned up and fixed and working properly. And in the meantime, we aren't anywhere near starvation.

So, Paul ended up meeting me for lunch yesterday and had to bring his check to show me, along with the accompanying letter. I have never seen him like this - he's like a little kid that got the best Christmas present ever! He told me he even tried to call his mom to tell her, but she wasn't home. I don't think it is so much the money that he is excited about, as it is the appreciation from his employer. His job is a big part of his identity and to have that validated in a monetary and personal form is really gratifying for him. I don't know - if you were to ask him, he'd probably say it was all about the money!

And that's the story of how I got tulips on a rainy Monday!