Diff'rent Strokes is your source for information about Todd Thelin and his stroke recovery. Please feel free to add comments about posts, add new information in the comments, e-mail new information for me to post, or ask questions that we can answer. Keep in mind that posts are moderated, so they will need to be approved before they show-up. This helps fight spam.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hello? Anyone there? I have a wee announcement.

I don't know if anyone even checks this blog any more, but as this is the most appropriate place for this announcement, I will post here officially and link back from elsewhere. Ready?

Eh hem.

TODD GOT A JOB OFFER!!!

Yes, the excessive punctuation is absolutely necessary. Maybe I'll add even more.

Todd has been interviewing as much as he can, applying for everything and anything that even remotely met his skill set. He had even had a few second interviews, but nothing was panning out, and he kept getting the "you've been out of the industry for how long?" vibe.

But he kept at it, while working at DI (He is now in Employment Resource Services (ERS) as a liaison between DI employees and ERS, basically finding other associates jobs) and working hard at school to finish his program.

He applied for a position with Fiserv, which is the company he worked for when he first graduated college, when Oliver was a baby. Ironically, it was the actual position that he left to go work for Mountain America Credit Union, where he was working when he had the stroke. But I digress.

He had a phone interview (with his old manager, Glen, who in no longer the manager of that position, and the new manager of the position) which went well enough to secure an in person interview the next week. He met with Glen again, along with the woman who replaced him, and had 2 more people on the phone. After each interview I asked him how it went, and his reply was always "It was great from my side, but I don't know what they thought."

Their biggest concern was not his stroke, or skills, or how long he's been out of the industry, but why he left last time (he had only worked there for around a year.) His response was honest, it was for the money, but that was the economy then. It's not, now. His goal remains the same: to take care of his family.

We had discussed several times that it will probably take a company willing to take a perceived chance on him to get him working, and this seemed like exactly what he needed; someone who knew him, his work, and most importantly, his work ethic, who he had a good relationship with. Glad he didn't burn that bridge!

Apparently they thought it went well too, because they called Monday and offered him the position, at a salary that he accepted without countering, because it was far (FAR) more than what we had determined that we needed to survive. And it was a fair offer anyway. Countering would have just been greedy.

Today we received the official offer letter. He starts January 3rd, so as another bonus, he still gets to spend tons of time with our family and extended family for the holidays without having to ask for time off from a new job, etc.

And can it get better? Why, yes it can.

Benefits start on day 1. So our whole family will have medical insurance again in 2011.

And there's something else. We have had the feeling for a while that it was time to get ready for more children, which, at the point we started feeling this, seemed more than crazy, (living on disability, no medical insurance...) but we couldn't shake the feeling, so we acted on faith and started pursuing becoming licensed as foster parents (with the option to adopt), as it appeared that was the only way we'd ever be able to add more kids at this point in our lives. We have completed the 32 hours of pre-service training and are waiting for our background checks so we can complete the process, all the while not knowing how we'd be able to afford more kids.

This is all just further proof that our lives as so carefully watched over and cared for by our Heavenly Father. I'm so thankful that He has our interests in mind, and grateful for the faith Todd and I have developed over the years which allows him to bless us. And I'm so thankful for everything we've been through, because it has brought us closer to each other, closer as a family, closer to God, and taught us so much that we really couldn't have learned any other way. I feel blessed beyond measure, beyond what I could possibly ever be deserving of.

14 comments:

Gini said...

I do and that is awesome...you all are always in our prayers all the way from California!

Go Todd and keep us posted.
Gini and Steve Webb
(Friends of Sue, Todd's mom)

Jj Starwalker said...

That is wonderful news!! Congrats, TODD!!!

(do you need a supply of pocket protectors, Kevin asks? ;) )

Jj Starwalker said...

That is great news! Congrats, TODD!!!

(and Kevin wants to know if you need a new supply of pocket protectors? :) )

Tali said...

I read. but I also talk to you, soyeah. I am SO SO SO happy for Todd and you!

Camilla said...

so awesome ames!!! i knew about the job but didnt know about the health insurance. what a blessing that will be! What a big stress off your shoulders too!

Congrats Todd!! I know you will be the most dedicated employee and so happy for you that you get to make this transition back into this line of work.

carl said...

How super wonderful Todd and Amelia! I am so happy for you! What a wonderful blessing! Thanks for sharing your fun news! GREAT work in the interviews Todd! I hate the whole interview process! :)

king bacon2 said...

That is wonderful news!! So happy for him. His hard work has paid off. Yay for having time with family and benifits. Plus a good rate of pay.
You guys will make great foster parents. I hope that you find the next sweet child for your family. I have a friend who is in the process of adopting two kids from foster care. I hope that it goes smoothly for you.
Love you guys!

Wallace Family said...

WOW! That is such great news!!!!! I am so happy for your family! Congratulations! I Love reading your sweet testimony at the end too! ~hugs~
Juli

Wallace Family said...

Congratulations!!!! I am sooo happy for your family! That is great news! Thanks for sharing and thanks for posting that sweet testimony of yours at the end too!
~hugs~
Juli

Catherine said...

I don't think I have anything to add that can effectively be communicated in writing. But that is SUPER awesome!! I love your faith and your acting on it. Way to go Thelin's and a HUGE congratulations to Todd!

Jewels said...

YAY!!! (I hope that was enough puncutation.) That is such great news for your family. I imagine the upcoming holiday season will be all the sweeter with such amazing blessings being poured out on you all.

Can't wait to see these wonderful changes start, and to hear about your foster experiences. You are such great people, and you deserve this!

Don Fallick said...

Well, yeah I read it, but like Tali, I also talk to you... Great news though. You've got LOTS to crow about. You might mention that Todd says this means COMPLETE recovery to him. Even tho there are things lost, there's much more gained!

Darci said...

Congratulations to your family! Hooray for Todd! You totally deserve the world! I will keep my fingers crosse that Heavenly Father will send you that child that is meant to be in your family :)

Can't wait to see you in 2 weeks (I will see you, right?!?!)!

htc said...

Hi, This is Holly from the Adoptive Parents board... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you and your family...