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The year in review: For those of you who got 1.3 (those who responded to 1.2), there may be some repetition, please forgive me! I was promoted to project director in January and spent the next nine months with a travel schedule that would truly amaze you. I saw so much of the United States (my territory was the Rockies to the East coast) that I finally came to the conclusion that Dallas was not that bad. (I always felt Dallas chose me. I did not chose Dallas, as the job offer just happened to be here.

In April I was promoted again, onto the “Executive Development Program” which should have me promoted to the next level, a desk job in either Chicago, Illinois, or San Jose, California. This meant more trips over the weekend to Chicago for training, which put further strain on the family, as my weekend trip home were anything but definite, anyway! As I mentioned in one of my letters, the management style of the company is “management by intimidation” - but as I don’t intimidate too easily, they were never sure how to handle me.

I had taken the job with two goals in mind: a success story from the United States, as they do not value my South African experience much, and to regain some capital. The prospect of a desk job and a big paycheck we viewed as an extra bonus, we knew we were not interested in Chicago due to the harsh weather, but San Jose looked a distinct possibility - good climate, pretty countryside, close to the ocean - the only negatives that we know of are the high tax rates and the crime rate is rising. Anyway, to cut a long story short a vacancy came up and I was notified that I was in line. We had agreed to six months in this job, then the prospect of promotion came up and - on a month to month basis - I lasted another six months. The family wanted me home, I was just holding out and holding out in the hopes... The net result was that I did not get the promotion, although I was assured that I would get it in 3 months, and I came to a decision....
Did I really want to work for this company with its s management style? Would the $150,000 promotion which required 12 hour days and Saturdays. some Sunday’s be justified? I have yet to meet someone on their deathbed who says “I wish I had spent more time in the office”, and having seen most of the country, Dallas I was happy to now choose, and - after all we had been through, was I ready to re-establish the family elsewhere, rebuild friendships and networks? the answer to all of these led me to resign, much to everyone’s relief, and to the company’s dismay (they flew me to Chicago to try and change my mind).
Now what?
That’s the million dollar question!!! Dee had agreed to take a temp job to buy me some time looking for something better, now armed with my “success story” and then two things happened: One, she was so good at her job, in customer service in a healthcare company, that they offered a permanent position - and an excellent salary. Two, I was contacted by a breakaway from my previous company (broke away 5 years ago, listed this year in the Inc. 500 as the 8th fastest growing American company) and offered local assignments to run. The pay is less, than as Project Manager as I got over-riders on all the project I ran, but I am home every night!
The house! Yes, you knew I would eventually get to it... We had been looking a while, as the rental had served us well, but we were not excited about the school district. We had an option to buy, but had actually outgrown it. With my traveling, we had been able to save up enough for a deposit. We searched high and low, putting a lot of stress on ourselves, as the weekends were limited anyway, I flew in late Friday night and left early Sunday evening. We put an offer in on one and were considering an offer on another when it was sold from under us (we later reviewed the area and were pleased that we had not got it). Finally, two days after I left the company, I went to look at a house that we had driven past and admired, obviously out of our price range. The moment I stepped inside, I knew, this is it!

I took Dee back to look a few days later, and she was impressed, but half-hearted, told the Realtor “my husband has just resigned, so I don’t know why we are looking at this place!” Then Dee got her job, then I got my job, and we went back for another look. In fact, we looked at some other houses, too, but kept coming back to this one. Finally, after much prayer, we put in a low offer, based upon the money we had. It was rejected, but the mortgage company had an idea - they could pay some of the closing costs, and the seller could pay some of the closing costs. So the money we had could make it. So, we put in a slightly higher offer, the Realtor dropped her commission, and it was accepted!!!

Stage 2: Getting the loan approved. With my work record, this was pretty interesting. We were determined to be honest, did not lie, but you must realize, earning $10,000 in 94, $26,000 in 95 and a bunch more in 96 did look a bit strange! I’ve given up trying to make a long story short, it’s too much fun... Anyway, they told me it was not looking good, I told them to submit it anyway (we had given notice, and we were moving...) It went straight through, with no exceptions!!!
So, to indicate how far out on a limb we were... the loan was approved on the 17th, we closed on the 20th and moved on the 21st!!! To me, that was our Christmas present!!! I guess y’all are wanting a description of the house? Well, wait for it... Four bedroom, two bath , 1 living, two dining, kitchen, laundry, study, 2nd small study, double garage, covered back porch!!! 20 miles west of Dallas, 20 miles closer to our church which was 40 miles away!!! Great neighborhood, excellent schools, homes built around lake and golf course (our house is on neither, needless to say!!!) The house had a new roof, new paint and new carpets. After closing we were told by the mortgage company that we had a 95% loan but based upon the house appraisal, already had 88% equity!
And if I give Dee a chance she will tell you the other news, so I might as well ... in the midst of the move, with everyone helping us move, I went and bought a car! A 1996 Ford Taurus, gold color, six seater (3 fit in front). I had been negotiating the day before and they called 10 p.m. Fri. nite to agree on a price (having consulted to dealerships, I now know how the system works, let’s just say I was able to get 100% financing, which should tell you something about the price...) We will sell my Ford Probe which will free up the cash flow a bit. At 137,000 miles it was getting a bit long in the tooth. Dee: I will let Dee add her own news if she has time at the end, but the ways in which she is blessed is that the new house has a second bathroom - the en suite has two doors , the one on the left has a basin followed by a walk-in cupboard, and similarly the one on the right. The shower and commode between the doors, marble bath between the walk-ins. Clear as mud? She is enjoying being “somebody” again, feeling that she lost a bit of her identity as a “home executive” all these years, is doing great at work but misses the boys and will try to be home in the summer with them. We will get good healthcare benefits through her in the next weeks which she will hold out for. The boys: William: William has had a good year, he played baseball at the beginning of the year and was the “Most Improved Player” of the team. He has done well at school, was selected for the “gifted” program and gets a bit of extra homework to do where they “expand his mind”. Speaking of homework, the speed at which they bring these kids along is amazing, he is already reading, and some big words, at that. Is at school from 8 am until 3 p.m., then (since Dee has been working) goes to an after-school program and still has to do 1 hour of homework when he gets home. He is a good, obedient child, loves the Lord trustworthy and competitive! Put Jason into the formula and he is just like any other 6 - soon to be 7- year old, kicks, fights, yells... Jason: Still our “cuddly” one, likes to be the “baby” - when he wants to be. He is 100% boy and then some. Tries to outdo William on everything, despite the 2 1/2 yr. age gap he only weighs 2 pounds less, so gives as good as he takes. A favorite game is who can run fastest, or ride go-carts fastest (William got a new one and he inherited William’s old one). I eventually instituted time-trials so that there were less fisticuffs and pushing and shoving as they ran. Old favorite toy: An old mattress that they get to jump on as a trampoline.

New favorite toy: They “sowed” their old Little Tikes Tree-house to a family with some small girls, and “reaped” a full scale tree-house or “fort” in the backyard of the new house! The plot next door is vacant as well, with plenty of trees to climb, so they are in 7th heaven!
Pets: Our cockatiel, “Henry” still thinks he is actually a small boys and when we let him out he flies around and tries to go to bed with them, or fight with me if I am playing “rough and tumble” with them.
Our gerbil: “Squeaky” arrived as a result of Dee doing a garage sale with two tired boys, I was still on the road, and she gave into the “cute thing” and “I want..” The first thing I did was buy him a decent cage as I got tired of catching him after he chewed his way out of the old cage.
Our cat: “Megan” - adopted us the day we arrived at the new house. Both boys had been praying for a cat, we said they could have one, but not a dog until (if) we fenced the property. Well, Megan arrived and settled in, just like “Thomas” or “Tom-Tom” adopted us in North Riding. Same rules apply. If she eats the cheapest cat food she can stay.... Needles to say she spent the last two nights on our bed...
That’s it for now, will leave space for any personal comments....