Work.

Children and jobs.

This is often a topic among moms as we wonder about the future for our children.

This starts when they enter their teens as they look for part time or summer work.  I call those high school years the "free" years.  They have very little expenses in these years, so it is a time to get ahead for the possibility of college or university or a vehicle, etc.

I have often made that a matter for prayer.  

Jacob did (and does) a variety of jobs, but we were grateful for his years working at the public library.   Macayla has also been offered work in addition to a good core group of families that she babysits for.

And then comes Justin and Kadin.....who particularly love physical labour.  We are again thankful for the opportunities that they've been given.  When they began going to the Toronto market selling flowers with Eric (something Jacob did as well) this turned into full time work in the greenhouse this past summer.  

Such a blessing!

They were also offered a "snow shovelling" contract/job.  This works well with our homeschooling lifestyle since the hours can at times be more than strange.....

Here they are eating toasted sandwiches at about 8:30pm. 

Snacks and drinks packed in their new thermal lunch bags.  

I decided to get them decent ones with all of their jobs! 

This is how Justin and Kadin set our their gear (boots and snowpants)....just like firemen!  Before they started they were so excited that they even timed themselves to see how long it would take to get dressed!  Not that it is ever such an "emergency" but I think they got it in under 90 seconds.

On this particular evening, they were being picked up at midnight.  After a couple of hours of sleep, and an alarm that didn't go off they were grateful for their preparations since Justin woke up on his own just minutes before their ride showed up!

They rest of the household were totally unaware of the happenings!

And here they are....after shovelling ICE and slush for 14 hours!!

Not overly impressed to have their photos taken, but still smiling!

They have two weeks in the greenhouse lined up for March break and most probably the same place for summer work.

Again, we are so thankful for the Lord's provisions in this area of life.

ONE other job they were offered is rather usual (happening sporadically on an evening here or there)...but the pay is amazing!  (About $25-$30 per hour!)

Here's some hits.....

It's smelly, dusty and done under dim lights.

These 15 pound birds are not particularly smart and stand around while workers catch one in each hand by the legs, get passed to the truck to meet their demise.

Gobble, gobble.

Turkey catching.....pretty lucrative if one can put up with the circumstances!