Prayer Request

Good Evening All,

Hello from Colorado Springs, Colorado! Amanda, Benjamin and I have been in our house since April, and loving every moment of being homeowners. As you know, Amanda is at a new position at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) and has fit in very well. I, well, have been looking for work since before we moved (about 3 months) and since we’ve moved here. Countless Job fairs, applying for jobs through all the major sites (Monster, CareerBuilder, ClearedJobs, MilitaryHire, etc) as well as applying through specific company sites (Boeing, Lockheed, General Dynamics, SAIC, etc) with no luck.

Also, some may know, I am a part of a ministry (Outstretched Arms International) where I have to raise my own support. Some has come in, for which I am Blessed and grateful. In the large picture of things though, it has not been enough to keep us “okay.” Now, I am not one to argue with the Lord and God of the universe, so I know He has a plan and for now, we don’t know what that is. I continue to move forward with the ministry however I can with what God has brought to us (military members, local friends, neighbors) and we love to be able to minister to them, even if it’s just a simple “hello.”

With the new house, new baby (5 months old in a week!) and the new bills that come with all is much when you’re a one income family. Especially coming down from a dual-income (“dinc”) family. Now, at the moment we are close to being fine right now with her paycheck as a Captain in the Air Force, but as gas, groceries and other amenities start raising their costs, we are finding it harder and harder to have enough money left over to pay for groceries and gas, especially after paying bills (the bills that go up; oil, gas, water, trash). Even trash collection is rising as they charge a “diesel” charge, which goes up now every 2 months. Scary times.

Here’s the prayer request. I (Joseph) need to find work. It’s so bad, that when I apply to places like Wal-Mart and Target – they turn me down due to being “over-qualified.” Yeah. Good times. What makes finding jobs harder, is that all the companies want to hire me for either California, Washington DC, Virginia, Nevada or overseas (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan). Well, that’s what we need prayers for. Currently a company is interested in me for Virginia (Just across the street from DC basically), another at Vandenberg AFB, CA and the other is a position for a year in Baghdad, Iraq. The others (CA, VA, NV) are permanent positions, in which I will be there for a while. Of course, Amanda and Benjamin WILL NOT be able to follow due to Amanda’s commitment at the USAFA. As a sacrifice, I will need to go out-of-state (or country) to properly support my family. Nothing, and I mean nothing has come up for the local area. That’s what happens when you’re an Intel guy in a Space community. They just don’t like to mix. Amanda and I have talked extensively on all possibilities (whether a year overseas or a permanent position in the US), and that sadly, it would be a benefit to make this kind of sacrifice.

To be specific, I have applied officially for a position in Iraq after being notified that I was “being considered for the selected position” also, a same message was sent for a possible high-position in Virginia. I just had an hour-and-a-half long phone interview for a position (that I’m not sure how I qualified for?) at Vandenberg AFB, CA and they want to me to contact Virginia to continue the dialogue with their higher-ups.

Our prayer request is to do what we are supposed to do… We want to the right thing, even if that means putting many miles between us. Being apart would definitely “suck” but when it’s the only option, what more can you do? As for the ministry, I plan to continue wherever I end up (locally, far away, or farther away) – the mission field starts outside our front door and extends to the farthest reaches of the world! OAI is there for everyone, not just some (not just Colorado)!

Thanks all for taking the time to read this email and lift us up. We appreciate you all.

Sincerely,

Joseph E. Salmoiraghi

Work Seeking, Continued

Well, after a small conversation with Amanda, I have begun to apply for jobs posted that are in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East / Southeast Asian countries. Most of these jobs are for 1 year, and pay well (at least we hope they still do).

It would be without my family... but to help be that support, this is a sacrifice that is becoming the only option...

We shall see... <><

No Work, No Money, School, Lots of Stress and our car is for sale

It's been quite a while since our last update. Stress just doesn't seem to be the word that covers it all.

We are a one-income family at the moment (hopefully not a forever moment). New location, new house, new baby, new school and all the stress that comes with it. I (Joseph) have been to 5 job fairs to no avail. I have applied even at the places of business that are not big companies that do government work (i.e. Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) - where I was either not called back or told I was "over-qualified" for any positions.

I have been searching work since 3 months prior to having to move and since we moved here end of March 2008 (so, about 6 months of searching) through the internet, in-person and job fairs. It almost seems all the effort I put is fruitless. I have a family to take care of and provide for, bills to pay and I am at a loss as what to do that is different from what I am doing. Also, the only jobs that would seem to fit me are positions that are in Denver (which is about 2 hrs - with traffic - each way) or over seas (which is hard due to our 4 month old).

I am still trying, praying and far from giving up. It can be very hard to keep going, but I have much support - First and foremost, my strength comes from the Lord, Second, my wife and my child keep me going when I feel as though I do not have the strength to to even look up.

Okay... on to the positives...

Well, I have lost 15 lbs in just over a month, and I am working out everyday now to make myself healthier (I want to be around for my grandkids and just plain have the energy to play and raise my son). As well as in the process of trying to get back into the reserves as a "weekend warrior." Please be praying I can lose the required weight and pass the entrance physical, this will at least be a partial income to help. So, I am eating better, working out everyday (really, I am working out - some intense stuff) and just doing all I can to be a better Husband and Father to my family.

I am back in school! I am attending Colorado Christian University, studying for a B.S. in Organizational Management in Project Management. Less than a year to go!!!! MAY 2009! Well, I hope all goes well! Thanks to student loans and the amazing Montgomery G.I. Bill, I can finish immediately. I hope and pray the finishing of this degree (or the in-progress part) will help with the job seeking.

Also, we are selling our car, since it's the one you can't fit a baby in, hehe. So, we are hoping it will sell better than a house! So, if you are interested or know someone who is, you can find our car on craigslist (http://cosprings.craigslist.org/car/731604354.html) and firebirdtrader (http://www.camerosandfirebirds.com/page-1503.html) with pictures and some good descriptions of the car.

So yeah, that's life so far...

Holding our heads up high on a cloudy day <><

2 Years, WOW!

So, we've been married two years as of of yesterday (20 June), and it has been quite the adventure and Blessing!

Some have asked, "What have you learned so far?"

Here's the answer...

"We are different!"

What a revelation, but hey, it's only been two years... We have many, many more to go!

Planes, Trains & Automobiles?

More like "Dogs, Baby and Automobiles" - yuppers...

Well, it definitely has been a while since our last update... Benjamin David is now 3 months old (as of 8 May), who would have guessed time could pass so quickly? I sure didn't!
We are all moved into our house (in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA!) - well, as moved in as we can be at the moment (still a lot of boxes to go through!). Will have some pictures up as soon as we deem the house "nice" enough to spread pictures around of, hehe.

Well, let's see - updates since we've been here... hmmm... New dog: "Sammy" a possible Lab / Beagle mix, we adopted him a week ago from PetsMart here in town:

We also had to buy a new vehicle (we discovered that her RAV4 was a little scrunched with two people and a car seat!), so we went and found a used 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SE 4x4, 4.7L V8, with under 50K on it!

The Day we bought it - Friday, April 25, 2008

Oh yeah, having fun up in the mountains! It's a JEEP Thing!

Just a stroll at over 9,000 ft.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA!

Hey all, it has been a long time!
Well, we are BACK in COLORADO!!!!


Thats right. We officially moved into our new house (yes, and actual house - and yes, we own it - well, until the mortgage is paid off, haha)


We moved in around the end of March, and we are still unpacking - oh for Joy! The weather here has been incredible, we had snow fall even as of a few weeks ago, it was great. It is pretty dang windy where we are, but the view from our front door is amazing (a perfect view of Pikes Peak!)

Our First Family Portraits!