halfdozen@5280

I am still trying to figure out how my undergraduate degree in Public Relations and graduate degree in Professional Communication launched my career as a project manager in software development? When I view well executed videos such as this, I can’t help but think that the train departed without me on it. I love how music & motion can capture the essence of human expression. 

Our two older boys are showing signs of their teenage years as both decided to put their working skills out for hire this summer. Independently of each other, they teamed up with another boy in the neighborhood; created fliers for the services they were offering and then hit the pavement. They were each out knocking doors for about a day and a half, talking to anyone that would listen. Their efforts seemed to payoff.

Levi and his partner were hired for about 8 hours over the course of several days to help an older gentleman with some backyard landscaping. They were up early for those mornings that they committed to and worked through the heat of the day. Tamara ended up transporting tools and refreshments after Levi would sweet-talk her over the phone. Levi also picked up another job (without his partner) watching two dogs and two cats for about 10 days. He was pretty excited when he negotiated his rate, but after a few days of unexpected bad weather (which puts a kink in the schedule) and “signs” of dogs when he enters the home, he has been more excited about the owner’s return than the pay. I think once he gets his final check it will have been worth it. In addition the aforementioned jobs, Levi is mowing our lawn and another for the summer.

Noah and his partner landed a couple of jobs with their door knocking and sales pitches. They dug a hole for a good sized tree for a family in the ward. If you haven’t dug in Colorado, then you wouldn’t know how difficult it is as the earth is saturated in clay. Noah earned $9 for his efforts. They were also hired to wash & vacuum two cars. Noah learned that doing so in the heat of the day is not optimal. He states that he really washed 4 cars that day—I love it! They also washed the windows of a ward member’s house (both inside and out) on Saturday (again Noah learned that washing exterior windows during the middle of the day is not the best idea). When I asked the employer how they did with the window washing he replied with, “after I made them wash the first window 4 times they seemed to get the hang of it.”

Both Noah and Levi teamed up and were hired to help weed the backyard of a house down the street. They have been over twice and seemed to have been compensated well both times. The boys have also agreed to mow the yard of a single mother of four for the summer. They agreed to this after their father asked them if they would do so (free of charge) and also happens to be a family that Noah and I will be home teaching (although he doesn’t know this yet).

Perhaps these and other experiences will teach the boys the value of hard work and will benefit them for years to come.