Working for "Big Daddy"

Eight months ago I started working for Double M Construction on a temporary basis just to fill in while my sister had major surgery and recovered.

The first day I walked in my boss (Big Daddy) asked me, "What do you know about Union Payroll?"

"I know payroll, but nothing about Union Payroll."

He then handed me a huge stack and said, "here it is...learn it!"

Kathryn told him, "Hey, that's not why I hired her!"

He said, "We leave next week and we've got to get it right. Payroll won't start for a month and that should give you plenty of time."

Mike left the next week and didn't return until Christmas.

Two weeks later he calls and tells us the job was starting early. I can't remember many details about those weeks other than the work was...intense. Kathryn and I had a motto: Ain't no fun till the work is done! Thing is, it was always fun to me. Every week I would say, "next week will be much better." Somewhere along the way I quit saying it.

Many have asked me, "How on earth did you do it?"

Kathryn's vast knowledge of payroll issues and support, the delays of her surgery, supportive people of Union Halls in 3 states, not to mention the top Union guy and our great foremen helped me as I picked it all apart and put it all together.

So, here we are 8 months later winding down the Ruby Pipeline job. Kathryn is back at work full time and has turned over the payroll for both companies to me. I'm still getting out monthly union reports and such.

Today, Scott from the Union Hall in Wyoming called. He started out telling me what a great job I had done. He went on and on how the big Union Companies weren't able to keep all the variables straight and that for someone who tackled it, knowing nothing, had nailed it.

Have I made mistakes? Yes, I have. But I've always done my best to correct quickly and above all, be nice!!

Now, this job has turned from temporary to permanent. I don't know right now how the details of my life will work out over the next months but I'm sure of one thing and that is that God will continue to guide my life and take care of all those details.

I'm alive and doing well!