Unemployed to 2 Part-Time Jobs in a One Day

Wow, how time flies! I just realized that it has been 3 weeks since I posted anything on my blog. I guess that is what employment can do to you - or should I say what coordinating 3 people's lives to get out the door every morning and being exhausted by the end of the day after they go to sleep - does to me!

For those of you who know me well - you know that I have always been very career oriented - but, last year, as one of my first major steps of faith and living for God's will instead of my own, I left my career to stay at home. After 1 year of being a stay-at-home Mom, I can say it is one of the hardest things I have ever done and I have a whole new respect for women who stay at home to raise their children and take care of their home and families. It really takes a special person, I believe, to do that - and to do it well. I never felt like I was good at it.

So...when opportunity came knocking for me to take a part-time job, I was thrilled. I did, however, give it a lot of thought and prayer to make sure it wasn't just about me wanting to escape being at home full-time because if that is really what I was supposed to do, I was ok with that. But, in 1 day, I went from being unemployed to having 2 part-time jobs. One of the jobs gives "part-time" a new meaning, because it is only 40 hours per year (yes - that is per YEAR), the other is ~20 hours a week working for our church. I started the 1st week of March and I love it. I already knew and are friends with a lot of the people on staff from volunteering, Connect Groups and other groups that we have been involved in over the last couple years with the church, plus, big bonus, my boys will be on campus with me while I work because they have staff daycare - it is awesome - definitely a God thing.

I'm a Big Boy Now

A couple weeks ago, I decided that I would see if Brett was big enough to ride in a shopping cart without being in his car seat. He could sit up, so why not. He did a great job and Garrett was so happy and proud. He told everyone that we passed that "this is my brother!" They have cool shopping carts now, race cars and Barney mobiles...they never had things like that when I was growing up.

Big Brother showing me the ropes





It is so much easier to shop with both of them sitting in the front of the cart, not to mention that it lessens the likelihood of me being an unknowing shoplifter again. I have had a few occasions when Brett was sitting in the main part of the shopping cart in his car seat that after unloading the kids and all of the groceries into the car, I discovered an item that was hiding under Brett's car seat - unpaid for. After making it through the store, the check out line, and back to the car without any major meltdowns (and a couple times with a major meltdown)...admittedly, I was not willing to trek all the way back into the store to pay for the 1 item that I inadvertantly did not get out of the cart. I do have a conscience, though, and have subsequently admitted what happened and paid for the items on a subsequent trip to the store.

7 Months Old and On the Move

Brett turned 7 months old on Thursday and celebrated the day by beginning to crawl! OMG, I have 2 boys on the move. I was barely keeping up with 1. Great way to rid myself of extra pounds, though! He's also a chatterbox...he has so much to tell us and while Fred was changing his diaper this morning, I swear that I heard him say MaMa (and I'm sure he knew exactly what he was saying, unlike the random DaDa's that he has been babbling for weeks)...ok, I'll get out of my delusions now. He is also pulling himself up. We have come into his room a few times and he was standing up while telling us that he wanted OUT...NOW!!!

Girlfriends

I went to the ladies Refreshed last night at our church. On the way there I was talking to my Mom on the phone, telling her how blessed I am to have made so many wonderful women friends in the last year or so. After the event, I was telling Fred the same thing. I had friends before, but throughout my life I would tend to only have a couple really good friends at a time...not complaining, but also had some women who I thought were friends who really were not. The friends that I am blessed with now are such wonderful and incredible women. They each bring something very unique to my life. Being a relatively new Christian - working on walking the walk, instead of just talking the talk - I'm realizing each and every day how Awesome God is and how He really does take care of all our needs. I praise Him for each and every one of my Girlfriends. To all of you wonderful women - Thank You for your friendship, support, honesty, loyalty, and genuineness - You are all such beautiful people and such a Blessing. I am so grateful that you are a part of my life.