Yellow Belt!

Just to round out the week of Bubby - here he is breaking his first board in Tae Kwon Do!  He was SO excited to do this and it was part of what earned him his Yellow Belt!!!   Yay Bubby!

Boys

I'm on a roll with the postings about Boys this week, so why stop now?   This is one I started a while back right after it happened.   So, I finally finished it up.

***

Guess what I received a few weeks ago?

My very first call from the Vice-Principal.

Then guess what Hubby received a few days later?

Our very second call from the Vice-Principal.

And a week later?

Yeah, our third call from the Vice-Principal. 

So, were we surprised?   A little.  

You see, we have this 9 year old girl.  My beautiful, amazing, firstborn. She is the model student.  The model child in many ways.   I honestly have never had to worry about her getting in trouble.   Well, okay when she was 2 and started preschool she did bite someone but other than that...nothing.  If I get a call from the school for her, I know it's because she is sick. 

I also have this 6 year old boy.  My handsome, sweet, squishy, baby boy.  Hmm, I wonder why he is getting in trouble - could it be because his mama babies him too much?!?!     Anyway, he is a good student academically.   Behaviorally?  Yes.  Well.  For the most part - he is well-behaved.  He just talks a lot.  And plays around a lot.  Oh, and he's at that age where he thinks the whole world kinda revolves around him.   Wait, I'm at that age, too! :)

I really just got a few calls when he started preschool.    Things like using potty words, too much talking, not sitting still.  Boy things, right?

So, actually, we took the calls from the Vice-Principal in stride.   As well, I should.  I know he is not a troublemaker.  He was acting up on the bus by screaming and not sitting down, though.   She talked to him and told him he wouldn't be allowed to ride the bus for a few days if he did it again.  He LOVES the bus so, I was pretty sure that would do the trick.

Except that it didn't.  He actually got kicked off the bus for a day.   That seemed to do it, though.   I haven't had a call in over a month.

We have been tracked out, though...  

Man to Man - Wordless Wednesday

April 2009 - Mountains of North Carolina

Hubby was having a "very serious" conversation here with Bubby about practicing baseball.   Bubby doesn't really want to practice but he wants to be able to catch the ball.    So...I guess a little chat man to man was necessary to explain just why practice makes perfect in anything that is worthwhile.

I just love the way they are sitting and looking ahead while talking.  So manly. 

Playin' Ball

Bubby started T-Ball this year.  How stinkin' cute is that outfit?   I LOVE it!

He is hitting great, running like a champ and working on catching.    It's very fun to watch this age.   They just want to hit that ball and run!   It's funny how they just play an hour and don't keep score because seldom does anyone ever even get out.

Maybe baseball will be his thing.  It's always fun to try to figure it out!  He did tell me he likes the games better than practice, though.  He doesn't really like to practice - even at home.  He just wants to do it!   We keep trying to explain that to learn to catch you have to practice!  Hopefully, he will get that soon.

Lovin' This Little Book...

I've been enjoying this little devotion book so much, I have to share it with you.   


It seems like every day, the devotion and scripture is exactly what I need.   I can study it and pray for 10-15 minutes if that's all I have or I can really dig deeper into the recommended scripture when I am blessed with more time.    It's been just what I've needed this month.



Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  I picked it up at Family Christian Bookstore but also got my friend a copy at WalMart. 



Just wanted to share the love.    Happy Monday!

Bring Home the Bacon and Fry It Up In a Pan

Bacon is really a treat around here.  But we do eat it!  As a matter of fact, we have been able to find bacon without Nitrates at both Whole Foods and our local grocery store (Hormel Brand) and that makes me feel a lot better about eating bacon on occasion.

Okay, Bacon is soooo not the point of this post!  I guess not posting on a regular basis has it's consequences.


I promised weeks ago a little update on my new job.  So, why does a stay at home mom of 10 years suddenly go back to work part-time?  Well, I'm sure the reasons are many for other women.  Here are mine. 


I love the job, by the way. 

Last year, a few things happened that caused me to seek part time work.

• My youngest started Kindergarten.
• The Recession.
• I was slightly depressed - feeling a little bit lost.  I suspect moms with kids all in school for the first time often feel like this for awhile.  I had been at home for 10 years with my babies.  My focus was entirely on taking care of their needs.   And while I still had plenty to do, I felt myself seeking something that was all mine.  Something outside of my ordinary life. 

Not that my ordinary life was bad.  Because it wasn't.  It's not.  I am truly blessed with this awesome little life of mine.    I think we have to be content with the ordinary sometimes - that is what this blog has always been about - Celebrating the ordinary.   I have another post in the works about this, by the way.   

Focus, Janel!

So,  last Fall I started applying for jobs:  Nothing much - grocery stores, my gym, make-up company.  NOTHING panned out and it was discouraging.  When I found out I was pregnant, I thought to myself, "Oh, this is the plan for me right now."    When the morning sickness settled in, I was truly glad I did not have a commitment to a new job.

One day, while surfing my church classifieds for bunkbeds for my son, I came across a posting for a part-time job at my church.   It was the first day of this posting.  I read it and felt a stir inside that was, well, undeniable.

I closed the posting and walked away.

I came back an hour or so later to open it up again.  Then I called Hubby so he could talk me out of anything I was about to do.   He said, "I think you would be perfect for that job."

What?!?  That is not what I wanted him to say.  I wanted him to tell me that I was pregnant and had two other kids to take care of, not to mention a very busy husband!  I wanted him to tell me there was no way I could do the job.

But he didn't.  He encouraged me to follow the prompting and send in my resume.

Resume!?!?!? I didn't even have one of those.  How do I write one?  What do I say?  Stay at Home Mom for 10 years?  While we all know that job is one of the hardest of all, I did not even know how to begin explaining it in the form of a resume.  I could list my almost 3 year attempt at being a Mom Blogger?  I'm good at being social.  That's gotta count for something, right?

Actually, in this case it does. 

Think think my brain went.  I felt a huge sense of urgency to get this resume in for some reason.

Ministry.   That is where I would start...

The one constant thing I have done for the last 6 years, outside of caring for my family, is take a very active part in ministry.    Specifically, leading in some capacity.

It's funny I should even be doing that.   If you knew me in my teens or twenties, I can promise you that the thought of me leading any kind of ministry would not be what came to your mind. Not to mention, I'm not naturally organized or administrative in the typical fashion.  God can do amazing things through a willing heart.  Oh, yes he can.

So, that is what I made my resume about.  My time serving in the various ministries I did and my responsibilities there.    They were very often like a part-time jobs.    I listed the gifts God has revealed to me.

• I actually love people and seek to be among them.
• I have a huge heart for people that are lost in life.  Those that need community.
• I can capture vision and cast it for others.
• I work great under pressure.
• I communicate easily with people.
• I tend to be able to motivate people and seek out other potential leaders.

I don't know that I possess all these gifts in all areas of my life.  But when it comes to serving God,  I'm told I do.    He equips the called, y'all.  That's all I'm sayin'.


I sent the resume in about two hours after I first saw the posting without consulting anyone but my husband and God.   I fully expected a reply telling me I was not qualified.

Except that didn't happen.  I was called in for an interview.  Some observation of the job.  Emails.  Another interview.

After about a month, I knew I wanted the job - after much prayer and discussion with trusted friends.   What I finally got through was all the fear holding me back and started to get excited about the position.   It was only then that the job was offered to me.    Because this position was not one where ambivalence was beneficial.  Passion and excitement were necessary.   

What's the job?  First Impressions Coordinator at my local campus.  Our church just started launching multi-sites and the one in my little town of Holly Springs is the first.  We are growing so fast!!!   So, my job is to coordinate, organize, motivate and encourage volunteers that work on our First Impressions team.  That includes the people that direct people where to go in the parking lot, greeters and guides, ushers and the coffee bar/food team.   I have A LOT of help and work closely with two amazing women at our Raleigh Campus.   I think between both campuses we have over 500 volunteers!   Anyone who has been to our church can tell you that welcoming people is something we do RIGHT ON. 

The job is part time and works well with my kids schedule.   I'm home before they get off the bus and have days I can still be in their classrooms.   They have a nursery on site so I can take the baby with me to work when he is born.  Love that!   I have flexibility and love being around the staff at my church.  I have a fun church, people.  Fun and crazy. 

What about those fears?  Yeah.  What if my kids miss me?  What will I do with them during track-out?  What if I can't do it all?  Will the baby nap as well away from his own crib?  What if I don't get the laundry done?  Okay, I never got the laundry done anyway.    Here is a biggie...What if I fail?

Yeah, what if? 

I'm learning from other working moms that you just take it day by day.   And that's working just fine.    Don't get me wrong.  This month has got to be the busiest month I have experienced as a mom and wife and now working woman.  

I feel energized, though.  Happy.  Fulfilled.  Organized.  I've even been better about keeping up with that laundry because I don't have time to procrastinate.   Having a job actually helps to make me less of a procrastinator and THAT is a good thing. 

My kids and hubby?  They are so fine!  They actually don't even seem to notice.  And when I'm home I actually focus on them more.    I think before I just thought I had all the time in the world to hang out with them and now I know each moment is precious so to make the most of them.    The kids loved the track-out camp I had them in this week.  

Am I tired?  Um, yeah.  But I'm also 6 months pregnant.   And who isn't some degree of tired anyway?  

So, what did I give up? 

• Shopping - this is actually a good thing.
• Lunches out with my girlfriends whenever I want   :(
• My dogs having me home all day
• Ultimate flexibility to be whereever, whenever
• TV
• Staying up late blogging and facebooking
• Sleeping in
• Hanging out with my kids all week during a track out.  :(

But we are adjusting.  It's all good.  For today.   Just for today is how we roll around here, though.


If you work outside the home, I'd love to know your best tip on managing it all. 

Long Time No See!

Hello Bloggy Friends!

It's good to be typing up a post. I feel like my time away has been a much needed break but I have missed you!    I took the before Easter off and that was my intention but then last week turned into about the craziest of my life so I just decided that some more time was needed.

The funniest thing about taking my break was that while the first week, I did have a total computer fast, the second week I was all over Facebook. I just enjoy the cyber-connection. The only problem on Facebook is that I have to use a lot less words to express what I want - which is hard for me to do. ;)

Anyway, LOTS has gone on in two weeks.

• Bubby lost his first tooth! Actually, he lost it 3 times. He lost it from his mouth, then dropped it and found it and then dropped it again and never found it. We had to write a note to the tooth fairy. Luckily, she came and all was well. 

• B figured out who the Easter Bunny really is. Poor girl, she's just too smart for her own good. She said she's known for a long time but a conversation she overheard confirmed it. She also said that she's finding out many things that adults say don't always stick. Yeah, that's the kind of conversations I have with this girl. Luckily, she did confidently tell me that she knows Jesus is real because she feels him with her every day. What more could I ask for?

• Bubby also had a birthday - his 6th. We had a little family party but waited to have his party with friends until this week. He loves being 6 - he feels very grown up.   I think in this picture he still has face paint on that his sister used to make him a cat.   And that is a cherry cheesecake that he picked out that was so yummy, I can't even think about it without my mouth watering.   I love that my kids like cheesecake for their birthdays - just like dad!

• He also started T-Ball this month. However, we recently found out that I had him on the wrong team for 3 weeks of practice. Apparently, the two teams practice at the same time. The first night we went to practice it was raining and I just placed him on the team that I saw practicing on the infield.  His real team had actually canceled practice.   We finally figured it out - oh well,  at least we were practicing!  

• The pregnancy is going great.  I feel lots of energy right now although I am gaining weight like crazy.  But I think not as much as last time because I literally am running these kids around All.The.Time.  I gained 80 with B and 70 with Bubby.  Yes, I did.   So, my goal is to stay under 60 this time.   I expect with being pregnant in the Summer that is going to be hard. 

• We went to the mountains for Spring Break.  It was ultra-relaxing.  I'll have to post some photos from that trip - so beautiful.  

• I started a new job!  That has probably been the biggest actual change in our life this last week. Boy howdy, has it.    I'll post more on this later - I actually have an entire thought process going on this subject.   

• And my final thoughts on blogging?  Well, I'm keeping the blog open for now.   I enjoy my interaction with you and like having a place I can record my thoughts.  I also love communicating with far away friends and family here and using it as a place to post about my kids.   It may not be an every day post, but I'll still be here.  I've decided that blogging is not a career goal.  Some women do it really really well and I'm just not going to be one of them.   That's okay - it's just not what God has planned for me.   So, if a definition of a blog is needed - that's mine.  A place to record my thoughts and be in community with you.    Simple simple. 

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Spring weather!!!!
Anyway, those are the highlights - more details later this week.

Anything new with you?  Leave a link in the comments with one of your blog posts of something I've missed the last couple weeks that I shouldn't have!

OH GLORIOUS DAY!

Casting Crowns, Glorious Day


Living, He Loved Me
Dying, He Saved Me
Rising, He Justified Freely Forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day!