content with your job?

Do you ever have those days where you are wondering why you are doing the job you do? Do you ever wonder if there is something bigger, better out there for you?

I have to admit, I sometimes do that. As a stay at home mom, I often wonder if I should be out there contributing financially to this family. If I should be using that Master's degree I worked so hard to get. I think that maybe I would have more respect from friends and family if I had a job that earned an income. Oh, and I also think I would definitely be using my brain so much more. I often think my ability to remember anything is based on my 9 year old reminding me on a regular basis. SHE doesn't forget a thing.

Now, I said I only wonder about the state of my job SOMEtimes......other times I am perfectly content with my occupation. Especially this morning as I sit here looking out our window and start thinking about how happy it made me to shuffle teenagers to church and home last night. How fun it was interacting with them all and how rewarding it was when I realized that the girls' parents just adore my son.

Then my thoughts start wandering to how wondeful it is to have 2 little girls who think I rock! They tell me regularly that they love me and always want hugs and kisses from me.

It's not money, but it IS contentment. Actually, it is so more than that. I feel satisfied, joyful, blessed, proud, loved, and worthy.

I think I will keep my job!

random thoughts

I realize that it has been ages now since I have updated my blog. Hmmm, guess I am just a bit busy these days. Wonder how that happens?

I have been doing a lot of work around the house and been getting the kids settled in school. Along with that comes all the other fun stuff. Dance, football, choir, more football. And, I really mean it,IT is fun. I enjoy watching my kids do the things they love.

But alas, it is football season again and as my husband sits in front of his 65 inch screen TV watching football, I thought I would take a few moments to do what I love....WRITE! ha!

This last week has been a mixed bag of emotions. I watched my 2 girls start a new school and felt so sad for them that I could barely hold back my own tears. However, on Friday I was so proud of them for finding new friends and figuring out their new school so quickly. Hunter already joined the choir! As a little bunny trail note....God was so good to us, he put a little girl from church in Hunter's new class! Instant friend! It was wonderful to watch little Henley be so helpful and nurturing to Hunter.

We had to start early morning football practices this week. My heart breaks for Jayson to head out so early and to have to work so hard all day, but when I look at him on that field, I see the hard work pay off and I (again) am so proud of him I can't stand it. And he has matured so much since last year that he doesn't complain at all anymore and actually says practice is fun. Practice? Fun? I think Jayson's body has been taken over by aliens.....oh wait, that can't be, it's already been taken over by HORMONES!


We got to have our dear friends the Adlers over Friday for lunch. What a blessing it was to spend that time with them. And to see Ralph looking so strong and driving himself to a doctor's appt was terrific. Tammy got to spend a little extra time with me after he left and as always the time went by too quickly. And even now as I think of how dear Tammy is to me, I find myself tearing up. I can not explain how blessed I am to have her as my friend.

Tonight I dropped 7 teens at church for a back to school party. 4 of them will be spending the night here. My emotions range from stress to thankfulness that we are a home where children want to be. Thankfulness for the home that is provided so that we can have these children here.

So, what's next? Well, we have teens here for 2 days next weekend for back to school church retreat. You know what? I can't wait! Then we get them every Wednesday night for Youth group. It's going to be awesome. I love seeing these kids get into the Bible and grow together. It's amazing.

When I really stop and think about how our moving process went, I have to think God has pieced this all together for us so that finally we can open our home to kids. Jay and I are blessed with a strong marriage grounded in faith. Our children are blessed with parents who love each other and THEM so much that we would do anything for them or each other. And sadly, I have come to see that there are several children out there who never get this experience. Well, we can't be their parents, but we sure can be their light. And we'll just call this home the lighthouse!

My girls trip

So, we got moved into this house, got the boxes unpacked and everything I didn't know what to do with, piled in the dining room. We would be what I would call "functioning" in the new house. But, for those of you who know me AND my husband, we don't just do "functioning", we prefer "organized".

As many times as we have moved, we have it down to an art. But this time, I had a kink in my plans.

You may remember reading in an earlier blog that I had promised my children each a "mommy and me" time this summer. Well, Jayson's was easy....."take me to play paintball". I took him and a friend to the field, sat on a bench and watched them play paintball for 3 hours then took them to dinner. No sweat. I was able to get it in before the move.

Well, Hunter reminded me last week that she and Katie had not had their turn and school was starting in 3 weeks! WHAT?????? Oh, and Jayson's birthday was on one of the weekends between now and school starting. Jay and I decided that we must act quickly.

With turmoil all around me, how could I possibly take 2 days off? Do you know how much I could accomplish in one weekend with Jay not working and helping me? Did I really PROMISE that I would take them to a hotel to stay overnight? I guess I did.

Reluctantly we made hotel reservations....Katie and I would go on Friday night and Hunter and I would go Saturday night with Daddy doing the switch out. I have to tell you that honestly, I could hardly get myself out the door. There is just so much left to do here.

But, I loaded Katie up and our first stop was the American Girl Place for lunch in the Bistro. From the moment we got into the car, her voice was so excited. It was contagious. I started to get excited too. After all, it's not often Katie and I get to spend time alone (now that she is in school). Katie is so sweet and so much fun to be with. We had an awesome afternoon at the store. We then went swimming, ordered room service and went swimming again (her idea). The next morning we went to see Kit Kittridge and then meet Hunter and Daddy. Poor little gal was crying when she had to leave me. Broke my heart!

Hunter and I made our first stop at the mall. She wanted to shop. She hit every one of her favorite stores looking for bargains. I love to shop and Hunter is a natural (much to her daddy's dismay). It's a mother's dream come true to have a built in shopping buddy. She is so grown up and easy to talk to, so while shopping we had some really good discussions about life. We then did dinner at the mall and headed to the hotel for (yep) swimming. The next day, she and I hit the American Girl Store for shopping and lunch. (It's a good thing the food there is good!) Then we headed home.

You know what, I had the most fantastic weekend! I can't believe I dragged my feet on giving my time to my precious children. What a blessing it was for me to have them all to myself and watch them get excited about every little detail of our trip. I watched each of them intently and was able to stop and actually SEE the women they are becoming. I saw myself and Jay in each of them. I realized that (and all glory goes to our God), Jay and I have made some amazing children. I also realized how grateful I am to have gotten the chance to have them all to myself for 48 hours!