New Year 2018

As my winter break comes to an end, I'm trying to put the new year into perspective and gain some momentum for my life in this new year. 

Here are a couple of things that are sticking out to me as I think of the new year:

1. Just recently, I read that "you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with - choose wisely".
• For me, the people I spend the most time with are:  Nick, Ali, Adrienne, Tracy, and Michelle.  That's not a bad group of people.  If I had to be an average of those 5 people, I would say I'm in pretty good shape.
2. Another thing that I read was from my Bible Study on 1 Peter.  The author of the study, Jen Wilkin, said that Christians should live their lives in such a way that their actions make them stand out from others.  That way, when non-believers see us, they can plainly see that something is different about us.
• When I think of my girls, I want them to "STICK OUT" and in many ways, I think they do.  They are different than the other kids in their classes.  And I believe that a big part of that difference is that they have Jesus in their hearts.  Sometimes it can just take my breath away with the simplicity of their faith.  It is not something they ever question or hesitate to talk about.  It is something I aspire to emulate.
• I also apply that to my school. I want us to be so amazing to our kids that we "STICK OUT" and are plainly different than every other school out there. That difference will attract others to us and want them to be part of our "TEAM".
3. Honor our leaders.  I need to do a better job of this.  My Bible Study of 1 Peter discussed how we are to honor and respect our leaders and people of authority.  We are to honor them in thoughts, actions, and speech.  Man, that was something I definitely needed to take to heart.  My study said that we are to disagree honorably and not to question out loud.  I really need to work on that! 

So, as I think of the New Year and things that I want to work on for 2018, I kind of have a laundry list.  I plan to try to whittle it down over the next few days and really focus in on just a few.  Here are the things I'm throwing around in my brain:

• Healthy Mind:  find joy and peace in this life.  Do the things that bring me joy:  craft, write, read, play piano, etc.
• Healthy Body:  exercise daily, eat well, have energy for life.
• Healthy Spirit:  continue to apply the wisdom of my Bible Study to my life & strengthen my relationship with God.
• Healthy Finances:  pay off credit card and become debt-free.
• Healthy Family:  savor every moment with my family.  Spend more quality time with the people I love the most.  Dinners together, less TV, more present!
• Healthy Organization:  get my home organized and clean.  De-clutter, de-stress, de-JUNK.
• Healthy Projects:  get my painting and furniture projects completed.
• paint trim, farmhouse table, paint table, etc.

For now, that is what I am thinking.  I guess I have decided on a "ONE LITTLE WORD" without even realizing it.......HEALTHY.  So, going back to work tomorrow, I would like to focus on being healthy and happy and having a great start to 2018!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

CHANGES

I'm a creature of habit.  I'm not a big fan of change.  God has really been challenging me with that lately.  Seems like anything that could possibly change HAS!  I can actually say that these changes are very exciting for me and I am trying my best to happily go about my days of change.  I am trying very hard NOT to take my normal, control-freakish stance and be anxious about every step of these changes.  I am trying to just let them evolve and let God's plan for my family work out however He best sees fit.  Some of the changes that are going on right now are:

• Starting a new, very different job!
• Leaving behind an old workplace & tying up all loose ends there.
• Saying goodbye to some very dear co-workers.
• Finalizing a new mortgage agreement.
• Moving to a new house!
• Renting out (or selling) our old house.
• Enrolling Ali in school for the fall.
• Figuring out a new schedule for our time with Jake & his school.
• Nick finishing his Associate's Degree this Winter.
• And just adjusting to all of these changes!

I have realized that there is no possible way I could do all of these things on my own (or even with my amazing hubby taking care of 85% of them!).  I am a woman of faith, but right now, in this trying time, I am laying this all on the big guy & letting the chips fall as they may.  My friends have asked me if I'm just "so stressed out" about all these changes.  And, while it is overwhelming when I sit and think about it (or list it out), I can honestly say that I am at peace with all of this and that I know God will provide the solutions we need, when we need them.

This mind set is a pretty huge deal for me.  I'm a perfectionist.  I am known to be anxious.  I like things done my way and on my schedule.  I like to have a plan & stick to that plan.  (My oldest daughter, Ali, was the beginning of ruining that little false-hope that I had clung to........she came 5 weeks early & all I could say when my water broke at work was "But it's FEBRUARY.  I'm having an APRIL baby".  Remember, Tina?)  I would even say that I am a control freak.  Yes.  I admit it.

With all of that being said, here's also what I know.....
I know that God is good (actually VERY good) to my family.  We are blessed beyond what I can even fathom.  We have 3 beautiful, healthy, intelligent, funny, loving, & simply wonderful children.  We have a marriage that gives me strength, love, joy, and confidence every day.   We have a steady income and $ is never an issue for us.  Just when I start to worry about bills or $ in accounts, something comes through and we're fine!  We have wonderful extended families that are supportive, loving, and generous in so many ways.  And we have our church.  Our wonderful family of fellow believers who inspire us to be better Christians and to have a real relationship with God.  


I also know that God will meet all my needs according to His plan.  I know that He has made my path and that He is guiding me in the ways He wants me to become.  


Before my interview for my new job (which I felt very under-qualified for), I prayed that God would give me the words to speak during the interview and that I could be His tool for whatever plan He wanted to come of this.  The next evening, I received a phone call that I was the top candidate out of 23 applicants (4 of which were interviewed).  I was astounded.  I had applied on a whim, never thinking I'd be offered such a great opportunity, and here I am, about to embark on a crazy new adventure.  So now, one of my next hurdles will be to lay my struggles in my new job on Him and seek His guidance through all of those trials.  


But 1 question remains:
Do you think He has much experience with teacher unions???
 

Realization ...

I had an epiphany the other day when thinking of how frustrating it is for me when Jake's 9-year-old attitude is snobby and hurts my feelings.  I get so hurt when he acts like he doesn't want to be with Nick, Ali, Adrienne, & I  ......

I thought of how Jake's attitude is so much like my own has sometimes been in terms of following God's will in my life.  I began thinking about how God must feel, having His own daughter not follow Him or do what He asks.  

It's strangely parallel to what I am experiencing with Jake.  And I'm not saying that I am flat-out meaning to defy God.  But perhaps I don't listen to His whispers to my heart as well as I could (or should).  

I thought of this again this morning as I was asking Jake to help me get things ready for church this morning and I asked him to get something off of a shelf.  He didn't listen to the details, he just opened the closet and started looking around, rummaging through things, making my closet a mess.  

How many times has God spoken to me but I've been too busy to listen to the details?  

How often have I "rummaged" through whatever it was He asked me to do and made a complete mess of it rather than listen to His guidance and followed it precisely?

Maybe I'm beginning to hear Him more or I'm learning how to listen better because I am definitely seeing myself through Jake's actions.  Perhaps I'm ungrateful for what God has given me.  (Nick & I often comment on how Jake seems ungrateful for many things and always expects people to do things or give him things.  And, while he is getting better, he is still quite often very ungrateful seeming.)  

Now I just need to keep listening to see what He wants me to do next.....

It's Tuesday! Here's what I have to do!

Here's my "to-do" list for this week. Hoping I get to check at least a FEW of these off this week! :)

- Finish Ali's Scrapbook (I'm over 1/2-way done!)
- Start Adrienne's Scrapbooks
- Do Adrienne's Handprint Keepsake
- Grocery Shop
- Plan Meals (I've been using this site & I LOVE it: http://eatathomecooks.com/ ) She gives a menu & a shopping list for each week & the recipes are simple & delicious!!!
- Paint baby-doll furniture
- Appointment with Dr. Tseng: Friday
- Dentist next Tuesday! :(
- Ali's 2-year check up next Wednesday!

Quiet Morning

Today has been a calm, quiet day so far.  Everyone is content and pleasant.  In the pic, Ali & Adrienne are chilling in the living room watching some cartoons. 

I'm really going to miss these peaceful little moments when I have to go back to work.  It makes me so sad to think of all the tings I will be missing out on when I am back working. :(  I wish Nick could be the working parent & I'd stay home forever!!!  That would be my biggest dream / wish.

After such a great day yesterday, I guess I'm just feeling a bit down thinking about how my time home is coming to an end....

Anyone want to pay me to be home with my babies? 

New Phone!

Just trying out my new phone.  I downloaded a blogger app so watch out world, now I can blog from anywhere!  No one is safe now.

I got a Samsung Epic and I really like it so far.  I was a little intimidated when I first turned it on but after tinkering with it this evening, I'm getting the hang of it!!!

It is really pretty scary being intimidated of technology.  Now I have more sympathy for my parents when I was teaching them how to use their computer!  Never thought I'd be in their shoes. (At least not this soon!)

Just a few more things to learn how to do on it, then I'll be happy!

To-Do-List Tuesday

A friend has recently added some cute themes to her blog: "Wordless Wednesdays" being one of them.

I'm stealing her idea and posting my weekly To Do List on Tuesdays. I call it To-Do-List Tuesday.

And, here's mine for this week! :)

Body Image Issues

When getting dressed this morning, I realized that I have reverse-anorexia.

When I get dressed, I think I'm skinnier than I am.

I think in my head that I'm not "that big" and can fit in my old clothes.

Sadly, when I try them on, they don't fit quite right yet or I look like a stuffed sausage.

I know, it's only been 4 weeks, but it seems longer and it seems like I should be fitting into regular clothes again.

Only 3 more weeks until I go back to work and who knows what I'll even be able to wear to work.

I really hate to go buy clothes to outfit this new, chubbier body. If I give in and buy clothes that fit this figure, I've let it win and I don't like to lose! ;)

That's all. Short post. Just wanted to share.

Coincidence???

There is a job that I really want at Macomb ISD: science consultant for K-12.

The position was posted in November 2010. I applied back at the beginning of January. I emailed the HR director and they received my materials. The position is still posted on the site. I've contemplated emailing again to show I'm still interested, but I'm worried I'll be on the border of annoying rather than interested.

I found out a few days ago that I won the Region 9 Director Position for the Michigan Science Teacher's Association (MSTA). It's a 3-year term and I'm very excited to have gotten it.

Our first meeting is April 8th-9th. When asking for more details on the meeting, I was put in touch with another director, Mike Klein. He's the CURRENT Macomb ISD science consultant & is retiring. He has the job I want!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it coincidence that I've just been put into contact with the guy whose job I desperately want or is it God's way of opening an opportunity for me?! When I realized who he is & that he works for Macomb ISD and that I'll be meeting him in a few weeks, I seriously thought about emailing him and asking about his replacement! I'm going to try to keep my crazy desire for his job under control, but I might have to scope out the situation when I'm in Lansing meeting him!

So crazy!!!