"Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

While I was writing this morning, I heard Q in the bathroom filling up the sink and thought myself very smart for checking on him. Little did I know that in the half hour I thought they were watching Word World they had been downstairs “painting” E’s room. Poor A, I scared her to death when I came downstairs and saw the mess. I started screaming like a kid at a horror show. “Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!”

They had opened three cans of paint and covered a 4’x6’ area on the wall by her bed. There was paint on the bedding, on the carpet, on the curtains of her closet. It has taken me about an hour to get it cleaned up. It was still quite wet when I discovered it and so most of it came off. A little magic eraser took care of what was left on the wall after a wet towel. There was still some left on the wallpaper border, but I have plenty of the border to switch out the damaged portion. It may not come out of the bedding completely, but it will be okay. I’ve wanted to get E a runner for by the door/bed - now I have an even better reason. . . paint residue.

I had so many plans for that hour. I feel like I need a day off from my day off. Q has learned a pretty serious lesson. On the other hand, so have I.

First Week of Work.

Okay, so it was great. By the end of the week, I was looking forward to going - truly. It was just very frankly more fun than I thought it could be. There are tons of little tasks that I can do to keep myself busy when things are slower. It is sales, but most of all, it just feels like helping people. That was very natural and fun for me. The people I’m working with are interesting and caring. They want to know about my life and seem genuinely amazed about the way I’m handling everything that is coming at me. One of the ladies (probably in her 60’s) said to me at the end of the week, “You are a breath of fresh air. You are so refreshing . . . really, you are."
I hope that I can always make things fun. I want be Christlike, especially at work. I come into contact with so many people from so many parts of the world all day long. We are the first stop from the airport and we have quite a few out of town visitors.
I learned that I have a little more of a competitive spirit than I imagined, as well. That will have to be kept in check. I like everyone so well. I want to make sure that my friends are treated well. I want to be sure that I maintain good relationships and do my part. So, verdict on the first week? It couldn’t have been better, honestly - unless it were closer to home, I guess.
My family has been amazing, as well. They want to share my load and we will work together to be sure that my children are well cared for. I'm so grateful for their willingness to help us - for the love they show and the way they have stood by me through these days.
I have four days off - my next day at work is Wednesday. I have a lot to do before then, and thank heaven for that. Keeps me busy and focused. Most of all, I want to give my children the things that they need. I want them to have every chance to flourish in these crazy times.

Quality

From Eckhart Tolle

"Success isn't anything other than a successful present moment. And what is that? There is a sense of quality in what you do, even the most simple action. Quality implies care and attention, which come with awareness...By realizing that your entire life journey ultimately consists of the step you are taking at the this moment. There is always only this one step, and so you give it your fullest attention. This doesn't mean you don't know where you are going; it just means this step is primary, the destination secondary."

I'm going to be thinking about this today as I'm walking around the store. It is something great to chew on. It's what I've been trying to do this year, pay attention to the moments so that they don't get away from me. I have reason to do that now more than ever. I promise I'll put something about work in on Sunday. Things are going well, I've enjoyed myself - although my body is just aching by the end of the day. Tonight will be my first 1 to 10 shift. I like being in the store. I think that summer evenings will be busy - so it should be fun.

Enjoy your steps today.

Back to work . . .

Next week will be my first week of work, and my schedule? 

Ack! Here it is.

Monday - 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday - 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday - 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday - 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday - 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

At times like this, it's good to know that you're on the right track, because nothing about that schedule (except that I have the entire weekend off) looks like something I'd actually consider possible. On the other hand - it is just another opportunity for me to watch the hand of the Lord work in my life, and who doesn't need more miracles? I've been hanging out in that 'in need of little daily miracles' territory for a while, and although I truly can say that the Lord has provided, I can also say that in my case He seems to be choosing REALLY DRAMATIC WAYS to do that providing. There isn't any explanation for the events that have transpired and also no way that I will be able to take any credit for pulling it off. It is far beyond me, but very much within the Lord's power to bring together the necessary resources to make this an actual functioning plan. One week and day at a time, it's a good pace. It's a manageable pace.

Thankfully, I'm closing a lot next week because someone will be on vacation - I don't expect that to be a typical week. Also, miraculously, although the just never start people with the designation of full-time, even when they are working full time hours, and they generally have you prove yourself in terms of sales before they offer a full-time designation, they will be bringing me on full-time, which means that I'll be eligible for health benefits in 90 days. 

So there it is. Is this the craziest thing you've ever heard, or what?

Adventuring in the unknown.

I think it's pretty safe to make an announcement now, since I'm going in tomorrow morning to talk to my new manager about the job details. I have to say that I am completely floored at what I am about to announce. Despite that, however, I just keep getting that "where I'm supposed to be" feeling -  and it is truly the only thing that has presented itself as a viable option. I am going to be working at Z Gallerie in The Gateway.

I've been putting applications in since April. I've had a few interviews, tested for a couple of Temporary Employment companies. I did fabulously, but there just hasn't seemed to be anything for me. I had been looking for clerical work because I hadn't been able to find anything in Interior Design, which is my degree field.

So this is how it went. Last Wednesday, I went down to the Apple store with my computer because it was crashing a lot. (Apples don't generally crash a lot, you know?) While they were working on it, I went into Z Gallerie to check it out - I had never been in the store before. As it turned out, they were looking for people - and I really did like the store, so I took an application and figured maybe I'd fill it out later. After checking on the computer, I had another half hour to wait, so I decided to go back, fill out the application and turn it in. Friday afternoon the manager called wondering when I could come in for an interview. We set that up for Saturday night, because that was the soonest I'd be available. (My family was in Bear Lake over the weekend.) They had me come in today for a "working interview" which was mainly just to see how I felt about talking to people. It was fun. I'm sure I'll get the hang of what to say and do in time - but I really enjoyed myself. I like helping people. The manager asked me to come in tomorrow morning (7:30 a.m.) so that we could sit down and sort out all the details. 

On the way home, I wondered what the universe was bringing to me in the form of this job. I thought about how far from my original plan it was - and still how good I feel about it. It is absolutely crazy how I ended up here, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn new things and work in "my field". Most of the places I talked to were looking for past retail experience more than a degree. This place was very willing to accept me as I am, pays what I need to be paid - with bonuses rather than commission - and because of the road I've been on, I recognize the blessing of simply having a job. Feeling that it is the best place for me right now helps me lay aside my worries about the schedule and my inadequacies. One other funny side note, Dr. Laura was telling someone just about the same things today. Sometimes doors close and doors open but we are so busy pounding on the closed door that we don't even think to go through the open door. I felt so great about that. I was thinking to myself that at that very moment I was walking through that open door, ready for the gifts the universe was bringing me. That felt great, it felt healthy, it was a confirmation of my own feelings and the action I was taking. It feels amazing to be moving in a direction - even if it is completely different from what I imagined. That's what adventure is all about right? 

Hella.

My baby, A, is O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with Cinderella. From her tiny lips, it's "Hella" this and "Hella" that - but there is no mistaking what she means by that. We have a book of Disney Princess stories that I got for E a couple of years ago. A carries it around, perusing "Hella's" story a few times a day. Every chance she gets, she'll sit quietly and watch the entire movie. Once in a while she'll say something like, "Funny" or "I wuff it, mama." (For those not speaking my baby's lingo - that's "I love it . . ." Her favorite part of the story is when Cinderella brings the glass slipper out of her pocket. She made me stop the first time I read that part to her. We had quite a conversation about "pot-its" and how great it was that "Hella" had a shoe in her "pot-it". I'm pretty sure that she was thinking something like, "Wow! So shoes come from pockets! I had no I idea! I wonder when I'm going to find shoes in my pockets!" Why am I so sure? Well, my dearest little one is also very shoe obsessed, and dog obsessed - which sheds a little more light on why she is so "Hella" obsessed. This story has it all: dogs, shoes, pretty dresses and pumpkins that turn into transportation. (I don't think she cares much about the prince at this point, and I'm okay with that.) I did just mention the pretty dresses, though, didn't I. Part of her obsession has to do with a Cinderella costume that E got for her fifth birthday. All I need say is that it is sometimes a struggle to get if off of A - it must be washed from time to time. I make her wear clothes underneath - but she can ignore that, as long as I immediately put "Hella" back on. Great Grandma thinks I might be just a little off my rocker - a child always dressing in a costume. On the other hand, it's just so darned adorable. I'm pretty sure that I am off my rocker, at least a little bit. I just can't help it. Watching her run around the house in that get-up makes my day. She is a little princess, and I'm glad that she knows it. It's good to have a sense of your own worth and I don't think she has over estimated herself one tiny bit. She is such a bright spot of sunshine. She makes every day worth living just to know I'm going to get a big hug and kiss from her somewhere along the way.

Cool. I'm awesome - But I still don't have a job.

You Are Psyche!

Eternally in search of purpose and insight. You're curious and creative with a total sense of wonder. Totally empathetic, you pick up on other's moods easily. Just be sure to pamper yourself as well!

What Goddess Are You?

This is your last chance!

I hate that crack-pot!

Crack-pot?

CRAAAAACK POHHHHHT. I hate that dinner that you're making!

OH! . . . Crock Pot!

Yes. I hate that dinner. You have to take me to IKEA . . . I want those circle things . . . meatballs. This is your last chance! Make cookies and go at IKEA. That's it!

What are you going to do if I won't do it?

You're grounded. Grounded from computers,  . . . every night. And you're not taking me to IKEA. If you're not, you're grounded from computers.

Q, we aren't going to IKEA for dinner. You can have anything else in the house that you want, but we are staying here.

No, I am the boss of this house . . . and we are going to IKEA . . . mommy, pleeeaaaase. Take me to IKEA . . . okay, that's it. If you won't give me soda, and meatballs and french fries and sauce, I'm going to ground you from computers!

(I don't think I need to express how funny this conversation was to me. I was typing as he was speaking. It cracked me up so much. It's not over, either. I know my child. He will carry this to the end of the day.)

Mama! Why won't you listen to me! It's IKEA for me!