Perspective

I will admit it. My focus hasn't exactly been where it should have been this week - it's been busy, I've been training and being trained, packing my work stuff, doing kid things, doing house things, etc.

Today was my last day at my job. And I, again, will admit that I came home just a little upset (LOL) because all I got out of six years of service to this firm was a card. Granted, I was out of the office training for my new job for a big chunk of the day, but still. So, again, not focusing on the other - good - stuff.

Tyler went the teen thing this evening, and was going home with the 'boyz' to spend the night. It doesn't end til quite late, so I was very surprised to get a phone call about an hour before this was supposed to be over.

"Hello?" (me - sleepily)

"Mom?"

"What Tyler." (just a little irritated that he was calling this late...)

"I'm getting baptized. Tonight. Now"

"What?!" (shock, surprise - pick an adjective)

"I'm. Getting. Baptized."

"But...but...you haven't studied it out yet. You can't do that. Why are you doing it?" (me -wondering if this will count if he hasn't done a one-on-one study-over-soda and completed a checklist or some sort of official document - it is late, after all)

"I want to do this. I know this is what I need to do. A bunch of us are getting baptized."

"Do you want me to come out to the building?" (still looking for an adjective, but leaning more toward the "thrilled" end of the spectrum)

"Do you want to? You don't have to."

"If you're getting baptized I wanna be there." (try and keep me away!!!)

"Well, then, come out soon."

THIS is the kind of phone call I want in the middle of the night.

I talked to Tyler before he went back to get ready. I asked him if he was sure about this. He said he was. I wanted him to tell me why. Bless his heart, he did. He told me that he wanted to go to heaven, that he loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him and wanted to teach other people about Him. We prayed, I cried - good times...

We talked on the way home about what this means. He has it down pretty well. Had a few things not quite there yet, but hey, don't we all?

As I was talking with him on the way home about what this decision means for him and the rest of his life, I relived my baptism, and found that I was telling the 'old, old story' to myself as well. I realized how out of whack I've been. I need to get back to my first love. I need to forget about the petty problems and imagined wrongs, and focus on the Lord. Especially now.

Lord, thank You for this evening. Thank You for working on my son's heart, in spite of the example I sometimes set for him. Watch over him and keep him true to his decision. Help him to remember this night for the rest of his life. Help me to be a better sister in Christ to him. In Your Son's Name, Amen

Welcome to my pity party

Yeah, so I'm feeling very unnecessary - looks like the new gal is going to far surpass anything I've EVER been able to do around here.

New boss decided to have a welcome party for her today. Yeah.

And I know I have the better end of the deal, but still...I feel like I'm not going to be missed, and all that I DID accomplish is nothing. I mean, yay her, but geezlouise - at least wait til I'm gone to make me look bad...!

*sigh*

I'll get over it...

Resistance is Futile

I am officially being assimilated into the Borg Collective - as we locals fondly refer to the 'neighborly' behemoth employer in town - the epicenter of conservatism and yuppie-ism. We like to joke about it, obviously. Still not sure where exactly in the myriad of buildings yet, but I hope to find out soon. And, as I was telling my recruiter - I hope this job sticks because they hired my replacement the day after I gave notice. *gulp* So. Started cleaning out my desk, little by little, yesterday. Not much more to do.

New guy kinda paid me a compliment when we talked about me leaving. He told me that he had observed that I am very intelligent (!), that I don't like to show my intelligence (?), and that I was obviously a spiritual person. Wow. Then he started quoting scripture at me (no, not to me) - just kind of a weird 'chat' all the way around, you know?

Why?

...and now I know the reason for our lunch/picnic - I probably won't have as long of a lunch hour at my NEW JOB!!!!!

YAY ME!!!!!

Thank You, God, for this opportunity! Please let me be a light in my new office.

In the moment

Today, my beloved husband picked me up for lunch. I was expecting to hit one of our favorite lunch spots, but he surprised me by handing me chips and a sandwich. He said we're going on a picnic at the church building, and then we're flying our new kites!

HOORAY!! What fun!

Out in the warm sunshine, with the cool breeze, and the crisp snap of the kites - wonderful! I knew I'd be blogging about it, and I tried to pull up some deep, meaningful, spiritual anecdote or something, but I decided - nah! Just enjoy the moment.

So we did. Thanks, honey!!

A fertile what?

We had a nice holiday weekend - hope you did as well.

Allen worked OT Saturday, and while we missed him, it was worth it. (Or will be...LOL!) Tyler, or "Baldy," worked with the teens Saturday morning doing the egg hunt at church. He said he really had a good time.

Ryan participated in the hunt and made a haul. He wasn't feeling well, and I was getting a bit concerned. He was diagnosed with asthma when he was younger, but hasn't had a problem for years now. But, Saturday, he was sounding pretty wheezy and kept complaining of being light headed. NOT good. I asked him if he felt like he did when he was having asthma problems, but he didn't remember how it felt. Sunday he said he was feeling much better.

We were discussing Ryan's health Sunday at dinner, when Tyler asked if we still had the "fertile negulator" for Ryan's asthma. For the love. The conversation kinda went downhill from there. LOL! This is the child who called cement mixers "mixuppersers" for the LONGEST time.

Dilemmas & Dramas

As you may or may not know, we've been, ummmm, concerned about Tyler's grades for quite a while now. Today I got the dreaded letter from the school - our beloved, intelligent, handsome, wonderful son is in real danger of failing this year. Or as the school so PC-ish-ly put it - non-promotion at the end of the school year. We have talked, we have encouraged, we have cajoled, we have bribed, we have scolded, we have yelled, we have grounded - all to no avail.

Tyler is a very sociable child. He loves getting together with friends, and weekends are made to have buddies spend the night playing video games. He really, REALLY enjoys the Friday night programs at church with the youth group.

Here's my dilemma:
A) Do we punish him at all? I just got off the phone with him. He read the letter aloud to me and understands the situation. I have also told him that I will not try to prevent his teachers from failing him if his grades are not good enough.
B) If we punish him - what should the punishment be? Losing privileges such as phone, TV, video games does not seem to have any effect. Grounding also seems to just irritate him as opposed to teaching a lesson.

The only thing I have seen that seems to work is preventing him from attending those beloved Friday evenings. Hence my dilemma. I really don't want to deprive him of activities related to the church/youth group. I know that these relationships will hopefully last him a lifetime. *sigh*

I haven't talked about this with Allen, so this may be a moot point...who knows?

Deep thoughts...

Saw this on a sampler - no, really - and it's been on my mind...

"Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything."

Happy Tuesday!

...and how's your week so far?

Is it a bad sign when your eyelid has been twitching for oh, about three weeks straight? Just wondering, you know - purely hypothetical...

I hate bunnies!

Actually, no, I don't hate bunnies, but that phrase became part of family legend last night. We christened the fire pit Allen got for Christmas yesterday evening. Allegedly, if this phrase is said when smoke from the fire is billowing over you, it will change directions. Poor Ryan kept having to say it - too funny!

It was a 'fire' kind of evening. Started off with Allen cooking out on the grill, and then the fire pit, and ending with Allen and I playing Burnout Revenge - sensing a theme? It was a very nice evening - and I so needed it after the past few days here at work. The only thing missing was a couple of fuzzy berries - LOL!

Woke up to rain this morning, which is nice. Soothing, calming, refreshing - I need to stop - I'm making myself sleepy!

Have a great day!

So, if this is limbo, could purgatory be far behind?

No, I'm not changing beliefs. Just kind of weird around here today. Nice boss has officially left, and new guy is theoretically in charge. However, no one has actually talked to us peons about it, so we don't know how to answer the phones, which financial accounts to open or close, etc. Ugh. Just call us mushrooms - keep us in the dark and feed us, well, you know. For the love. Plus it sounds like new guy is cut from the same cloth as mean boss. Great!

So - come on new place - gimme a call soon!

6 years

...still miss ya, Dave...