Today I Choose Joy: June 2013

Friday, June 28, 2013

I am an "ONLY"

I read this blog earlier this week and was encouraged about being an "only". If you get a chance to visit Kat's blog over at Inspired to Action, I think you will enjoy it!

I may not be the “est” but I am the “only”

I’m Not The “est”
Few things can sabotage a woman’s self esteem like a vacation to the beach.
Maybe it’s just me and my own insecurities, but sheesh our trip to the beach a few weeks ago was a harsh reality check that I am rather officially middle aged.
Brutal.
As people roamed the beach wearing strategically and precariously placed pieces of cloth, I thought a lot about how I’m not the “est” anymore.
I’m no longer the youngest in any random group of people.
I’m not the fittest.
I’m not the fastest.
I’m not the prettiest.
I’m not the trendiest.
If we’re including mathematics skills, I’m out of the running for the smartest, too.
These aren’t self deprecating statements, they’re facts.
So maybe it’s time to stop focusing on trying to be an “est” when the more important truth is that I am an “only”

I Am the “Only”

The only woman my husband chose to spend the rest of his life with.
The only one my kids call mom.
The only person God chose to impact the mix of people in my life.
We live in a society kind of obsessed with being the “est.” Nearly every show on tv is some sort of competition where hundreds of thousands of people are whittled down to a single winner.
Social media has brought this pursuit of “est” to the masses.
But what is it that we are pursuing? The fleeting admiration of strangers who don’t even know that when we eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, we eat the chocolate off first and then savor the yummy middle. People who don’t know that thing we do with our hair when we’re thinking really hard. People we’ve either never met or haven’t seen since the last day of 3rd grade.
So for all you mamas out there whose bodies and business cards have changed a bit since your early 20′s, dive deeply into the place where you are known; the places where you are an “only” – this is where life to the fullest is found; among those that know your wrinkles, moods and grays and love you fiercely anyway.
BFF. Mother. Wife. Daughter. Sister. Mentor.
Let’s stop worrying about what we are not and give everything we have to these beautiful, powerful things that we already are.

Thank you Kat for your great words of encouragement!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

My DREAM job...

OK, so I have worked part time at our church for 5.5 years. It has been amazing, wonderful, challenging and grown me more as a leader than I have in my entire life! I started working there only 12 hours a week as the fill in Receptionist back in December 2007 when Ezekiel was 18 months old, then shortly after that, took on the role of Office Manager working 20 hours a week which I did until May of 2012.

This last year I transitioned out of the OM role to working with CPLC which is our Leadership College for students aged 18-30ish. I absolutely LOVED it! It was my DREAM job! I got to work with this amazing group of students every week!

Aren't they so cute?! I told them they looked very 90210 in this picture and thankfully they knew what I was talking about!

I love doing administration and ministry and this was the perfect combo. I also got to work with the awesome Pastor Danette Matty who was so fun to work with and she was so kind to put up with my pregnancy emotions this past year! Here are a few more pics of us and our CPLC Team throughout the year:

CPLC Team 2012-13

"WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE, EQUIPPED TO LEAD"

Rep'ing CPLC at our booth...please note that I am very pregnant here :)

Working the Everett festival

Graduation April 2013

My girls...how I love them so dearly

So proud of each of these students and how they have grown this past year. Part of my end of the year grad speech said "Here at the end of CPLC I feel like when you return home after a missions trip. When you went your intensions were to bless and serve others and make a tangible difference in other people’s lives. When you return home you realized you gained far more and were so much more blessed than what you felt like you gave. Thank you all for loving me and my family and for challenging me to grow this past year by the examples you led, I will miss you all so very much."

This WAS my dream job...UNTIL...

I was home on maternity leave and realized how much I loved being home with my new little baby...I thought that I might feel this way, but I wasn't sure because I really did love what I did at church too. I prayed, and cried and talked with my husband, prayed, talked with my parents, prayed some more, cried a little more and essentially drove my husband NUTS deciding what to do. But I knew the answer the moment I looked at this sweet face...

It was time to stay home. God really confirmed it and spoke to my heart about this as well. I also knew it would be so great to be home starting this summer to spend more time with Ezekiel.

This week was my first week home! It was so sad to say goodbye to my friends and co-workers at CP, but I know I will still get to see them. I so have enjoyed this week with these two little monkeys:

So thankful to God for granting me the desires of my heart and allowing me to continue to have my DREAM job...a Mommy :)

Monday, June 3, 2013

June is here!

Wow! It is hard to believe that school is done for the year and summer break is here already! I feel like the time is flying by so quickly these days. I must just be so busy with my darling boys! Today we went to Mahoney State Park to enjoy the weather and Z got his first ride in a swing which was very exciting! He was very smiley and enjoyed it very much! Uncle Jamin is here visiting from San Diego so we are enjoying our time with him too. Ezekiel will be at Zoo Camp this week for half days so that should be pretty fun for him. We have a summer bucket list that we are working through, so that will be fun to share on here. Here are a few pictures from our summer so far: