It’s never seizes to amaze me how friendships can remain without actually talking to a person, but instead communicating via text messaging on the cell phone or via emailing on the Internet.
Case in point– I have a friend, someone whom I have known for almost 22 years, whom I have not talked to in like forever. I cannot actually remember the last time I heard this person’s voice, even though I would recognize it immediately if I heard it. Our friendship used to be based on many, many phone calls and many, many face-to-face meetings. However, now, it has been reduced down to only text messaging. I got a text message from my friend on Monday, which I didn’t realize I had until today. Here’s our conversation…
Friend: Hey how are you? Just wondering if you are busy Thursday or Friday
Me: Hey you! I have to work both days. What were you thinking though?
Friend: I am off Sat too if you want to do something
Me: Have plans Saturday. What about Sunday?
Friend: OOOPS….Sorry wrong person
Me: Ummm..OK. So, how have you been? We haven’t talked in forever!
Friend: Good and you
Me: Good… so what have you been up to lately?
Friend: So would Sat work for you?
HUH!?!
Not sure how to take the last part considering the original “hey, what are you doing message” was intended for another set of eyes, so I hesitated when responding. Could I pick up the phone and call my friend? Absolutely. But, I didn’t. Instead, I responded with “Have plans Saturday. Are you busy Sunday?”
What does this mean? Probably that we won’t get together and that our next form of attempting to contact one another will be via text messaging. Does this mean that I don’t value this friendship…absolutely not, because I do. It sounds lame to say it’s easier to communicate this way, but if it wasn’t then wouldn’t one of us have picked up the phone!?!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Loving my new status….
Ever since leaving my past job in late October, I’ve been enjoying my new status as PTSAHM…that is Part-Time Stay-At-Home Mom.
At my past job, I worked 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, but then you factor in about two hours of drive time, a one-hour lunch break and I was really away from my baby girl 11 hours per day. I left around 7 in the morning and didn’t return until a little before 6 every night. It was awful. When you add it up, I was away from my daughter 55 hours during the week, when there are only 120 hours in the 5-day work-week, and realistically, 45 hours of it I have to account for sleeping. This left me with 20 hours to spend with her. After doing this for the first 10 1/2 months of her life, I couldn’t take it anymore.
When I went to college, I experimented with management positions as I was the managing editor of my college newspaper my senior year, and worked as an editor my sophomore and junior years as well. I really liked managing people, the budget and the content of the newspaper. It was really a lot of work, with a lot of late nights, but it was so worth it. And, it is why I never scheduled any early morning classes on Tuesdays – I mean getting home after 2 a.m. on Monday morning and then having to watch a taped show with a few friends before going to bed at like 3 a.m. some mornings, getting up at 7:30 a.m. to make it to the 8 a.m. class wasn’t something that thrilled me! In fact, my junior year, I was pretty much a shoe-in to be managing editor, when a former student who decided to transfer back, swooped in and got the job, based on the fact that she was a senior. The reasoning behind the decision was she was a senior and I was a junior. They didn’t want anyone holding that position for more than a year. I was really angry and heartbroken. I was so ready to step up and show what I had to offer in a position like this. But, I had to wait a whole year before it could be my turn to prove what a good managing editor I could be.
I guess it’s all about the power of being in management and getting to know what goes on behind the close-door meetings that excites me. I liked to be over other people and have the opportunity to hire and fire. I know, I sound really power hungry, but that really is what I thought I wanted.
But, then I take you forward to December 2005, when my precious daughter entered my life. All aspirations of becoming a manager and ruling the world, in my mind, faded. They were gone. The only thing that I really, truly wanted to be was a good mom. A part of me really desired to be a stay-at-home mom full time, but I knew that I had to add to our household income, and I was at peace with that. However, there were days when I was driving to my old job that I would cry the whole way there because I really felt like I was sacrificing too much and getting little back in return. I was only getting 20 hours with my daughter and instead was spending way too much time with my co-workers who were nothing but a batch of nasty, deceitful women who were out to get you. So, with much consideration, praying, discussion with my husband and a long interview process by my current company, I quit.
Now, I get to be off with my daughter 2 whole days, just me and her. I work really close to home, so my once 11 hour days are cut to a little over 9 hour days, but the biggest difference is…I am only gone 27 hours during a week. It was not my doing that allows this opportunity for me – it’s my boss’. She came to me after I had been here for a few months, and after we were toying around with the idea of me adding a 4th day, and she said that she wants to keep me at part-time because she feels it is very important that I get to spend as much time with my daughter as possible. I am so blessed to have such a great boss!
So, as I first stated, I am loving being a PTSAHM. I get to do so many fun things with Brooklyn including a Wee Ones Gymnastic class that we just stared yesterday, along with walks, eating lunch together, taking the occasional nap together, playing together and having some really good Mommy and Brooklyn time. I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity, and I am in constant awe that God has gifted me such an amazing daughter and has allowed me to work part-time to enjoy life’s little moments with Brooklyn.
At my past job, I worked 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, but then you factor in about two hours of drive time, a one-hour lunch break and I was really away from my baby girl 11 hours per day. I left around 7 in the morning and didn’t return until a little before 6 every night. It was awful. When you add it up, I was away from my daughter 55 hours during the week, when there are only 120 hours in the 5-day work-week, and realistically, 45 hours of it I have to account for sleeping. This left me with 20 hours to spend with her. After doing this for the first 10 1/2 months of her life, I couldn’t take it anymore.
When I went to college, I experimented with management positions as I was the managing editor of my college newspaper my senior year, and worked as an editor my sophomore and junior years as well. I really liked managing people, the budget and the content of the newspaper. It was really a lot of work, with a lot of late nights, but it was so worth it. And, it is why I never scheduled any early morning classes on Tuesdays – I mean getting home after 2 a.m. on Monday morning and then having to watch a taped show with a few friends before going to bed at like 3 a.m. some mornings, getting up at 7:30 a.m. to make it to the 8 a.m. class wasn’t something that thrilled me! In fact, my junior year, I was pretty much a shoe-in to be managing editor, when a former student who decided to transfer back, swooped in and got the job, based on the fact that she was a senior. The reasoning behind the decision was she was a senior and I was a junior. They didn’t want anyone holding that position for more than a year. I was really angry and heartbroken. I was so ready to step up and show what I had to offer in a position like this. But, I had to wait a whole year before it could be my turn to prove what a good managing editor I could be.
I guess it’s all about the power of being in management and getting to know what goes on behind the close-door meetings that excites me. I liked to be over other people and have the opportunity to hire and fire. I know, I sound really power hungry, but that really is what I thought I wanted.
But, then I take you forward to December 2005, when my precious daughter entered my life. All aspirations of becoming a manager and ruling the world, in my mind, faded. They were gone. The only thing that I really, truly wanted to be was a good mom. A part of me really desired to be a stay-at-home mom full time, but I knew that I had to add to our household income, and I was at peace with that. However, there were days when I was driving to my old job that I would cry the whole way there because I really felt like I was sacrificing too much and getting little back in return. I was only getting 20 hours with my daughter and instead was spending way too much time with my co-workers who were nothing but a batch of nasty, deceitful women who were out to get you. So, with much consideration, praying, discussion with my husband and a long interview process by my current company, I quit.
Now, I get to be off with my daughter 2 whole days, just me and her. I work really close to home, so my once 11 hour days are cut to a little over 9 hour days, but the biggest difference is…I am only gone 27 hours during a week. It was not my doing that allows this opportunity for me – it’s my boss’. She came to me after I had been here for a few months, and after we were toying around with the idea of me adding a 4th day, and she said that she wants to keep me at part-time because she feels it is very important that I get to spend as much time with my daughter as possible. I am so blessed to have such a great boss!
So, as I first stated, I am loving being a PTSAHM. I get to do so many fun things with Brooklyn including a Wee Ones Gymnastic class that we just stared yesterday, along with walks, eating lunch together, taking the occasional nap together, playing together and having some really good Mommy and Brooklyn time. I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity, and I am in constant awe that God has gifted me such an amazing daughter and has allowed me to work part-time to enjoy life’s little moments with Brooklyn.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
A week in paradise?? Sure!!
HOORAY! I can make a new entry...trust me I have been trying for about a month to get my blog to allow me to type a post with no success, until today!
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Kevin and I decided last weekend that we should work on scheduling a summer vacation this year. We began to toss ideas around about where we could venture, not coming to any conclusions though. Another plane ride for Brooklyn or an in the middle of the night drive to our destined location?
A few days later, I got a call from my grandma saying "Would you all like to go to back to Hawaii??" We went with my family to Hawaii in spring 2005 for my mom's 50th birthday. We visited Kona and Oahu during that vacation and had a blast. We went para-sailing, experienced first-hand a luau, went to Pearl Harbor, went on a boat to see whales (which we didn't), went swimming in the ocean, ate pineapple, visited a dormant volcano getting to walk through a lava tunnel, got to eat amazing food, and really got to spend a little more than a week in paradise. It was wonderful. Kevin and I had often talked about going back for a vacation, but we figured it would be later down the line.
So, when my grandma called and proposed the idea, I was so giddy! I would LOVE to go back. This time though, Grandma said that she would like to go back to Maui. Her and my grandpa spent many Octobers in Hawaii, and she hasn't been there in like seven or eight years because she couldn't imagine going without him here, but she said that she really wants to do this. With approval from my mom, dad and sister, our vacation plans went into full swing. We now have two condos, round-trip plane tickets and a SUV reserved, and we're already making plans about sights we can see and what our days can be consumed with... How does walking along the beach for 5 miles sound?? Great, huh!?!
We just have to wait until late September before we'll be sinking our toes into any sand. I cannot wait to take Brooklyn to Hawaii - I think she will just absolutely love it!!
-----
Kevin and I decided last weekend that we should work on scheduling a summer vacation this year. We began to toss ideas around about where we could venture, not coming to any conclusions though. Another plane ride for Brooklyn or an in the middle of the night drive to our destined location?
A few days later, I got a call from my grandma saying "Would you all like to go to back to Hawaii??" We went with my family to Hawaii in spring 2005 for my mom's 50th birthday. We visited Kona and Oahu during that vacation and had a blast. We went para-sailing, experienced first-hand a luau, went to Pearl Harbor, went on a boat to see whales (which we didn't), went swimming in the ocean, ate pineapple, visited a dormant volcano getting to walk through a lava tunnel, got to eat amazing food, and really got to spend a little more than a week in paradise. It was wonderful. Kevin and I had often talked about going back for a vacation, but we figured it would be later down the line.
So, when my grandma called and proposed the idea, I was so giddy! I would LOVE to go back. This time though, Grandma said that she would like to go back to Maui. Her and my grandpa spent many Octobers in Hawaii, and she hasn't been there in like seven or eight years because she couldn't imagine going without him here, but she said that she really wants to do this. With approval from my mom, dad and sister, our vacation plans went into full swing. We now have two condos, round-trip plane tickets and a SUV reserved, and we're already making plans about sights we can see and what our days can be consumed with... How does walking along the beach for 5 miles sound?? Great, huh!?!
We just have to wait until late September before we'll be sinking our toes into any sand. I cannot wait to take Brooklyn to Hawaii - I think she will just absolutely love it!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Lullaby
For my precious, now 1-year old daughter...This song describes how I feel about you perfectly!!
"They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up"
"They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up"
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Such an honor...
Kevin and I have been asked to be godparents for our friends' 6-month old baby. Our soon-to-be goddaughter, Brooke, will be baptized on Christmas Eve. After getting off the phone with my best friend today, I was so honored that we were asked and chosen to serve in this very special role. It's a role that Kevin and I take very seriously as we are making a life-time commitment to Brooke that we will be there to help her grow her faith in the Lord.
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"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
—John 8:31-32
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"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
—John 8:31-32
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Christmastime, shopping and the making of Dummy Shoes
December is by far the best month of the year. Christmastime has always been my favorite time of the year. I love going shopping and working hard to pick out just the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I love anticipating their faces as they unwrap their present to see what they got this year. I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning, as I wake up around 5 a.m. wanting to get everyone up and together to start our day. It used to be about finding out what Santa got me, or what that special present under the tree that had my name on it was, but now it has turned into an excitement for the family time and getting to see those faces behind the wrapping paper that excites me the most.
This past weekend, I got a good portion of our shopping done and got some presents wrapped and under the tree. I love the way the lights on a Christmas tree twinkle at night, and how the bows from the presents glow under the tree. It's such a pretty sight. And, so far, Brooklyn is doing great at not bothering the presents, even though I know she has her eye of a couple!
We started out our shopping extravaganza on Saturday with taking Brooklyn to see Santa Claus. We got into the monster line that wound around Santa's Village in the mall. Brooklyn, who is learning to walk (she can walk about 6 feet and then she falls down), was really interested in the decorations that were along the path (reindeers, trees, lights and fake snow). I finally picked her up, to her dismay, and pointed through the trees to the man sitting in the sleigh all dressed up in a red suit. She pointed at him and said "Ohhh.." By the time it was her turn, and she got a better up-close view of the man she had been watching for the past 20 minutes, she was intrigued. But, the minute that Mommy sat her down on his lap and moved away, her intrigue turned to a scream followed by tears and a runny nose. She was completely terrified. She didn't not want this stranger holding her. She didn't understand what was going on, and even though she is pretty good with other people holding her, she didn't want to have any part of this at all. I immediately grabbed her and she grabbed ahold of me, and the photographer told Kevin and I to sit down next to Santa, and he would take our picture. Brooklyn was still very scared though as she didn't want to wave bye to Santa or even glance in his direction.
As I got in line to pay for the CD we had made with the photos, the man in front of me looked at her and how her face was tear-stained and her nose was red, and he said, "It's okay honey, in the next couple of years, you will like it so much better once you realize what Santa Claus does." But, I don't know. I was never too fond of sitting on Santa's lap and Kevin called Santa "Dummy Shoes." The day after Thanksgiving as my mother-in-law and I were shopping, she explained the meaning of Dummy Shoes. Kevin called anyone who wore a mask of any sort a Dummy. And, after reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and how the illustrations showed Santa standing in the fireplace, the phrase Dummy Shoes came about. So, if liking or not liking to sit on Santa's lap is in the genes, I will say that Brooklyn won't be too fond of him, even as she gets older. Only time will tell.
We got one really cute photo before she got really scared and started crying. We'll end up taking her back next year, I am sure... maybe she'll learn to like the guy.
This past weekend, I got a good portion of our shopping done and got some presents wrapped and under the tree. I love the way the lights on a Christmas tree twinkle at night, and how the bows from the presents glow under the tree. It's such a pretty sight. And, so far, Brooklyn is doing great at not bothering the presents, even though I know she has her eye of a couple!
We started out our shopping extravaganza on Saturday with taking Brooklyn to see Santa Claus. We got into the monster line that wound around Santa's Village in the mall. Brooklyn, who is learning to walk (she can walk about 6 feet and then she falls down), was really interested in the decorations that were along the path (reindeers, trees, lights and fake snow). I finally picked her up, to her dismay, and pointed through the trees to the man sitting in the sleigh all dressed up in a red suit. She pointed at him and said "Ohhh.." By the time it was her turn, and she got a better up-close view of the man she had been watching for the past 20 minutes, she was intrigued. But, the minute that Mommy sat her down on his lap and moved away, her intrigue turned to a scream followed by tears and a runny nose. She was completely terrified. She didn't not want this stranger holding her. She didn't understand what was going on, and even though she is pretty good with other people holding her, she didn't want to have any part of this at all. I immediately grabbed her and she grabbed ahold of me, and the photographer told Kevin and I to sit down next to Santa, and he would take our picture. Brooklyn was still very scared though as she didn't want to wave bye to Santa or even glance in his direction.
As I got in line to pay for the CD we had made with the photos, the man in front of me looked at her and how her face was tear-stained and her nose was red, and he said, "It's okay honey, in the next couple of years, you will like it so much better once you realize what Santa Claus does." But, I don't know. I was never too fond of sitting on Santa's lap and Kevin called Santa "Dummy Shoes." The day after Thanksgiving as my mother-in-law and I were shopping, she explained the meaning of Dummy Shoes. Kevin called anyone who wore a mask of any sort a Dummy. And, after reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and how the illustrations showed Santa standing in the fireplace, the phrase Dummy Shoes came about. So, if liking or not liking to sit on Santa's lap is in the genes, I will say that Brooklyn won't be too fond of him, even as she gets older. Only time will tell.
We got one really cute photo before she got really scared and started crying. We'll end up taking her back next year, I am sure... maybe she'll learn to like the guy.
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