Randomness

Thank you for all the comments and encouragement. Things have been a bit challenging lately and it really made my heart happy to read so many kind words. I mentioned yesterday that I am working quite a bit. For as long as I can remember I have always enjoyed working. I started babysitting when I was 12 and worked a lot through high school and college. In high school we read about the puritan work ethic. It's long and I don't remember most of it. What has stayed with me is this "work is a gift from God and a means to glorify him". I've had some really awesome jobs, and times where I couldn't believe I was actually getting paid to work. Other times it was hard, really really hard. In college I worked in a group home for men with developmental disabilities. I had to wash them, and take care of their most basic needs. It was tiring and so many times it seemed I was in a hopeless environment. Even there I had to remind myself that work is a gift. 

I need to remind myself right now that work is a gift. A year ago I turned my tutoring into an actual business. My mom stayed at home with us when we were little and that was something I really wanted to do. I had no idea how hard it would be. For years now when people ask me what I do, I reply that I stay at home with my kids. I am quick to also interject that I tutor. I feel like being a mother isn't enough. Pouring into my kids and molding them seems trite. It has been a hard learning process to see the value in what I am doing. Tutoring has been a perfect fit for this season of my life. I do get to be with my kids, but I also get to work with something I love. 

A few months ago while I was in San Francisco I interviewed for a job. It's a company that helps facilitate people who have solar panels getting paid for their excess energy. The position is completely at home and very flexible. It's a great job and I am really loving it. Around the same time Leah opened up a photography studio. I can barely take an in-focus picture and have no real desire to learn any more. However, I have started working with her. The studio space is incredible and we both have big big visions for what this studio can do. I've started as the party planner, and it is slowly evolving into more. Working with Leah is a gift. It is so much fun to work together.

I feel like I had a good handle on juggling it all until Nate's work schedule became crazy. He started working 12 hour days and I feel as though I'm barley surviving. It's hard to fit working 30 hours on top of taking care of the kids and the house in. I am naively optimistic that school starting will help things. 

This is a picture of Emmy at the studio. It's her favorite spot.

 We got season passes to Busch Gardens and I have a feeling it will be an annual thing. The kids love going there.

 Every kid needs a bike helmet when they are helping with yard work.

 Jada and Bennett did laser tag for their birthdays. I loved seeing Pipes with a big gun.

 Dexter and I are both excited for preschool to start soon. He misses his friends.