In Search of Wonder

No. It's not what you may be thinking. Haven't relocated to a different set of four walls dedicated to Sunday morning worship services.

My absence from blogland hasn't been lonely. I have been absent from other parts of my life, too, including attending Sunday morning services. All this since I have begun my new job, coincidentally at the same time our former pastor resigned from our church. That in itself is not the reason, just happen to have some crazy timing.

I have been feeling more and more inspired to write a post about what has been going on in this here corner of the world, and tonight is the night. I have a long list of chores/duties ahead of me, but this has been bubbling up inside of me and I need to let it out.

My new church is the world in which I live. It has always been that way, to a point, but now, since I have a job, I have a new perspective on it. Please, if you are reading this, I am not trying to sound pious, sinless, or anything. I am making my way through this world, one step at a time, stumbling, coasting, soaring, tripping, just like everyone else. This post is to share what I have been experiencing since I have joined the workforce.

I haven't worked since 1998, at a paid job where I am away from the house. Raising my 3 kiddos till they began school - that was the single most wonderful thing that I ever dedicated my time to.

Now that I am working a full time job, early to bed, early to rise, I have a different perspective on the week. Evenings are hectic. I arrive home to collapse on the couch for 45 minutes or so, or until it's time to cook dinner. I cook, do any tidying that needs to be done, serve dinner, and then wash dishes (or Honey does, or sometimes the kids). Anyways, by the time all that is over, it's time for making our lunches for the next day, ironing, setting out clothes, signing agendas, so on and so forth. Then, tuck in the kids, say prayers, and collapse in my own bed.

Saturday mornings, we get up, do some cleaning around the house, inside and out, and get ready for some T-Ball, cheer the boy as he gives it his best shot, visit with Grandpa, eat somewhere in between all that. Come home, finish cleaning then collapse.

Sunday mornings, we have been sleeping in, staying in our jammies, having nice big family breakfasts (usually something really special) and hanging out. We play chess, bananagrams, Wii, we talk, joke, watch movies, whatever. But we do it together. Since we have no place to go, we are in no hurry, and we enjoy each other so much more than we ever did before! We are all functioning together as a family unit, we are all much more relaxed, and we laugh and smile all day long. It is bliss. And you know what? God is as present in our lives, our home on a Sunday morning as He is in church amongst great numbers of believers.

In certain ways, I sort of feel bad that this has taken precedence over attending Sunday services. I almost feel a social obligation to gather up the family and go. But in other ways, I feel so free and blessed to take this time and be in love with my family with no obligations.

I know that there are so many (I once felt this way, until quite recently) that say we should attend services, to spend time among other believers, worshipping, singing songs of praise, listening to sermons that help us to learn and grow. Well, I spend time with other believers, in a much more connected and intimate atmosphere, every single day. I sing songs of praise when I arrive at school during the most breathtaking sunrises you can imagine. I thank God every moment for the blessings of hundreds of precious children whose lives I intentionally bring love into (and whose lives enrich mine to no end), whether they need it or not. I worship God by giving extra love and affection to little ones who show up to school angry and wild and tired and excited. I gaze into the eyes of my little special needs babies and thank God for how they will always be so innocent, so normal compared to the rest of us. I walk through the halls, looking for downcast eyes so I can tell them how beautiful, how precious and wonderful they are, to bring a smile to a sad face. I put every bit of myself into everything I do. I have never felt more fulfilled, more content, more spirit filled, than I have in the last several weeks.

I miss a lot of my friends that I used to only see on Sunday mornings. However, the ones that I was closest connected to, the ones who I consider to be my family, I still see, call, text, IM, on a very regular basis. I still have community. I still read, learn, research, listen.

The bible verse that I have been striving to live by is Romans 12:1-2 - " And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Peace and love to you as you go about your weeks!
XOXOX

Posted in: on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at at 6:12 PM 4 comments  

Posted in: on Monday, August 24, 2009 at at 9:23 PM 0 comments  

OK, so I have been getting ready for the upcoming week by preparing some foods that will make breakfast easier for my busy little family.

I have been researching making homemade granola bars. I read an article a couple of weeks ago that highlighted a few different healthy, nourishing bar recipes, but I couldn't find the page (nor could I remember the site!). I typed Granola Bars in the Windows Live search engine, and the second recipe caught my fancy. Click here to see it. They are in the cooling stage right now, but as far as I can tell, they are delicious! I didn't have sunflower seeds or peanuts, so substituted sliced almonds and flax seeds and sesame seeds. I also used dark muscovado sugar instead of brown sugar. The latest batch of local raw honey that I have is so delicious that I could drink it, so it was a nice touch. I forgot to add vanilla and salt, but I am OK with that because I enjoy the flavors of all the ingredients. For the dried fruit, I used dates.

Next on the to-do list: cook a pound of local, nitrite free bacon. The plan is to cook it and let it cool, place in a container in the fridge and heat and eat as needed. The only bummer is, we have a hen setting on a nest and there have been no eggs! (Note to self: add eggs to my grocery list).

Homemade yogurt is in the fridge. I don't make it too often, only when we don't drink our 3 gallons of raw milk in two weeks, or if some of it starts to sour. It makes the best yogurt and the girls love it. The girls and I also love oatmeal, so we can soak it over night and eat in the morning.

There is a problem. Danny Jr doesn't like bacon or yogurt or smoothies or oatmeal. He does like granola bars, but he needs another option. I am thinking, bean and cheese burritos. I can make the beans ahead of time, assemble the burritos, keep in freezer and place in the fridge the night before. Hmmm. I am brainstorming as I type. I can make some pancakes ahead of time, too. These re-heat well, and the kids can do it themselves.

Do any of you out there have any tips or hints concerning healthy food preparation for families on the go? I am new at this work thing, but I don't want to give up our healthy eating habits for it. Please comment on this post with your ideas!

Posted in: on Sunday, August 23, 2009 at at 6:12 PM 1 comments  

Tomorrow is the first day that students go to school! Last week was team building, meetings, and preparation for the school year.

The school year begins! My baby goes to kindergarten, and I go to work. The girls both got the teachers they wanted (no pulling strings on my part, either!). DJ's classroom is across the hall and two doors down from the classroom I'll be in. Hope I can go to the boo-hoo breakfast! I'll need it!

All this time in a school environment has encouraged me to start planning on going back to school to earn my degree. There are two options that I am considering, and will do some soul searching to decide which direction to take. Who knows, maybe in the end I'll do them both. But that won't be for years!

Have a nice week! I'll try to blog once in a while!

Posted in: on at at 5:26 PM 0 comments  

Reality is setting in! Eleven years as a stay at home mom are officially over. Tomorrow morning, at 8 AM, I start my new job as a teacher's aide. It's a week full of team building, meetings, and preparation for the upcoming start of school. I am anxious, thrilled, nervous, and excited. Above all, though, I am extremely grateful.

I will keep you updated!

Posted in: on Sunday, August 16, 2009 at at 4:42 PM 0 comments  

Need I say more?

Posted in: on Monday, August 10, 2009 at at 8:56 AM 0 comments  

In the last few months, I have been exploring several different "themes" to the next chapter of my life.I have made many different status plans ranging from ideas of starting my own business to a restaurant job in a highly acclaimed local restaurant, to my most recent and FINAL decision.

Last fall, I put in a resume at my children's school (KRE) to be a teacher's assistant. At the time, there was an opening in the bilingual program, which, ultimately I did not get because I am not fluent enough in Spanish. That turned out to be OK, as I embraced the opportunity to spend the last several months at home alone with my baby boy, before school let out and the girls came home for summer.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard about a job at the River House Tea Room in Gruene. I applied for it, and was hired! Even though I lack kitchen experience and formal chef training, the chef felt comfortable with me and decided to give me a chance. The first day to work was yesterday, Tuesday evening. We prepped and tested and developed recipes to introduce for the upcoming breakfast menu (she didn't serve b'fast before, only lunch 6 days and dinner on two days. This morning I went in and really proved myself to be an asset to the kitchen crew, working alongside two incredibly talented and experienced chefs. What an opportunity!

Two days ago (Monday) I received a call from the secretary at Klein Rd, inquiring for the principal if I was still interested in applying for a teacher's aide position! Imagine the nerves I was experiencing! I interviewed yesterday, on my way in to my first day at the other job, leaving there with the promise of an answer today.

I got my answer! I was offered the job as an aide in the PPCD program, special ed in the Pre-K classroom. Next week, I attend Paraprofessional Course in San Antonio from Tuesday through Friday, and I start work the following week! I get to be with my children, at their school, with their schedule. WOW! How blessed I feel right now.

I am so looking forward to being able to bring a smile into the PPCD children's lives, to spend days with them, loving on them and helping them to be independent and to learn life skills.

In case you are wondering, I called the chef and explained to her what happened, and she was so beautifully gracious, and ensured me that I could still have a job there if the school job doesn't work out. WOW.

I thank you all for your patience, support, and encouragement. HUGS!!!

Posted in: on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at at 4:01 PM 2 comments