Crisp and Cool

After days of sweltering heat followed by a long stretch of gloomy days, I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up to a crisp, cool, clear morning. The air has just barely turned cool enough to bite your skin ever so slightly. It smells clean and fresh.
I moved around the house this morning opening dusty windows and breathing deeply.

So much has happened since my last post!
For one thing, I quit my job.
Now, I'm a happy housewife. I spend my days cleaning and cooking and grocery shopping and going to Bible studies and taking Pilates classes and knitting (sort of). The dread and exhaustion that I had begun to feel before and after each day of work has been replaced with a quiet peace that seems to fill the house. I love it.
And Daniel loves it.
My job was not a terrible job, but for several months now my heart has been elsewhere. Thinking that I was wallowing in discontent, I treated it as a spiritual struggle that I had to overcome. I prayed about it day after day. Truly, my hope was that the answer would come in the form of motherhood. There was no question that I was going to stay home once I had a baby. But the months continued to pass. It became increasingly apparent that God, for the time, had (has) other plans for me.
In August, a series of events caused Daniel and I to pause and think. Daniel had long been encouraging me to put in my notice at work, but I always said no. For some reason, I believed I would feel guilty that I wasn't "contributing" to our income. I never questioned whether or not I would be bored. One thing that I do have is a passion for the little things. I love sorting through piles of laundry and washing dishes in warm soapy water and running the vacuum around the house. I love reorganizing closets and straightening up book shelves and tucking in smooth sheets.
But I was afraid. Afraid that without my additional income we would find ourselves in a bind. Through my thoughts and actions I was expressing my foolish reliance on myself and my ability to provide. But in August, I stopped. I took a week off from work. This will just be a trial, I told myself.
Five days at home was all it took to assure me that I was meant to be home. When I was home, cooking and cleaning, I felt a special kind of joy. Do you know what it is like to feel like you are doing exactly what you are supposed to do?
It was as if a great burden on my heart and mind had been lifted. I felt sure and certain, full of hope and confidence. I spent much of the week in prayer, asking God for wisdom and clarity.
The following weekend Daniel and I sat at a coffee shop and discussed the budget. It quickly became clear that God would provide and had been providing for a long time. The excitement was electric; both of us felt more and more sure that this was right.
On Monday I went in to work and put in my notice. I was a little nervous--not about my decision. Just nervous. I don't know what I was expecting, but I was met with words of encouragement and loving support from my boss and co-workers (although, there were a few that insisted I would be back in two weeks, begging for my job back because I'd gotten bored sitting at home). Two weeks dragged by slowly. Daniel's car broke down. But we didn't worry. We knew that God would provide.
Finally, on a Friday afternoon at 4:30 I left the office for the last time. It was a little weird. But exhilarating.

This Monday marks my third week at home, and I am in heaven. I wake up in the mornings in the arms of my husband, to soft sunlight. The mornings are not crazy and hectic, but peaceful and quiet. Every day is different, with its many tasks and commitments. One of my greatest joys right now is the freedom to say I'm available when I'm asked to serve. We are thriving with one vehicle. Daniel took out his nearly-new bicycle that has been collecting dust in the garage for nearly a year, and he rides to work every day. He loves it!
Although I have a big, bad case of baby fever, I am content where I am now. I am savoring this sweet time with my husband and enjoying the kind of freedom we have.

My focus and my goal and my joy is to be a good wife, supporting and loving my husband. I am organizing and nesting and creating. And I hope, some day soon, to bring a beautiful baby into a peaceful, joyful, God-glorifying home.

I'm happy.

i guess i'm in the wrong line of work.

I just took a "Color Career Counselor" quiz. It was fun. And kind of hard for me, actually.
Here are my results:
Best Occupational Category

You're a CREATOR


Keywords


Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional


These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.


CREATOR OCCUPATIONS


Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.


CREATOR WORKPLACES


Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.


Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

Well, I'm definitely emotional. But in the most inappropriate ways. And I pretend that I'm not.

Daniel has never been fooled by this and it makes me crazy. He is sensitive to my emotions, though. Sometimes.

I like how under the "Creator Occupations" there are words like, director, designer, executive.
I day dream about being a writer. But mostly because I'm lazy. I walk into Once Over in the mornings and see people lined at the bar with their multi-colored Apple notebooks and I tell myself that they are freelance writers and have more fun than me.
When I was younger I thought I wanted to be an Editor. But I don't even know what that means. To me it means that I would be a picky reader with manuscripts being thrown at me all day long. I would drink more espresso and live in a trendy apartment with large windows and I'd take breaks from reading and editing to run on Town Lake in the middle of the day. I'd shop at Whole Foods and cook like a gourmet and drink red wine (blech) out of wide glasses with long stems.

What I really, really want to be is barefoot and pregnant. But I'll wear shoes when I'm a mommy and take my baby out in the jogging stroller. I refuse to be fat. Despite the fact that I chased my workout last night with a brownie...but I digress. Daniel likes this idea too. We are totally on the same page.
I'm working on it.
Although I think he wants me to be a famous blogger, too.
I'm working on that as well. As if you couldn't tell, my dear three readers.

Oh, dreams. It's good to dream.

totally thought today was tuesday.

Well, today is off to quite an auspicious start. I don't even know what that means, but I think I'm being sarcastic. At least, I meant to be sarcastic.

This morning everything was running on schedule. I woke up, put on my face, did my 'do, and had no trouble picking out what I was going to wear. When I took the dogs out to do their business, I received almost no pushback. I only had to tell Kingsley "Go poopoo!" one time.
I'm sure our neighbors enjoy hearing Daniel and I yell, "Go poopoo!" "Go peepee!" bright and early in the morning. Oh well.
I went upstairs, kissed my slumbering husband, and headed out the door with plenty of time to spare. So much time to spare that I decided a trip through the Starbucks Drive-thru and a Cafe Vanilla Frappuccino were in order. Mmm.

I was just passing through the hallway outside my office when I had a sudden spasm of clumsiness and...SPLAT. Cafe Vanilla Frappuccino suddenly looked like a pile of poop in the doorway of my office.

It was one of those moments where you just stare and, starting to feel slightly angry, you wonder if there's any way that the drink can be salvaged. I mean, it was still maintaining some shape and "togetherness" due to its frozen nature. I crouched down over the mess, looked around, and felt relief that I get here roughly 30 minutes before most people start showing up. I gave up on trying to salvage the drink.
As I frantically mopped up the mess, I tried not to think about that ice-cold sweetness and $4.00 that was going straight into the garbage.

And all this time I totally thought today was tuesday.

Yesterday, when it actually was Tuesday, one of my co-workers encouraged me to "keep an open mind" about the fact that 9/11 was an inside job.
"Why?"
"Just because; you just never know."
"If you believe that the U.S. Government had a hand in committing a horrible terrorist attack against American citizens, killing over 2,000 people, wouldn't you want to get the heck out of here? I mean, I would."
"Well, I'm just telling you I think you should keep an open mind."
"But why?? Who do you think did it? And what part did they play? And how would that benefit them?"
"I'm just saying. I saw a really interesting video on YouTube about it."
"I see."
And then, I gave up on the conversation.
I just didn't want to talk about it anymore.

I worked out last night for the first time since December. I almost died. But in a good way. In the kind of way when you know you are doing something really good for yourself. I did P90X "Core Synergystics." That is a tough workout!

I nearly fell down the stairs because I was so jello-y after working out. So I grabbed a brownie and went upstairs to watch a movie. I tried watching the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon about St. Francis of Assisi, but...after about 30 minutes I felt that if I watched anymore of the movie I would literally lose my mind.
I sympathized with the rich people. He was acting crazy. It kind of reminded me of the book "Ferdinand" only he wasn't a bull. But there were a lot of parallels. They wanted him to go fight, but he wanted to sit under trees in the fields and smell flowers. And sing really dumb songs.
And he kept freaking out all the time! What was the deal with that?! He's standing in Mass, looks at the really creepy poor people sitting in the back of the church, then looks at the crucifix, and starts screaming, "Nooooo!" And then he smiles dreamily and says quietly, "..no.." And then he goes to the town square and gets naked. And he has that creepy smile on his face as he runs out of the village, out into the fields...naked.
Meanwhile I was sitting on my bed pulling my hair out yelling, "WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?"
It was like the people who made this film were like, "Let's make a movie with as little dialogue as possible, with weird, minstrel-like music, and zoom in on everyone's faces to capture their completely unidentifiable emotions. Then people will think we are artsy and our film means something deep."
It was so aggravating. So I turned it off.

My apologies if you like that movie. This is only my opinion.

Then I watched The Marriage Ref, Jerry Seinfield's new show. I laughed so hard I cried. You just have to watch this clip.


This was especially funny...and kind of scary...to me because Daniel always jokes about stuffing Fletcher when he dies.
Ha ha ha

I Almost Forgot!

I found the. coolest. website. yesterday.



This very talented woman takes Pottery Barn furniture, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, etc. and creates plans that are user-friendly to help us poor people build their furniture.
I showed this website to Daniel yesterday and he was in heaven. So far we've made plans to re-create the following:
http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2009/12/plans-little-farmhouse-table-for.html
http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2010/01/plan-hyde-side-table.html
http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2010/01/plan-hyde-console-table-pottery-barn.html

I'll be the photo-journalist keeping record of our progress. And I might jump in as assistant carpenter at some point.
Last night I told Daniel, "We could just take the list of lumber she provides to a lumber yard and get the lumber guy to measure and cut the pieces and we'd be all set!"
He told me if I wanted to do it that way, I'd have to do it myself.
What? Why?
And he said, "I could walk in and say (his pitch went waayyyy up) 'can you please cut this wood for me in these sizes, I don't know what I'm doing!' if I wanted to walk out with my..." Nevermind. I can't repeat what he said...it had something to do with nether regions.

So, I guess it's a macho thing.

Like a Dog

It's Friday. This day marks the beginning of an extremely busy weekend for my family. My little family.
While I will be charming the pants off of everyone at my company sales meeting (how could you not take that to an inappropriate place? I didn't mean it like that. I don't do that), Daniel will be moving our earthly belongings from one house to another house just three doors down.
I wonder what the neighbors will think?

My amazing, fantastic, selfless Mother-in-law will be filling in for me. I've entrusted her with a few tasks that I am unable to fulfill because I will be at work. All weekend.

I was telling her on the phone last night, rather emotionally, that I was really upset I couldn't be home this weekend and I didn't understand why these two event had to occur the same weekend.
She said calmly, "There is a reason for it."
And I am resting in that. I was feeling really guilty about not being around to help, but no more. It happened for a reason.
Plus, I've been scrubbing toilets and grout and tubs and ovens and stovetops and microwaves and baseboards and freezers and refrigerators all week long as penance.
I wasn't going to let them do everything.

Now I'm simply looking forward to coming home (very late) every evening and seeing the progress. I feel so blessed! We are moving into a much larger house and I am excited about the extra space.

One concern: this new house has stairs. Please pray that no one gets injured while lifting our extremely, freakishly heavy mattress up the stairs. Or anything else for that matter.

Also, yesterday I got the creepiest phone call ever. Ever.
My phone rings.
Hello?
(A voice that sounds like Gollum, obviously veiled by a voice modulator) Hello.
Long pause.
Who is this?
Creepy cackle
Tell me who this is or I'm hanging up.
Creepy cackle again.
The voice speaks, It's interesting how the mind works...
What?
You can see it, but you don't believe it...
Who is this?!
It's me. (another cackle)
I'm hanging up!
(click)

It was Daniel.

A Notable Success

Daniel and I have just returned from the Christmas party. It was great fun. In the White Elephant gift exchange I walked away with some Coffee Liquor. I would call that a notable success.

This is Cassidy. She doesn't actually work with me. Her mother-in-law is my boss and we go to church together. I love her and I think she's lovely. And she always says things like, "I want to trade closets with you," which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. We also want to have babies together. (I mean at the same time...does that make sense?)

 

This is Heather. I actually do work with her (she's on the right). She and her husband Jeremy are expecting their first baby next June. Since I'm with her every day, it's been fun to experience all the ups and downs of pregnancy...without actually experiencing it. I think she's having a girl--even though everyone else thinks she's having a boy.

Finally, here's "the girls." We all work together, and tonight we partied together. Women, women everywhere.

Doesn't my head look large?

I never, ever remember opening my mouth half way like that, but it always looks that way in pictures. 

The biscotti and Hot Artichoke Dip were a big hit. I'll have to try that again sometime.

Christmas Party

Tonight my coworkers and I will be gathering together for a Christmas party. We're all supposed to bring a little something to eat and a White Elephant gift.
For food, I'm bringing vanilla biscotti with toasted almonds, chocolate chips, drizzled in chocolate and a hot artichoke dip (with blue corn tortilla chips).
For White Elephant, I can't tell you or I'd have to kill you.

Can You Believe It?!

I know! I'm actually posting.
It's a cool, cloudy Saturday afternoon in Austin and I am warm and cozy on the couch with puppies, computer and coffee. Would you believe that I'm hosting out of town guests this weekend?
Well I am.
They are visiting some of their friends here in Austin and Daniel and I are having a lovely Saturday afternoon. Very busy.
I made the beds, washed the dishes, swept the porch, put out the fajita meat to thaw, cleaned the window on our front door (it had some funky adhesive on it? ew.), flipped through my Betty Crocker cook book, did not feel inspired, read some of my favorite blogs, and decided to post. Finally.
This weekend has been very exciting for me--our visiting friends are officially my first out-of-town guests, and I think I'm in love...with hosting. I heart being the hostess.
Thursday night Daniel was out of town and I spent the entire night cleaning and listening to very, very loud music. I personally like to call that cleaning "mom-style."
It was such a cleansing experience. Literally and figuratively. How can scrubbing toilets and washing sheets be so relaxing? I loved it.
Right now I should probably start thinking about dinner. We are hosting a little dinner party for our guests. We decided on fajitas--that's a pretty easy meal for larger groups. And you can tell those people with the can't-show-up-to-anything-empty-handed complex to "bring some lettuce" or "how about and avocado or two--Large Hass Avocado, please" or "lots of tequila." Also, little kids like to eat fajitas I think.
As a back-up, however, I do have some Dino-shaped Chicken Nuggets.

Unfortunately, I must cut this post a little short! Our guests have just returned from their afternoon outing.
Toodles!

Whew!

Well, postings may become fewer and farther between. I've just been taken out of my job at the front desk and now I'm a Customer Service Specialist. I haven't even had time to think since last Wednesday! The only reason I can write at this moment is because I'm on my lunch break and I'm forcing myself to ignore the pile of work on my desk.
This job is incredibly intense for me right now because I have my old duties along with the new to take on and try to complete in the 8 hours (some times 9 or 10) that I'm sitting at this desk. So far I've had to learn to become "ok" with the fact that sometimes I have to leave a few things for tomorrow. It's hard. But I know I'll get better at this.

Don't you hate being that person who has no clue what's going on? I hate it with all of my being.
I wish I could snap my fingers and know everything!

But I can't, so I'll stop wishing for that and get to work.

I'll try to update as often as I can :)

Spooked!

Happy Halloween!
It's been a long day here at amco.

Tonight we're having a Reformation Day celebration/drunken revelry at the Stearns' house and I am ready.

Five mo' minutes.

This weekend is packed with fun churchy things and I am looking forward to it...and a good game on Saturday.

Gotcha! Ha--like I give a crap about the football game.
Don't tell Ed White I said that. We're watching the game at his house on Friday night. The Whites are...enthusiastic football fans.

I don't have much to say. A couple of people were "let go" (gotta love those euphemisms!) today and it has me down. Losing your job is more and more difficult the older you get and the more responsibilities you have. It's very sad to see. And it has everyone else a little spooked. How appropriate on Halloween. There are whispers...
Who will be next?
I feel safe for now, but I guess its dangerous to say that! It's not due to the economy--actually sales are up. It's just "restructuring."
Pray for those who are losing jobs!

Loving Where I Work

Some days are easier than others.

Today Reed, one of the few men that work here, got a package filled with product from one of our vendors to "try out."
Reed always rolls his eyes and says, "What am I going to do with this??" And proceeds to hand out the free product to the many women that work here.
Well today, he got a box full of brand-spanking-new FHI straighteners. He looked at me and said, "Want a straightener?"
Before I could answer he thrust it into my hands and said, "Here, use it and tell me what you think of it."

"Thanks!"

Some days are easier than others.

Back on Track

Well, here we are again. It's a Monday; I'm at work.
This will actually be a short work week for me. Amy, one of my best friends, is getting married this Saturday in New Mexico and I'll be in the wedding. So early Friday morning I'll be flying out of Austin for the weekend. I have a feeling it will be a whirlwind weekend, but I'm looking forward to a few days in lovely New Mexico. Maybe I'll get in a couple photos of the mountains and such. I still haven't posted my last batch of pictures from little Noah's birthday! Which takes me back to last week...and how horribly awful it was.
Looking back, and even in the midst of it all, I was well aware that there are many people who face much greater challenges and worse situations than what I was facing. I am blessed with many things and I am very thankful. But last week was emotionally difficult for me, I was ill in a terrible way, and to top it off, I was extremely tired from working two weeks straight. Good thing hair shows only happen about once a year.
I like my work, but I could never like my work enough to regularly give up the time I have on the weekends to be with my husband, my church family...my puppies. The older the get (I know...I'm not that old), the more I realize how much more important love and community in the Body of Christ are than financial success. I don't believe one should be lazy. I don't believe people should turn from the work they are called to in the name of "socializing." Although...if you happen to be a missionary this looks a little different for you, I think.
The point is, I don't think any amount of money or opportunity or even sense of obligation is worth losing your family over. Apart from loving, honoring, and worshiping God, loving one another is our highest priority.
Maybe it's easy for me to say this because I'm so not financially successful! :)

Daniel turned 24 yesterday.
I'm learning the benefits of having mutual friends. When we were first married we had our "own" friends. That's not necessarily bad, but it's been neat to see our lives come together more and more the longer we're married.
Thanks to our friends' suggestions, Daniel thinks I'm "awesome" and my gift was "awesome" as well. To the average person, a frolf bag with backpack convertor straps may seem like a silly gift. But not my husband. He thinks it's awesome.
It was a good birthday for him. We had a great lunch at a pizza place on Guadalupe called the Mellow Mushroom with the Baileys, Shane, the (Brady) Allens, and the Whites. It was quite a treat. Later in the afternoon Daniel was able to test out his new frolf bag along with his new putter disc, a gift from the Baileys. Last night we went to dinner with Daniel's mother, his brother Zach, Zach's girlfriend Lynsey, Shane, the Baileys, and the Allens. All together it was a lot of fun...and too much food. I might not be hungry for several more days.

Before Sunday we spent most of our weekend with Shane's family. Shane's older brother and his precious wife Courtney are planning to move to Austin from Kentucky, and they were here all of last week checking out this amazing city. We all already just love them and are ready for them to move here now, but we have to wait until January. I'm so looking forward to their move, and I'm excited for new friends!

Now, my dear readers, I must turn my attention to organizing spreadsheets and product orders. But I wanted to spent a few minutes reminding you of just how great I am at mindlessly rambling, and why you stop by here everyday...or once a month...or so...

Giddy

There have been some recent developments at work that have Yours Truly feeling hopeful this morning. Can't say exactly what just yet, but I think it's going to be good.

Work is busy with activity surrounding the show. Everyone's exhausted from a long week of work, but they are also excited and pumped. You can feel the energy! It's pretty neat. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday when I'll actually be able to be at the Convention Center in the middle of everything!

Meanwhile, don't believe that I would ever take a night off from good times! Tonight we are celebrating little Noah's birthday at the Koplins' place. As is typical, Shane will be cooking. He had some great ideas for the party. He'll be making homemade versions of the typical, quick-fix foods that kids like: chicken nuggets and macaroni & cheese!

I'm taking my camera along so I can capture some of the action. It'll be lots of fun!

I feel like I am sitting in an icebox with icecicles dripping off of my nose.

Watched the debate last night, it was okay. Sarah Palin was cute as could be, and she said some good things. There's something that really bothers me about Joe Biden--maybe it's the fact that his hair reminds me an awful lot of Donald Trump or it could be that he's been intrenched in Washington politics for 35 years. Why would anyone do that? I could pose the same question to John McCain and his 25 year career there. It just proves that all politicians are doing in Washington is trying to stay there as long as they can. Not fighting for the rights and protection of the American people.
However, the blame ultimately falls on the heads of the American people that continue to elect the same old, crusty politicians over and over and over and over and over.
What I saw last night was that the McCain/Palin ticket is not standing up for conservatism. It was a continued effort to look like it's possible to stand in the middle of the aisle. If it is possible, they certainly haven't figured out the trick.
I honestly believe if McCain would stop running around the issues in an effort to sound like Mr. Maverick (oh my goodness. Just stop it with this "maverick" garbage.), and actually took the side of conservatives, he would have this election in the bag!
If he would have said "absolutely NOT" to this ridiculous Bail-Out, and been a voice to those who see this disastrous plan for the political cow manure that it is, this election would be his.
But he went right along with it. These days when I hear Obama and him speak, it just sounds like the same ticket on either side.

I think Obama is going to win this election.

Oh, help us, save us.

Loving Fridays. And My Job

At last! We made it! It's Friday.



And that means I'll only be working one day next week before I'm off to Houston to see my family. I'm really looking forward to it.



Today has been an exciting day. As any day it has had its ups and downs, but overall things are just great. First thing this morning I found out that my job is safe! Things have been a little up in the air around here as we approach the beginning of the next fiscal year.

But no more up in the air! I'm here, and I'm happy.

Later this morning I was approached about our upcoming Fashion Revolution fashion show. They asked me to be a runway model for one of the designers, which I thought was ridiculous and said, "no." But it was nice to be asked all the same!

I'm still working behind the scenes at the show, but I didn't really have the desire to make a spectacle of myself. I am not. not. not. a model, nor do I desire to be one...even in a temporary, absolutely non-official capacity.

And for the last little bit of fun news.

This morning I was sitting, as usual, at the front desk and in walks Gina Dial. Gina is head of U.S. Sales and I adore her. She's very "high society," always dressed so fashionably, always talking (in her melodious voice) about the Arabian steeds that roam her ranch, always name-dropping her celebrity aquaintances here and there. I find her quite charming and funny.

Anyway, in walks Gina Dial. Rather, she saunters in; she's definitely a saunterer.

"Good morning, good morning! Happy Friday!" She says as she saunters past the front desk.

"Good morning, Gina!" I reply.

Just as she was about to turn the corner she glances back at me and grins, "Oh, by the way: JP may be stopping by today!"

"JP?" I asked.

"Yes, John Paul Mitchell, dear."

"Ohhh! How exciting!"



THE John Paul Mitchell! You know, John Paul Mitchell Systems? The guy with the beard and the ponytail? And I'll be sitting up here at the front desk to greet him when he comes in!

A celebrity sighting!!



P.S. Tonight we actually are going to see Burn After Reading at Alamo Drafthouse where I will be drinking a margarita...maybe two.