Another Blessed day...

I am sure that there are people out there who think that my positive attitude is "exaggerated", or an act. To those people I wish that they could find the Blessings in everyday life that I have.

I haven't always been this way. In my core, I think I have been, but there have been many times in my life where life got in the way of me being who I am deep down. I love life. I am thankful for all of the Blessings that God has enriched my life with. I take the ups with the downs, knowing that everying in my life has a purpose, and is part of His plan. I think that quitting last October has really allowed my inner me to shine again.

Today was a perfect example. Busy all morning, I uploaded and ordered pictures for scrapbooking, baked bread, cooked a Mexican dinner, picked up the living room, and then took time to run some errands. Being a beautiful day (outrageous at this time of year in WI - upper sixties!), I walked. We live in a small town, so walking is NOT a big deal. Great excuse to take time for some exercise, get fresh air, AND get my errands done.
So I headed out to my first stop - the library. Needed my next book club book, and thought I should get it ordered. So I headed in - to browse. Didn't see the book in the fiction section, so I picked up a gardening book to browse through this weekend, and headed to the counter. When I asked her to order the book, she realized they had one - in a different section - and went to get it for me. SCORE! Chatted with the librarian, got my reading material, and headed off to the bank.

Of course I know the bank teller (small town, remember), so we chatted about gardens, the weather, and all that good neighbor talk while she cashed my checks. Then I was off to the post office, where too - both the workers are acquaintances, so we chatted about the world as I got my stamps. It's amazing how those small interactions can put a smile on my face.

The walk home was beautiful - sun shining, birds all over. Days like this, as simple as walking around town doing errands, are to me a great Blessing. It is a Blessing that I've been able to move to part time work. It's a Blessing that we live in this amazing little town. It's a Blessing that the library had my book on the shelf.

So many people rush through life missing all of these Blessings. They expect things, assume things, and demand them. When what we all NEED to do is be thankful for them.

on God's Blessings....

When I took the leap back on October 20th, 2011, leaving that high profile management job, I had no idea where it would take me. I gave it up. One of the hardest things to do - give it up to God. I prayed that he give me signs, lead me to my path.
There were so many signs. I would start to think about a new career or job, and something would get in the way. When that happened, I knew instantly that God was making sure I didn't take the wrong turn. After many possibilities, and obstacles, I'd like to bring you up to speed on my life today.


I have found myself richly Blessed with two opportunities that I am able to follow. I was called in February by a bakery near here asking me to sign on part time, to build their quality program, and improve production efficiencies and quality. I get to start from scratch, using all of my 19 years of experience and knowledge. I work mostly from home, in my comfies, by the fireplace, only commuting to the plant every couple of weeks to catch up. It's an amazing opportunity, where I feel so appreciated, needed, and respected.


Additionally, a friend of mine suggested I look into substitute teaching. I've often thought that I should have been a teacher, but in hindsight, the last 19 years have been necessary. What I gained from my job I would never have gotten if I'd been a teacher all these years. So I got my sub teaching certificate, turned it in last Monday, and by Tuesday had gotten a call. I subbed three days this week with an amazing group of 5th graders, and it was one of the most rewarding three days I've had in years. I loved working with the kids - both the good AND the bad. Trying to help, trying to make a difference. And they listened. And they asked questions. And they interacted. I absolutely LOVED it. More than I even thought I would. And I think they did too.


One child told me I was "the best sub ever". Another thanked me at the end of the day Wednesday for "being an excellent sub.". One stopped me and told me I should really think about being a teacher ALL the time. Wow. Talk about warm fuzzies. What a great way to end the day. While I'm enjoying my day off today to catch up, I miss them already. :-) But I already got called again last night - and I'll be working with 4th graders tomorrow. So I don't have to wait TOO long to dig back in!


I've always known that being in a place in life when I CAN just quit my job in blind Faith is a Blessing. I know that many cannot do it. And I am very thankful that our life living well below our means, not having a lot of debt, has brought me to this place. That at 41, I can work part time - doing things I absolutely love. Pair that with the amazing family and friends that surround me, and I know that I am ridiculously Blessed, and that God has given me all that I have. And for that, I am so very grateful. There are not words to explain how grateful. It is only through my actions that I can show it.


So my next "job" is to give back. As thanks for all that God Blesses me with. I need to enrich OTHERS. And that's a job I will adore even more than the others I have.


God Bless!

A landfall of change

The last month had brought a landfall of changes.. and mostly out of the blue.

After the new year began, I started my search in earnest for my next opportunity. Because corporate world didn't seem like the right fit for me anymore, my options were wide open.

• The local cafe. The local cafe and bakery had both closed in the last year, leaving a gaping hole in our little town. Ken and I talked about the cafe, the ups and downs of going into my own business, the committment, and the risk. My thought was to open a coffee shop and bakery. Not a full cafe (at least not at first). I would get to do my baking (my passion), and still have the people aspect of having folks in to talk to. I had even discussed it with a couple of people. Just as we were about to inquire at looking at the property, it was sold and reopened. God must have been worried I was going down the wrong path, and put a stop to it!


• Teaching. FINALLY at the end of January, my teaching certificate arrived. I will shortly have all documents in to be a full licensed sub teacher. Excited about the opportunity, although I don't know how many days I will get. We will see. Time will tell.


• Corporate life. Mid-January, I received notice from a friend of a corporate job in my area. I applied, and instantly, my husband got excited - more money, big bucks. I never felt right about the job. I just didn't feel that it was where i was supposed to be. I'm enjoying the freedom and flexibility - the ABILITY to take care of my family and self. While I flew through the first two levels of interviews, I was nervous for the third. The job was in a manufacturing process that I had no experience with.

All of these things basically were happening simultaneously. And nothing felt like "my calling". Nothing fit yet. Two days after my second interview for the corporate job, I received a call out of the blue. A call asking me to work part time - part from home - to set up procedures and training for a bakery I am familiar with. The following week I met onsite with the owner and signed on. An opportunity to use all of my 19 years of manufacturing experience, while working part time from home. So when the technical interview didn't feel comfortable with the corporate job, I knew why. I had found an opportunity that fit me, and that felt right.

Then there was call #2. Again, out of the blue, I received a phone call from the new owner of the cafe (someone I do not know), asking if I'd be interested in working part time for her, filling in when she cannot be there, sometimes a couple of times a week, early mornings.

So I have to wonder. Do these two opportunities come together to prepare me for something larger? Is my dream of a coffee shop and bakery in my future? Do I learn from the bakery and the cafe - all that I need to know? I would love to think so. I would love to think that God is putting me on a path to see that dream to fruition. But only time will tell.

2012..a new year

2011 was a crazy year. On October 20th, 2011, I left a job in management that I'd had for almost 19 years. The job had turned into something that didn't fit me anymore, and it was time to move on. I had not been unemployed since 1987 (high school!), and it was a very wierd feeling to simply wake up and stay home.

I am Blessed to have an amazingly supportive husband who is supporting me through this "breathing" stage. Some say mid-life. Some say "retirement". For me, it's just a change of direction. Something I never would have expected of myself.

I was "a lifer" at work. Someone who was completely invested in the company, and who would continue to climb the corporate ladder right up to retirement. It had been my first job after college, and if I'd retired there, would have put in over 40 years.

While it was sad to leave my friends, and scary to leave a place I'd gone to for 19 years, I'm finding that not knowing is not so bad. I'm still working on a plan for the future. I spent the last two months of 2011 enjoying my family, my home, and the holidays. Now it's time to dig back in.

I don't see myself going back to corporate life. It's just not important to me anymore. I cherish my home, my gardens, being domestic, and taking care of my family. Some would say I'm wasting my talents, degree, and experience. I say I've just wised enough to begin to really enjoy who I am.

I have applied for a sub teaching license, hoping to use that to fill in until I find what I want to do. If that fills my void, becomes enough, then fantastic. If not, I'll keep looking. I'd love to stay part time, rather than go full time. We'll see how that goes.

I am so lucky to be able to do this with my life.

emotions...

Today I had a meeting - a kick off to the CMN campaign. I go every year, inspired by the amazing stories of the children and their families. And today was no different. I realized how Blessed I am to have a healthy family, a reminder to take nothing for granted.

Today at the kickoff, there was a woman who looked so much like my mom did. And it's been eating at me all night. I miss her so dearly. I'm still sad at all in my life she's not here to share. The good and the bad. I miss sharing lunch with her, keeping her up to date on work, and the kids. I miss being able to tell her exciting news.

I so hope mom is proud of me. I try very hard to live up to who she was. I am trying to raise my children like she raised me. I'm trying mom.

Had some tough life lessons cross our paths these last two days - and dd told me thanks for being the mom that I am. I answered her this: "I was raised to be caring, loving, tolerant, and non-judging, and I hope I'm raising them the same way".

I truly was raised that way. My mom never judged - not on religion, color, social status, nothing. She accepted me no matter what path I took, supporting me in my screw ups, and applauding my successes. It's THAT that I miss of her. I love you mom!

my apologies...

Cannot believe it's been so long. Today is Feb 7, 2011. I find myself happy to have the holidays over, celebrating the Packers superbowl win, and dealing with stress issues in my personal life and work as well.

I am focusing right now on surrounding myself with positive people, and using my days to do those things that FULFILL my life.

I am working on leaving a lasting impact. ON THE WORLD. Through being a positive influence, through leading by example, through being something to someone. There are so many people in this world who are in need, hurting, confused, lost, or just misguided. How can I make a difference to them?

the final tradition

Today is my daughter's last day of school. Since they were able to drive, they've all gotten up early on this day (5am early) to drive 35 miles to go to Ihop for breakfast before school. Today was no different. So on today, this last day of school, I took a picture, in the same spot I always took the first day of school picture, to always remember this day. And then, as the girls poured their coffees, and headed out to the day, I kept snapping.

I love the friends that she has made over the years. And I love that they made traditions like this to remember forever. I am going to miss those kids, and those traditions, but can't wait to hear about the new friends, and the new traditions, as she heads off to college.

The sun is now up, already 5:30. Coffee in hand, listening to the birds. It's a good day.