Writing..it's in me

This post has been bouncing around in my head for nearly 2 weeks so now it's finally time to put my thoughts to the screen.

About a year ago my supervisor asked me where I saw my career moving. Did I want to become a development officer someday, focusing strictly on fundraising, or, if not, what was I working towards? At that time, I told him that I thought I wanted to stay in fundraising but that I really enjoyed my current position because it has a strong element of communication work, as well.

Short of being hit over the head with a stick, my true desire to do communications work has been reiterated to me several times over the past couple of weeks.

1. I LOVED spending an entire day writing at home two weeks ago. It is newsletter time at work and I am the main writer of all 28 pages of content.
2. I just came from a meeting of communicators across campus and I really enjoyed it. I am excited about talking/writing to people about the new campaign that the University is launching.
3. I had lunch with a development officer a few weeks ago and directly asked her how much communication work she still got to do. She does get some but not as much as I would probably like to do.
4. As much as I get overwhelmed by this newsletter, I really enjoy watching it come together and then sending it off to the printer. Is it June 15, yet?

In my heart of hearts, my first choice would be to spend my days as a full-time mommy. But making sure I get to write and do other communication work is a definite second place. I will have to think long and hard about a career move that wouldn't allow me to write, and stay involved in agriculture.

Sometimes, it is nice to realize that I'm keeping my goals and desires in mind.

Someone's listening

Apparently the big guy upstairs knew that I needed a break or I was going to crack. Jeremiah went down at 8 p.m. tonight after we took a walk, he ate great, and we both giggled through his bath.

I had time to finish my homework for the week, put dishes away, make lunch for tomorrow and talk to my mom on the phone for a while.

It is 10:05 p.m. The laundry is going to stay in the baskets unfolded but I'm getting ready for bed. Maybe I'll read a book while I snuggle in and wait for John to join me when he gets home from class.

What a relief to feel like my head is back above water!

Fried ...not quite to a crisp

Although it is sunburn season for me, a very pale-skinned being, I'm feeling fried in a different way.

I knew I was tired and a bit emotionally stressed this week but today while we were walking my walking buddy so politely said, "You seem......." and I finished with "fried." Indeed I do believe I am. I'm dealing with a variety of challenges at work and home. This is a busy time at the office and my new student started. J went back to class this week and I'm having a hard time dealing with him being away more often, as well as knowing that I need to pick up the slack a bit more on household duties because his six week courses are intense. He had three chapters and an article to read just last night. We did have dinner together but then he ventured into the office for nearly 3 hours.

I started studying last night at 9:30 after putting Jeremiah down and folding laundry.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy with both of us going to school, working and having a baby. However, adding the early morning trip to Chicago this week may have overdone it for me.

I'm looking forward to savoring a great holiday weekend. I'll be taking NO work home! Additionally, I'm hoping to do a little stroller time with Jeremiah tonight. Hopefully that will be the therapy I need.

My gift

I just met with the lady who I will be hiring to clean our house. She was so adorable. She's about my mom's age, kind of apple-shaped and pretty bubbly. Although I had a bit of guilt come over me last night regarding hiring someone to clean my house, I am feeling ecstatic about it right now. The feeling of laziness is being replaced with a feeling of reward. I may have to make a decision to wait to buy that new pair of tennis shoes or other "wants" I might have but I'm considering this a gift to myself, my marriage, and my son. Less time cleaning, when I'm not studying, means more time for being a mom, a gardener, a wife, a daughter and the million other hats I wear!

I'm really starting to take a different perspective on mothers' day this year. Aren't women amazing...even if we don't clean our own houses. : )

In summary

Another week is coming to a close and other than some very random posts from this week, I haven't said much. So here's a few items of summary.

I worked from home on Tuesday and absolutely loved it. I probably accomplished three times the work I would have in the office. I'll be working one day per week from home for several weeks. I brought this up with my boss and supervisor and they were very supportive. It was a huge boost for my mental health and that's one less day of driving time and gas consumption. It did, however, make Wednesday feel very unproductive.

My BIL stayed with us two nights this week and he was really great to have around. He played with Jeremiah and I didn't stress about his visit.

Speaking of stress, I have looked into the option of hiring two ladies to clean my house. They don't charge alot and would be willing to do it on an as-needed basis. I hate to think of this expense when we're trying to watch what we spend but it might be worth it. I might plan to hire them twice/month for my own sanity - at least until I finish this class in June. Otherwise, I fear I won't get to do other summer tasks that I enjoy like gardening. That's in addition to just enjoying summer too.

Regarding class, it seems to be going OK. I think I'm grasping the concepts and I don't feel overwhelmed by the project. However, I feel that at any point it could get overwhelming. It is an instructional design class and I'm developing a media relations course. The course is taught as if you are actually doing this in a specific company or office and I'm doing mine for more of an industry, agriculture, so that could make things a bit difficult at some point. However, it hasn't bothered me yet.

Big J finished class this week. It is amazing that he will be done with his MBA in 7 months and then there are many more doors that may open for us. Stay tuned. We think we have some sort of plan but we'll let God guide us.

So this was probably bullet-worthy but there's the week in a nutshell. This weekend some friends of ours are taking us to a Cardinals game. For the sake of our mental health we are trying not to over-program on weekends so that's all we've planned away from home for now. Saturday will likely be the laundry/lawn/study day for us.

For Hobby Chef

I just came back from the bathroom and they have installed foam soap dispensers in my building. It's so great to no longer see the pile of green sticky nasty soap that has leaked on to the floor.

As I lathered the foam through my fingers, I think I may have actually been enjoying myself. Who knew?

Hobby Chef, you were right. Foam soap dispensers are great!

In my husband's pockets...

I found something shocking in my husband's pants pockets when I was doing a quick load of laundry this morning. After seeing it, I wasn't sure what to think! A receipt of this severity is just so unexplainable.

Do I have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering if J went to the boat or the strip club without telling me?

Well, this is where the excitement ends. It was just a receipt from the gas station where he filled the truck up from empty yesterday. The total was nearly $70. That's insane! I'm glad he had the courage to fill it up all the way because I chicken-out around $30.00 and figure that will get me a ways. Granted, all those $20 and $30 fill-ups eventually add up too.

And this is why we purchased a little fuel-efficient car!