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Celebration. . . Love. . . Family. . . .

Celebrated the hubbs birthday this weekend, he got the full pampered treatment.  We had homemade meatball subs, black bean quinoa salad, and beer cheese dip with corn chips, and key lime pie for dessert.  Everything homemade except the key lime pie, it was frozen.  He also got to watch football all day uninterrupted and Miami won, he is a big kid at heart.  It was a great day for all and the food was a BIG hit.
I got to talk with Sprat for a little bit, he was filling me in on that was going on at school.  They have a therapy dog named Cooper that comes to the school periodically that the kids can go by and visit and play with.  Sprat said he had visited with Cooper once before when he was on campus. Sprat is enjoying his time at school and has made some new friends.
Big T is spreading his wings and trying to decide what he wants to do in school, Big T had stellar grades this session and I am looking forward to what he will decide. There are a lot of what if's floating around our house right now and they are in complete opposite directions of each other. I hope his school will give him some opportunities to try out some of these new interests. 
I love watching my kids grow and change, both of their interests have changed over the years. Big T's have changed just in the last few months. Life just keeps getting interesting around our house.
Stay tuned, never a dull moment. .. .

Summer Jobs???

Did you have a Summer job when you were in high school?  Perhaps you had a regular job during school?  I did the Summer job thing when I turned sixteen and then found a job that would work with my school schedule and my cheer-leading schedule.  That job followed me all the way through college and thankfully it did. I had great bosses during my school job, they were hard on me but that taught me a lot about working for someone and dealing with people.  I want my kids to learn those same lessons, they cannot learn these things from the hubbs and I tough. 
Sprat, has tried to find a conventional Summer job with no luck. Thankfully he has offered himself up to be a handyman for anyone that needs him.  He has been doing yard work, mowing grass and spreading mulch,  for a couple of ladies in the area and has cleaned out a garage for one lady.  Yesterday he came home and said he had used a jackhammer to take down some bathroom tile.  The last few weeks he has been helping a gentleman gut a house and he has learned to take down dry wall and now to use a jackhammer.  I think that is really cool.   I am thankful for people that will take a chance on a young person and let them help out and do things and maybe even teach them a skill.  Sprat is learning  a lot this Summer. 
Stay tuned as we gear up to start another school year, one a sophomore in college 13+ hours away and one a junior in high school. 

Looking Forward to the Weekend. . .

It has been a busy week at work, I know, what else is new.  Everyone is on vacation at our office so I have worked a lot this week, I am not complaining, we can use the extra cash to go toward college.  I was asked yesterday if I wanted to go full time rather than part time.  I said no, I like my weeks where I may work a day or two and have several days off.  I do not mind the weeks that I do work more because like I said we can use the cash to go toward college.   Yes, Sprat does have a scholarship but that money does not pay for trips home or trips to see him.  It also does not pay to feed this growing boy while living the college life.  This next year he is going to have to have a car, so these extra hours at work will really come in handy.  He signed his scholarship acceptance letter this week so it is official, he will be back in Boston in the Fall.  I got to talk to Sprat yesterday, actually talk no just text back and fourth.  He said his new lacrosse coach called him and invited him to a tournament the two days before his orientation at the new college.  We will be planning a four or five day trip this summer for the orientation and the tournament.  Cannot wait to see my boy play college lacrosse, he had a short Fall season with his current school but we were not able to go and watch any games.  

One more night of work and off for a day or two to celebrate Easter with the family.   I have to say my drive in to work these last few days has been quite enjoyable, it seems everyone is on vacation this week.    Happy Easter to you all and stay tuned as we prepare for our road trip to Boston.  

Pod People. . . Brussel Sprouts.... Love

My hubby and I will celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary in a few weeks, if you want to know what true love looks like, it is a husband who plants a garden every year for his wife that loves veggies.  The wife that could very easily be a vegetarian.  Love is a husband that will research how to grow brussel sprouts and go out and plant them because he finds out his wife likes them.  The hubbs does not like brussel sprouts and calls them "pod people" and yet he planted them for me.  Our garden is looking very interesting this year, looking forward to our harvest.  More pictures of our "pod people" when they are mature.

My very sweet hubby working. 

My very sweet hubby praying over our garden after planting 

The "pod people" cannot wait to see how they grow. 

Work, Family, Love, Kids. . .

Three lacrosse games, work and trying to catch up with one home from college before he has to go back.  It is going to be a busy week for everyone in our house.  Oh, and let us not forget the hubbs interviewing for a new job.  He is still with the old company but I have said many times his industry is very volatile and they do not value employees.  These upper management people tell their employees, "make your numbers or you will be sorry," which is management speak for you will lose your job.  The hubbs and I are older and we were raised very similarly, we were taught a pretty strict work ethic and that has stuck with us.  I just hope our kids will follow in our way of thinking when it comes to work.  My hubby is very smart and the clients he calls on love him and see him as a valuable resource when it comes to his product.  When he was laid off a couple years ago, one of his clients offered to call his company and complain.  My hubby being the kind of person he is, insisted that he not call that it would not do any good.  My hubbs manager, knows he is a valuable employee but the top guys at the company have no clue.  It is funny how CEO's and VP's today do not understand that companies do not run on the backs of CEO's but on the backs and blood of the employees.  I would wager a guess that, with regard to my hubby's company, if you put one of their upper management people in the field to call on the offices that they would fall on their face.  Their product sales would dry up and blow off into the wind if these upper management types had to sell and be responsible in the field, half of them have never been in the field before and have no clue what the average sales representative does or has to do on a daily basis.  I really wish employers would take a step back and see the value in their employees.
I am excited for my hubby and his new job possibilities,  he has had one interview and has another one planned and even another one with a different company soon. 

A Little Hiccup in the Plans We Make. . .

I have said many times that God puts us where we are suppose to be.  I especially felt this when Sprat was first talking about going to Boston to college.  We prayed a great deal about this move and we talked about it at length with each other.  There were those that thought we were crazy to let our son go off to Boston by himself not knowing anyone and not having any family near by.   The hubbs and I put our faith in God and His plan for our son and we were at peace with this decision.
We found out just after Christmas that the school will be closing due to financial reasons.  They are not in any academic trouble.  To add to the trouble they are not going to have enough kids coming back to have a lacrosse season.  This is very sad for the kids like Sprat that came a long way to play lacrosse.  Several of the kids are not coming back for the Spring semester due to the school closing.  Sprat is going back to finish his freshman year.  He wants to continue his education in Boston so, we are looking now at other small colleges in and around Boston that have a men's lacrosse team.  I am very proud of Sprat and his first semester away at school he finished strong and I have great confidence he will finish as strong if not stronger in the Spring.
The college has several other colleges in the area that are going to help the kids finish their education, one in particular has reached out to Sprat and he is going to tour their campus when he returns for Spring semester.  He knows some of the students that attend this other college through working with them at the Boston College football games. 
Sprat was very sad to learn his school was closing, he loved the small campus with big city atmosphere just a few minutes away.  He also really enjoyed his classes and his instructors. We know that God has a plan and that he would not have taken my sweet boy to Boston to leave him hanging so, we continue to pray for discernment in this process.  Stay tuned as we are on that college hunt once more due to unforeseen circumstances.

Courage for the New Year. . .

Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.  

By Mary Anne Radmacher.

I have placed this quote in my planner for the start of this year.  I cannot remember where I saw this but it really stuck with me.  

I bought a new book for my hubby earlier from Dave Ramsey, "48 Days to the Work You Love" by Dan Miller.  This was a suggested book from one of groups I am in on Facebook that is a Dave Ramsey group.  I have shared numerous times that my hubby is in a very volatile business, and of course you know he was laid off two years ago and then re hired for the same position 8 months later.  Well, they are looking at downsizing again, his company has already sold off several divisions and laid off several sets of sales representatives.  My dear sweet hubby could be laid off again with no severance package this time.  This is what prompted me to buy this book.  He got several books this year for Christmas so he has not picked this one up yet.  I decided that I would check it out and see what all it had to say.  I have read the first chapter and love it, I think I may be in the work that I love right now.  That first chapter has re affirmed my choice in work and being affirmed in my decision makes my work much more rewarding.  My hope is that my very sweet hubby will find something that will make him happy too.  Starting out in his job he enjoyed it because he was educating people and sharing his knowledge and his passion for his product.   Now there are unrealistic and unattainable quotas that are created by people that have no idea what it means to be a sales person.  This job has sucked the life out of my sweet hubby and I would love for him to find his work that he would love.  Fingers crossed and I will keep you updated, lots of changes coming for our family. . . 

Garden Therapy. .

The hubs took Monday off and I had the day off so we decided to do a little work in the yard.  The hubs and Big T cleaned the front flower bed on Saturday while I caught up on some sleep from night shift.
They worked really hard and thankfully very quietly. 
The hubs and I dropped Big T off at school and had our breakfast date then off to the nursery to pick up some pansies.  I also picked up some decorative cabbage. 
It felt good planting and fixing our front bed. It reminded me of when we first moved in and we did all of  this work in that bed.  We had beautiful phlox and lilies and my rose bush.  We worked really hard in that bed those first so many years but then the kids were busy with sports and things just got neglected.  This could stand as a reminder for our spiritual life as well.  Perhaps this is what I needed to get grounded for this next phase of motherhood. 
It started to drizzle while we were planting today and that was ok we finished the planting and said a prayer for growth and renewal, again for our lives as well as our flower bed. 
Being in the yard and working and working with my hubby made me feel a little better about all this drama I am feeling lately. 
I have been promised some rosemary, lavender, and sage in a little garden area off my back patio, fingers are crossed.  We already have a few different varieties of mint and oregano back there that I use regularly in different recipes.  I will share pictures once we get the ball rolling. 
By the time Sprat gets out of college my yard may look like a jungle.  LOL!!!

This was several years ago.  I just love that phlox, the hubs has promised I get more phlox this Spring, I hope it will grow and be this pretty.  

New pansies and a little cabbage  

Another angle 

Another New Cook Book. . .. .

A friend of mine at work shared a cook book with me that she had recently purchased, 100 days of Real Food, by Lisa Leake.  I skimmed through it one night at work in between phone calls and I was intrigued.  You know I am always interested in a good cook book, especially one that has quick simple recipes, the bonus here is that they are also better for you recipes.
When you are working and trying to take care of your family you look for quick ideas to help you along, this is one of those resources. **** Full disclosure I am not being paid for this post, you all should know by now I post what I believe in and share things that I find have value. *****
There are a couple folks at work that are trying to keep everyone motivated with little tasks and helpful hints.  One is walking laps at the office when we are not taking calls to keep our energy up and our metabolism too.  Another couple of gals have created this great board to help keep us motivated and entertained with shout outs to other employees and little funny memes about talking on the phone all the time.  It is a big stress reliever and morale booster in my opinion.
So, with all of that said, my friend at work shared her cook book and I of course loved it.  I bought one of them on Amazon and have been reading it. 
The premise behind the book is to eat real food and cut out all the processed stuff that is available at the store these days.  It also hits home the amount of sugar that we consume on a daily basis.  She even tells what you can get at the different stores that are good choices for eating "real food."  I am off today and had to run some errands and decided I would go by the Whole Foods and pick up a few things suggested in my new book.  I do not normally shop at Whole Foods but I wanted some things that the book suggested that only Whole Food carry.  I am notorious for buying things not on my list and today was no different, we are having Salmon for dinner tonight with fresh dill, lemon, and butter.  I fixed my lunch today with suggestions from the book:   scrambled eggs, avocado, on a small whole wheat pita.  It was very filling and very good. 
Stay tuned, this is going to be an adventure for this crew.  Trying to cut back on eating out, eating more "real food," and cutting back on the soda (me).  This is not about calories it is about "real food."

Work and a Few Tidbits. . . Here and There. . .

I am not able to post a lot about my job because of privacy and things like that but today we had a staff meeting and they introduced a new out reach campaign to get people to sign up to be organ, eye, and tissue donors.   It is called "Be the Hero your Dog Sees."   We have a lot of animal lovers in our company and they decided what better way to reach out to the community, than with their animals.  Basically, if you have dogs you know that your dog thinks the sun rises and sets with their human.  So our campaign wants you to be a hero to everyone by signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor because your dog already thinks you are a hero.  If you are interested or would like more information about organ donation if you are in North Carolina go to Donate Life NC, if you are somewhere else you can go to Donate Life America.

#Betheheroyourdogsees

My job is not easy and many nights I cry on my drive home thinking about the sweet folks that gave so much of themselves for someone else.  I think about that year that my sweet hubby was laid off and how God had a plan for our family and more importantly he had a plan for me.  I do love my job and I am very thankful for the opportunity I have been given to make a difference and to be a hero my dog sees. 

Exciting News. . .

I received a text from my very sweet hubby yesterday telling me to pack my bags, we were going on a trip. He won this trip for his sales last year, after being laid off in 2016. This could not have come at a better time.  We will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year and what better way to celebrate than a free trip to an exotic locale.  We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in Vegas on "the company" and took the boys to Disney four years later again on "the company."  They did away with that particular award and now they only send the top 14 sales representatives on this trip and with spouses or significant others only.  It is unfortunate that the boys will not be able to go with us but it will be nice to get away with my hubbs by ourselves.  I am so excited and a little nervous.  The company is already talking another re alignment (in code means lay offs).  We are much more prepared for possible lay offs this time than we were in 2016. 
On the lacrosse front, the boys are in a wining season after three games they are 2 and 1.  It is very exciting to watch the boys on the same field working together.   They're game last night was really intense and very exciting.  I was on the edge of my seat, covered in blankets watching last night.  It was a big win and a close game. 
Stay tuned for LAX news, Prom news, exotic trip news, and last but not least college news. . .

Random Thoughts for the Start of 2018. . .

2018 is off to a BIG start at our house.  The hubbs got back safely from Florida after a few delays.    He got his name up in  lights on the jumbotron for being ranked number three in the country in sales.  This is huge since he was laid off  in May of 2016 and then re hired in December of 2016.  You just do not realize the satisfaction I find in this whole ordeal.   It was not his direct manger that laid him off it was the pointy heads at corporate that have no clue what goes on at the sales level. 
Enough of that, because we have been too blessed to be ugly about the pointy heads.  I do believe God moves in mysterious ways.   We have made huge strides in paying our house off and saving for retirement.  I recently read the book by one of Dave Ramseys group called "Retire Inspired" by Chris Hogan.  This was an awesome addition to the Dave Ramsey collection of Financial Peace.  I highly recommend it to anyone that has done the Financial Peace class or who has read the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.  Full disclosure:  I am not being paid to write this, I write what I feel, love and believe in and I do love and believe in each of these programs.  We are saving and giving like crazy and it feels good!!  Could not have done it without Dave and his program.  I would not have gotten serious about it without knowing the facts behind his plan/program and that is what the class gives.  I dabbled at this plan until I took the class.  If you have the opportunity to take the class I highly recommend it. 
Stay tuned, work is really busy this time of year and I feel very overwhelmed most days.  I use my blog as a means to vent some days and as a means to chronicle what is going on in our family.  You never know what you might read about hear at the Pampered Mom???

Update on Our Clan. . . Bring on 2018. . .

I have been away for a bit, life happens and we must continue.  Some days are more difficult than others with regard to my work.  It is quite sad sometimes the situations I must hear about.  My sister keeps reminding me I am where I am for a reason and that God has put me in this job with  a purpose.  I still cry some days as I am making my way home and I will call my hubby on the way and cry to him about my day. He is my rock and my cheerleader on those days that are so difficult (grateful moment).   It is hard to believe I have been with this company for over a year now.  I kept thinking they were going to fire me for the first 9 months I worked there, you know the old dog new tricks.  I had my PCI review last night, I worked night shift last night.  I  had a good review and they are pleased with my performance and for that I am truly grateful, this job came at a time when my family needed the income and I needed to be able to help my family.  My very sweet hubby carried our family for fourteen years and I would not take that back for anything, I was there for my kids when they most needed their mom.   My schedule is pretty flexible so, I am still able to be there for my boys if they need me. (another grateful moment). 
The hubbs had a banner year with his job and we have made great strides in paying our house off and saving for college.  We are thrilled Sprat will be going to his number one pick college in August with a merit scholarship, it will not cover everything but it is a nice start (grateful moment).  Big T has soared this year in his new school, I never know what he is going to come home with.   Big T is learning how to interact with local business members of our community.  He has made presentations for the business leaders and for the various eighth grade classes in the County. Big T took a test that is given to seniors right before they graduate to see where they will be placed in college classes and did really well and does not have to take that test again (grateful moment). 
Yes, I am bragging just a little but we had a rough go of it last year and I am just extremely grateful for the blessings we have been given this year.   I have said many times that God will bring us to our knees so that He can lift us back up again.   We have been lifted and I am humbled by his grace. 
We are struggling these last few months with family troubles with extended family, so I ask for prayers, God knows what our families need.   I am praying for peace, comfort, and strength for our families.  I probably will not be back until after the New Year, lots going on with work and family.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. 

Observations on the Week. . . . and Laser Tag

I am not as young as I think I am.  I went to a team building event for work yesterday, laser tag.  Yes, you saw that correctly it is not a type O.  I played laser tag.  I think I held my own, considering we were playing kids fifteen and under.  LOL!!!!  Yes, it is ok to laugh, I did.  When we arrived there was a group of kids signing up and I had no idea we would be playing against kids.  They divided our group and their group up so that we were fairly even on numbers.  These kids were good too, they were great shots.
Once we are all geared up, they walked us to the playing area.   This was set up really cool, they had  all sorts of things for you to duck and hide behind:  wall barriers, the camouflage netting, and sand bag bunker areas.  Considering I have never played this before and I do not play these types of video games I feel like I did pretty good.  It was terribly hot but we had plenty of water and there was a little bit of a breeze yesterday.  
The age factor kicked in when they pitted the kids against the adults.  They beat us pretty quick.  I was completely exhausted but, it was a good exhausted.  This particular venue has other options for parties and groups.  They have haunted trails, escape rooms, and zip lines.  The boys have been to a birthday party here before and played laser tag and they had a blast.   This was a team building sponsored by my work and it was very cool.

Warrior Mama  LOL!!!

On my observations for the week, I must tell you how completely proud I am of my oldest son.  I am very proud of both of my boys but especially of Sprat this week.  My husband and I are quite conservative and I think both of our boys are the same.  I know that Sprat is for sure, he had arguments daily, with his history teacher this past year over different historical events.   While he has been in DC this week they have been to several different events and heard many speakers on varying subjects.  This particular speaker was talking to them on how all of the college mascots should be changed so that they are not offensive to others.  Did I also mention that Sprat is very vocal in his opinions?  When this speaker started in on how the Florida State Seminole mascot was offensive to the Seminole Indians, that flew all over my Sprat.  He did voice his knowledge of this particular mascot issue and according to my husband, he let this speaker have it.  Did you know that the powers that be of Florida State consulted with one of the leaders of the tribe and asked their permission to have a student ride out on the field dressed as Chief Osceola during games before this became a tradition?  The tribe was honored to have this done and the ladies of the tribe designed and created  the first regalia for the rider.  Chairman of the Tribal Council told CNN, nobody will tell us to change the name and they better go some place else with all of that.  I am not sure exactly what Sprat said but, I know that he knows this for a fact.  Proud my child stood for what he knows to be true.  

Stay tuned a lot more going on these next months. . .

Financial Friday and Eyes Wide Open. . .

Long week of work and lacrosse, not upset this week has come to it's end.  After our hiccup with the hubbs and his lay off last year we have been working very hard on our finances.  If you have followed anything on my blog you know that I read a lot, especially when it comes to finance.  I have almost finished Chris Hogan's "Retire Inspired, It's Not an Age It's a Financial Number" (Chris works with Dave Ramsey).  It is really enlightening.  I highly recommend this book, and it does not matter what age you are.  In fact I would recommend reading it in your 20's so that you can retire inspired.  I really wish I had started sooner with thinking about things like this and thinking about saving rather than the immature notion of immediate gratification.  That may be another one of those all too important life lessons you have to learn for your self.
Our life changed, our thought process changed, and our eyes were opened wide when my hubby was laid off two weeks shy of his 25 year anniversary with his company.   Update on that in case you did not know.  The hubbs is back with his same company, at his previous managers request, after 6 months of looking for another job.  He did get a raise and with their new product launch has been making a great bonus and we are taking full advantage of this extra income to pay off our house.  An irresponsible response to this extra income would be to buy new cars that we do not need or take lavish vacations etc. . Because we have been debt free, except the house, for a couple of years now that was not our response to this extra income.   It would be so great to be free of house payments so that we could really save for our "Inspired Retirement."   We are not only paying down the house but, we are adding to our retirement savings.
Yes, I have two boys getting ready for college in one year and in four more years.  We have been saving for college since the boys were born, it is never too early to start a child's saving fund for college.   College is important but do not skip saving for your retirement to save for your kids college.  This is not a Dave Ramsey thought and I do not remember exactly where I heard it but it makes a whole lot of sense.  Banks will let you borrow money for college, they will not let you borrow money for your retirement.  This one is a Dave Ramsey, kids can get jobs and help pay for their college.  You do not want to have to depend on your kids to support you in your retirement.  It is not their responsibility.
Recommendations for today:  If you have kids start a college saving fund, no mater what age you are start a retirement fund (IRA, ROTH IRA etc. . .),  read a book on finance (Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, or Thomas J Stanley), and last but not least enjoy this beautiful day.
Stay tuned because college planning is coming. . .

Updates and More. . .

Work has been a little hectic lately so sorry for the gap between posts.  We have been a little crazy these last many weeks with school finishing and lacrosse starting and my job going crazy.  You know what, it's Summer, what happened to Spring?  I just blinked and we were finishing lacrosse and now here we are hot and sweaty in the Summer.
Big T and I have been suffering majorly from some kind of crazy viral upper respiratory something or other and we both have been on three rounds of antibiotics.  We have been battling this super crazy infection since Easter but I think we have put it behind us now.  That was another reason for the huge gap in my posts, I have just felt like crap.
The boys have started a Summer Hott Lax program and they are really enjoying it.  Sprat has started his psychology class that he is taking this Summer at the community college.   It is online so when we go to the beach this Summer he can take his work with him.  LOl!!  I know he is thrilled about that one.  Sprat will have his work cut out for him his Senior year, he is only taking three classes at the high school and the rest of his classes (5) will be at the community college.  Oh yeah, did I mention that I now have a Senior and a Freshman in high school.  Shhhh, do not spread that around, surely I am not old enough to have kids that old.  I keep thinking of myself as a MOP (mother of a pre schooler).
Sprat will start those college applications soon and he still is not 100% sure where he wants to go, he is sure where he does not want to go.   Big T just got his schedule for his new school, he will be attending a STEM type school starting in August.  This is going to be very interesting because they have a little different schedule than the high school. The STEM school starts almost three weeks before the high school starts and of course that is going to drive both kids batty.   The great thing about this new school for Big T is that he will still be able to play lacrosse for the high school.
Yep, you guessed it my boys will be on the same team for lacrosse.
Stay tuned this is going to be an awesome Summer and a loaded school year to come.  I am going to try and do better with my posts.

Big T in action at D Pole

Updates. . . Prom, Sick, Work. . .

Drum roll please  ^-^-^-^-^-  She said yes.  They are going to the Prom.  Now begins the fun part, of finding a tux, picking out flowers, finding a ride, and figuring out where they will go to eat.  I have shared some of my fun prom memories with Sprat and with Big T since it is prom time.  Back in the dark ages when Paul Revere rode to make sure everyone got home ok.  Na, I am not that old.
The young lady, we will call her Miss C, is shopping for a dress this weekend and then we start thinking about flowers and the tux.  I may be a little more excited than Sprat.
When I asked him if he had asked her and he told me he was going to ask the next day at school, all I could picture was some lame question at lunch or in between classes.   He did surprise me though, he had a well thought out plan and it was quite good.  A little back story on Miss C, she is a trainer for the football team and the girls softball team at out high school.  Sprat said she is thinking about being a physical therapist, physician assistant or something like that.   The other day Sprat was supposed to have lacrosse practice and he was going to get Miss C to tape his ankle before practice.  Sprat and one of his buddies had gone out and bought some athletic tape and he had written on the inside after a certain amount was rolled off, "Prom ???"   I thought that was pretty ingenious, some may say cheesy but if you knew my boy you would say ingenious.    When he came home that day I asked how everything went?  He said, she said yes.  I asked, did she say just a yes or was there at least some smiling and laughter and a big ole YES!!?   He said she was smiling and laughing, he also said all of her friends were there and all of his friends were there.  I would bet she had a little bit of a clue  about what was going on.  I did make sure that morning that he had washed his feet and put on clean socks.  heeheeheeheehee.
Big T has bronchitis and has been sidelined for this weekend with lacrosse.  He has the worst cough, sounds like a goose honking  around.   Cough medicine is just not working.  He started on antibiotics, so I hope it clears up quick.
I had my six month review the other day and it was pretty good.  They said they will keep me on, so that is good.  I am enjoying my work, there are days that it is very trying, I will not lie, it is very hard to go back to work after thirteen years.  I am very thankful they have been patient with me through my training process and my adjustment to the fluctuating schedule.  Feeling very blessed and very thankful.
Stay tuned for Prom updates . . .

Completely Exhausted, but Loving My Job. . .

Went to my first staff meeting for our whole company, this covers three offices.   They normally require us to go to the main office, which is three hours from me, for this big staff meeting.  They had this one set up so that the other offices could sit in via skype.  They were giving us the year end updates on our goals and our milestones that we have accomplished.  The Company was so happy with the progress over the last year they gave everyone Starbucks gift cards.  I thought that was pretty nice and they fed us during our meeting.  It is really nice to work for a company that values it's employees, even the part-time workers.  They also gave us gift cards at Christmas and a gift that we got to pick out of a list of items.  
I have been working some nights these last few weeks and it has really taken it's toll on me.  Imagine, I am not as young as I thought I was.   I have also done some fill in work, which is what I was hired to do.  It really means a lot to know that they value every employee the same, so I can deal with my exhaustion.   Today was especially difficult because my dear hubby is not feeling well and you know what that means.  I worked all night and had to help get everyone to school too.  It has been a long day, hence the late post.
I believe God has put me in this position so I am working really hard to learn all that I can about the business so that I will be an asset to the company.

Everyone is Learning. . .

I learn something new about myself every day.  The other night I learned, I am not a night person or an all night person.  I worked the night shift.  Kudos to all of you that do, it is not easy.
It probably would have helped if I had gotten a nap before my shift.
God puts amazing teaching moments in our path every day.   As I was leaving the house, Sprat said, where are you going mom.  I told him I had to work.  He replied, now?  I said yes, this is the other shift at my job.   Someone has to be there 24/7 to answer the phones.   We take calls from 102 hospitals across the state.  We help make organ donation  possible.  I feel good about what I am doing, I  feel like I am making a difference in the world.  There are so many waiting on those transplant lists and our job is to make donation happen.  I know I  jumped the topic but just a little plug for the organ donor registry.  I put the little heart on my license this year when I renewed.
I know, as parents, we all want our kids to grow up and be good people.  I hope  I am setting  a good example  for them.
The hubbs has been in New Jersey for sales training this week and the boys have really stepped up in their game here at home.  Ahhh, another teaching moment in our house.  Sprat has been driving Big T to school and bringing him home.  He has also been helping out with their evening meal time.  I hope this is bringing them closer together and I hope they see how much they need each other. They have also been taking care of Sweet B too.   Must take advantage of all the teaching moments thrown at us.
I am learning that my very sweet babies are growing up and becoming independent whether I like it or not.  Hard lessons for mom this week.