short and sweet

It's blogging time again. :D   Saturday morning and I am happy to be sitting here. The sun is shining outside! Andrew is sleeping. Lauren and Maddie are playing outside with Gregory. Toby and Sandy are playing in the back yard. Papa is in the garage.  All is good. I feel happiness and contentment.  I am blocking out work. I was ordered .... no homework!  I brought some stuff to read... but haven't really got to it yet.  I fell asleep in the chair last night and Andrew laughed and woke me up and made me go to bed. 

Dylan had his first track meet yesterday. I didn't get to go but I stole this picture to post. He looks so cute! Came in 3rd place. Not bad for his first meet!

Andrew is awake.... time to get off my computer.  I told the girls that on May 1st we used to leave flowers on people porch, knock and run for May Day.  They just did it for me.  Made me happy!

Hope you have a great day! Girls softball today!

My office picture....

The picture you have been waiting for.... drumroll..... my little office!!!

I like it.... it is cosy.... and it is mine.  I need to get some pictures on my computer. I need to get a clock and fan in there. It gets a little stuffy as I have no window. I think it was a closet once upon a time. I don't care. It has a door... I can go into and shut. I am signed up for STARS (child training). I have to have the certificate to cover for teachers breaks and to be with the kids unsupervised. Its the law. It is a 20 hour online course!  They really need me to get it.  Hopefully my email will be set up today.  And I believe I go over next door to the Nursing Home and get my TB test today.  I got to go there yesterday to see the Ice Cream Social the toddlers have with the Seniors there. It was sweet. They do a lot of inter-generational things.  I spent the rest of my day meeting with Marcey and popping in and out of my office.  I met some little boys I seriously need to pray for.  It is funny.... the kindergarten kids and some others are calling me the "principal". wow. That is what Kevon called me! lol!  We had a new prospect come in and I got to help on the tour. Teresa said I did awesome. I think I did, too. lol! To end my day....  Veronica and I grabbed the garbage and headed out the door and she had already locked the door and I left my purse in my drawer!!!!!  With my keys.  She didn't have a key. She should have had a key... she is a closer! So there I sat! She felt so bad and kept apologizing when it wasn't her fault. I made her leave me there.... she had an appt at 6:30. I called Teresa (who was in Silverdale) and she said she would come let me in. Luckily, Joanna came around the corner (the big boss) to pick up something. I was so happy to see her!!!! So Teresa didn't have to come after all.  Veronica should have a key this morning.
Lauren called and had a talent show.  She was doing hula hoops and I was SO tired... I talked to Amanda who said she would record it. I felt so bad. When the kids invite me I feel an obligation to go but I was wiped out last night.  There is a lot of physical work with the job... a lot of walking, standing, picking up lego's, trying to help keep the appearance of the place nice.... and then there is a lot of mental exhaustion.  I am being told SO MUCH right now. I cannot retain it all but I write so much down!  A lot to learn.  But I am enjoying myself so much. I really love the people working there! It is a family.  After I got my keys, I stopped at mom's and filled her pills up and visited for a minute. I came home, fed the pets, heated up leftovers, ate, watched tv and fell asleep in my chair. Papa had to wake me for bed. I didn't even look at the computer. lol!  The pets are confused. I leave Toby in and Punkin out during the day. Toby will get to go for a walk with Papa today and that will make him happy.  I haven't been getting home until 7. They usually eat at 5.  Punkin has been a cling-on when I get home... in my lap, following me, sleeping in my bed with me.  Toby is just confused. They'll get used to it... and then papa will retire in two months and be with the animals. ;D

Maybe this was the picture you've actually been waiting to see.  I didn't follow any of the hoopla up to this even... did not watch it on tv... turned my set on to see who was voted off American Idol last night and did manage to catch the kiss.  I think she is just adorable.  I hope they are kinder to her than they were to Diana.

Well... today is Friday!  Meetings, classes, etc... today! Next week I will be working 9-5:30. That will be good.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Hope to see some kids this weekend. Grand kids that is. Dylan has his first track meet this afternoon I will miss. :(   Lauren has a game tomorrow I can watch.  And today is my oldest nephews birthday! Happy 45th birthday Ricky!

I love this picture of when Ricky was small!

I hope you all have a great day! Praying for you... please pray for me.  My confidence is growing with this job and I know it is God!  Thank you God... thank you those who have been praying for me!

Thursday morning... on to day 2!

Ok... so I have yet to adjust to my schedule. I think I will try blogging in the morning like I did before. Evening I am finding my brain is too tired to write. I would rather veg on TV. 
So I am trying to figure out clothes to wear.  Friday is jeans day. Big deal. I still think I should look nice every day. I have a black pair of jeans I can wear. Dress code is always socks/stockings, close toe shoes, no showing belly or boobies (my language), no sleeveless, no freaky piercings or hair or tattoo's showing, etc... so I fit in fine.  I am bringing just a few things to my office today to give it a "Mam" touch.  Andrew wants me to bring him.... don't think I can do that. Lol!  But I can bring a calendar, A photo, a plaque and some hand lotion. I will be getting an email address today or tomorrow at work! I think it will be jblack@mmhc.com.  My direct line is 360-394-4085! Cool huh?

A few things I learned yesterday:
1. I am in charge of monthly fire drills.
2. I am in charge of a weekly report to the boss (Teresa will do it for awhile)
3. I have to hold staff meetings once a month.
4. Things I need to do soon.... get STARS certificate, update CPR First Aid certificate, get a Food Handlers permit, get tested for TB, full day orientation on the 9th, etc...
5. Tons of state regulations to learn (ex: children need outside time every day, I cannot beat them, one adult per 10 kids, etc....)
6. Papa is proud of me! So is my mama!
7. The staff is amazing!!!

Things I already knew:
1. I will lose weight at this job
2. Children will test the newby. =O

Maddie's little presentation for Girl Scouts was sweet last night. She looked adorable. I didn't bring my camera.  Karla took pictures. If I steal from her tomorrow I will post.

Well, I need to eat and run and put my face on still.... so I hope your day is safe and full of smiles! xoxo

tired night. ;D

Well, day one down.  I started at 9:30 and closed at 6:00 with Veronica. It was the best of times, it was .... nah, it wasn't the worst of times.  I love the staff there. Every single person I met was wonderful.  Almost have the names down. Got a few of the kids remembered.  Got the number of a few too....if ya know what I mean. lol! Tomorrow I am going to continue to observe. I get to decorate my office.  My office!!! My own little closet with my own little computer and my own multi line phone, desk, file cabinet and spinny chair!  I can't believe it!  There is a lot to remember.  I trained mostly with Mamee.... who left today. I am kind of taking her position... but kind of doing my thing. Hard to explain.  I won't be doing all she did... and I'll be doing some things she didn't do?  Make sense? What was awesome was Mamee prayed for me and held my hands before she left.  Amazing. And I trained with Teresa... love her.  She was so great.  Everyone was!

Tomorrow I am going to an ice cream social with some kids at the Nursing Home. That will be fun. I think.  I have so much to do though!!!! 

This morning I raced into Karla's and gave her my new phone and she helped hook me back into my old phone.  My happy place.  She loves the new phone, the touch screen and all!!! I didn't .  I need a simpler one. 

After work I went to the fire station where Maddie got some badges and pins awarded in Girl Scouts. It was awesome!!! Picked up Teriyaki dinner on the way home! Made papa happy!

Well... it is after 10. I need to go to bed!  Will write again tomorrow. Sleepy good all! xoxo

I start my new adventure tomorrow!!!

I am so excited I am posting this tonight instead of tomorrow!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!

After all this time, I cannot believe it!  It is so weird how it worked and I didn't want to talk about it too much because so many times I go for interviews and they don't work out. 

However... last week I was browsing for jobs as usual on the internet... and decided to send one to Martha and Mary Child Care (my thought was.... why not?  there wasn't really a job offered... but, again, why not?  maybe I would get one when they needed help or on call or something).  Marcie called me within a few hours.  She said she would have not even looked at it but the letter caught her eye.  When I sent it off... I decided not to send a cover letter... then my email said "Send this message without text in the body?" I said.... no, I guess not. So I copied and pasted the letter into my email and made a few changes to look more day care appealing than receptionist.  This is my letter I put in:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am interested in seeking employment with your company.  My strengths are my organizational and people skills.  I have been involved in a variety of organizations over the years. I served as the Director of our KidStuf program at our church for 2 years. I also served as the Children Ministries Director at church for 3 years and taught Kids Church and Sunday School. I ran the Compassionate Ministries. I have assisted the youth pastor with teen events.  I have headed up and organized two church carnivals, five high school class reunions, and ran the North Kitsap Peewee Football and Basketball sign-ups and rosters.  I have volunteered at North Kitsap High School in the offices as well as the office at our former church.  My greatest assets are my organizational skills. I love working with people of all ages.  I also carry with me strong ethics, maturity, and desire to learn, grow and contribute.
I took time off to care for my grandchildren while their parents worked for 11 years. Most recently I took care of a friends toddler for a year.  I love children.

I am a highly committed and reliable employee.

At this time, I am available to begin work immediately.  I believe I can be a positive asset to your company and I thank you for this opportunity.

Sincerely,

That letter got me the job.  Who would have thought?  I have sent this letter out a billion times. Finally someone cares about my organizational ability and love for kids!  I sent this the 21st of April, last Thursday. Met with Marcie on Friday morning... toured the facilities and met everyone. She called Monday morning to see if I had thought and prayed about the job "offer" over the weekend!  I said yes I had... she said she would like me to come in and meet with Joanne (the big boss) and talk with them...so I did today!  Filled out all the paperwork and tada!  I think it is finally just sinking in.
I am SO insecure.  I can't even tell you how bad it has been the past 7 years.  I used to be the height of security.... knew who I was, had confidence in myself and trusted who I was. Then bammo.... my world and self turned upside down the year my dad died.  Not blaming his death on everything.... but that is when I fell apart.  I have never fully restored my confidence back. Always waiting for the shoe to drop. Waiting for people to see I am not important. Waiting for people to hurt me.  For people to figure out they don't like me... that I am not a "fit" for anything. Pretty tough way to live life, huh?  I think I destroyed who I was.... and now it is time to build myself back up.  For awhile I did while I was involved with KidStuf ministries. But people started getting too close to me and I backed off.  Then I tried to get a job at the church as a receptionist ... perfect job! But I wasn't a "good fit" for the position. That was a slap and a blow to my self esteem.  I was good enough to be the KidStuf Director but not to answer phones. So I went and licked my wounds again. During the past 7 years.... the best thing that happened to me was I got closer to the Lord and to my husband.  Huge things!!!!  God does close doors and opens windows. Sometimes it hurts but it is for His glory.
I go into this job with some apprehension.  It is right up my alley!  I am nervous I am taking on too much.  I am not worried if they will like me. They do. I am going in with my head up and confident that I can do this job the Lord has given to me.  But that nasty voice in the back of my head says, "I hope you don't get fired."  So I will try to ignore the voice and be happy with each day and not worry about next week or the week after!
Thanks for listening to me the past couple years vent, whine and complain! I am going to try to keep up on this.  Hopefully I will have some entertaining stories for you all!
Keep me in your prayers!!!! xoxo

Have a great Tuesday!

We sure had some rain yesterday!!!  We don't use umbrella's much in Washington, though. We've had colder temperatures than normal.  That stinks.... since we haven't got the furnace fixed yet.  We are keeping warm though.

The rain canceled Jordy's game last night.  A bunch of us were going to it.  :(   With gas prices it would have worked out great because it was to be in Poulsbo instead of Bremerton.   Oh well... can't control the weather.  Can't control much of anything! lol!   Especially my new phone.  I don't like the touch screen.  I really don't. I must be old fashioned.  It is freaking me out a bit how I am turning into my mother!  I used to be a genius at new things and figuring them out... like my dad! Now I get intimidated by them! Karla is due for a new phone in May.  The plan is to give her mine and I will get the new one she will order.... I pray it is simple! lol!

Today I go and meet another boss at this job I may be getting. She called yesterday to see if I had thought about it and prayed about the job.  Wow. I may have a job!  If I actually get it I will tell you more about it. kk?

Well..... not a lot to write about. Papa is sleeping in his chair today so I assume he is taking the day off.  He has been taking time off because he has "sick leave" he has to use before retiring or he loses it.  The "annual leave" he didn't use... he will get paid when he retires.

So.... looks like we aren't moving for awhile.  Our game plan is to do some work around here and wait until the economy picks up.  If we live that long.  I am going to have a garage sale on Memorial Day weekend!!! If anyone wants to come help... that would be awesome!  Everything goes! (Just kidding)  But I am going to get rid of tons of stuff.  Papa and I are going to start going through the garage this weekend!  woot! woot!  Parting is such sweet sorrow.... but watching hoarding shows give you the kick you need, ya know?

They are upgrading power lines so my power is going to be off for awhile today. I see the trucks rolling by so gotta go! xoxo

Hope you have a great day!!!!  Or as Andrew and I say.... Have a God Day!!!!

Our Easter at mom's!

Monday morning.  Staying close to home this morning!  Which is good because it is raining today. 
Jordy has a game I am planning on going to tonight... hope they will be playing!  Guess we will see.

Yesterday was a nice Easter. Papa was so tired in the morning we didn't go to church... so it felt weird and not really like Easter.  We watched The Passion of Christ again last night.  He watched it more than I did.... I was changing my blog background. I spent time with God in Worship though.

Anyway.... mom bought the ham and potatoes and I cooked them and deviled eggs and took to mom's for dinner.  Lois brought the rest.  It was so nummy!  Maddie wanted to go with us so she did. David came, too. So there were 8 of us for dinner.  Here are some pictures! The only person we missed was Denise! We didn't get a picture of her!!! Next time!
I hope you all have a great day and week....

Maddie telling Great Grandma her poem.

Mom likes eating from her walker. For a lady that didn't even want one... she loves hers!

mama on easter!

Maddie and Great Grandma Langager

Maddie eating dinner

Lois

Papa

I love this picture Maddie took of Papa!

Proof that David was there!

Don

Happy Easter!!!!!

Happy Easter! He Is Risen!!!!!  What a glorious day!

Yesterday was so nice!!!!  Cleaned house and papa and I started cooking! I made the cupcakes and the scrambled eggs with ham.... papa made the fried potatoes and pancakes! Everyone showed up who was coming and we pigged out on food! Tara brought biscuits and gravy, Amanda brought assorted fruit and Karla brought chocolate milk, juice and Sluys donuts!!!  All so delish!  After we ate the dads went out front and hid the eggs.  Each family brought 2 dozen plastic eggs with candy in them. They had so much fun finding them! It worked out great!

papa watching kids find eggs

watching maddie finish finding her eggs

uncle brad counting maddies eggs

toby is helping maddie!

riley begging maddie for the egg... maddie's response :finders keepers!

Maddie got the gross egg!!!! First time for her!

I am posting them all on facebook!

After everyone left we went to Lauren's softball game.  She did pretty good... we lost but our team is made up of 6, 7 and 8 year olds.  The team we played from Jefferson County was made up of 9-12 year olds!  Hardly fair.  Lauren was upset after the game. Don't understand who scheduled that game. It was nice... we sat out in the outfield in lawn chairs with Andrew.  He worked on my phone more.  He worked on it all during our Easter time. I don't get it yet.  Slowly am, but not sure if it is the phone for me.  Every time I get a phone or purse... I end up not liking them.

Today we are going to mama's for dinner.... we are bringing the ham, scalloped potatoes, deviled eggs and dessert.  Mom bought most of it.... I am cooking and bringing.  Don, Lois and Denise will be there. David and Alyssa too.... as far as I know. It will be nice, too!

Have a blessed Easter!!!!