Crazy Time of Year!

Hi all, I have been so busy.  Life is like a roller coaster, especially this time if year.  I said I work at a CPA firm and man o man, I never realized the crazy "tax season", until now.  And...I don't want to experience that again!  I finally gave my 2 week notice, and the end of April will be my last day.  WOW, I survived, just barely!  This was so not the right fit for me.  However, I think it's me, not "the" job.  I am best at being a wife and mom.  I honestly feel that is what I am called to do.  God knows what I can handle and what I can't.  So, why did I go through this transition?  I really don't know, other than to realize this and be OK with it and not try to force myself to be a supermom and be the working mom I wasn't meant to be.  Needless to say, this has been a trying 8 months of my life.  But, I will continue to seek the Lord's way for me, even when I get off track, He gently gets me back on the path He intended for me.  I will be working at a consignment boutique/cupcake bakery.  Now, that is more up my alley.  Birdie is a little confused why I am not going to be working "up town" anymore.  I tell her I will be home more and not have to work so late, she loves that answer.  So, I think this will be a better fit for all of us.  She will be more excited when the shop opens early May, (actually, it is open now, just moving to a new/bigger location).  It will make more sense to her and, birdie will be able to hang out there, since it will have a kiddie play area.  She can be like the 'babysitter'...  I am really looking forward to working there and decorating cupcakes.  I have been watching YouTube videos of how to decorate cupcakes, using a pastry bag.  I tried it out on birdie's birthday cake, I still need lots of practice, but I'm afraid I'll eat all my mistakes...

Speaking of birthday's...birdie turned 13 last weekend and had the cutest "Teen Queen" party!  I am so glad we did something special for this birthday.  You only become a teenager once, so we did it up right, right up her alley, and she had a ball.  Did I mention, she was so beautiful?  She is looking so grown up, it is bittersweet.  I love seeing her act like a teen, minus the snippy stuff, but miss my little girl so much.  I think I'm seriously having issues with her growing up.  Is this normal?  I hope so, but I can't stop the progression.  Progress is wonderful, and she has made so much progress, it is wonderful.  We have just been through so much over her 12 years, that it is hard to not look back and wonder where the time went.  I know this is probably how all parents feel, but we are both reminded to never forget where we have been, and how far she has come!!!  It is all a gift from the Lord.

I was checking Facebook today and saw this post about an amazing video.  I'll share it now, and then the comment I made after viewing it.  So touching and heart wrenching.  I have such mixed emotions about this.  In one way I am so happy for the family to see such progress with their daughter.  Yet, in another way, sad that we may never see this kind of progress for birdie.  Then, I realize, God is not done with her and I am putting limitations on what she can or can't do.  That is not the right attitude for birdie, much less the right attitude God would want me to have.  So, snap out of it momma...move on, cheer up.  Who knows what may lie ahead for her, hang on and God will show us, just TRUST in His plan.  So, here it is...

http://carlysvoice.com/

Oh, how this touched me so! Oh, how I wish for my baby to come out of her "shell" and be able to tell us what is going on in her mind/her world. For the world around her to know her sweet, kind and loving spirit, and not look at her as if she doen't matter or cannot amount to anything. She is EVERYTHING to her mom and dad. God gave her to us as a gift, and we will treasure her with everything we are and have.

Maybe this is just because I'm emotional about my baby turning 13, her upcoming 6th grade graduation and then heading off to Middle school.  So many changes all at once.  Well, not really all at once, but too close to each other for momma to handle.  Like I said earlier, it is probably just "me".  I need some strong drugs to cope, or just a good walk and a long prayer/quiet time.  Don't worry, I'll pick the latter...

See, ain't she perty?  I can't believe how grown up birdie looks with all that makeup.

Actually, the picture makes her makeup look way darker than it really was.

Such a fun party, fun time birdie and her 3 friends had.

So, this has been a long, exhausting week and weekend.  Now that her party and tax season are over, I can relax.  Yeah right!  Next up, all the 6th grade activities.  Oh, and my new job...see its always something!

Have a Blessed EASTER, for HE is RISEN!!!

Until next time, Serving Him,

Christina

Update on Netbook...

Here is the update on the much anticipated "Netbook".  I had gone to a workshop in the 'big city' to learn more and help with my blogging, and they promise a free netbook to all who attend and stay to the end.  That should have been my first clue.  Anyway, I did not get home until that evening and hubs tried to work with it.  He said we'll try again in the morning.  Well, he then said let's get our friend to look at it.  So he did, and it was a complete loss.  It is not compatible with any windows application, therefore totally unusable.  I thought we could at least let birdie play with it, like her playhouse disney and type a lot of nonsense (she likes to type fast and then change the font size and font type and color certain words-but it is still gibberish).  Hubs said if you could get one of these netbooks out of a gumball machine...this is what you would get!  So, for the most part, it was a waste to spend all day in a class, but I got to have my one night away, all by myself.  So, I guess I got something out of that dumb class afterall!

So, that is the fabulous update on said Netbook.  Nada, Zip, Zilch...My, how do I get myself into these things?  Wishful thinking gets me in so much trouble.

Well, birdie & I are off doing errands for the day.  Need to buy a party dress for the "Teen Queen" party and we always get her a new pair of tennis shoes for her birthday.  That is not a surprise gift, just a necessity that we make fun in getting.  Aren't I cool?...

Until next time,
Serving Him,
Christina

Seeing Spots...

Hi y'all,
Sorry, its been a while since writing on my blog.  I have been busy checkin' out other blogs for tips, ideas and how to's.  Remember, I said this was a work in progress.  I at least hope I'm progressing...I have said this before, but I have a gazillion ideas and thoughts rolling around in my head.

Also, I am trying to "land" or "secure" another job.  Remember I said I was not a good fit for the current job I am at.  Well, not only is it 'Tax Season', but little did I know, this kind of work goes on for months and months.  Duh!  I figured, 'tax season', ya know, February thru April 15.  That is how my pea brain works.  Like I said, this job is not a good fit for me.  So, this "other" job I am checking into, is right up my alley.  It is a consignment boutique.  I just love that word...boutique!  It sounds so quaint and dainty.  That's me right there...just kidding.  Anyway, I am waiting on the owner to get back with me on the particulars of the job.  It is so close to my house I could walk, that is if I chose to walk...which I'm sure I won't.  Working out, (according to my pea brain) has to be done in the right clothes, the right footwear, and at the right time.  'Cause you can't be dainty and smell like a sweat sock!  Duh!  I am all about the shoes too, but that we'll have to save that topic for a whole other post.  Have I mentioned, "I Love Shoes"?  I even get birdie in on the shoe action.  That girl has about 20 pair of shoes.  Yep, not a type-o.  I haven't counted lately, but 20 is pretty accurate.  I know, I'm sick.  But, can you blame me?  I have a serious shoe fettish, so naturally it wears off on her, and girl shoes are so darn cute.  Actually, since I buy them, it really is mostly me.  But, she loves her shoes and plays in them and loves to dress up and wear all sorts of cute shoes.  Right now, she has discovered "high heels".  Birdie specifically asked for high heels for her 6th grade graduation.  So, thinkin' hubs is gonna kill me if she falls or breaks something, I told her, just be very, very careful.  She says, "OK momma", and off she runs in her new high heels.  Nothing broken...yet.  I can't believe she is wearing my shoe size now.  She is gonna pass me in a flash and then we can't even share the same shoes.  That should not be allowed, know what I'm sayin'?  The last 3 pair I bought her (see, we may already be up to 23), I tried them on and they fit me.  She is about to turn 13 next week.  So, can I really expect her to suddenly stop growing, just because we can finally wear the same shoe size?!  Oh well, such is life...never fair!

So, about those spots...One day I noticed a couple of spots on birdie's arm and neck.  I checked them carefully, but thought it is probably a bug bite.  Then I kept seeing more and more of these "spots" appear.  Mostly on her trunk.  Puzzled, (I always expect any spot or rash to be chicken pox), told hubs while on travel and he said, "take her in".  That is our language for "pay $20 bucks for piece of mind".  So he was due home Thursday night and she had already gone to bed.  He saw them the next morning, also puzzled.  So we proceed to take her in.  The 1st doctor to look at her says, " I'm guessing it is this*****.  But I'll be back, I want to get birdie's regular doctor to see this and make sure he agrees.  Sure enough, her regular doc see's them and immediately says the same *****.  Some long-name virus and its not contagious, it will go away on its own in 4-6 weeks.  Mind you, she is a "PICKER".  She will destroy her skin picking at a boo boo.  I thought, how am I going to keep her from picking at these?  But, lo and behold, they have not bothered her like an itchy rash or bug bite would.  She has scared herself over the years just picking at spots until they bleed, then say, "uh oh, I need a bandaid"  We say "why?", and she covers her face.  Yeah, that makes it all go away...  Birdie's quirks, I'm tellin' ya!  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  That should be our motto. Ha!

Well, that should cover it for a few days.  I need to really focus on this blog, but toward the end of school, there is so much goin' on.  Her b-day is next Friday and her party will be on Saturday ( a Teen Queen theme-will have to post pics).  Then we have Easter weekend, a doctor visit in the 'big city', and a "Special Saturday" event up town with her friends, then...(we are not done yet) if I get this job I want, the first week of May will be getting trained and up and running after the grand-opening , then the last "Edge" event for the 6th graders at church.  It will be an overnight trip back to the 'big city', then the 6th grade ROPES trip which is a "3 day/2 night stay" and lots of activities for the graduating 6th graders, then...Graduation.  She is so excited!  I am exhausted just typing it all out.  So, needless to say, the rest of April and May are going to be super busy, super crazy.  Hubs gets annoyed with all this "stuff" going on.  This too shall pass...Oh, and I cannot forget one of her biggest events.  Her dance recital in May, the day we return from the overnight trip...she is in 2 classes, jazz and modern.  So, 2 pieces to perform and, birdies favorite...2 costumes!  Will definitely be posting pics of those.  The proud momma bear!  :)  Then, best of all...SUMMER!!  Can't wait.

Here is a verse I'll end with,
Enjoy!

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him"  James 1:12

So, I shall persevere!  Carry on...we have come this far with God right by our side, so what more can we do, but persevere this trial called life.
Serving Him,
Christina