randomness

So, in Laura-fashion, I thought I'd do a random blog. They are always my favorite to read! So, here I go:

1. I am loving my job!! Honestly, there was a part of me that thought I'd only stay here until we had a second baby and then find somewhere closer to Johnson County. And, much to my dismay, I love it too much to do that. I've transformed my office into a space that I want to be in. I need a little more art on the walls and my diplomas but other than that I'm GOLDEN! Feeling very blessed to be surrounded by so many authentic Christians.

2. Our old computer died and we really didn't have money for a new one. We decided that IF we get tax money back we would spend whatever amount of money we got on a computer. We weren't expecting any tax return but ended up with enough for a huge (and I mean HUGE) Apple computer. 27 inches of (only slightly) impulse spending :) I cannot WAIT to start doing some photo editing on this baby! Oh, and I should probably admit something. Last night, which was it's first night out of the box (it being the computer of course :), I almost spilled chocolate milk all over it. I'm pretty sure that's God's way of saying I shouldn't be drinking chocolate milk every night.

3. Speaking of chocolate milk, I have GOT to get back on the eating healthy wagon. It's so hard when my day is so packed full! Eating quick processed meals is so much easier! Actually, that's a cop out. It's really not. Eating healthy just takes prep time which I don't do. So, this weekend when I go shopping it will be veggies and lean, healthy meats. It's ON. And, I'm going to look into Zumba classes. We don't really have money for it but I know that dancing is an exercise I don't really get tired of. Boy, how I wish Tiffany would start teaching dance classes again. That was the BEST!!

4. Book Club. So, my friend Kellie invited me to her book club. Here's what I know for sure after leaving it: 1. I'm old (which was confirmed by all the waiters and waitresses at the restaurant). That's a long story I will tell if you'd like. 2. You can't have too much Glace Artisan Ice Cream. and 3. Mi lika the pina colada 4. We don't really talk about books :)

5. Excited about Easter Weekend! Going to have family pics taken. Pretty sure last time that happened I was in diapers. Or close :)

6. I like to use smiley faces too much :) :) :)

7. So, I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution the other night. Has anyone else watched that? It's REALLY disturbing!! Truly. I learned how ground beef is processed (outside of my uncle's farms). I can't eat it anymore. Nope. Won't do it. I guess that will help aid #3 above.

8. For years I have been buying boot leg jeans cause I will NOT wear those skinny leg jeans. That would not be pretty. The lady at Lane Bryant told me I should try the "simply straight" jeans. She was oh-so-cute and very fashionable. Kind of like a plus-size version of Tiffany now that I think about it. So, I gave in and tried them. Can you say "I'll take one in every color"? I LOVE them!!! I'll be wearing them to the next KGR weekend so watch out ladies!!

9. I really need a vacation. I'm planning a trip to Wichita at the end of May but I'm pretty sure (as fun as it will be to see everyone) that will not be the vacation I need. I need relax, no cell phones, no computers, no clients kind of vacation. Maybe for our 11-year anniversary in October since we never had our 10-year anniversary vacation to Italy that we always talked about!

10. Oh, OUR HOUSE SOLD! Did you all know that? It's a pretty big deal to have that extra cash to put aside every month for a new house. Unfortunately, the little equity we had in the house is going to pay off debt but that's also very exciting! We will be in the red. Or black. Or white. Wherever we are supposed to be, that's where we are! YAY!

11. Living with Sandy is going really well. She and Will are really growing close which I LOVE. So happy that this is all working out.

12. All in all, I'm doing good and loving life right now. Need to get a few things on track but if life was perfect, I'd be in Heaven

Love y'all,

the waiting game

Well, since the last time I posted I have had a second interview at Shelterwood, the Christian Therapeutic Boarding School where I am interested in working. This place is pretty incredible. They are flexible in their treatment approaches, meeting the teenagers where they are. They do missions outside of the facility, volunteering, trips to other countries, etc. I'm really excited about the possibility but am completely at ease knowing that it is in God's hands. Feels good not to worry. I told them that, too, that as much as I want to work there that I trust that they will listen to and be guided by God when deciding. Ahhh.

The downside of this job, the only one I have found, is that employees are required to live within 30 minutes of their facility, making Johnson County out of the question. Again, God's hands.

In the meantime, I'm still having fun with Will at home! I've been cooking a lot of really great meals at home, finding games to play with him that will challenge his little ever-growing mind, and lots of snuggle time. I love how empathetic he is! He's really understanding when someone is sad or in pain and is so loving and gentle with them. I'm surprised that he's able to do this already. Not sure if that is advanced or not but I like to think so!

That's all for now. I should hear back from Shelterwood in the next week or so! Things will move fast from there. OH! Another fantastic thing about Shelterwood...you can wear jeans every day. Oh. Yea. OH YEA!! :)

job interview!

Well, well, well. Guess who has an interview? Yep, you're looking at her! ME! Shelterwood. It is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School. I'm really excited about it. Prayers would be MUCH appreciated. Anywho, that's all on the job front.

Jason and I are getting ready for the big church hunt. I'm not a fan of looking for a new church. Jason and I have some pretty different likes/dislikes about churches. More prayers? Yes? Yes!

So, what else? How about I just end it there...with some cute pics of snow-play that Will and I had outside last week. Love ya!

A change will do you good?

We've all heard those lyrics "a change will do you good". Well, Sheryl, I hope you're right. The last time this big of a change happened (moving from city to city), I went through a very dark time in my life. Part of my anxiety about moving has been fear that what happened last time will repeat itself. I kept telling myself, as did Jason, I am different now, I am changed. Nevertheless, I worried. And I worried. And I got sick. And more worried. And, here I am. I am happy. I'M HAPPY! I can't believe it. I desperately miss my Wichita friends and cannot WAIT to reconnect with them soon but I'm truly happy within myself, by myself. So maybe Sheryl was right.

So, now what? Right now I'm just looking for the right job. I am truly giving it a valient effort. Applying everywhere I know of, talking to people in the area, networking. But, I'll be honest. I'm LOVING this gig.



LOVING IT. Now, only having one car will be interesting but this week we have been snowed in. This kid is pretty freakin' awesome. He's still on his normal 6:30-7:30 sleeping schedule, eats like a champ, and is SO ticklish that it makes momma so happy :) Love that boy.

So, next on the agenda is to reconnect with my KC friends and I'm so excited about the ease of doing that now. Already have a KG brunch/road trip planned next weekend sans kids which will be what the doctor ordered. Actually, I don't have a doctor. I should get on that :)

That's all for now, friends. Back to tickle my boy. The "armit tickle monster" is the WORST according to Will. He will be stopped! Bwahahahahahahaha...oh, this life is pretty freakin' awesome. And, I don't have ANY paperwork. Ahhhh....

twelve months, twelve things

I can't believe how fast the past year has gone. Exactly one year ago today, I was in the middle of the most difficult, joyful, exciting, anxiety-provoking, life-changing, mind-altering experience of my life. Can't even begin to express in words the joy this little man has brought into life.



one: he has the cutest little crawl he does. when he doesn't feel like he's going fast enough, he brings one leg out to the side and does a sort of crab crawl.

two: loves all foods including, to my demise, celery YUCK! So happy he's a good eater

three: consistently sleeping through the night

four: he's such a ladies man...tween girls cannot get enough of this little handsome man

five: has a new way to say he's hungry. opens his mouth and smacks his lips together and makes a little mwah mwah noise

six: took his first steps a few days ago but still prefers crawling/cruising...if he's anything like his uncle, he will skip walking and head straight for running. God, help us!

seven: loves the sounds of his voice, especially his screaming voice. Cracks him up.

eight: prefers being outside to inside

nine: had a fantastic birthday party. We haven't really let him have much sugar but he did get his own cupcake and wasn't sure what to think of it. He very delicately separated the frosted top from the bottom, took a few bites very gently and then realized he loved it and started slamming it in his mouth. Yes, we have it on video. :)

ten: thinks everything is a phone and puts it up to his ear and makes a sound of "hello"

eleven: is starting to bite and thinks it's hilarious...not so much for mommy or daddy (or anyone else being bitten for that matter!).

twelve: is the love his mommy's, daddy's, grandma's, grandpa's, uncle's, aunt's, etc, etc...life

eleven months, eleven things

1. Has four teeth on top, two teeth on bottom.

2. Saying lots of words: baba (bottle), ba (bye), hi, Izzy, Mama, Dada, GiGi (not sure what that means)

3. Loves to dance and will boo up and down while he's sitting or standing

4. Favorite game is peek-a-boo

5. New love of swimming

6. Is a little foodie! Fresh fruit and veggies are preferred over canned or frozen. And, don't try to pull one over on him cause it ain't happenin'!

7. Waves like Ms. America...only cute for awhile little one.

8. Will soon be a millionaire. Grandma W gives him a dollar everytime she calls him dollboy (her fav nickname)...

9. Cab give the sweetest kisses and the most violent kisses...it's up to you of you want to chance it! I certainly do.

10. Has no idea how big he's getting.

11. Close to walking. Has a little push walker and has mastered it. Jason thinks it'll be a while but Mama thinks it'll be sooner!

my life at a PRTF

So, I work in a PRTF. For those of you unaware, PRTF stands for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. This isn't summer camp, people. This is for youth with serious mental and behavioral problems. There is nothing I dislike about my job. Ok, ok, the paperwork is NOT fun, but the reward is much better than the notsofun stuff. Today, a teen left us. He had been at this placement for nine months. That's six months longer than most kids stay. He had serious problems, of which I will not divulge for many reasons (confidentiality being the biggest reason). Today we celebrated his success. He is now a kid who understands where his problems lie, where they stem from, how they could hold him back, and what he needs to do to take control of his life. Not only that, he can VERBALIZE it!! This morning, just hours before he left, he accepted Christ. On campus, there is a chapel and a pastor who has chapel service on a weekly basis. A lot of the kids go just to get out of the cottage. This kid started opening his ears to the Word and started to change...coincidence??...I THINK NOT!! I did not know of his salvation until he was driving away when my co-worker said, "He was saved this morning and read the sinner's prayer outloud...twice." I lost it. I had held it together pretty well until then. Many people ask, "How can you work with THOSE kids?", "Don't you get afraid that they will hurt you (cause they do hurt people at times...badly)?", "Couldn't you get more money somewhere else?"...THOSE kids are MY kids...wouldn't trade them for the world. God, thank you so much for these kids and the change they are making in MY life. Thank you for bringing me to this place of hurt and giving me an opportunity to learn from THEM. Most days I feel like I shouldn't get paid to do this work. It is more of a blessing than I ever imagined and can't wait to see what happens next.