Feeling Blessed!

Wow, God has really blessed us this past week. Our patience (If that’s what you can call it ;) ) has paid off and prayers have been answered.

Tim got the City of Bellevue job! It’s been a very long road of waiting, temporary jobs, silly and dumb jobs, working nights, etc. This is the job that Tim plans on retiring from, just like his dad did. It means more money, but more than that, it’s a career that Tim has an opportunity to grow in. And he knows he loves the work and knows most of the people there and enjoys the management.

Our first step is to pay off our debt and start putting money into savings. Then maybe in about 6 months or so, explore trying to put our house on the market again. Then we’ll see where it goes from there.

The same day that Tim got the news, I had my annual review and raise discussion. Weeks leading up to this meeting I was feeling under-appreciated and felt myself getting defensive of what I was sure was not going to be a fully accurate review or the raise that I deserved. My GM made an inappropriate comment to me a week before our meeting that lead us to have a very serious discussion about my ambitions of getting out of my current department, but our discussion wasn’t going to be final until my director returned from vacation and we could all talk. But walking into the review, knowing Tim had this job, I knew if it wasn’t what I deserved I was going to hold my head high, knowing I didn’t have to stick it out anymore.

Lo and behold, my review was help written by both directors in Issaquah and Yakima, along with my GM, so between the three of them, all of my hard work was fairly documented. I also got more than the standard raise because of my recognized hard work and performance.

Needless to say, last weekend (Labor Day weekend) was pretty awesome. Tim and I both feel like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders and as we start getting out of debt, that weight will continue to get lighter and lighter!

I did have my follow up discussion with my GM and director and have made it very clear that I don’t know what the next six to twelve months looks like, but my days in Ecom are definitely numbered. I think it was especially difficult for my director to understand as she has mentored me since I was 19, but after I told her that if I am going to be away from my kids 45-50 hours a week, I want to be for a position that I am excited and passionate about, because as it stands, what I’m doing now is not worth the time I’m missing out on with my kids. And gosh darnit, it felt so good to say that and be honest!

Oh! And one of the best parts is, I asked to have at least two nights a week where I’m not closing, and I got three! Woot Woot! I can have more family time and cook dinner for my family again!

The next blessing to share is how well the first week with our nanny went. Our kids are happy, our house is clean, and we know our kids are in great care! It does result in more work for me overall because of meal planning and grocery shopping and unloading the dishwasher daily now, but it’s completely worth it! And I might even ask if she wouldn’t mind running and unloading the dishwasher.

The kids are doing well. Lake still isn't talking, other than saying, “uh oh”, but he understands most of the commands I give him. Kaydriana is such a performer, now more than ever!

Last night, Tim and I turned the tv off and she regaled us with stories and songs for  a ½ hour or more. Tim got quite the gem of a video on his phone. She went to the junk drawer and came out with a clear cell phone protective case. She tells us that we use this when we go to sleep and we can see eagles! And she starts off with each new story with, “Are you ready guys!?” And when she breaks into song, Lake will join her and use some of the same dramatic arm gestures Kaydriana does. Who needs tv when you’ve got these kids!?

Oh, and one of my favorite recent moments was a few nights ago when I was putting Lake to sleep. I only nursed him before bed 3 times this week (slowly but surely weaning him), and so this particular night I was nursing him. Kaydriana comes in (which she isn’t supposed to, because she gets Lake riled up), but she comes in whispering and says she wants to sing him a song. She comes over to me and strokes his leg tenderly while singing, “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star”. Then she quietly exited. UGH!  Melt my heart! I love being their mom!