Songs of The Season: I Need A Silent Night.

Being a full time working mom and wife is hard.  It's tiring, and leaves you with little time (and energy) for yourself.  My days start early and end late.  The alarm sounds at 6:04am (no, I don't know what the random :04 is about, but that's what time it goes off), and I'm lucky to be in bed before 11:00pm most nights. 

We get up, get breakfast put together, get a groggy little girl up, dressed, teeth brushed, makeup on, diapers changed, grab all of our crap, and we're out the door.  I put in my eight hours, swing by and pick G up from the nanny's house, rush home, start dinner, clean up after dinner, pack lunches, scoop litter boxes, get G bathed and in bed, and usually by about 9:00pm, I can relax for a few minutes before completely zonking out on the couch only to awake an hour or more later and realize I still have to shower.  Oy vey.  As if a regular work week isn't draining enough, when you add the holidays into the mix, it's like a double whammy. 

I've heard today's song of the season dozens of times.  I've liked it since the first time I heard it, because I can relate.  This year, I Need A Silent Night seemed to take on a different meaning.  With all the hustle and bustle of every day life, and the added impact of the Christmas season, I just need a break.  And chances are, you're probably nodding your head in agreement because you need a break too.  December tends to get shorter every year.  College football season starts, then Halloween, Thanksgiving, and before you know it's the day after Christmas and you find yourself standing in a living room full of Christmas remnants wondering where the month went.  It happens every year...but seemingly quicker and more aggressively with each Christmas that comes and goes. 

Personally, I'm trying to make this year different by focusing on what's important -- family, good health, love, and most importantly the birth of our Savior.  If my mind and heart are in the right place, I'm sure my body will follow ... and maybe then, I'll get my silent night. 


Happy Christmas!

Day Eleven: Caring Coworkers.

My new office warming gift.

Since my college days, I've held three real jobs.  I spent the first three years of my college career working as a circulation assistant in a library.  I loved that job.  I remember when I started, minimum wage was still under the five-dollar mark.  Craziness.  Before I knew it, we got a raise to $5.25 - woohoo!  We were really stacking paper. 

My senior year of college, I was toying with the idea of pursuing my Masters degree post-graduation.  I was interested in the MAT program - Masters of Teaching in Arts.  I had spoken with the head of the Education Department on campus, and turned out he was very well-acquainted with the director of the preschool lab which, up until that point, I didn't know our campus even had.  One thing led to another, and I was offered a position in the lab teaching music to two, three and four year olds.  I was eventually promoted from music teacher to Director's Assistant.  For a little over a year, I taught.  The position ended, and I was forced to move on.

Let's fast forward to 2008.  Mr. M and I moved up to Gainesville, and I was offered a secretary position at my current place of employment.  I accepted.  Within three months, a position opened within the same office for a financial aid coordinator.  I applied.  They made an offer.  I took it.  I advised for about three years.  I worked with some really awesome people in that office.  They saw me transition from married woman to motherhood.  One of them in particular, helped me a great deal with the anxiety issues that her and I have both been plagued with.  A hand full of them cried with me when my marriage was falling apart.  And then cried tears of joy with me when M and I worked it out.  Together, we've laughed, we've cried, and we've been angry with each other.  But the good times always outweighed the bad.

My position in that office came to an end in August.  A new opportunity arose for me.  I was still in the same department, but in an entirely new office with new people and new surroundings.  It was scary.  I was leaving everyone and everything I had known for the past three years.  My first day on the job, I was greeted by a package of Black & White cookies on my keyboard.  How thoughtful!  In the area where I work, there are only about five of us, so it's small.  They have all known each other for years, so I was totally the new girl. 

"It's always broccoli just before the pie."

A couple weeks into this position, M and I found out we were pregnant.  With my first pregnancy, the day after I found out, I told a good friend of mine that I worked with at the time.  But this time, I didn't.  I was in a new environment still trying to find my comfort zone, and wasn't sure who I could or wanted to share such big news with so early in the pregnancy.  After the first doctor's appointment, I decided to tell my supervisor.  She's such a genuine person, and she promised she'd keep a secret.  The day after I told her, I started spotting.  It was a Friday.  I had called my doctor that morning, and the nurse said it was probably nothing to worry about.  It got progressively worse on Saturday, and by Sunday morning it was full-blown bleeding.  I was terrified.  After talking to the doctor on call, she said they couldn't get me in until the next morning.  I texted my supervisor to let her know what was going, and told her she could tell our other two office mates so that they would know as well.  She called me, and prayed with me over the phone.  What a blessing.  My fears were confirmed Monday morning following an ultrasound.  I had miscarried. 

After taking a couple days to recuperate, I returned to work.  I was greeted by a card that said, "It's always broccoli just before the pie".  On the inside it read, "Hope things are pie soon".  It was perfect.  Stuffed in the envelope, I also found a gift card.  Reading through the personal messages they had written, I had to fight back tears.  I was so touched that they had gone out of their way to show such kindness in a time of personal struggle. 

In the days since I first started working here, a lot of changes have happened.  From a career stand point, I've learned so much about myself and about my work - things I want, things I don't.  Emotionally, it's been trying at times - the adjustments of a new atmosphere, new personalities, and being the new girl.  And, the hardest struggle yet, has been the ultimate high of "Yes, we're pregnant!" only to experience the heartache of losing that pregnancy a few weeks later. 

When I first started here, rumor had it that this was the best department to work in - the people are genuine, they're drama free, and they honestly care about one another.  Those rumors have been confirmed.  I am blessed to work here, and blessed to have such caring coworkers.  They have helped remind me, that no matter how much broccoli you're forced to eat, you do eventually get your pie.  Thanks, guys.

My 30th Birthday cake, baked by my supervisor.  Homemade Red Velvet, yum!

 

'Tis the Season for Cooking.

As I mentioned in my Black Eyed Peas post last week, I love to cook! And, as a mom and a wife who works outside the home, sometimes it's hard to find time to try something new. That being said, I'm always on the prowl for quick, easy recipes. And today, I stumbled upon a site that I think might aid in my search for new and simple dinner ideas - Woman's Day! Under their general Food & Recipe page, you'll find sub categories like Quick Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Dessert Recipes, and Holiday Recipes, as well as some helpful tips that might be useful in your kitchen. Another tool they offer is Month of Menus. In that section, they offer menus and shopping lists for months past (dating back to 2007), the current month, and the month to come. It not only offers main course suggestions, but side dishes as well. It's pretty much a no-thinking situation for busy moms like me and you! And I don't know about you, but the less thinking I have to do about dinner...the better.

I have bookmarked a handful of their Quick Recipes that I'm looking forward to trying. If you try any of them, be sure to let me know which ones were your favorite. I'll be posting my faves soon! Stay tuned.

**The picture is Ravioli with Sauteed Butternut Squash and Thyme!