Snow/Cold Day #2

We got 6 inches of snow over the weekend so of course school is closed.  Thankfullly, my work is closed as well so we get to enjoy a snow day together.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Brian was invited (plus spouse) to attend his company's dinner up in New Hampshire which we were excited to go.  However, there were some things that needed to be ironed out before we could leave town.  In order to make it there by Friday night, I had to move my working hours around so we could travel.  Then we needed to find someone to watch the boys and Kaika.  Thankfully, our friend Lauren and our babysitter were able to tag team so we were good to go.

Honestly, I was a little anxious since we've never left town and left our boys in someone else's care (other than our parents).  But you know what, they had fun and did just fine!

Cornerstone's dinner at Mombo Restaurant

Nubble Lighthouse in Maine

The best clam chowder I've ever had!!

So thankful for this quick get-away together!

Snow/Cold Day #8

School is closed today due to winter storm warning.  Bad news: so much for Spring.  Good news: my office is closed and I'm getting paid.  Can't complain too much I guess.

Door and Hardware Institute

Every time the topic of "When both boys are in school, you're going to have to get a job" comes up, I would have major anxiety just even thinking about it.  So what do I do?  Not think about it.

Then Fall 2017 arrived and the time has come.  Gavin was off to Kindergarten which meant no more procrastination.  I took a month off before buckling down and getting my resume together.  The whole process of applying and interviewing were painful and discouraging at times.  I felt like I kept hitting a wall because it was going nowhere.  Yet, I pushed through and kept telling myself to "just put one foot in front of the other."  And trusting the God has something for me.  Well, He sure did!

Here's the timeline with my job at Door and Hardware Institute (DHI):

• February 1st - applied on indeed.com
• February 2nd - phone interview to see if it's a good fit for both parties
• February 5th - in person interview
• received and accepted an offer that night
• February 12th - 1st day at work

Not only did God made the the process go really fast, He also met ALL of my job requirements (and more!):

• part-time with flexibility - I can still drop off/pick up from school
• at least $20/hr
• close to home
• admin. assistant with possibility of using my graphic design skills
• not having to bring work home
• good personality chemistry with my boss and co-workers

Here's the "and more" part:

• $22/hr
• paid one week vacation
• paid extra week vacation between Christmas and New Year
• if the office is closed (for national holidays or whatever reasons) and I'm scheduled to work, then I'll get paid.

God reminded me that "He is bigger than my list" and what a huge blessing it has been!

Cornerstone Commissioning

Cornerstone Commissioning Crew

 

a video explaining what Brian does

He was recently featured in the employee spotlight, read below:

 

 

We are so thankful for God's hand and favor upon Brian this past year with Cornerstone.  It has been a steep learning curve, but he has emerged with confidence and success.  We are so proud of you!!

All in a Day's Work

Brian flew to Florida for the day and this is the picture he sent me:

*jealous*

Happy Friday Indeed!

Finally, Brian is officially promoted to Project Management!  It has been long coming.  So proud of him!!!

 ----------------------------------------------------- 

Ethan also lost his first tooth today!  That has been long coming as well.  Apparently, it came loose while he was eating his snacks and didn't even know it.  It was a good thing he didn't swallow it.  The tooth fairy came and deposited 50c while he was sleeping.  I woke up abruptly in the middle of the night as I remembered that the "tooth" was left in a ziplock bag downstairs on the dining room table.  That would have been disastrous! 

"Twittering" on Blog

After four very long and grueling months, Brian finally got his big project out.  *Big sigh*  Then he took off from work for a four day weekend.  It was much needed for everyone!  Now he goes from being "super busy" to "busy" and we'll take it!

"Twittering" on Blog

These past two weeks, Brian has been putting in 120+ hours and we weren't sure how we were going to survive.  But by God's grace (while solo-ing it), my boys have been nothing but amazing!

O Happy Day

Yay, finally my hubby is coming home after being gone for 3 long nights for his new project. I know other wives have it worse where their husbands are gone a week at a time. But this is the longest we've ever been apart (minus the long distance thing). I was really dreading it and SO fearful of not having someone to tag team with me. Hence the stomach ulcer comment in the previous post. But you know what, Ethan was AWESOME! Despite having some trouble sleeping the first night and teething & temperature yesterday, I don't think I could've asked for a better week with him. I just praise God as I can feel His hands upon me by providing the extra strength and patience that I needed. Along with that, He also helped me to relearn how to be independent again. It's such a funny thing but when you've been married for a while somehow you're depended on your spouse more than you realized. I had to rethink back to my college day of summer '01 when I had to live by myself and didn't think I would survive. But I did! =0)

Anyway, another reason I'm happy Brian's coming home is because he brings order to this place. Since I have no accountability whatsoever, it seemed that the house has exploded and stayed that way, I ate more junk that ever before (out of boredom I think) and I went to bed at odd hours every night. Last night dinner: a fruit cup and a banana. Bedtime: 12:30 am - got too caught up doing some graphics stuff and lost track of time. See what I mean?

Eye Opener

Yesterday I had the opportunity to join Brian for the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center open house and see where he has been spending most of his days the past three months. It was a really neat experience and probably the best hospital I've ever been in! Even though everything "looked" great esthetically, the best part came at the end when we had a private tour of the mechanical rooms. That's where I actually got to see Brian's hard work and how his design of the HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, etc. makes the building run. Ah, it makes so much more sense now (not entirely but a lot more than before)!!!

Air handler that heats & cools the hospital
Chilled water pumps
Steam & hot water piping above the ceiling
Not only was it an eye opener in the area of having a greater appreciation and pride for what Brian does, the Lord also brought a few other things to mind during my drive to Peoria:

• putting myself in his shoes: starting the day at the crack of dawn, only to get in a car for a long 1-1/2 hour boring drive and spend a long day being busy the WHOLE time. Then get back in the car to come home only to do it again the next day. It's tiring to drive back and forth EVERY SINGLE DAY...so that led to (below)


• a conviction to have a more joyful/cheerful attitude when he walks through the door instead of instantly grumbles about my day while handing Ethan over


• being sensitive to his needs (even though he's almost always willing to put them aside)

Anyway all that aside, we enjoyed the rest of the evening downtown by the riverfront. Then came back to the hotel to swim and sit in hot tub. I don't remember the last time we got to do that alone. It was relaxing. Then this morning we had breakfast together before I dropped him off at the hospital (for another long day) and headed home. Brian's parents came and stayed the night with Ethan so I could go. Sounded like they had fun and Ethan even got treated to some Whitey's ice cream.

Realtor for a Day

I had to go into the office today to get the rest of Kathy's newsletters done (my side job). So Paula offered to watch him while I ran to the post office...thanks Paula! I guess they were busy "working" while I was gone.

Proofing newspaper ads
Searching for houses on the internet
Docorating the office for V-day
Talking real estate

Full Time Mamma

I told my work I won't be coming back and now it's official...I'm a full time stay-at-home Mamma! The concept still scares me every now and then to think that this is going to be my life 24/7. But I just try to take it one day at a time with God's help. Anyway, there are definitely some perks that come with this job like getting to go back to bed and sometimes even getting an afternoon nap. Can't complain about that! By the way, I'm still getting use to the "Homemaker" title 'cause Brian used it every now and then. I don't know why but for some reason, it just sounded strange to me.

To Work or Not to Work

When Brian and I were engaged, we went through a book that talked about different expectations once we're married. Well, having kids and working was one of them. I grew up with my mom working, but Brian grew up with his mom staying home. We agreed on a decision at the time, but now that it became a reality we're discussing that again.

Back in Nov. I had told MF that I wasn't planning on coming back. But now I'm having second thoughts...I guess it changes from day to day really. Like this weekend, we had a lot of fun as a family so I thought I could do this all day everyday. But then Monday came and Ethan was fussy all day, I wasn't quite so sure about being home with him. We checked into having him at the daycare next door 1/2 day which I think is on the cheaper end. But unfortunately she's full 'til June. So I guess we're praying about what to do.

But then again, who wants to miss cute moments like these!

Where did Teddy go?