Tiny Flecks of Color

I've been gone. I've known it. I've thought of a million entries to blog about but for some reason there's been a block. I log on and stare at the screen and log off. Excuses? I don't really have any. I've had a complete lifestyle change. I've changed jobs, changed age group that I work with, changed schedules, changed homes, changed states...

My faith has taken a hit. There are some trying aspects of change, I am no longer surrounded by people who feed my faith the way it had been fed before. I'm much more on my own. I have had more emotional challenges, spiritual challenges... I am adjusting and while I normally think that I adjust well to change but maybe it's harder when it is my own change.

Anyway, something happened to snap me out of this funk. We'll see if it sticks...

Today has been deemed the best day ever. Well, aside from the day I married Mr. Bean and probably all the other great days I've had but whatever... that's not the point. Today I received the best email to grace my inbox. You can read about it on my other blog - this blog is all about my new career, don't be jealous it has been easier to write in this area than here.

Also, I applied for 3 jobs on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon I got a phone call with a request for an interview. Awesome.

But! While these things are great, the point of me wanting to post on this blog... the tiny fleck of color, well maybe more the smack across the face that I needed to again "snap out of my funk" is this:

Yesterday I went to see a patient. 59 years old and at the end of her life. Cancer has spread throughout her body while her family has grown, her 3 month old grandson the newest member. When I called to schedule an appointment with the patient I asked her what type of music she prefers. "I listen to the christian radio station." she replied. And I spent time that night going over a few hymns.

The next day off I go to meet this patient, unaware of how my heart would be touched. I walked in the door and was greeted by the entire family and the pastor. We prayed with the patient and I started playing. The atmosphere was tingling. My body covered with goosebumps. It amazed me I would turn to a piece of music and the patient (without seeing what I was preparing to play) would say something that spoke directly to the song lyrics I was about to sing. The whole session just dovetailed between prayer and music and commenting absolutely perfectly. I have no idea how the patient could say that I ministered to her because it was my soul that left feeling nice and full and happy. The icing on the cake... while I was there the phone call came in asking for an interview for a job - absolutely an answer to a prayer. And then today I find out that during that time 20 miles away the patient I have been seeing for the past 4 months was having a visit with her social worker. I have been working very hard with this patient, she is a tough cookie. She's my "project patient"- I am doing a case study on her for my final academic project. She is exceptionally depressed, trapped inside a body overcome by Parkinson's Disease. She has become someone I love to see, I care very much about, and I will always remember. The email I received today (referencing what happened yesterday) felt like a direct message from God reassuring me that I am in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time.


All of these things could just be that I am having a great week... each of them a coincidence with the other...

but I feel otherwise. and for that, I am grateful.

Today's "Day in the life" post is by Laura who has just opened her own etsy shop.

Laura is a friend of my from a LONG time ago - I think jr. high. Oh the good old days of bad haircuts, awkward pubescence, and first crushes. We did a few plays together... went to the same birthday parties... and in general were pretty much awesome. Laura married a long time friend (from Kindergarten or 1st grade) and her sweetheart. I love this couple, and I love Laura's new Etsy shop 

She is so creative and if this is what she's just starting with oh my goodness we are in for great things to come!

Laura and I have lost touch in the past 10 (yikes) years since high school but I am so glad to see that she is doing so well. She has her awesome man, a great job that I KNOW she's fabulous at, and now she's sharing her creativity with the world!

Speaking of sharing her creativity... one lucky reader will win one of Laura's bags!

Spring is in the air! Easter, anyone?

Isn't it beautiful! This screams "Summer" to me!

"A day in the life..." of Laura:

The pitter-patter of little feet. The squeals of excitement for another day at school. The surprise picture a student drew for me. Listening to a struggling student finally read a book. These are my joys each day as an elementary school teacher. When the days seem to drag or something stresses me out, I just have to think back to the morning bell when all the students come racing in eager to learn, listen and explore!

I hope that is isn't too much of a stretch that your job may bring blessings into your life. I hope that even though we all at some point don't want to get up Monday mornings there is something about what you do that brings you joy. If not your job - maybe a hobby? Leave a comment about an activity/job/repetetive part of daily life that is the blessing of your day. Something you may look forward to even when its difficult to wake up day after day. Leave your answer with an email address in the comments below. Entries must submitted by Friday at midnight and winners will be chosen at random and posted on Saturday. The winner will receive Laura's cute springy tote!!

Best of luck!

"Woman was born to create...
in creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny.
Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power.
To create is not merely to produce a work...
it is to give out ones own individuality."

-Jeanne De Vietin

Today has been the best day. Today I slept in a bit later than I had anticipated - it was a long weekend and motivation for pulling myself from my indulgently comfortable sleep was pretty much nonexistent. Mr. Bean left me early, despite my pleas for him to call in sick. I was left with a basset hound and a pillow.

Once I was up though, I found various reasons as to why I needed to stay home and do my own thing today. And so I did. I stayed home and baked and cleaned and wrote Christmas cards. I did projects that have been beckoning me from the far corners of my life that I don't get to visit often enough. I did the dishes in between baking experiments. I wrote Christmas cards with longer well wishes. I checked facebook and twitter less. I turned to Mr. Bean tonight with the realization that, "This is the most accomplished, productive, and happiest I have felt in a long time."

What a crazy realization. It was as if today I was able to let the creativity and experimental parts of me out. It wasn't glamorous. It also wasn't what many may consider to be "hard work" either. But it was that freedom to just let me creative juices flow. To get my hands dirty in projects I cared about. I was able to not just work, but to release the me that is so often locked away with a "real job" or school. 

I feel like I became myself today... I am sure that many will not share the same feelings as me and I am even more sure that others will think I am crazy. But I truly had one day to be blessed enough to be a stay at home wife/mom. I enjoy being able to take care of my home. I feel it is exceptionally important for a child's growth and development to have a parent at home. I want to be the active and a primary influence on my family, our home, and our lives. I have always wanted this. I have always known that that is a role I was made to fill. I look forward to a time (God willing) that it will be a viable option (financially, etc) for Mr. Bean and I. Today, I feel as though I was living my true calling. I was able to greet Mr. Bean with a hug and a kiss and a huge smile. We were able to do what we wanted to do together, rather than be forced into more work that hadn't gotten done during the day or both being completely unmotivated and struggling to unwind from the work day. It was just incredibly nice. Perfect even. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to just let myself be myself today.

What do you create... do... work, play, sculpt, paint, file, type, WHATEVER, that lets the real you come out. What draws out your individuality to share with the world? And when do you allow yourself the time to actually DO that activity? It's amazing, truly, how different I feel today than I have felt other days - not that I don't love school or youth ministry, don't get me wrong. But that sense of control over your life and the openness to let whatever it is inside of you out... the feelings that you accomplished today what you were supposed to, that you were right where you were supposed to be... it just makes your (my) thoughts and feelings change, it makes a world of a difference.

In similar news, my lovely Julia has started her own blog - letting her hilarious creative juices flow into the blog-o-sphere... check her out at: http://spacecadetjones.blogspot.com/