Change is in the air!

My life has been so busy, full, exhausting, chaotic, crazy, insane and absolutely a wonderful, beautiful whirlwind.  It seems I blink and two month have flown by.  I am at the height of my training for the upcoming half-marathon. In the next three days, i will clock another 19.5 miles. I have lost 55lbs and for the most part training has gone well. I am dealing with some pain in my left foot.  I ask for prayers of healing, as of late it seems to be getting worse, and I am to close to have something go wrong now.

  My oldest daughter Brianna is a child  that LOVES to be involved in EVERYTHING. She is in Cross Country currently, as well as orchestra, choir, chamber orchestra, and plans to be involved in basketball, track, and drama as well.  Add all this together with advanced placement Math class and more homework than I ever remember getting, and it is all a little exhausting...... and she is loving every minute.  My condition for allowing her to be involved in all of these things is that she can not have anything below a B for a grade.  One thing I love about Kennedy middle school is that I can go online and check her grades for all of her classes. She currently has all A's and one B+. I'm very proud of her.

As for the rest of the kiddo's Mary has settled into third grade nicely. She excels at reading, and is becoming more and more grown up everyday. She has the kindest heart. She is caring and loving and always looks out for everyone, and cannot seem to even fathom how some kids can even think of being mean to other kids. Mary has a very strong sense of Justice, and she is a person that will go to the mat for anyone. Out of all my kids, she is the one that can still surprise me. She is a very unique special little girl.

 Sam is doing well in second grade as well. He has had  more struggles in reading than the girls had, but loves school none the less.  Football is usually on the forefront of his mind, and that is all he ever plays with his friends.  I have to be honest, I was hoping he wouldn't like it.....the thought of him playing, well makes me nervous he is going to get hurt....right now it is just playground football, but the thought of him padding up someday makes me nervous, but boys will be boys, and from the grass stains on his pants that he comes home with, well he's playing pretty hard as it is. He is a good boy, and has a way of always bringing a smile to my face.

Sarah is now 3 and a half and definitely the baby of the family.  She is strong-willed, stubborn, fiery, and really likes getting her own way.  She constantly makes me laugh, she is a clown!  I love how she just seems to pull us all together. She brings so much joy into our family, and has a smile that lights up our whole house.   I am so thankful that I have been able to work out of my home for these last 3.5 years. This time I have had with her has been priceless.

Which brings me to the big changes ahead.  After much prayer, I have decided to close my daycare. Little Miracles has been a HUGE blessing to my family, and I have been able to have many more children become part of my family by having the daycare.  I have had the honor and privilege of getting to know some of the best people, and watching their children.

  I have accepted a position with Synstelien Community Services here in Fergus Falls. I will be the Residence Manager for a new home they are opening up supporting people with Mental illness.  I am excited for this opportunity, and looking forward to  putting my love of helping others into this job.  I have a long work history of working with people with developmental disabilities and mental illness. It is truly some of the most rewarding work.  I have always been someone who roots for the underdog, and feel that people with mental illness are unfairly judged and looked down upon in our world today. To many have unkind stigmas attached to them, and I look forward to supporting them in anyway I can.  I really feel God has called me back to this work, and am excited to get started.

However, this means some really HUGE changes for my family.  I've been running my own daycare for 5 years now, and have been at home for my kids and hubby whenever they have needed something.  With me having a schedule outside the home, it will change things.  Sarah has never been in daycare, or even away from me, so this will probably be pretty hard on her.  That is the part I am dreading the most, but God has provided and one of my friends who is a stay at home mom has said she will watch Sarah for me.  This is a HUGE blessing and I am so thankful for it.  Leaving Sarah feels like a punch in the Gut, but I am trusting this is what God has called me too, and I know he will provide, and having my friend watch her has relieved some of the anxiety and fear I had.

I start my new Job October 8th, and my half-marathon is the 21st. It is all a little scary, but with everyday that passes, I get more and more excited for my job, and I feel peace that this is what God is asking of me.  I have been overcome with gratefulness the last week.  I am so thankful, and can so clearly see the blessings in my life.  So even though there is stress, and chaos, and feeling I never have enough time to get it all done,  I am so thankful to have a busy, full, exhausting, chaotic, crazy, insane, and absolutely wonderful, beautiful, whirlwind of a life.  All Praise and Glory to God.  Thanks you Jesus!