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 As it is every single time something horrible happens in Moore/OKC, it is heart wrenching. My hometown has suffered so much (3 devastating tornados recently, and the Murrah building bombing 18 years ago) but it's still such a great place to live. I really don't even know what to say. I have spent so much time in the past 24 hours glued to the news and scanning facebook for news about friends and family that still live there.  Luckily I haven't heard any friends that have lost their lives, but many that lost their homes and businesses.

I've been meaning to blog about other things for a couple days, but we've been so busy that I haven't done it and now I just don't want to.

Moving forward

I already spilled the news to facebook last night, but I FINALLY got a job!

I don't know how long it usually takes to find a job, and I don't know how many interviews you normally go on before you get a job......but it seems like it took forever.  Foooorrrrreeeevvvveeeerrrr.

I'm really excited because it is the kind of job or area that I was wanting to get from the beginning.  One of the first interviews I went on was for a counselor job and I didn't get it.  I decided pretty quickly in this job finding process that if I did not get a counselor position, I was going to start working for it through another masters Well what do you know, I got a counselor job!

How often is it that you decide on something you want, something you think is right for you and you actually get it.  It seems like often I decide there is something I want, but I end up led in another direction.  This just doesn't happen to me.  I'm one of those people that if I ever say, "I will never, ever do_______," I end up doing it.

I start on May 28, so I still have a little over a week of freedom although I can't wait to get started!

Picture post

Yesterday Eric thought it would be great idea to buy the girls a slip n slide.  At first I was not for this at all because I kept thinking about how they would both be constantly falling and conking their heads.  Eric can be very persuasive.

The girls were so excited while Eric set it up.  They were actually cheesing for the camera.  This rarely happens!

And then they were done.

Of course they were hesitant to do it at first, but once they got going it was the most fun ever!

Can you see the butt trail off the slide??  Yeah this is going to make the yard a muddy mess!

So that was our evening yesterday.

We have been talking about planting some vegetables and herbs for a while now, but we never manage to do it.  This morning I decided I would do it!  Kylie and I spent all morning buying plants, planters, and getting our hands dirty.

I bought some heirloom tomato plants at the farmer's market this morning

Everything else we got at the local nursery and Home Depot

Ta-daaaaaaa!

I realize it isn't all level, straight, and symetrical....... I'll leave the details up to Eric!

If I can remember......we planted;

• A variety of tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes
• Basil
• Parlsey
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Cucumber
• Lemon cucumber
• Green, red, and yellow peppers
• Mini watermelons

We decided to go with a container garden since we have a great space for it, and so we can take them out of the weather when it gets super windy and hails.....because it will.  We'll see if they actually make it to the porch when we have our next strong storm!

Ahhhhh look how cute they are out there!

Check back tomorrow for some BIG NEWS!!!

Homemade bubbles

I know I've talked about this before, but making bubble solution at home is so much better than the crap you buy at the store!

Not gonna be a flute player, this one!

This stuff stinks!

Here's what you do instead!

• 4 cups of water
• 2 tbsp light karo syrup
• 4 tbsp dawn dish soap.  

Start with water, add in the soap.  If you start with soap and add water 2nd you'll just have a soapy mess!

I totally understand that homemade things can be a pain in the butt if you don't enjoy making your own stuff just for the heck of it.  I get it.  I go through phases where I buy items like laundry detergent at the store, and sometimes I want to make it myself.  I will always make bubble solution because it is so much better!  A lot of homemade things aren't necessarily better, but this is!  Seriously, try it!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was great, and with my little family it always is!

I had another job interview this morning, so you can imagine where my mind is right now!!!

Let's just do a picture show, mmkay?

Catharsis

If you're tired of hearing me talk about finding a job and interviewing, this isn't the post for you.....
Try back tomorrow.
One of these days I'll have something else on my mind.

Name that munchkin

Lately when I think about finding a job I am most concerned with;

• Am I qualified?
• How much does it pay? (It seems like it looks bad that I admit that....but you have to make a minimum amount of money to get the bills paid, am I right?!)
• Would I enjoy it?

And it occurred to me what I haven't been overly concerned with;

• Do I mesh with these people?
• Can I work with these people?
• Is this a positive environment for me?

Those questions really seem to be secondary to the whole job hunt because being offered a job is not my choice, just accepting a job.  

I have learned so much from interviewing.  It isn't always obvious during the interview, or even immediately after, but when I start looking back on the experience I start remember things.  Things that happened, or things that were said start to take on much more meaning.

As an example, here are some instances that happened and meant much more after the fact;

• Waiting for an hour past my interview time to actually be interviewed.  Half of that they spent with someone else, the 2nd half of that they didn't have anyone in the room.  I just sat......for 60 minutes.  At the time it didn't really bother me.  Knowing what I know now, especially that I would not get offered that job, maybe I should have just left and declined the interview.
• Being questioned over and over again about something (a character trait), and it's something I do naturally.....have never really thought about much.  Looking back on the situation, it now concerns me that they could not see that quality in me.  Maybe that's my fault for not portraying myself better, or maybe they are that closed minded about who they are looking for.  Looking back on it....I felt hassled.

I guess when I am actually in the moment I second guess myself and don't value how I feel about a situation enough.  That would definitely come from nerves.  

It's all becoming clearer now that I have had a good interview experience where the people interviewing me did see my potential, and didn't second guess who I said I was.

I'm tired of analyzing all this.  I'm ready to have a job.

I have another interview Monday morning, and I definitely will have a different perspective walking into it!

A Jack Handy post

I know if you're reading this, and you've been reading my previous posts, you are probably sick and tired of hearing my talk about job hunting, interviewing, and all the things on my mind because of this process.  I get it.  I'm sick of it too.

It's weird how things just start to happen for you.....or to you, depending on the circumstances!  And again, I'm taking it back to the OKCMM.  Seriously, something happened that day for me.....to me.  My heart opened up?  I saw myself differently.  I saw the direction of my life differently.  I'm generally a positive person, but I get down about things like everyone else.  That started to change for me April 28.

Right after that, we got a contract on the lake house.  I started interviewing more.  More jobs became available.  I've had the opportunity to help friends, and a stranger, in need.  It doesn't seem like a coincidence to me that after I felt that heart-opening experience at the Memorial Marathon things started moving in my life.

I'll have to give you another update of this situation going on later when things have settled more.  We still haven't "closed" on the lake house, we still haven't "bought" our house, I still don't have a job.....or an offer even.  I don't know how things will end up.  I'm not too worried.  I feel very confident that I will be led in the right direction.  I'm praying for direction constantly.  Of course I feel like I know which job(s) I would rather have, but I really don't.  It's all so circumstantial.  One job seems wonderful and fun.....and then you interview and see that the people interviewing you have no respect for your time.  A simple thing, that changes everything.  And then another interview, that I was dreading and didn't really want to do, ended up being an incredibly positive and affirming experience for me.  Weird.

So even though I think I know what I want out of these job situations, I really feel like I just need to keep going with the flow of it.  Doing my best to be prepared for every interview I get, apply for every job I am qualified for, and see which direction I end up heading.  Although I think I know I really have no idea.

Here's my last deep thought for today;

For the last 5 years or so it has always bothered me that I feel like I don't have enough money to help people the way that I want.  Really bothered me. I want to help, I want to be a blessing, but how do you feed someone when you can't give them the cash to buy food?  I've had the opportunity to help a few people recently (of course.....with everything else going on right now, coincidence??).  It has made my heart happy to be able to really help someone in need.  Here are two situation I got to be a part of;

• While I was driving away from Addison's school, after dropping her off in the morning, I saw a mom that I recognized as another Pre-K mom carrying her daughter and walking down a busy street.  I didn't really think about it, but I did a U turn and offered her a ride.  I'm so glad I did.  She had dropped off her Pre-K kid before school and her car wouldn't start.  She couldn't get anyone on the phone to come get her so she started walking.  Where she was going was on the complete opposite side of two, like a couple miles.  I was so glad I was the one that drove by her right after leaving.
• I have a friend in a difficult family situation, this friend needed a huge favor.  I did what I could, but it didn't meet the need.  I brought the problem to my Sunday School class leader, she presented the problem to the class.......and the need was met.  Easily met.  I know I didn't give a lot of detail in this instance, but it was a huge monetary need.  And it was met.  I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this!

What say you?  All of this happening a coincidence?!?