JEFF! Thursday, Jeff had an "exit" interview with his boss to inform him of his layoff and fill out papers. Although we knew for several weeks there was a possibility of layoff, it was a bittersweet moment to know a job can end just that quickly. But to see Jeff leave that morning, you would have thought he won the lottery. :) He was happy to be done and it was good to see him happy about work. This past year has been filled with LOTS of late nights, travel for 3 weeks and never-ending stress and barely a day without the laptop open and Jeff's hair sticking up from him pulling it up.
Although we have no offers for a new job, he is still an employee of Deloitte and we have full benefits. But the best part is - he doesn't have to go to work, no more laptop and no more phone calls, emails or notifications on his phone. If I had known we could have had this deal before, I would have asked to have him laid off every 10 weeks. :) All the benefits without the stress - best deal ever! So yes for the next 10 weeks we still have income and health insurance. Hopefully before that we'll have another job and be able to stay in Phoenix.
We are so grateful for our friends and family that have comisserated with us and have offered to help us should it be needed. We have a great support system and love all of you.
I may need something for Jeff to do until he finds a new job, so if anyone else's husband is available for a play date, Jeff is available. :) For now we are enjoying a weekend trip to Las Vegas to see Jeff's parents and having quality family time without the stress of work. Is this what a true vacation is?!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lea-ism and Luke-inese
Today they both had something profound to say. :)
Lea was telling me about her field trip her class was going on today. They're going to the Children's Museum. "But I've never been there before. I've seen it in my brain." She's very excited to go - afterwards all the Kindergarten classes are having a "Love of reading" party. They each get to bring a pillow and books to read for the last part of the day. She took a small pillow as to avoid sharing and getting headlice again. Lesson learned!
Lucas: On the way home from dropping Lea off at school, we pass our church building. As we're stopped at the light close by, I hear this from the back. "Jedus Whist, Jedus Whist!" I look up to see him pointing at the church with eyes wide.
Me: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Lucas: Yeah!
Me: Is that where you go?
Lucas: uh huh, it's COOOOL!
Lea was telling me about her field trip her class was going on today. They're going to the Children's Museum. "But I've never been there before. I've seen it in my brain." She's very excited to go - afterwards all the Kindergarten classes are having a "Love of reading" party. They each get to bring a pillow and books to read for the last part of the day. She took a small pillow as to avoid sharing and getting headlice again. Lesson learned!
Lucas: On the way home from dropping Lea off at school, we pass our church building. As we're stopped at the light close by, I hear this from the back. "Jedus Whist, Jedus Whist!" I look up to see him pointing at the church with eyes wide.
Me: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Lucas: Yeah!
Me: Is that where you go?
Lucas: uh huh, it's COOOOL!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
For my wife.
Thanks for all you do!
Invisible Mother
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no on can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hand; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated with honors - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'Isee you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At time, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. They writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'Your gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're going it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Invisible Mother
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no on can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hand; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated with honors - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'Isee you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At time, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. They writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'Your gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're going it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Decorating ideas: Bathroom
If you're in need of decorating ideas for your bathroom and have these lying around - you're in luck! Don't throw them out - functional yet perfect for the beach/water themed bathroom. :) This bathroom is at my parent's house and I'm not sure my mom was home while my dad was "decorating". I can only imagine her reaction was a small chuckle, roll of the eyes and "Oh Gerald" and away she walked shaking her head in disbelief. All the while my dad laughing at his creative decorating. :)
The picture on the wall is the sunset at Twin Lakes, WA (this is the place our family goes every year, same time, same people - best vacation ever!) And yes that is an actual ski-rope used as a dual toilet paper roll. :)
The picture on the wall is the sunset at Twin Lakes, WA (this is the place our family goes every year, same time, same people - best vacation ever!) And yes that is an actual ski-rope used as a dual toilet paper roll. :)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Lea-isms
She came home one day from school singing this little song from music class. "This is the song that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friends. Some people, started singing it not knowing what it was. And they'll continue singing it forever just because.....(repeat)" (repeat) (repeat) and (repeat)....... Her teacher called it the "Drive you crazy song". A couple days later Lea said "I can't remember the words to the "Drive you crazy" song - do you remember mom?" Ummmm, yes, but I'm not telling.. No Lea I don't. :)
Wednesday was a half day and we planned to go to the park with friends. The Findlays take Lea to school and Miss Leslie asked if we were going to bring our bikes. No - Lea is the only one who has a bike. I think it was Hugh (Lea's friend) - "Does Lea still ride with training wheels? Because I don't anymore." (Something like that). Lea said "Yes I still have the training wheels because I'm scared." Lea the daredevil.
"When I'm 12, I'm going to get my ears pierced." Sure go ahead - you'll be 7 years ahead of me Lea. More and more things will happen for her when she turns 12.
Today we're watching our Sorensen cousins: Ashley asked "What days do you feed the pig?" Ummmm.... we don't. Lea walks in and casually says "We don't, cuz we already ate it." yep.
Wednesday was a half day and we planned to go to the park with friends. The Findlays take Lea to school and Miss Leslie asked if we were going to bring our bikes. No - Lea is the only one who has a bike. I think it was Hugh (Lea's friend) - "Does Lea still ride with training wheels? Because I don't anymore." (Something like that). Lea said "Yes I still have the training wheels because I'm scared." Lea the daredevil.
"When I'm 12, I'm going to get my ears pierced." Sure go ahead - you'll be 7 years ahead of me Lea. More and more things will happen for her when she turns 12.
Today we're watching our Sorensen cousins: Ashley asked "What days do you feed the pig?" Ummmm.... we don't. Lea walks in and casually says "We don't, cuz we already ate it." yep.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Jeff and His Random Mind
As was promised here are Jeff's 25 random things. I know I just wrote in the third person, which is weird, but so am I, so who cares. To begin with I have read many other 25 random things from people and have seen several state it was hard coming up with the 25 items. Whether or not I'd like to admit it, this was not difficult for me. Maybe I have a random life, but most likely its because I have a random mind. Alison would probably agree with the later. Many a time I have started a conversation with Alison, only to find her looking at me like I'm growing a third eye (really I could have said growing a beard for that is just as unlikely... see below) as she has no idea what I'm talking about. I of course am seriously irritated she can't read my mind and can't pick up my train of thought to find out how or why I would start a conversation in such a way. I then have to explain my mental process, which leaves her in wonderment on how I have managed to make it through life without finding myself on the pages of darwinawards.com. I often ponder this as well, but I'd better not push my luck tonight and ponder this any further or soon I'll find my mental progression move from pondering darwin awards to Jessica Simpson's recent weight gain, and then I'd never get this done. And please don't get caught up on the last sentence, as I don't understand how such a progression could occur, but it happens. Really its best to ignore it and pretend I'm normal. On that note, I'd better get to the list.
Supposedly their are "rules" to this whole thing, and is kosher to post the rules with this as its the thing to do, so here they are: Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.
1. I like to wear speedos
2. I've failed at this because Alison told me to keep it clean, and that is a really unpleasant image
2a. I tend to do things people tell me not to do.
2b. I think it is funny she has to tell me to keep it clean
3. I like to exercise but don't
4. I did a triathlon in 2008 and almost finished last
5. I sleep 4-5 hours a night just because I don't want to sleep more
6. I am a CPA who knows nothing about taxes
7. I love football especially the NFL
8. I turned down a job to work for the Arizona Cardinals
9. I hate the sun, but live in Arizona
10. A doctor once laughed at me because of my medical history
11. I have had more than 7 concussion
12. I can't remember people’s names
13. I can't grow a beard
14. I used to be part of a singing group called the Spuddies
15. I once had a 30 minute phone conversation with a wrong number
16. People think my wife is a single mother
17. I have been hit by a car twice while riding my bike
17a. I did more damage to the car than it did to me
18. I use an iron more than my wife
19. I have ridden an electronic bull
20. I have ridden a real cow
21. I am not good at finishing home improvement projects. I'm really not good a finishing anyth...
22. I don't like to dress up for Halloween
23. I was caught by the police in the street holding an illegal shotgun - they took it away and told me to have a nice day
24. I was once a suspect in a kidnapping investigation
25. I wish I could play the guitar
26. Christmas trees make me sick
27. I don't like to follow rules
Supposedly their are "rules" to this whole thing, and is kosher to post the rules with this as its the thing to do, so here they are: Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.
1. I like to wear speedos
2. I've failed at this because Alison told me to keep it clean, and that is a really unpleasant image
2a. I tend to do things people tell me not to do.
2b. I think it is funny she has to tell me to keep it clean
3. I like to exercise but don't
4. I did a triathlon in 2008 and almost finished last
5. I sleep 4-5 hours a night just because I don't want to sleep more
6. I am a CPA who knows nothing about taxes
7. I love football especially the NFL
8. I turned down a job to work for the Arizona Cardinals
9. I hate the sun, but live in Arizona
10. A doctor once laughed at me because of my medical history
11. I have had more than 7 concussion
12. I can't remember people’s names
13. I can't grow a beard
14. I used to be part of a singing group called the Spuddies
15. I once had a 30 minute phone conversation with a wrong number
16. People think my wife is a single mother
17. I have been hit by a car twice while riding my bike
17a. I did more damage to the car than it did to me
18. I use an iron more than my wife
19. I have ridden an electronic bull
20. I have ridden a real cow
21. I am not good at finishing home improvement projects. I'm really not good a finishing anyth...
22. I don't like to dress up for Halloween
23. I was caught by the police in the street holding an illegal shotgun - they took it away and told me to have a nice day
24. I was once a suspect in a kidnapping investigation
25. I wish I could play the guitar
26. Christmas trees make me sick
27. I don't like to follow rules
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