What? Why? How?

Over the weekend I helped my hubby with mock interviews, preparing him for a Crew Chief job interview he had on Tuesday. Monday night, we realized we had NO HOT WATER! My first question to Anthony, "Did you forget to pay the bill?" (yes...I have him pay the bills so I don't get stressed out.)

Next we tried the heater to make sure that the gas wasn't shut down in error. Finally heading down to check a very old water heater (1989). The pilot light was out and water in the bottom. Well that was that, the old bugger was shot! No showers for us, which wouldn't have been so bad under normal circumstances, but the night before Anthony's big interview? Why do things like this ALWAYS happen at the worst possible times?

So my hubby had to wake up extra early, go over his friend's house to shower. Oh AND this same friend is a fellow employee going up for the same position. Bet he wanted to say, "No, you can't use my shower...the stinkier you are the better my chances.

My son, Elijah stayed the night at his friends house to use their shower, while I just went to work without one (I'm not a sweaty person & didn't really do anything the day before...justification for being too lazy to get up early to go to someones house.) I pulled my hair back in a pony tail, put a second layer of makeup over my old slept in makeup & headed off.

Everything worked out, Anthony did great on his interview and received a "highly recommended" to go on to the second interview TODAY at 3:00 p.m. This final interview is between Anthony and his friend. Fingers crossed, lots of prayers and ultimately whatever happens is exactly what is supposed to happen.

I've learned this over the years...the Lord guides our path and we need to just do our part to walk through the open doors and accept the closed doors as shutting out the wrong things and redirecting our path to new and better opportunities coming in the future.

Smash Face!

I don't know what's going on with me lately but I look like this!

At work this is how I feel. I look outside, then move closer to the window, closer, until I look like her. Dreaming, hoping to get outdoors and be creative. I've worked indoors my whole life, clothing store manager, banking, office manager...I feel stuck! Don't get me wrong, I feel so grateful to have a job, especially now, BUT......

I want to feel a purpose, a sense of making a difference in the world. I want to be creative. My whole life has been spent with figures & numbers. Which always shocks me since I HATE math, calculations and things of that sort. But that's what I do, that's what has paid the bills.

I have dreamed a lot! BUT....

Like the picture says, why do I stop myself? It's weird, when other people have hopes and dreams I can help, encourage and push them. My dreams on the other hand, I sabotage. I've been writing a book for a while now (one of my biggest dreams) BUT....I always find things to side track me. It feels like I will never be able to finish, so I go for the quick fix (I'll Blog instead). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to Blog, BUT....I told myself I would set a schedule and write 30 minutes everyday until my book is finished. BUT....it's easier to put it off write a quick little short story on my Blog and then of course it's too late to work on my book.

Now, do you see the pattern developing here...BUT...BUT...BUT? I need to eliminate the BUT's from my life and then and only then will smash face end and my dreams begin!

So for all of you SMASH FACE...BUT people out there, try to join me in chasing your dreams by eliminating the BUT's!

Dreams create the ability to see beyond our current situations to the hidden possibilities deep within us.
By: Lisa Petrarca

Job Interview

We've been sending out Resume's to EVERYONE. You can definitely see how the economy is affecting the available job market. I thought that the lower paying jobs (for kids) would be a little easier to get. Josh has been trying to find a job now for what seems like forever. He finally received a call and has an interview tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. Keep your fingers crossed...he really needs this job! It's right across the street from my house too, which would make it really convenient.

Josh's dad asked him to move out last week. Josh moved in with him when he turned 18. He spent years hurting because his dad never wanted to have a relationship with him. Now his dad and new wife are having a baby and told Josh he needs to find somewhere else to live. He's really upset and angry with him. I think he feels like he is just throwing him away because he has a new family. His dad was a party buddy and not really a parent.

I'm hoping he moves back here...I'm one of those mom's who loves having her kids at home. Most parents say, "I can't wait till they move out!" But I cried for weeks when Josh left. I guess when you have kids they'll always be your babies, even when they grow up.

I need to learn not to be an enabler though...I tend to help Josh a lot because of his ADD. He has definitely gotten better over the years, but I still find myself doing too much for him to try and make things easier. I've learned that I need to step back and let him fail sometimes so he can grow and learn from his mistakes. Even after 20 years of being a mother, I'm still constantly learning and growing. By the time Elijah's 18 I hope I have this whole parenting thing mastered. No wonder grandparents are so awesome with the kids...they've had years to perfect themselves!