Potpourri Friday

I've been experimenting this summer with a new work schedule. Due to the price of gas and the fact that I drive about 30 miles each way to work, I talked my supervisor into letting me work a 4 day week. I work a 30 hour week so in order to get all my hours into four days I have been doing 3 eight hour days and 1 six hour day. I choose the day off each week depending on how the schedule looks. So far it's been working quite well and I'm hoping that I can carry on with it throughout the school year. Saving 20% on the fuel costs is nothing to sneeze at these days. But the best part is that I am going to use that one day off each week for the rest of the summer to watch my grandbaby as his mama has to start back to work next week. We are all so sad for them that this day has finally come. My sister is going to watch him all the other days - and nobody loves babies more than she does. But even though it is the best possible situation for childcare imaginable next to his mama actually being home with him....

well, the tough fact is that his mama isn't home with him. And that is going to take some adjustment. So on Tuesday next week if you have an extra minute say a prayer for Michelle. It's going to be a hard day for her. She has been pumping milk ever since he was born - she could actually be feeding two or three babies I think! My deep freeze has two large boxes full of milk for Tyler! She is determined to continue nursing him and I am really proud of her for all the extra commitment this takes. Good job Michelle!

We also have good news about my daughter Andrea. She graduated this spring with a teaching degree and of course is due to deliver Ava Claire the first of October. Her plan all along has been to get a teaching position so her husband can go back to school full time. He has been so patient and worked full time so she could finish first. I was really doubtful that she would be hired this year since she would need a maternity leave right off the bat. She really wanted a kindergarden position as her first choice. A school about 5 minutes from her house called and asked her to interview for a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade position and she did because she thought she better take what she could get. She didn't get those positions but when they called her to tell her they asked her if she would be interested in a kindergarden position! Isn't God so good? He not only provided her with a job, He gave her the desire of her heart. So she will begin teaching in August and then when Ava Claire comes she will get 6 weeks off, go back for a few weeks and then have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. My other sister, the twin of the one watching Tyler, is going to babysit Ava. We are so blessed with family.

You might remember that I have talked about all the celebrations our family has had this year. Our 30th wedding anniversary, 20 years pastoring our church, Tyler's birth, Jess turned 18 and graduated from high school, Andrea graduated from college, I turn 50, my son-in-law turns 30, Ava's birth . . . . . Anyway, we wanted to take a big family vacation in December after Christmas.

I never imagined how hard it would be to arrange a trip for us, our four daughters, two sons-in-law, two grandbabies, and two great-grandmas.

First we dreamed big. We thought Italy would be perfect. But at that time we didn't know about Tyler and Ava. After we realized they were coming we decided we didn't want to spend that kind of money to take two infants overseas.

Then we discussed Mexico. However, Ava won't be able to get a passport in time. Can you imagine that a newborn baby needs a passport? Crazy.

That narrowed things down a bit. It seems we have to stay in the states. So our criteria became we wanted to go somewhere warm.

San Diego was a possibility. I love San Diego. But since Michelle and Tara have both lived there it didn't feel like a vacation spot to them. And they have tons of friends there and I selfishly don't want to share them with their friends on our family vacation.

So we have finally made a decision. We are going to Florida! We have rented a house to stay in and have bought all the plane tickets. I think it's going to be a wild and crazy trip. But I also think we are going to make some memories that will last forever. And we are going to celebrate everything that has happened to our family this year. I can't wait!

Whew! I didn't mean to have such a long post today. For the one or two of you who are still with me - have a fabulous weekend!