A lot happened in September! I was getting increasingly frustrated with not finding a job. And one day while Brynley was at her little weekly preschool, I was out looking for a job and when I came home without one, I started to somewhat panic. I'm not sure why. But I felt completely panicked at the idea that I needed to have a job RIGHT NOW! I was stressed beyond belief. So Brent came home and we started talking. He didn't say anything real profound or dramatic, he said the normal "everything will work out" stuff that he always says when I freak out on him. But something clicked in me that totally let go and didn't worry anymore. So for the rest of that whole week and on into the next I was perfectly calm. I came to truly accept that if Heavenly Father doesn't want me to work right now, we'll be okay and I started to be at complete peace with being home and knowing we'd be alright. So that's when I got a phone call. It was a lady from the Oddfellow and Rebekah Nursing Home down in Ennis. She asked if I was still looking for a job and if I'd be able to "come in and talk with her tomorrow". I said I could, because she miraculously wanted me to come in at the exact same time Brynley was at her weekly preschool...
So the next day I told everyone that I was going in for a job interview. And I asked that if I wasn't back by the end of preschool if Brynley could stay a little late. So, I walk in and the woman shakes my hand, says it's good to see me... and hands me the "new hire forms" and a cup to pee in. As I was filling out my tax papers, I realized that I really had no idea what kind of job I was signing up for. I put on my application that I could only work the day shift, so I knew it was for 6-2, but I didn't know if it was part-time or full-time. So while I was waiting for the woman to come back, I asked the receptionist if she knew which one I was going to work. She looked down at her papers and said, "she's got you down for full-time". And my heart just completely sank, knowing that I couldn't turn it down, but knowing that I wouldn't be with Brynley and she'd be in daycare 4 or 5 days a week. But I reminded myself that Heavenly Father is in charge and kept going.
A little later I was filling out more papers, and the woman says, "I put you down as full-time, but exactly what shift were you looking for?" - I told her I had to work the 6-2 so I could be home when my 6 year old got off the bus. And she says, "Well I don't have any 6-2s open right now. The only thing I really have open would be 2-10s or I have the Saturday and Sunday grave shifts, 10-6 open." - I thought about taking that or just working PRN and covering shifts now and again. PRN is really irregular and some months I might maybe not get any shifts at all. - So as hard as I know grave shifts are, I realized that this was the perfect solution to my desperately wanting to fulfill both priorities of being a mom to my girls and our financial goals. This position fit perfectly into our family's needs right now and it's even the perfect days of the week. I can sleep both Saturday and Sunday during the day and then on Mondays I'll have to get some special videos and toys to keep Brynley happy while I snooze on the couch. This perfect scenario for us literally just fell into my lap. I didn't even interview, I walked in and had a job!
I am so full of gratitude to our loving Heavenly Father. He knew what was best for us. He knew that my heart would be heavy leaving Brynley at daycare this early in her life. He knew the righteous desires of my (our) heart were to do nothing but keep the commandments of being the best parents possible and all the Provident Living counsel of the church. He also knew that I needed to turn all my worries over to him with faith before he gave these blessings to us. It has made my testimony so much stronger and it was a wonderful teaching opportunity for us to teach Mariska about prayer and Heavenly Father blessing us after we try our very best and trust in him.
I've worked 2 full shifts now. As hard as the work can be, and as nasty as it can be, the whole time I'm there I am just completely thankful to be there, knowing that I'm helping contribute to our financial goals and will still be home as much as I can. And now when I'm home, I'm completely thankful to be there too, knowing that I'm making my family and home my priority, but still able to help with finances and have something of my own to be proud of. I feel so fantastic!
So. That is how my going back to work has all turned out! Now on to more fun stuff. This picture is of our attempt to make Mariska's hair wavy by sleeping in braids. She has a friend down the street that does it and Mariska liked how it looked. I'm thinking her hair is just to short to pull it off!
The picture below is Brynley dancing to the song at Story Time at the library! I was so excited to find out that it's being run by the same awesome ladies as last year!! They do such a great job. They really go above and beyond to make it fun for the kids!
Our favorite local grocery store, HEB, had a reading thing in the summer where you send in 10 titles of books you've read and they sent you a free "reading shirt"... and Brynley LOVES it. Once she has it on, it's pretty hard to get her to change out of it! It's so cute.
After each bath, Brynley has to come out in her towel to "say hi" to Daddy and Mariska.
The weather is finally nice enough to ENJOY being outside some!! The girls were outside almost all day while Brent built a fence around the garden area to keep the dog out.
I watched a little baby girl for a few hours the other day and the girls just loved it. This was Brynley's first time holding a baby. Mariska was pretty good with her and enjoyed trying to make her smile.
That's about it for now! We're looking forward to fall and all the holidays! This is my favorite time of year!!
