A job that Isn't work!

So I happen to be lucky enough to get to spend two days a week with a classroom full of characters. 13 of them to be exact. I love these kids. One of them calls me Mrs. Dodie and well it melts my heart.

It wasn't until recently I realized how many people truly do not like what they do for a living. And that it is a huge blessing to have found something that brings such joy into my life. It may not fill our bank account but it fills so much more for me. In a lot of ways I feel quite selfish. I could go get a 9-5 job that would in fact help pad our bank account. But I want so badly to be the one who picks up our little banana from school each day. So this year, I did something selfish and took a job I love. I get to go to far off worlds, hear about dinosaurs, go on treasure hunts, and hear why Mommy doesn't like the way Daddy loads the dishwasher :). I get to watch new discoveries through eyes that are so eager to learn and so hungry for knowledge. I get to see the light go off when a child learns a new skill. I get to see parents joyful moments as they learn what their child has done that day. If only we could all get so excited about getting to be the line leader :)!

And as if that wasn't enough to sell me on the job forever, I get to work with an amazing group of people who truly CARE about each other. It really is a family. With so many people on staff, there are all kinds of life situations going on. It is amazing to see all these women reach out to one another. Having had my own things go on recently, I had tearful moments of joy at the emails, phone calls, and "facebooks" checking in to see if I was okay and that I was missed. I sometimes have to pinch myself that I have now had the privilege to work in such a place twice.

The first place was an amazing school in Nashville that is run by Dominican Sisters. These ladies were unbelievable. They actually lived what they believed and have greatly influenced my life. As a matter of fact our daughter is named after one of the Sisters and we are NOT Catholic. This second school is a Baptist School in San Antonio. Again an amazing group of women who are living what they believe. I am in awe of both places as it seems so rare these days to meet people who back up what they believe in their actions. It restores my faith in people a lot. When there is so much negative in the world and so much hate that can be surrounded with religion....it is comforting to see the peace of places like these. It is awesome to see the love of God exude from what were once strangers to me. I feel home. I see God in each of these places. In the way they care about one another, the way they care about the families and children, and they way in which they live. I am a very lucky lady.

I am blessed with a very rich life. Some days I have to remind myself to look at what I do have instead of what I don't. And when I stop to really look, I am in awe of all the blessings I have been given.

Let the wild rompus begin.

So I have never blogged. I can admit it, I have been a facebook junkie for quite awhile and find writing on it to be therapeutic. So when asked if I had ever thought about blogging I have to be honest, I had not! I am going to give this a try and see what happens.
You know when life gives you a wake up call...a smack in your face HEY PAY ATTENTION to me wake up call? I got one of those recently when someone I love dearly was diagnosed with what may be one of the cruelest diseases I have heard of. He has been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease which is very similar to Mad Cow. We don't know how much longer he will be with us and it is hard to watch someone you love slip away. I have been lucky enough to be married to an amazing man, who hopped in a car with me and drove 13 hours so that we could see him. And you know what I saw that I didn't expect to see in those moments....one of the sweetest love stories right before my eyes. In the middle of something so cruel and so painful was a love between two people that is indescribable. He and his wife communicated with each other without ever saying a word. The gentle way she helps him, in those less than dignified moments, where she quickly and quietly restored all dignity to a man who she literally became one with when they married. You know as a young child, watching all those princesses and princes....you get told as you get older, those are only true in fairy tales....not true. In front of me sat a true prince and princess. A true love story.
I watched my parents, hold hands, steal kisses, and have those tender moments we all hope for. My husband and I, who also have a pretty darn amazing love story....well we hugged each other a little tighter and appreciated all those things we so easily forget to appreciate. James Taylor had it so right, the secret of life IS enjoying the passage of time. Time passes so quickly and sometimes we forgot to stop and enjoy it. Not me not anymore. I have always appreciated the small things and I will attribute that to struggling with my own disease and its demons, but this wake up call has shaken me at my core. To you sweet dear friend who reads this blog, let my wake up call be yours too....enjoy every minute with those you love and don't stress about the things out of your control. Live your life to the fullest. Love, Laugh, enjoy the gifts around you everyday.