Hi All!
On Saturday, Akaela performed at the Gathering of the Talents - this is the first year that we have attended - what a great event!
It is held at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. All the Lutheran schoolkids can enter - the categories are singing, instrumental music, art, writing, inspirational readings - and probably more that I'm not aware of. I'm hoping that Noelle will be interested in going next year.
We also had Kenny and his kids over for the weekend because Derek had a wrestling meet in Kearney, so we had a lot of fun with them! The baby is getting so big! He was an angel even during church and we went to a movie and he lasted through that without a hitch too.
Many are asking how the new job is going - and I think it's going well. I still have so much to learn, but the good news is that I'm actually starting to be comfortable with some of it - AND - I got my first paycheck! (It was a little one -commissions only! - but it felt good to get after making no money for two months!) The good news is that I am meeting lots of people - and I am really enjoying that part of it - Every morning when I'm driving to work, I pray that we find someone we can help today. A few years ago I went to Athens, Georgia to help roll out some diversity training. One of my friends there had me start up his computer after it had gone to sleep and his password was "Servant's Heart". Since then, I have repeated that phrase to myself many times - sometimes when I am frustrated with people - or when I'm feeling down - and now as I meet people in this new job. It really does help with in all of those instances and more!
I'm getting to spend a lot of time with my biggest boy, too. And it's fun. We have never lost touch, but when you spend 10 - 12 hours/day together - you really get to reconnect! He has been great to work with, and he's a good trainer, too. If I had to say anything slightly negative, it's just that he's so good it's intimidating!

He made me an offer I couldn't refuse...

Tonight was the Zion auction. The theme was "Little Italy" so my dh went as Don Vito Corleone, and I was his dw, Carmella. I had a heck of a time getting my hair to look like I was in the 40's - but Ter looked great. For a German guy, he made a heck of a mobster. What do you think?
Noelle was so funny. She came upstairs as I was getting ready and said, "Mommy, why does your hair look funny?" I told her we had to go to the auction at Zion and we were dressing up like Italians. She said, "What is Italian?" I told her that Italy was a country in Europe. She said, "Oh, well - I'm not Italian, so do I have to dress up?" Turns out there was not a single Italian in the room tonight - probably a good thing considering the jokes that were told.
Blessings, all - enjoy the pics!

Back to work!

Hey all,
Today was my first "real" day back to work. Since I passed the test, I have been doing internal training and waiting for my license to arrive. I had about 10 courses to take and I'm happy to say that I'm done with them! But I still have so very much to learn that sometimes I'm scared half to death.
My dh, Ter, reminded me when I confessed my fears to him, that I have had many times during my career when I was faced with a new challenge - (backing up yet another person in my department, for instance) when at the beginning I thought I wouldl NEVER get, but after a few weeks of working at it, I was fine.
Anyhow, though I did pretty well today, my first appointments with live people will be on Monday....so we'll see how that goes!
to be continued...