This is Not What I Expected!

So I was so pumped to get back to work this week, after having been so busy with VBS last week. On Sunday I made this long to-do list of all that I wanted to do at work to try to meet new people and drum up some possible contacts.


Monday morning: Jonathan feels sick, like he's about to throw up. I cancel the kid's plans to spend the day with Grandma. Guess I'm staying home today. Jonathan sleeps on the couch most of the morning and finally starts to feel better by dinner time.


Tuesday morning: Right as the babysitter is about to arrive Katie throws up all over the floor. Uggh! Thankfully, she is an Angel and she is willing to stay so that I can go to a meeting at work. I arrive an hour later than I wanted to, though because of all of the clean up that I needed to do before I left the house.


Tuesday night: I am not feeling so good...Oh No! You guessed it. I got sick. I lay in bed all night tossing and turning. My stomach hurts so much. I ended up sleeping in the guest room just so Rob could get some sleep.


Wednesday: I lay on the couch all day, feeling crummy. Not only because I am sick, but because of all that I did not get to do so far this week!


It is Wednesday night. I still don't feel all the way better, but close enough. I had to go in to work this afternoon to meet a client. Fortunately I was up for it. (I hope that I didn't pass any of my germs around, though.) I was able to write up a listing contract to sell his house, so that is great! And I still have 2 more days left of this week to get some work done. It is so hard for me to adjust my plans sometimes. But sometimes there are things that we just can't control. Rob reminded me of that today. He has been an encouragement to me this week, as I have grumbled about having to readjust my expectations for the week.

I'm putting it all in God's hands tomorrow. I have no idea what to expect!

I Packed A Lot In This Week

Boy, what a week! I helped out in the VBS preschool class every day this week as well as worked Monday, Tuesday and some of Wednesday, went to the Carnival on Thursday night at church and then went to an all night walk for the American Cancer Society on Friday and a birthday party this afternoon.


About VBS: I'm proud to say that I managed to lead the preschoolers all week, but I'm embarrassed to say that I complained quite a bit about it, too. The kids were fun, but very, very busy. Heidi's leaving on Monday was sad, but I was so worried about her while she was helping. I had some teenage helpers to help me out, and then my friend Carrie asked her friend to help me out for Thursday and Friday. This gal, Sarah, was great. She has led the preschool Awana class so she was familiar with some of the kids. She was just the right help that I needed at the right time.


About Work: I estimate I worked about 16 hours this week in the afternoons and evenings. Even so, I can't say I got a whole lot done. I am looking forward to going back to work on Monday having a more undivided focus, and more energy too. On Tuesday I found out that two potential clients decided not to buy/sell right now, so that was disappointing. So I'll just have to continue making calls and meeting people. If you know of anyone who would like a really great Realtor--(Me)--let me know!


About the Cancer Relay: I participated in the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Relay for Life on Friday night. I was a part of a team from my office. The relay was held on the Sandy HS track. It started at 6 pm and ended at 9 am. I was up all night, and felt so tired that I actually left around 5:30 this morning so that I could get some sleep before we headed out for a birthday party picnic. The relay was great! It was so neat to hear stories from some of the people dealing with canceer. At 10 pm they lit up these luminaries (white paper bags with sand and a candle inside) and lined them up all along the track. They were there for us to remember those who are dealing with cancer or who have died from cancer. It was very special. The members of each team took turns walking around the track all night. In addition to that we had been collecting donations for the ACS for the past few months.

Thinking about VBS and the Relay, I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in such wonderful events this week.

God's Provision!

God is ever so gracious in providing for our needs! I found out that we are going to be receiving a check from someone to help me out with my real estate needs. It's going to help me pay a bill that is due this Friday, as well as pay for some childcare for the next few weeks. I am so grateful for God's care.


Now I just need GRACE to make it through leading the Preschool class at VBS this week. Sometimes I wonder why I get so stressed out about working with kids. I'm really hoping Heidi doesn't go into labor this week, 'cuz I really need her help in the classroom. (She's one of the helpers!)

A Balancing Act

So I thought I would write a bit about my new job. I love it. I think this is a great job for me. I'm not like most Realtors that I've met. I am a little shy about promoting myself, but in order to succeed this is one area I am going to need to grow in. I love houses, and I love helping people!

The hard part in just starting out is balancing work and family. It's been quite an adjustment going from a stay-at-home mom to a working-full-time mom. Katie has had a harder time adjusting than I expected. She used to be a "Daddy's Girl" until I started working. Now she wants to do everything with me. I'm finding it difficult to get any work done at home, even though some of my work can be done from home. There are way too many distractions and lots of noise (like Jonathan yelling "Katie is being mean to me" at the top of his lungs while I am on the phone with a client.)

The biggest balance for me right now is money. It takes quite a bit of money to get started in real estate. More than I expected. Which is why I have run out of money to pay for childcare. So now I am having to get creative. I take the kids into the office with me when I have something quick to do. (They don't last past 20 minutes there.) I'm trying to go in an evening a week and also on Saturdays or Sundays. I let the kids watch TV up in my room so that I can make some phone calls. I do some work from home in the evenings, too. Other times I try to think up ways I can convince my friends and relations to watch my kids for free. Actually, I don't try to convince them, I beg them. It's humbling. I hope I can sell a house or two soon!

There is so much more I can say about my Real Estate career, but It'll have to wait for another blog. One last thing though, Jonathan is one of my biggest supporters. He loves to promote me to others. He tells people that I am a "Realestater". He has even talked to people that he doesn't even know and told them, "my Mommy doesn't have any clients yet, would you like to buy a house from her?" What would I do without my family's support?

(Hey, can someone tell me how to type these blogs with a space between each paragraph? The final post doesn't look good all crammed together! Thanks!)

The Love of Reading

Today Jonathan started reading books for the first time. He learned a lot of words during Kindergarten, but was never really interested in trying to read books. But today, he got excited about it. With my help he read two chapters in the Little Bear book. I am so thrilled for him. A whole new world will open up for him when he can read books on his own. We love books in our family. We have about 7 bookshelves full (plus other books laying around on tables and counters). Katie is an avid "reader" too. She could have us read stories to her all day if we were up for it. She sits by herself and reads out loud with all of her books, making up stories as she goes. It is so cute to listen to. I guess reading is in our blood!

The Animal Shelter

For the last week or two Jonathan has been pretending that he has an animal shelter. He has arranged some pieces of ply-wood on our deck to make rooms for all the different animals that are in his animal shelter. When we were at Winco the other day, he asked me if we could buy some dog food for the dogs at his shelter. All I could think of was putting out dog food and attracting all the neighborhood dogs and racoons to our yard. No thank you!

While we were at the library yesterday we noticed a donation barrel in the lobby for the Gresham animal shelter. They were wanting donations to help care for the animals that run away from home during the 4th of July holiday because of all of the firework noise and then end up at the shelter. Jonathan was excited to see the donation barrel. He came home and set up his own donation container. I think he believes he will really have stray animals show up at our house tonight because of all the noise.