Just when you think you’re getting things figured out, something happens that presses a potential life “reset” button. I haven’t decided yet if this is a reminder of our lack of control, or just opportunities for those who choose to view them that way.

Four years ago we bought a new home which we love. The market crashed and things are upside down, but it doesn’t bother us as we’ve never planned on moving again. Additionally, we’ve had multiple conversations about how happy we are in our home, area, family life, jobs, etc., etc., etc. We’ve even come up with a financial plan we’re really excited about. Life is really good!

(Insert potential reset button here)

Yesterday, Blake got an email from a company in Madrid, Spain asking if he’d consider a job offer. I should preface that potential job offers and interest are a fairly frequent occurrence for him. However, this one came from some referrals at Facebook and Google, which speak to the potential level of seriousness and scope on this one. It’s too early to tell if it will be a viable offer, but it’s sure brought some distraction the past 48 hours. The last time I felt like this was when I started the wheels turning for a job in April, and as I’ve now been working there for 3 months we know how that one worked out. It’s a good anxiety, but it is anxiety. Either way, the consideration of a major life reset is a good thing. It makes you think of things you hadn’t and other things you have in new ways.

Wonder what I’ll be thinking next week?!

Admittedly, I tend to spend more than a fair share of my time and energies on preventative activities. I’m a big believer in the “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” girl. I absolutely loathe panic and stress, and I’ve found that spending an adequate time planning and thinking ahead push panic and stress into near extinction.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you really don’t want to do it, it’s a priority.

Procrastination is the killer of productivity, and the reverse is true. If you become productive, you kill procrastination. It’s amazing how the snowball affect works for either side; whichever one you put first grows. I’ve found that if I’m continually putting off a task two things happen: 1) I do the stink’n job in my head several times - this is like unto worrying/stressing about it, which is utterly stupid and frustrating as it only needs done once, and 2) I feel like my to do list is larger than it really is, again utterly stupid and frustrating as it adds to the feeling of burden and worry. It’s why there is an overwhelming feeling of relief when you finally get that task or project done that’s been haunting you. So here’s my personal tip on recognizing this blackhole trap: if it feels small enough to be put on the back burner, and more importantly STAY on the back burner, it’s time to move to the front.

Here’s another one: If you think the small things don’t matter, you’re wrong.

This is one of the greatest illusions of all time. There’s some logic to it, I mean after all if you can easily see or identify something action is sure to follow. However, most fail to recognize that without foundational “small things” in place there would be no hope of anything growing to a size you’d readily identify. No matter how great or big the final product is, trace it back to its origins and you’ll have the proof that small things matter… a lot.

The moral of the post: Take a few minutes to identify the things you’ve been pushing off. Throw out the mentality that only the big things matter. Just do it, no matter how small, how menial, how unpleasant. If you want to make a big directional impact to the sway of your gate, you’ve got to make some corrections at the hinge.

So you know you need to eat healthy. You know that so much of what’s out there is not healthy. You know that you need to take care of your health while you still can - before your body starts cashing in all its receipts of years worth of decisions. I know all these things, or at least I think I do. I’m still not as good about being as disciplined as I should be about my daily diet and exercise decisions, even with that knowledge. However, tonight I finally watched Food Inc. and I’m finding more motivation to be proactive and informed. And not just about the food itself but about the government and economic gears behind the production of it.

I procrastinated watching this because I was expecting something like “Super Size Me” extremes. I’m glad I watched it, and if anyone else had the same concerns I can put them to rest for you. The documentary is well done, well rounded and purely information based. I highly recommend watching it. In fact, as I sat down to write this I went to find some clips or information to share and loved seeing how much good stuff is happening on their blog. I was super encouraged with just the most recent half dozen posts, all sharing enlightenment and positive action spurred by the film. So much of what’s out there is so big, daunting and down right ugly that knowledge can sometimes be little more than a heavy and weighty downer. I appreciate it so much when someone can tackle the ugly without losing the ability to have a positive influence.

I am saddened by how many people in our world are victimized by industry. Watching the family choose crappy fast food hamburgers they know are bad for them simply because they could get more food for less money was truly disheartening. Learning that this trend of diet is leading to numbers of 1 in 2 children of those families acquiring diabetes at a young age was equally sad. Too often we can’t see the consequences of our decisions and actions until it’s too late. I’ve watched first hand the devastating effects of diabetes. I know how ugly it is.

On the upside, watching this coincided nicely with some of our recent decisions in the past year. We’ve cut back eating much meat, especially red meat and we’ve noticed a lot of positives health wise as a direct result. The garden fruits and veggies coupled with our new grain mill have been really fun bonuses. It’s not as hard as I originally thought to do these things. It doesn’t take hours, it’s not hard and the benefits are totally worth it. The real investment I’ve found is the desire to learn and try new things and the determination to keep learning. For example, I found a great recipe for “Wonder Flour” that I use in place of store bought white flour for everything except yeast breads. It takes less than 2 minutes to take six cups of grains and rice and turn it into a wonderful flour. I put it in a gallon ziplock back and store it right inside my flour container and it will last me several months - not much effort for an awful lot of gain. There’s a lot of truth in the statement that small and simple means can bring about great things.

So tonight I know a little more than I thought I knew. I think that’s a good thing.

Well, I’ve been away from my blog since returning to work. It’s a lot harder to find time for things like this than I thought it would be. I’m sitting here right now trying to decide how much priority to place on it. Because I’ve never blogged for anything but personal interaction and recording I don’t feel any pressure many of my counterparts do for posts and traffic.

So here’s an interesting thing to note this morning. The thing that never changes is spam. No matter where I go, what I post or how long I’m away the spammers are living long and prospering. It evolves, as all things do but it’s ever present. At first, spam comments could (and often would) be random and direct marketing messages. As they’ve ‘matured’ they now try to trick owners and readers into thinking they’re a live person, really there to take part in the topic, but as soon as you look at the URL you’ll see it’s just another 1 in 10 million product or service sales sites. I guess the optimist in me likes knowing I’m not totally missed.

Another interesting thing is the evolution of blogging and online social interaction. Years ago when I began blogging it was the means of communicating and connecting with others online. The primary topic of posts was personal or advice based with relationships forming by both mutual interest as well as traffic generation. It was fun to feel like you were part of something bigger and to get to know people from all over. That has changed - a lot. Today, most of my old blogging buddies are no longer blogging at all. With the explosion of Facebook, most of this personal stuff went that direction leaving the few bloggers I knew to go one of three ways - private/journal blogging, review/product giveaway blogging, or reposting their old content just to keep their blog active.

Decisions, decisions.

I’ll have to share more as I define my personal roadmap on these many resources. It’s been an interesting learning curve. Today I see myself continuing my basic and low level Facebook interaction for keeping in touch with people I know or care about; my blog to share thoughts, files, etc. the way I always have but less often and with less personal stuff; and starting a new personal file as a combination of my photo projects and journaling to compile into various forms of media to enjoy it. Hmmmm…..sounds like a lot of work - sounds like me! *giggle, snort*

I’m sitting here reflecting on how much can happen in such little time. In just the past six months our family got a dog, my daughter cut 6 inches off her hair and got braces, I got a new calling at church and a job, and I’m having to cut off all my son’s long pants into shorts because he’s gotten so tall. As I sat here going through pictures I thought these comparisons would be a fun way to share my point:

That’s the same dog, same strawberry box, same pool and even the same me with yet another long to short hair change! Who knows what six more months will bring?!

Let the games begin! Today is the first day for my kids to be out of school. I lucked out with the day off, which is great as I need to get so much done to be ready to travel to Vegas tomorrow!

I’m hoping our summer will even out and transitions will go well. June shouldn’t be too bad, but July may get ugly and I’m not just talking heat! I hope the transition of mom being at work won’t push dad over the edge with kids home while he’s trying to be productive. Hopefully a pattern will be found by then that will make it all work well.

I’m really enjoying being back in the work saddle. That sounds sick and twisted but it’s been fun. Things are just gearing up to start getting crazy, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and the finish line. I’m especially excited to find that so many skills have been building not dwindling in my years as a stay at home mom. Yay for motherhood!

Bring on the madness.

While walking out front the other day, I spied this tiny little nest sitting in my guava tree:

The entire thing would have fit neatly in the palm of a small child, yet the warmth and protection emanating from it would fill an entire heart. I couldn’t help but think about the representation it is of parenting. The time spent weaving a protective, safe, warm and nourishing environment for our children is a labor of love. Like these little birds, we make use of every available resource to protect our treasure inside. I don’t know if you can make it out in this photo or not, but the entire edging of this nest is a soft cotton like substance. I don’t know where it was found, or even what it is, I just know it added a layer of protective comfort that was almost tangible. How like a parent to creatively weave a little extra love and warmth into their efforts!

To pull down the branch and spy the contents was awesome. How cute are these adorable little jelly bean sized eggs? Kind of like our kids when they’re so tiny. Would that we could remember and retain this image in our heads when they try us as they grow! And try us they do and try us they will - some may even fall out of the nest. But one day they will be the parents, building their own nests of protection and love for their posterity. What will they have learned from us?

I hope I’m like these little birds. I hope I’m as diligent and dedicated to my job of protector and nurturer, that I’d give anything and everything to give my little ones every chance at reaching their potential. Some days it feels like I can only relate to squawking mouths! Then I see this visual and everything comes back into focus. No labor is too small, no element unimportant when it comes to parenting.

I survived my first week of work in the office! It’s been kind of fun to have a change of pace. I don’t mind dressing up, but I sure am missing my flip flops! Those dress shoes are killer on the feet.

The transition has been pretty smooth. I’m so grateful for years of keeping up my computer skills, it makes all the difference. Taylor’s decided that this is probably going to be okay because I’m home when he leaves and home when he gets home. June and July will be harder for the rest of my family with school out, but Cid’s doing summer math school in June which really only leaves one month with really different schedules.

The hardest adjustment so far (and I expect it to continue indefinitely) is balancing the hours I have left with all the other responsibilities I have. There’s never enough time. On the bright side, I managed to get my bedroom carpet steam cleaned this afternoon (why oh why did I agree to a puppy?) and made some cookies tonight. Oh, and this post! The icing on the cake was that I found a six bottle pack of Mountain Dew on my desk this morning with a thank you note full of compliments. I think that’s a good sign that they’re getting to know me pretty well and I’m on the right track. Now if I can just find the right shoes…

Well, it’s official. I took an offer yesterday to return to the working world. I’ll go in a few hours this week and start on Monday.

Don’t feel left out, this was really out of the blue for me too. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t looking for work. The possibility landed in my lap and after exploring it, everything just feels right, so I’m taking the leap. The people are top notch, the opportunity is high and the skill set is right up my alley. All that office administration, organizing, computing, etc., etc., etc.

It’s not like I need more to do, but I swear the stars were just lining up for this and in a time when so many I know and love are struggling to find jobs, keep jobs, or change jobs I just can’t walk away from an amazing opportunity. Now that the shock is over I’m really excited to dig in!

I’m hoping that my new schedule will help me be even more productive with my time. I haven’t had to balance these scales of activity for some 15 years so it will take some time, but I think it’s going to be really great. Taylor isn’t quite on board yet, but he’s going to have to experience it before he can comprehend it. His reaction was less than optimal with a few tears and response that I couldn’t go to work because I needed to be just his mom. We’ve tried to explain that my hours fit within his schools schedule so outside of summer he’ll never even know I’m gone, but he’ll have none of it yet. I think once he can experience it he’ll be able to understand that I can go to work and still be his mom too. Cidnie was a little resistant at first but got right on board with a little explanation and is excited for me. She asked me every day last week if I’d gotten the job and when I did if she could tell people.

So a new adventure begins.

Life finds a lot of parallels in daily events. Sometimes you find yourself up, other times down. They say the see-saw effect is a requirement to appreciate the meaning of both sides. I’m sure that’s true and likely the knowledge that there is an up for the down is what pulls us through. Often, you have to get through a period of things being much worse before they get better. This is definitely true of big projects; you end up making a bigger mess to tear something up in preparation for replacement or repair. I suppose you could say the same is true of us as humans; so often we end up making a bigger mess before learning from and enhancing that area of our lives. The goal in the end is always to find that other side of the see-saw.

This week we’ve been working on our pool. We’d pushed the limit for maintenance and it was time to do things right. The salt cell system that generates the chlorine for the pool started going on the blitz last summer. We’re learning it’s a lot like computers today, the system we have is now outdated and not supported for repairs. We’ll be installing a new system in a few days. Experience tells us how the ends justify the means, which believe me, is all that’s gotten us through this project. First, I have to deal with my personal heart murmur over the cost of the new system. Then it’s on to the physical labor portion of the project.

Step #1 drain the pool:

This is done by having a friend who lets you borrow their pump, and running said pump for about 12 hours:

Step #1.5 manually drain the final amount the pump can’t:

This part truly sucked, not just because all the grime and filth was concentrated, but because that small puddle was very deceptive. Those final 3-4 inches were another 350ish gallons of water. I know this because I manually filled and lifted out a 6 gallon shop vac 60 times.

Step #2 Scrub down the walls with a chlorine solution and the calcium build up on the tile with a pumice stone:

Step #3 Admire the work of a completely cleaned pool as you massage raw feet and burning muscles:

Step #4 Start the refill:

This is after about 14 hours. I’m guessing it will take about 36 hours to fill. Did I mention how big this pool is?!

I’m going to enjoy our pool this summer so much more than I ever have before, even with the deck in need of repair. And so you know, I’ve already looked into that as a do it yourself project and it’s a no go. I’ll definitely have to fork over a lot of pennies to have new kool deck put down. I’ll appreciate that more when it’s done too.

While I was working on removing the last few inches of pool water, Blake was working on a project with the help of a good friend. Our grill is almost back in working order. As we dug out the old line (or what’s left of it) we felt a new gratitude for getting the gas line turned off a year and a half ago!

We’ve now got the new line put down and hooked up ready for inspection to turn the gas line back on. We opted NOT to put it right under the electrical line against the house like the former pipe ran.

What gets drained, gets filled back up. What gets dirty can be cleaned. There’s a life parallel there.