Resolution #1...

So sorry I've been out of the blogging loop the last week or so. Remember my New Years' Resolutions? One of them was to get into a new job situation that would allow for more flexibility to pick up my kids earlier from homecare, be home with them a little more, but still use my degree and work part time.

A couple of weeks ago, a part time position fell into my lap. It's as a part time area director for a ministry organization Greg and I use to volunteer for, and the best part is that the work is primarily from home. I struggled with the decision because I have a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy and don't want to neglect that; I'm not ready to give up on that field! However, after much prayer and consideration, Greg and I decided that during these early years while the kids are so young and impressionable, I'd like to be home with them more and I can therefore sacrifice a little to do so. The ministry is a great opportunity, is very flexible, and I can always return to health care in a couple of years.

God answered my prayers! When I talked to my boss at the therapy clinic and told her of my intentions to leave so I can work part time and be home more with my kids, she pretty much wouldn't let me quit. She asked that since the clinic has been getting so busy lately, would I be interested in working PRN with patients and doing some marketing to doctors each week. She said that if I could do maybe 5 hours/week, she'd pay he a pretty nice hourly rate--good for the clinic to keep business up, good for me to stay in patient care, and good for my wallet. I never expected her to offer this, and the best thing is that the marketing part would be on my own time.

I'm going to keep the kids in homecare but decrease their time there from three 10-hour days down to two 6 or 7 hour days.

Things keep getting better, too. The ministry gave me a brand new laptop, a printer/scanner/fax/copier machine, and $500 towards setting up a comfy home office (can be used for a desk, a chair, paint, decor, picture frames, whatever!), and additional money each month for office expenses such as printer cartridges, paper, a daytimer, WiFi at Starbucks, etc. Furthermore, I get a "Starbucks" allowance so I can hold meetings with my teams there each week.

Also, the graduate school here asked me to teach again this Fall for their weekend casting and splinting course. It's only 6 or 7 Sunday afternoons all semester, so the kids can be with Greg and I can stay even more in the healthcare realm.

One of my parents' favorite hymns was always Great is Thy Faithfulness. I've definitely seen it this week!