The calm

Even though life is changing like crazy, today I felt a calm. 

The kind of calm that only comes following a storm, and that brings new hope. 

Yesterday I had some moments of great fear, but I made a conscious effort to let that go. 

There are still a lot of unknowns and a lot of fears, but I learning to give it up to the One who not only knows the road ahead, but created it. 

This place of calm is a good place to be. 

New job

Today I met with the director of our church daycare/preschool to talk about the job she offered me.  I will have a class of 6-10 kids depending on the day.  I had to get a tb test today and once that comes back I can start training.  One big surprise I got was that the job comes with full benefits!  I did not expect that at all so that was a huge blessing.  Also, having looked at the schedule for which days have an opening for Graesen to join the class (I can only have a max of 10 kids per day) I decided that it would be best if Graesen joins me for 2 1/2 days each week.  Thursdays and Fridays he will be with me all day since those days have openings.  Then he will alternate coming Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (the afternoon he does not come with me he will go to family or a sitter's-I had to find a schedule that worked with the class openings).  Mondays and Tuesday/Wednesday mornings he will be with Evan.  This will give him some good time with Evan each work week and he will get to be with me for half of the time I am at work.  I am very excited about this job.  I think it will be a huge blessing for both Graesen and I.  It will be awesome to have my own class and students, and I am so excited for Graesen to experience preschool alongside me.

Tonight Graesen did a little art after dinner.  He did some stamping and I'm pretty sure he got more ink on himself than the paper :)  That is why he does art without his clothes.

Nice Sunday

Graesen enjoyed another doughnut after church today.  My dad keeps spoiling him :)  And I like that he sits still long enough for me to get a picture (even if it's not a good one) in his cute  church clothes.

 

After church my parents took Graesen for a walk while I fit in a quick run.  The warmer weather was nice.

This afternoon Graesen stayed with Evan for while so that I could go see "One For the Money" with my mom, two of my  aunts, and a family friend.  The movie was good, and I hope they make some off of some of the newer books.  The first one was actually my least favorite of the books.  I feel like each book gets funnier.
Graesen enjoyed some left over popcorn tonight.  The kid loves popcorn almost as much as I do:)

Shaving cream train wash

This afternoon I decided to do something a little fun with Graesen.  I put some shaving cream in one bowl and water in another, then got out some bath trains, a toy truck, and a paint brush.  I set them up on the table for a little train wash fun.  I actually encouraged Graesen to sit up on the table so that he could really get into it and "live it up" :)  He loved it.  At first he just "cleaned" his toys with the paint brush, but I encouraged him to see what the shaving cream felt like.  That's when things got really fun :)

Graesen's new thing is wanting to wear sunglasses when he is tired.  If he wants to fall asleep in the car he will ask for his sunglasses.  Tonight he fell asleep on the way home from movie night at my aunt's house.

God is good!

Graesen and I had reason to celebrate tonight. 

We went out to share an ice cream (with a gift card I had which really makes it so much sweeter).

And to revel in the fact that God is good!

You see, God answered a huge prayer of mine today.  I have been majorly stressed about my financial situation as a single mom, and stressed about leaving Graesen to work more.  Today I got a call from the childcare director at my church.  She offered me a position as a lead preschool teacher in our church's 2 to 3 year old class!  I didn't even know there was a position open.  I had applied for a part time assistant teacher position a couple of months ago.  I was offered that job, but decided that with me getting a divorce I couldn't afford to take a job with so few hours.  I explained my situation and the director was very understanding and kind.  Well, I guess this new job just opened up.  She said she thought of me and figured she would offer me the job first.  This is such a huge blessing.  It is a 9-5 weekday job.  Graesen can come be a student in my class (for half price), so I will still be getting a lot of time with my little guy!  He will continue to spend time with Evan on Mondays and in the mornings, then will join me at school to be one of my students in the afternoon.  I go in on Monday to observe the class, talk about the details of the job, and create a training schedule.  This job answered my prayers about getting a job, my prayers regarding my worries in leaving Graesen for so many hours each day, and my prayers that I might develop more Christian friendships.  God is really, really good!

Wild much?

I didn't have work today, so Graesen and I headed to story time at the library.  Graesen could not sit still for more than a minute, then he would try to run out of the room to see the rest of the library.  He did like coloring at the end, but he seems so excited to be there that he has to run around and see everything.

After story time, Graesen spent some time doing puzzles and playing on the computer. 

Then it was time for preschool story time, and Graesen's babysitter showed up with her kids.  We decided to stay and go to the second story time.  Graesen was still rather wild, but really enjoyed the songs and play time at the end. 

He does so good sitting still at home to read.  Some days he will bring book after book to me to read.  Maybe it is just the excitement of the crowd or the different location that make Graesen so hyper during story time?  Or maybe it's the fact that he is not in daycare or anything (other than the church nursery) that teaches him how to behave in a classroom type setting?  I am thinking we will have to start preschool next year so he can get some practice.

We also went on a quick little walk to try and see the sunset tonight.  We drove to a little spot by our house, but we accidentally got there about 15 minutes late :(

Love Bug

This afternoon Graesen did a little art project.  He saw this wooden love bug mask in a dollar bin at a craft store a few weeks ago, so I decided to get it for him.  Today he got to decorate it.

He accidentally put the mask on his face backwards and ended up with sparkles and glue all over his face :)

He needed a diaper change when he got done, and since I was about to put him into the bath and didn't want to waste a diaper, I let him wear some boxers he got for Christmas.  He thought he was so cool, it was hilarious!  He ran/danced around the living room for a long time and kept stopping to check out what he was wearing.

He even tried to do a few pushups :)