Mumbo jumbo in my head...with some pictures

I've been doing an awful lot of reflecting lately. Reflecting on my family, reflecting on my job, reflecting on our future, you know, the usual. Sometimes I just can't seem to grasp a solid hold onto anything for longer than a few moments, before I'm consumed with thoughts about something else. Its a whole lot of mumbo jumbo, if you ask me!

I suppose I'll start with my first point, reflecting on my family. Brant has just completed another quarter at Fuller and is on Spring Break. He always works so hard, putting endless amounts of time and thoughtful energy into his seminars. I'm so proud of him. He has been actively applying for scholarships for the coming academic year, and has even taken on a new TA position at Fuller, which will start up next week. He continues to get together with fellow students and professors, including a meeting he had with Fuller's President, just last week! In other words, Brant continues to thrive.

While Brant is thriving, I find myself floundering (only sometimes). I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am in a "season" right now. The "season" has its countless blessings. I am able to have a full time job in such a tough economy, while spending each hour of that job with my sweet daughter. But I do not always know how I am thriving. Day to day, I can look back and see that I have a very strict routine, and I do not purposely plan it this way - it is just what comes of having a job like mine, when I am not in my home environment where variety takes place (i.e., cooking, cleaning, running errands, etc.). The one problem with having a routine everyday, is that it becomes monotonous. I refuse to turn this blog entry into a woe-is-me post, because I am not in a woe-is-me state. But I cannot deny more often than not, that I fall into the frame of thinking that what I do (although A LOT), really isn't propelling me forward. Does that make sense? I miss the stimulation of the classroom. I miss the interaction with 45 other co-workers, along with students of various ages and charms. And, truth be told, its not like I want to be back in that scenario right now. But sometimes, I wonder how long I can really "handle" being in the job I am today. The pay is right, the family is great, I'm with Maddie all day long, the stress is significantly low...why mess with a good thing, right? I have no intentions of making any drastic changes. This job is a huge blessing and is certainly where our family needs me the most.

And speaking of the most important member of the family, I don't want to leave out Miss Maddie. She only continues to delight us, with her vocal chords, her spunky personality and her contagious smile. Maddie certainly knows how to test her boundaries (and cross over them), allowing us to test out our various "methods" (ha!) of discipline. Its definitely more of a trial and error technique for us at the moment, but we are figuring it out. At the end of the day, all 3 of us are filled with smiles and love for one another (and relief that Maddie is going to sleep for the night, and we have several hours of peace!). We couldn't have hand picked a better little girl - she is the greatest!

And so I will close this post with a few "paparazzi shots" I took of Miss Mae last week. :) And finally, a picture of Maddie in her new house, reading books with Daddy! :)