I didn't mean to just disappear again!  My intention was to start writing regularly, but I guess it will have to wait until I get back from Albania.  Here's a quick post to let you know what I've been up to.

I quit my job at Youth Town to start as the secretary at our church.  I LOVE being a church secretary, so I am really excited about it.  The only bad thing is that I officially started this week and now I am leaving for two weeks.  Most all of it is stuff I've done before, though, so it shouldn't be too hard to get back into the swing of things when we return.  The hardest part was leaving Youth Town.  I really did like my job there, and I really liked working with Mark and my boss.  I'll still be helping them with the insurance billing and payroll for a while, though.

The first two weeks of that transition were very difficult.  I was working at Youth Town until 2:30, driving all the way across the county (40 minutes) to the church, training with the secretary who was leaving, and then picking up the kids in time for all their nightly activities.  It sure does feel good to just have one job again!

The most exciting, but also very scary, thing is that we are leaving this Sunday for Albania!  I am going to be doing women's ministry in the prisons and in a muslim village.  I am so excited, but it is nerve-wracking, too.  I've never been out of the country, never been in a prison or a muslim village, never taught through an interpreter, never...  Needless to say, this is WAY outside my comfort zone  That's probably what I'll look like the whole time we're there!  It will be so neat to see what the Lord does through this trip, for the Albanians, the missionaries we are going to help, and in our team.  I'll write all about it when I recover from jetlag!  We'll be back on the 23rd.

Have a wonderful two weeks!  Please pray for our trip!

Based on the comments and private e-mails I've received since yesterday, it doesn't seem my intent behind yesterday's post was clear.  I am really big on relationships, not just my own, but watching how people relate to each other and to the world.  I think getting ready for this mission trip has really increased my sensitivity in that area.  For example, the following is an entry I made in my facebook page last week:

My brain is in turmoil right now.  Mark and I just got done watching the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith.  Basically, it is the story of Chris Gardner, who was a single father of a 5 year old son who worked a six month, unpaid internship in a brokerage firm to try to make a life for himself and his son.  Those six months he worked his tail off, living on the streets, and giving all he had to everyone else.

What got to me so much was that, first of all, people really live that way.  Even worse, though, is that, just like the other characters in the movie, we don't notice.  We are so wrapped up in our own lives and the things that we want and need that we don't pay any attention to the people around us.  Those people walked past him on the street, worked with him every day, and some of them even watched every move he made in order to decide if he deserved the job he was trying out for.  Even those people didn't really SEE him.

It is just really bothering me that we really don't see each other.  We don't hear each other.  We only see and hear what we want to see and hear, because then we expect so much less of ourselves in our relationships with other people.  Lord, please change that in me. 

I will never again take for granted the third row seat in my van.  My rental car is a Jeep Cherokee Laredo, which does have three back seatbelts, but only one back seat.  We can't even get out of the driveway without hearing "He's touching me!!!"  Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhh... Two more weeks of this, and I may not have any hair left!

Anyway, there is a really funny story to go along with that complaint.  Tonight, Ian and Jadon were about to kill each other in the car, and we were about to finish the job on both of them.  Mark pulled the old standby that always works with them and made them hold hands for the rest of the night until bedtime.  Watching them get their pajamas on was hilarious!  You'll have to use your imagination  The best part, though, was this conversation, which we overheard after the pajamas were on:

Jadon: How are we supposed to go potty?

Ian: (pause) Let's brush our teeth first. (which they did-also very funny)

Jadon:  You'll have to unzip my jammies (VERY funny to watch)

Then Ian turns around so he can't watch Jadon pee.

Jadon:  You'll have to zip me back up (Now we are dying laughing!)

Then it was Ian's turn to use the bathroom.

Ian: Turn around!  I didn't watch you!

Jadon turns around and yanks Ian's arm.

Ian: Don't yank my arm!  I'll pee on the floor! (He had elastic shorts on.  It would have been even funnier if Jadon had had to zip Ian up!)

Both:  We're done!

Me:  Good, now go feed the dogs (Being the parent can be so much fun!)

Well, I guess it's safe to tell my news now.  I got a new job!  I'll start June 1 as the secretary at our church.  It's a bit bittersweet, because I like my job at Youth Town.  It's easier to leave a job you hate.  My heart is in the church, though, and I am really looking forward to it.  It will also put me within just a couple minutes of the kids' school, so that will be nice.  I will miss working with Mark, though, and my wonderful boss.

On another note, my "baby" graduated from preschool tonight!  He was so handsome!  Here are some pictures:

Doesn't this make a daddy proud?

getting his diploma:

Jadon's award: how fitting!

Jadon's teachers, Mrs. Camille and Mrs. Amber

I can't believe he will be in kindergarten in the fall Where does the time go?