New things...

I've always loved to try new things. Okay, well as long as I can quit if I dont like it. Then again, I seldom find things I dont like. I'm just flexible that way. I tried bellydancing...fell in LOVE with it and hope to get back into it at some point. Lately I've even been sampling Chinese food and as long as I know what the meat is (I hate cats but I dont want to eat one!) I like it, too.

It's the big things I have a problem with. Especially stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to my job/ career or helping others.

I got my Bachelor's in Business Administration because at the time, I was working for the bank and assumed that since my husband didn't make much money, I'd always have to work there. He never did make much money but I was able to get out of banking (something I didn't really like) and get into teaching and daycare--something I'd pretty much been groomed for my whole life.

But I didn't want to go back to school to get a Master's or a teaching certificate that would've enabled me to teach in public school. It took me NINE years to get my undergrad, I was in NO HURRY to go back. I also didn't--and still don't--like the direction the public schools were going and I had no desire to be a part of it. So I found my niche in the private setting.

Now, I'm pretty much maxed out on salary and getting burned out with the "industry". I still love the kids and I get along with the parents and it's very heartwarming when you see something click in a child that you've been trying to teach them. I've taught several kids to read and nothing short of giving birth to my own children has been as rewarding. And now that I'm working with toddlers, language development and independence has been just as satisfying.

But administration and government agencies are beginning to tie the hands of caregivers. There are too many "experts" with no practical experience making all the rules instead of allowing the natural relationship of parent/child/caregiver to progress on its own. I realize that there are crazies out there and that sometimes situations occur and bad things happen. But instead of dealing with those individually, the government's answer--as it is with anything--is to mandate a procedure that just makes it tough on everyone unnecessarily.

I used to have the dream of opening my own center. But not anymore.  I want out. It's time to do something different. And so I've been thinking...

I have fallen in love with my Physical Therapist! She's amazing and has gotten me interested in the field. Problem is, to be a licensed Physical Therapist that would mean another three years of school AT LEAST!

Physical Therapist Assistants do pretty well but it's still a huge commitment for school. And I'm still paying on my student loans from my undergrad degree! Do I really want to go into more debt? Would it be worth it? Would I like being a Physical Therapist? I can get along with most people but putting my hands on some people--especially those with jacked up feet...oh well, it can't be worse than changing diapers, can it?

Physical Therapy Aide is a twelve week program for $800-$1600 and I'm totally interested in that. It's not that much money or time invested into finding out if its a field I would really like to go into. And it can never hurt to know how to do something else. But it doesn't pay very well...about the same as what I make now. So....that's what I'm thinking!

As for helping others...I'm always glad to do that when I can but I've always wanted to do more...

I've always had a heart for orphans and a heart for missions. But my marriage to Jeff didn't lend itself to doing anything for either. He didn't want to adopt, nor did he have any desire to go to a foreign country--or even a poor side of this one--to help anybody. I don't mean to paint a picture of him that's selfish. He would help his friends and family in a heartbeat and still does help me a lot. But strangers...it's not his thing.

So when I got divorced, missions moved to the top of my list of things to do and I finally found a good first missions trip to take. I applied about four months ago and found out last week I had been approved! I am beyond excited.

I am going to work in an orphanage in Mexico for a week--just loving on babies and doing whatever needs to be done. It's right up my alley! My family is less than thrilled however because...

I'll be gone during Christmas. I leave December 23 and come back December 30. Why did I decide I could be away from my kids and family on Christmas? Well because it's Jeff's year to have the kids at Christmas. And while he may or may not have been willing to compromise (sometimes we get along in this area and sometimes not) I didn't want to chance being completely alone in my apartment on Christmas Even when for the past twenty years I've been waiting for Santa Claus to show up. I didn't think I could handle it.

So I decided if things are going to be different, I'm going to control HOW they are different and so I applied and turned it over to God. If He thought it was a good idea, I'd get approved to go and if not, I'd come up with a new plan. He apparently agreed with me. Now all I have to do is raise the money to cover my cost because homegirl certainly doesn't have the money herself and I also would like to raise over and above my cost and maybe take some things to the orphanage--like diapers or whatever.

So that's my big news...an upcoming mission trip and a possible career change. Need lots of prayers for both!