Reflections on the past year

 Hard to believe it has been a year already...

What am I talking about?  Well a year ago I headed back to work after over 13 years of homeschooling my children.

The journey to find work started more than 2 years before that but it takes time now to get employment and I guess it was not the time to do so for me.   Besides 2019 was a year of grief and I needed healing in so many different ways.

Nevertheless 2020 started and I had some interviews.   In March, I was offered a position under contract at  one of the universities in town.  My start date was set to March 16.  

Was I nervous when this date arrived? You can bet I was...  so I drove to work in order to arrive for 8am.  I entered the building and went where I was suppose to go.   I wasn’t sure which door I needed to take but my supervisor came and asked me if I had received her message.  What message I asked?   Turns out that all employees were sent home because of the pandemic.  Most workplace in Ontario had to respect the new COVID restrictions of the province.   I stayed literally many a good 10 minutes.  I had to go back home.

Throughout the week, I attended virtual meeting, did online training, slowly set up my computer at home. It took about a week to have access to everything I needed.  My training for this position was done virtually.

Then a couple of months later, a coworker was going on maternity leave.  I decided to apply on the position because the salary was higher.  I got the position and was trained again virtually for 2 weeks before her maternity leave started.   For about 2 months I juggled the responsibilities of both positions until the new employee which was taking over the first position started in August.

Today, I am reflecting on the year of busyness as I call it.  These positions has brought a lot of activities in my daily work.   Not only do I have to work mostly from home but at times I do have to be on site for the learning activities of the students that I am managing.   COVID has thrown curve balls at us for scheduling and managing things but we have always found solutions for it.   The learning activities I am in charge had to be tweaked due to restrictions in the number of people allowed in the rooms where they are held but in the end we are trying very hard to make the learning be interesting to the students.

Today I celebrate my First year being at the university and I am in awe of the blessings the Lord had poured on our family.   One year ago, He has opened a door for me to get back on the market and to build up my confidence.  It has been an amazing year trusting Him in so many ways.  I am thankful for His presence in my life and His care for me and my family.   

I am not alone.  He is with me every day of the year - every single year  that goes by.

Have you trusted God lately?

Reflections on when your husband is away for a period of time

This past six days, my husband flew in a warmer place in order to attend a conference.  The trip has been planned for a few months and we knew it was coming.   But it is unusual for him to leave on a business trip and well.... let's be honest here - we are not used to it because it is rare that he leaves for an extended period of time.  As a matter of fact, I can count the numbers of times we were separate on the fingers of one hand.

Okay.   So here I am, on the day he comes back, reflecting on what I have learned this past few days without him at home.

1) The weather will not be cooperating with you.  We had some days where it was extremely cold and two freezing rain warning.  One morning we woke up with ice all over the place - the street was almost a giant skating rink.

2) That sometimes when you feel discourage small blessings from above can happen.   My husband went to Chipotle on Sunday after attending church where he was and he just could decide what to take.  You see it was his first time ever to go there (I never went either but I told him about the restaurant).   Anyhow, he somewhat mentions that it is his first time and he got a surprise when it was time to pay...

3) Going shopping with boys is exhausting.   You literally have no time to enjoy yourself because when they are done, they're done and it is the incessant question of when we go back home.  Shopping trip was cut short rapidly. 

4) It is hard to steep alone when you are so used to have your husband next to you.   Yawn!   Oh I slept... but it is just not the same.   Made me realized that if anything happen to him it will be hard to adjust myself.

5) I wish I can visit that area one day.   I never went to Arizona and I hope that some day I will be able to go with him so he can show me the view from the mountain in person - not just photos.  

6) Sunsets are stunning - no matter where you go.

7) Cacti can make you think of underwater garden...

8) Trips like this can stir your marriage positively.  The saying is true: " Distance makes your hearth grow fonder."

Well - that's my tidbits of wisdom on business trips and family life.   I look forward to have my husband back today.   Tomorrow I declare PD day for us.   Dad is home and the kids will be excited.   No point of doing school. We will enjoy spending time with him and looked at his pictures.