Are. You. Kidding.

I got an interesting call last Friday.  A friend of mine had just gotten here for a 'coffee' date when the phone rang.  It was the human resource person at Gahanna.  Clearly, he not my favorite person in the world.  After some awkward small talk he dropped the bomb...there were some mid-year changes in staff and they were recalling me to my position. For real. I am not kidding. What is even crazier is that I didn't really have any time to think about it because it was going down immediately.  Talk about a fast pitch curve ball...

At first, I was really hesitant to accept it.  What about babysitting?  What about real estate?  What about being home with Hannah and getting Alyssa off the bus??  I wasn't sure I wanted to go back in the classroom.  But, if I declined I was off the recall list and surrendered any future rights to an open position.  Now, the idea is growing on me and I am actually excited.  I am just nervous about the lack of time I have to prepare and the fact that it is a different school than I am used to.  Everything happened so quickly that I haven't had time to really process it.  To be honest, I am actually still in a state of shock.  I didn't think I would ever get my teaching job back...let alone in the middle of the year.  That just doesn't happen...Especially to me.

I still plan to pursue real estate...I will just do it part time through the school year.  And, if for some reason I decide to pursue it full time, I can just resign from Gahanna.  The great thing about that is now that I have a steady reliable income again, I can take any extra cash from it sales and apply it directly paying off student loans! In fact, as a little extra reassurance from the Lord, I got my first official clients into contract on a house yesterday. 

It is so crazy to look back and see how God worked through this mess we have been walking through.  Walking with us, protecting us and preparing us for our future selves. Financially. Spiritually. Relationally. Emotionally. Not that it has been easy...on the contrary. And, not that it is over...this is actually a beginning.  It has been the hardest year of our lives thus far.  But, refinement is usually painful and He has been smooshing and refining us...and will continue to do so. 

I am feeling so overwhelmed and blessed right now, I could scream. I must say, it was a pretty productive week for us :)  This weekend we are relaxing as a family at Great Wolf Lodge for leader weekend and then,  ready or not, Monday morning I get my classroom back.  Guess I better start and 'Classroom Ideas' board on Pinterest ;)

Make A Joyful Noise

For Christmas, Great Grandma and Grandpa Bender got Alyssa a karaoke machine.  I knew she would really like it because she loves music...just like her Daddy.  But, I think it has actually become her most played with gift of all.  Her and Hannah both LOVE it. 

Dan made them a couple CDs with some of their favorite songs on it that they can sing too.  They don't like us to listen to them or watch them, but they will go in Aly's room, shut the door, crank up the tunes and belt out the lyrics at the top of their lungs.  It is so funny because they think that we can't hear them just because the door is closed.  We have tried to sneak and video record them a few times, but we have gotten caught in the act and reprimanded every time ;) Their favorite CD is the one of Christmas music and some Christian songs.  It is so sweet to hear them singing about Jesus and dancing their little hearts out.

Can you say 'Future American Idol' winners in the house ;) 

Only 200 days...

until we leave for Disney World!!  We can make our dining reservations and the girls' appointments at the Bippity, Boppity Boutique later this month.  I could not be more excited...

Dinner Parties at the Castle

We have been having lots of dinner parties with royalty lately.  We put the dream castle and the doll house together to create our own little 'Wisteria Lane'.  Of course, Barbie had to park her camper in the driveway...

Playing with the girls has been so fun for me and has brought back so many memories of playing when I was a little girl.  Truly nostalgic.  Next time you are in the 'neighborhood' drop by and ring the 'real, working' doorbell.  We can always make room for one more at the table! 

New Year, New Career

Last Fall I decided to pursue my real estate license.  Even though it was a crazy Fall trying to get through the classes, I finished just before Thanksgiving and passed my test the first week of December.  Now, I am all set up and ready to go.  Referrals are welcome ;););)

To my surprise, in the first month, I was able to write a few offers for two different sets of clients.  Neither deal worked out, but we are still looking and will find them the perfect homes.  It was good practice and it built some confidence in me even though the deals fell through.  I also have fancy, schmancy business cards and I have even started a new blog for our team that has been gaining followers pretty quickly. Check it out...it is not just for people looking to buy or sell a home :)   

Now, I am looking forward to building my network (and hopefully making some money) in the Spring and Summer so that next Fall I can concentrate on it full time.  There is the possibility of several listings and a few buyers already lined up...if they all work out.  It would be so great to not have the burden of babysitting anymore and get to do something I actually enjoy.  Now if we could just get Dan a new job...

2012 Resolution

When we got a Christmas card from Alyssa's teacher there was an extra surprise in it...a note that said her most recent Writer's Workshop journal was attached.  I guess, after reading 'Squirrel's New Year's Resolution' in class, they decided to write their own resolutions for 2012.  They talked about a resolution being a promise to do something that would makes things better in the new year.  Here is what Alyssa said:

"I resolve to halp mi sasdr to hola hp"

~translation~

"I resolve to help my sister to hula hoop"

Of all things, she is going to help Hannah hula hoop. Oh. My. Gosh. I smiled so big and literally laughed out loud when I read this.  Not to mention her illustration of them hooping together. And, she also has a thing with initials right now...that is why they are down the side of the paper:

'AB' - Alyssa Bender

'HB' - Hannah Bender

'DB' - Daddy Bender

'MB' - Mommy Bender

'GM' - Grandpa Miller

'GM' - Grandma Miller

'AM' - 'Amily' Emily Miller

'BM' - Brittney Miller

I am amazed at the skills she has learned in just four months of Kindergarten!  She is so flippin' cute I could just burst!  Too bad our hula hoops are broken...