AJ and a LATTE

I have been officially retired from public school and at my new job for almost a full year.  It is time to do a glance back over the last twelve months to see what I’ve learned, what I’ve missed, what I’ve done right and what God is still working on.

First, though I love my littles and do miss them terribly, I made the right decision to retire.  I still love the profession and I do miss the ministry, but I don’t miss the “job.”  No lesson planning and no discipline has been a dream!  I still get to fill my “children bucket” through church and the children’s sermons during our interim pastor’s tenure.  There are some possibilities lying ahead to do something with children through the Academy of Fine Arts in Plainview, but that is still in the “Knee-Time” talking to God phase.  I’m open to where He wants me, but I want to make sure He is opening the door and I am not just adding to my plate. 

My current adventure as an administrative assistant in the Wayland School of Creative Arts is going really well.  I am getting the hang of the secretarial end of the duties.  Finance and budget still set me on edge simply because I want to do it right the first time, every time.  The people I work with are Grade-A, prime stock!  My boss is fantastic!  Dealing with my beloved college kiddos is not all that different from my elementary/middle school/high school kids.  They are just in bigger bodies.  They still need to be loved on and will do anything for a piece of candy!  They need to be affirmed just as we all do.  God DID put me here.  I don’t know if it was more for the students/faculty/staff or for me!  I have loved this phase, but it has highlighted the beauty of the last phase.  It has filled my bucket and allowed me to see how good my former bucket was. I have done paperwork, listened to students, sewn, repaired, ironed, deconstructed a band uniform, played high-and-go-seek with lost items, babysat, mama’d, and the list goes on.  Some days I am slammed with more to do that I can finish.  Other days are very, VERY slow.  It is a good balance.  I go home mentally tired but it is a good tired. It is never the same day twice.  

God is good!  He has provided.  He has provided a wonderful, loving wife for my son.  He has provided my family a means to minimize debt and have most of our wants. He is moving in our church home and working toward a united family.  He has blessed us with health and shown us the beauty of loss. He is an active God who is moving within me.  I think He still has plans for this old dog. We’ll see if I learn new tricks.  

Nothing deep and philosophical this time.  Just life moving forward. As in music, life is ever in motion.  It is either ebbing or flowing, growing or shrinking; it is never still.  May your life be in a state of growth and forward motion. May you take time to ebb and rest. May your crescendos be lovely and your diminuendos be graceful.

Until next time…