Small Envelopes, Big Blessings

This year our Christmas was spent at my mom's house in Cary, North Carolina. We spent 3 days up there which is the longest I've been in my hometown in quite awhile. As I drove around Cary and neighboring Raleigh over those three days I became rather nostalgic as we passed by my elementary school, the street I grew up, the $1 movie theatre, the NC State Fairgrounds, Carter Finley Stadium where I spent many Saturdays cheering on the Pack, Meredith College where I spent my first two years of undergrad, my favorite Chinese restaurant, the trail I used to run on, and many other places that remind of the first 22 years of my life. Sometimes it's hard to believe that it's not my home anymore. That fact used to make me really sad. I'd always assumed I'd live in the Raleigh area, or at least nearby, my whole life. I was certain that's where I'd raise a family of my own. But God had other plans as He always seems to.
My plan was to attend graduate school at UNC in Chapel Hill where I got my undergrad degree. It is known as one of the best social work schools in the country and it's just down the road from my beloved Raleigh. I applied to other schools including UGA to be on the safe side, but I just knew I'd continue my education at UNC because I wanted it that badly.
It may be different now that everything is electronic, but then, when you received a college acceptance letter in the mail, you knew what it was before opening because the acceptance letter always comes in a big ol' envelope that includes all the info you need to prepare you for matriculation to your new school and of course the official letter of acceptance that often gets framed or put in a scrapbook. Rejection letters just come in a plain little envelope that is one page thick. When I got the small envelope from UNC, my hopes were crushed. I very clearly remember the painful disappointment that accompanied that small envelope.
Now I did get into UGA and I eventually got excited about moving to new city. But those first several years in Athens were tough. I missed Raleigh and was just biding my time until I was able to return. I graduated from UGA and started working for DFCS in Athens to fulfill the grant that paid for my degree in exchange for working for the state for 2 years. Before that 2 years was up I started looking for jobs in North Carolina. I sent at least 100 resumes to a wide variety of agencies for various positions, some of which were barely related to the degree I'd worked so hard for. The small envelopes started coming again. "Thank you for your interest in our company... the position has been filled by another candidate who was a better fit blah blah blah..."  I cried at each rejection and longed to return to North Carolina where it was familiar and comfortable, where people knew me, where all my memories were. I just wanted to go home. I had no idea I was already there.
On Christmas night as I was riding back home to Athens from North Carolina, I watched my husband as a he drove through the rain and thanked God for the small envelopes I've received in my life. I think of how badly I wanted things my way, how I longed for the familiar and the comfortable. If my wishes had come true, I wouldn't have met Andy and would have missed out on so many blessings God has had for me here in Athens. I am so thankful that God didn't give me what I wanted because His plans for me were so much greater. It's such an important lesson that I constantly forget when things don't go my way. I cry and pout and ask God why like an impetuous child. And He smiles at His child like a patient father, waits for me to quiet down, and gently reminds me that He wants to give me the desires of my heart if I'll just let Him. So as we face disappointments in our life, I hope we will remember that our plans usually fall through to make way for God's bigger and better plans. I wish I still had that rejection letter from UNC because I would definitely frame it to remind me that big blessings sometimes come in small envelopes.

There's Good Here Too

In the days that have passed since evil visited Newtown, Connecticut, hundreds - or probably more like thousands - of people have commented on this tragedy. I doubt I can say anything that hasn't already been said many times. Nonetheless, after what may perhaps be the most senseless act to occur in the United States in my lifetime, I can't help but feel compelled to share the thoughts that have been taking up space in my head over the past few days, whether anyone actually reads them or not.

I heard the news via text message while on the way to an appointment Friday afternoon. I heard bits and pieces of the story as it unfolded but I was the middle of my work day and I had to keep going and fulfilling my responsibilities. When I arrived home, I sat down on the couch and watched. I wept for the children and families hundreds of miles away who I've never met. In the days that followed we've all looked at the pictures of the young victims and been heartbroken. We've wondered how this could have been prevented. Politicians and pundits have argued about gun control while overlooking the much deeper issue of mental health. As a mental health professional who works with disturbed children, this national conversation infuriates me and I have to stop listening. But I'm not going to get on my soapbox about the lack of attention, care, and resources for mental health in our society. Liza Long, a mother of a child with mental illness, articulates this issue much more eloquently than I ever could from a perspective I can only hope I never fully understand. Her story can be found HERE.

As I've tried to wrap my head around what happend, what I really gathered from this event is the horrifying reality that we live in an evil world; and while I am devestated and heartbroken for the citizens of Newtown, if I'm completely honest, more than anything I am terrified for myself. I hope to be mother some day and it's scary to think I could bring a child into a world where I can't protect him or her from harm, a world that is filled with meanness, violence, and every vile thing. This past weekend I felt just absolutely, helplessly overwhelmed with this truth.

Then I went to my church, Athens Church, Sunday morning where we celebrated the end of our Be Rich Campaign where Athens Church partnered with Northpoint Ministries and several other churches across the country to give money, gifts, food, and time to charities that impact their communities. 100% of everything donated went directly to the communities. What does this have to do with Sandy Hook Elementary School? Nothing directly. But to me, this was a reminder that the reality of what happened at that school is only part of the truth. Yes, there is evil in this world, there's not way to deny that. But there is also good. If anyone actually takes the time to read this I hope they will also watch THIS VIDEO or go to HOWTOBERICH.ORG and see that there is a world full of people who are generous, loving, and kind. And more importantly, there is a Good, Gracious, and Loving God who cares about his children. This includes those killed last Friday AND it includes Adam Lanza. I can't make sense of what happened but I can cling to the hope that the love poured out during the Be Rich Campaign will not be confined to the holiday season but will multiple and spread throughout the world because with all the bad in the world, we've got to cling to the good.

The race marked out for me

Well, we did it. Andy and I both ran the Athens Half Marathon. The more amazing thing is that we did it with minimal training. Our training consisted of running when we felt like it and taking of advantage of an excuse to eat a lot of carbs. I fully expected to pass out halfway through. It didn't really start hurting until mile 10 though. Afterwards I felt like Barney on the episode of "How I Met Your Mother" where he ran the NYC marathon and then got stuck on the subway because his legs wouldn't work. My time was terrible, but I did it and I'm proud of that. I've considered myself a runner for about 14 years but the truth is, it's been about 3 years since I've really been a regular runner. I remember the first time I ran when I was not being chased or forced to by a PE teacher. The first time I ran because I, of my own volition, chose to run was in the eight grade. I joined the track team. It did not last long. I was NOT a natural runner, not at all. In elementary school, we had to do the mile run each year in PE class. I dreaded it with everything in me. I was always one of the last to finish. I don't think I ever ran the entire mile. A whole mile was just so long to run. I'd walk across the finish line along with the other chubby and out of shape kids that unfortunately have become a large percentage of the young population in America. At some point I decided I didn't want to be that kid anymore. So I started walking. I walked everywhere. If I wanted something from the store, I walked. If I wanted to go to the library or to a friend's house, I walked. In eighth grade when I tried to translate my walking into running on the track team, I gave up very quickly. I was slow and my competitive nature kept me from participating in a sport that I wasn't good at. That's when I began solitary running. I liked it because I could go at my own pace and not compare myself to everyone who was faster than me.
I became confident enough in my abilities to give track another try in the ninth grade. I wasn't the best and I wasn't the worst. My race was the 400 (I don't remember if that's yards, meters, or what.) One of my favorite memories of my big brother David is from that time. My family didn't have a lot of money and could not afford nice brand name running shoes. I wanted running shoes like the other girls on the team but my sweet mother who always gave everything she could for her children simply did not have the money at that time. David was in college and waited tables for extra money. He decided he wanted to use his money to buy me a nice pair of track shoes. He picked me up early from school one day and we went to the mall and got me a pair of Adidas. That may not sound like a big deal but it meant so much to me.
 The following year I started running cross country which was more my cup of tea. I discovered that I actually liked running. Again, I wasn't the best and I wasn't the worst. The great thing about this team is that you didn't have to be great to be on it. You just had to be willing to run. I didn't exactly become a cross country star. I really did prefer solo running and that's mostly what I did. I love being able to put on some headphones, start moving my legs, and let the rest of the world disappear. I became a regular runner for several years.
About three years ago, life became just too stressful and busy and I could not find the time or energy to keep up with my regular running regime. I took a break from running expecting to return to it quickly and easily. I've not really gotten back into a regular habit of running since. I miss it but there just always seems to be a reason not to do it. I still run sporatically but it's just not like I used to.
In April of this year my sister-in-laws and best friend ran a 10K in Charleston, South Carolina. I decided it was time to get going again. I made plans to train but didn't follow through. But when I got to the race, the addrenalin kicked in and I ran it. I remembered how much I love the sport. After that I signed up for the Athens Half Marathon with high hopes of training that I again didn't follow through with. I don't recommend this, but my schedule is just not conducive to a strict training regime. Is that just an excuse? Maybe, but it's an excuse I'm okay with. I probably won't do another half-marathon any time soon and will probably never do a full marathon which was once a goal of mine. I realized I just want running to be something I enjoy, not something else I have to do. I've never been a running star and I've accepted that I never will be. Good-bye competitive nature of mine!
As I was trying to make it up the last hill of the race and felt like I was dying, Hebrew 12:1-3 kept going through my head: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. For the joy set out before him, he endured the cross scorning it's shame and sat down at the right hand of the father. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Maybe I won't win any marathons, but there is a much more important race that I'm in. I'm not the best and I'm not the worst, but I will run the race with perseverance and I will finish victorious. And I might hit a 10K every now and then while I'm at it.



Me and Andy pre-race. We didn't take a post-race pic which is probably a good thing.




I like that everyone got a medal whether you finished first, last, or somewhere in the middle



Puppy Love

When you ask a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, most will say something along the lines of a ballerina, a movie star, or maybe a princess. Not me. Of course I loved playing movie star and princess but when you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was I wanted to be a mommy. In fact if you ask me today what I want to be when I grow up (I still don't consider myself a grown up most of the time) I still will answer that I want to be a mommy. Anyone who knows me knows I turn into a pile of mush at the sight of a baby. I think most girls are born with some level of maternal instinct. I however seem to have been born with a maternal instinct on steroids.... Okay that doesn't sound right but I think it makes the intended point. I want to be mommy, probably more than the average female with a ticking biological clock. HOWEVER, I am very aware that I am not ready to be a mother AT ALL. In my job I see so many young mothers who are not ready for children and the repercussions on the life they created can be severe. I don't think anyone ever feels ready, but we know when we aren't and I'm not.

At least I'm not ready to be the mother of human child...

So I got the next best thing.

This is Diesel. He has been part of our family for 8 months now and we can't imagine our lives without him. This is the day he came home with us. He was such a cute little guy, all big ears, big paws, and that sweet puppy smell.

Maternal Instinct Satisfied. (for now)

He's not that different from a real child. It was awhile before he slept through the night. He is an excellent snuggler. He makes messes. He's into everything. He's disobediant at times (okay, most times). He pouts when he doesn't get his way. He loves us unconditionally. He's hard to stay mad at because he's so stinkin cute.

And he is growing up WAY TOO FAST!

 Having Diesel has been such a joy and such a challenge. I have two other wonderful dogs (who I love equally) but Diesel is the first dog I've raised from a puppy. There's something to be said for that. I think my husband's just relieved that a puppy quenched my maternal instinct for the moment. I know, I know, puppies are not the same as children. I would never leave my child at home alone locked in a cage. I would never put my child on a leash (yeah I know some people do that and it's not okay with me). I would never make my child eat off the floor. Challenging as it is to raise this silly dog at times, I know it cannot compare to a child of your own both in the challenges and the joys. But it sure is good practice!

Who wouldn't love that face!?!

He loves his big sister!



He likes to swim



He does okay with bath time

This is my favorite pic. Look how little he was!

Car rides make him sleepy

 

He's a daddy's boy





Life's a Garden. Dig It

About a year ago, Andy informed me that we were going to grow a vegetable garden, at which I smiled and agreed to because when the boy has his mind set on something, it's near impossible to steer him in any other direction. He told me how great it would be to have a garden, how fresh vegetables are so much better than store-bought. I humored him and followed his direction when it came to planting this garden he was so determined to have. It just seemed like a lot of work and I was not expecting any results.

I was right and wrong. It was a lot of work, but we got HUGE results. I couldn't believe how many vegetables we grew last year. I also did not expect to enjoy it so much, but I became completely enthralled with the entire experience from pulling weeds, to making tomato sauce from scratch with our home grown tomatos, peppers, and herbs (yes, I am a domestic goddess). It is very satisfying to work in the earth and then be able to see the fruits of your labor and enjoy a bountiful harvest. This year, when it came planting time, I approached it with a completely new attitude. My skepticism was replaced by excitement. I delighted in getting dirt under my fingernails as we prepared the soil and planted. Everyday when I get home from work, I immediately check the garden to see how it's grown or if it needs to be weeded or watered.   

I got to thinking about what attracts me to the whole gardening process so much. I've heard people make life metaphors about gardening and to be honest I have rolled my eyes and accused such people of being cheesy (heaven forbid!). But today, my less cynical (and yes, more cheesy) self draws great parrallels between my own life and the plant life that is quickly taking over my front yard. Both involve a lot of hard work. Before planting, we prepare the soil. This year we expanded the garden, so some areas have previously been planted, and some have not. The latter do not have the same luscious soil as the areas where we planted last year, because it only has the one year of preparation instead of two. Each year builds on the previous year and the longer we have the garden, the better the soil will become, as long as we continue to tend to it. That means tilling each year, a strenuous process, not just for us, but I'm sure for the soil as well. If the soil had feelings, I'm sure the tilling process would not be a pleasant one. But sometimes what is required to be healthy and strong is also painful or uncomfortable.

Our garden needs constant care and attention to make sure its basic needs are met (water, sunlight) and to protect it from outside harm such as weeds that steal its nutrients or bugs that attack directly. Obviously the plants that yield the best crops are those that are given the best care (duh). But what has been most intriguing to me is just how resilient Mother Earth proves herself to be again and again. Even the most neglected little plant can be brought back to life with a little TLC. We had strawberry plants that we left outside all winter in the freezing cold without watering once, and now they are absolutely flourishing. I've seen several plants I thought were dead gradually come back to life and bear beautiful fruit. And I've seen it happen in people's lives as well. There is no such thing as a lost cause. Not if you're willing to put in the effort to revive it anyway.

This past weekend marked my one year anniversary to my best friend and the love of my life. It has been a joy to share my garden (literally and figuratively) with him. It hasn't always been easy and I have no doubt there will be more hard times in the future. For the most part we are pretty good about tending to our marriage. We are usually on guard against the weeds of the world that hinder our growth. But there are times we get caught up in our busy lives and forget to water our marriage. Luckily it doesn't take us too long to realize it and get back on track. I pray that will always be the case. This past weekend we had an absolutely wonderful get-away at the lake to celebrate our marriage, and when we returned we had the first harvest of the year in the our garden. I look forward to many more harvests to come.

GRATITUDE and other ramblings

Last week was the most emotionally exhausting week I've had since I quit my job at DFCS over a year ago. Luckily I have become much more skilled at separating myself from my work than I was 4 years ago when I began my journey as a social worker. Today, I do not work for the state anymore, but am employed part-time with Project Family, a private company that contracts with DFCS to provide services to their clients. I guess I just couldn't stay away. The truth is I love working with this particular population, it's why I became a social worker in the first place. But I couldn't stand all the you-know-what that accompanies employment with the state. I also couldn't maintain the level of committment I had to my job at DFCS. I didn't just work there. I lived and breathed DFCS. I nearly burned out within the first six months because I didn't know what a boundary was. My levels of anxiety and mental angst spiraled out of control to the point that it caused very real physical pain. I do recognize that the most significant portion of the problem rested on me and my sheer inability to separate myself from my work. I see it all the time, especially in the new fresh-faced, bright-eyed social workers who have yet to be hardened and embittered by the frustrations of wanting to facilitate change and constantly running into brick walls. We care too much. We take things personally. And the job is extremely demanding. The person described above will either learn how separate themselves from the job and set boundaries with clients as well as with the agency, or she will burn out faster than you can say prozac (unfortunately the latter is the more common scenario which is why the state keeps losing great case managers).
Today I have a very well-balanced life with two social work jobs that give me the flexibility to also help out at Andy's shop. I can count on one hand the number of times I've mentally or emotionally brought my work home with me in the last year. And yet, I feel like I make a difference. Not to every person I come into contact with and not in huge ways. But I help where I can and pray that God fills in the gaps, even when I can't see His hand. Faith is so much easier than trying to understand. God is so much bigger than the terrible, sad circumstances I've seen as a social worker and I choose to trust that He knows what He's doing. That's how I'm able to find balance.
This blog post was not meant to be about my experience as a social worker, my faith, or how I find balance in life. But I start writing and the tangents just start coming. I have too many thoughts jumble around in my head at the same time.
As I was saying, last week was the most emotionally exhausting week I've had since leaving DFCS (though it did not come close to comparison with the levels of exhaustion I experienced with DFCS). It wasn't the demands of my jobs that drained me, but the circumstances of others' lives that saddened my heart. I believe the correct term is Compassion Fatigue. I was witness to two precious lives that experienced unimaginable trauma at the hands of those expected to love them most. It's nothing new in the world of social work, and to be honest, I was grateful I had the reaction I did. It reminded me that I still have the capacity to hurt for someone else. I haven't been too hardened by the job. Again, I digress. This is not where I'm trying to go with this post. The point I am trying to get around to is GRATITUDE. Seeing the darker side of humanity reminds me that I could easily be there myself and for some reason, I've been spared. But for the grace of God, there go I. And in light of yesterday being Mother's Day, I feel compelled to express how grateful I am to have a mother who loves me and supports me, who I can turn to No Matter What. I look at the parents I work with, how they struggle, how the choices they make affect their children and it hurts my heart. None of them set out to abuse or neglect their children, but they were often abused and neglected themselves and simply do not know any better. Or they do know better but they suffer from addiction or illness that incapacitates their ability to do what they know they should. My mother was not perfect. She made mistakes and will readily be the first to admit that. But I have never once in my life doubted her love or her support, which is something that at least 90% of the people I interact with in my jobs have never experienced. I can't imagine what that would be like because I've never had to. I attribute most of my successes in life at least in part to that fact. Sometimes I feel guilt because I've been so blessed. Why have I received so many blessings while others continue to suffer? It's not fair. I could go into quite a rant comtemplating this question, but once again, I will leave that in the hands of someone who knows so much more than me. Today I will just be grateful.

Business Matters

Almost a year ago I married the love of my life and my best friend. When I walked down the aisle I knew I was getting a lifelong companion, a husband, friend, future father of my children, etc... And I also got a business partner, which has been at times a blessing and a challenge. I love being part of my husband's dream and would not trade it for all the riches in the world. But it is not always an easy road.

When Andy and I began dating, his business, Classic City Detail, had been open for about 5 years having progressed from a storage closet tucked behind the lovely aroma of the local chicken plant, to a building shared with another business owner on one of the busiest corners in Athens. It was a great location, but Andy's dreams and the growing business quickly outgrew the shop space. After trying for months to negotiate with the owner of the building in hopes of aquiring the entire space for his business, Andy realized that it was time to move on. I remember feeling his disappointment as he gave up on his hopes of expanding his business where it sat. However, within a matter of days, another building was pretty much laid at his feet. A few weeks later, a lease had been created and signed, and the journey began. What's the cliche about God not closing one door without opening another? Well cliche or not, it's accurate. And looking back on the whole journery, which is still in progress, I can't help but see God's fingerprints all over it.

So this was Classic City Detail's new home, a former Midas shop that was now an eyesore on W. Broad St. There was A LOT of work to be done, but Andy was up for the challenge and I was along for the ride. Having a limited budget, most of the construction was completed by Andy and his guys. I even got to handle a crowbar a few times.

The whole remodeling process was long and draining, made longer and more draining by the City of Athens. I'll just say, they didn't make things easy on Andy. I learned more about zoning and permits and building code than I ever wanted to, such as how many inches a handrail must be from the toilet in order for the bathroom to be handicap accessible. Andy and I would be out to dinner and I'd ask him what he was thinking. More often than not it had something to do with building code. I can't tell the story of Classic City Detail from Andy's perspective but I know from mine it was (and still is!) overwhelming at times, so I can only imagine what it was like from his shoes. It was not uncommon during this time period for Andy to put in 16 hour work days and he wasn't making any money for his labor. The whole process eventually brought him to his knees, which I'm glad it did because while God had him down there, He told Andy he needed to marry that nice girl who liked to hang around the shop with him :)

The shop finally opened in its new location at the end of 2009. I can't believe it's been that long. Sometimes it still seems like yesterday Andy was fighting with the city or trying to figure out how to lay out the clearance-priced black and white tile of the waiting room in a design that wouldn't make it obvious that we ran out of black tiles and couldn't afford more. I wish I could say it was smooth sailing once the construction was finished, the certificate of occupancy obtained, and the doors opened for business. But that has certainly not been the case.

Owning a business is hard. If it weren't, everyone would do it. But the amazing thing about the challenges is that we have the opportunity to really see God's provision and grace. There have been days that we don't know how we are going to make it, and then God shows us how. There are still LOOONG work days at the end of which I have a very exhausted and drained husband with knots the size of my fist in his shoulders. Like I said, owning a business isn't easy. You're the first to get there, last to leave, and last to get paid. But it's not just a car wash, it's a ministry. And I see how God has laid out each step along the way. Some days we wonder what God's thinking, but that's not for us to know just yet. We just keep taking those steps.