Lemme sum up

Wow.  My last post was in February 2013.  That was 18 months ago...  If I were to detail everything that has happened in the last year and a half, I would probably bore even myself.  So, in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya, "Lemme esplain.  No, there is too much.  Lemme sum up."

I resigned from my job of 14 years to become Director of Children's Ministry at my church.  We had only just hired a full time paid pastor, so adding a second staff person was a huge commitment for our small congregation.  Also, I had been hired to start a drop-in daycare center at the church, so that's what I did.  The daycare opened on May 1, 2013, and I have been serving as director and lead teacher since that day.

Because the daycare didn't immediately take hold and break even, I ended up "volunteering" at my previous job for a number of months in exchange for a financial contribution to the daycare's operating expenses.  I probably don't have to explain how hard it was to work long hours with kids and then also work at my old job, but with the Lord's help, I made it.

We struggled for a year, and then this summer the daycare suddenly GREW!  There were enough school age and preschool kids that I was able to hire a part time person so that I didn't have to work the early morning hours. I was still helping at the old workplace, and with the increased income and the donation, we actually did more than break even.  Without my paid staff person and the volunteers I already had, I don't think I would have made it through the summer.  Now school has started and things have slowed down again, so finances will again be a concern.  But I have put it in God's hands and am looking forward to beginning preschool again on September 3.

So much for the job summary...  On the personal side of life, my son graduated from high school in June of this year, and my daughter is now in 8th grade.  My husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary.  In true children of the 80's style, we celebrated by seeing Motley Crue on their last concert tour.  It was a great show, though a bit toned down from Crue shows in the past.

As I sit here, I realize that these few short paragraphs can hardly begin to describe everything that has happened in the last year and half, but I guess that's the point of a summary.  There are two little people here as I write.  Life in ministry, especially with kids, can be challenging, but as I listen to them play, I know I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be, and that makes all the stress of the last 18 months well worth it.