Growing

The past year has been very difficult at times. I have had many not so great experiences and have learned amazing lessons from them. The best part of the past year is how much I have grown as a person. I really finally feel like I am becoming the person I want to be. Moving every year or two has made it hard to settle down and work on just being me. But God has been working on me with how I relate to others and how I see the world around me. Friends have told me I have changed since they first met me and I know I am a different person from the one I was in high school or even college. Being in a whole different state without any close friends nearbye has made me realize who I really am. Meeting a ton of new people for the first time could make a person want to start fresh as someone new. Staying true to who I am and continually improving myself has made me see life in a new light. We never really stop growing. God is always working in us and through us. Has God been doing major work in your life?

I am an auntie again!!!

My second niece, Macy Edelle, was born at 11:06am on March 11. She is 7lbs 11oz and 20.5 inches long. She has a full head of brown hair and has the same cute little nose as her sister Aylah. You can see pictures of Macy by visiting the Life in Jersey blog that I follow. Yesterday I got to hear Macy makes some noise while talking to Andrea on the phone, I love it! Both Andrea and Macy are doing great and Aylah loves to hold her little sister. It is such a blessing to have two beautiful nieces. I hope to see them both in August when they visit Michigan.

As far as work goes, I love working in the infant room, no surprise there:) Some of the rules are a little different, such as washing the babies hands and my hands before each change (as well as washing both after which was the rule in MI). Thank goodness for Curel hand lotion! There are a total of 9 babies and I love them all, a couple are just more challenging than others;) I have also helped out in the Early Preschool (3's) and Preschool (4's) classrooms. Just this past week I was in the Toddler Room (2-2.5 yr olds) several times and once in the 2's room. The infant room is still my favorite. I have not quite gotten used to having up to 11 two-year-olds all to myself or 9 one-year-olds.

On Friday I took care of two sick kiddos. One in the infant room and one in the 2's room (with a temp of 103!). I am chewing on Cold-Eeze gum balls and making sure I take my multi-vitamin this weekend. I hope to not get sick within the first month of working in child care, that is what usually happens as you build up your immune system.

The women I work with are great. Especially the three in the infant room, they are all Christians and it is great to chat about our faith while feeding babies. While talking with my boss and a couple of teachers from the older rooms my boss asked if I went to church, they all do, when I told her which church I attend she said "Oh, so you are a Jesus Freak too". Yup! I am:)

I continue to meet new people at church and found a women who really wants to be my friend. She explained to me something I had started to notice. People in Texas are nice and friendly but it is really hard to get past the surface. This woman moved to Texas with her husband and sons two years agob so she remembers what it is like being new to Texas.

Next week I will start the process of becoming an actual Texan. Oh yea I am so excited, not! I have to have my car inspected, change my car insurance, get new license plates, and get a new drivers license. And before all that I have to get a new windshield because the tiny chip I got on the drive down here has started cracking in two different directions like crazy (I did not realize I had the chip until the crack was several inches long.) So I will be praying for my car to pass inspection without any major repairs and that I will not have any hassles going to the several different locations to get my license and plates.

I never thought I would leave MI let alone become a resident of the state with the most pride. God bless Texas!

First Couple of Days on the Job

I have been working at La Petite Academy for two days now and have yet to be a caregiver in a classroom. Why you ask? Because they definitely do a thurough job of training their staff. I am trying to be patient and just soak everything in. I do not even know which classroom I will end up in. My ultimate goal though is to apply for an assistant director position (which is what I did originally but did not know the academy or licensing rules of TX yet).

Some of the licensing rules are very different from the Michigan rules. A teacher is allowed to have a ton more kids in their room in TX compared to MI. One reason why this still works out okay is because the teachers have ways to keep better track of their children and are given more resources to use in the classroom to keep the children busy.

Overall I am happy to have a job and that I am working for a great lady who runs her academy very well. She told me as I was leaving tonight that I will be in a classroom for at least a little while tomorrow for sure. I am getting fingerprinted in the morning so that makes me legal to be in the classroom with the kids as a caregiver. And besides that there will be several teachers out tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting to know some of the kids more.

I will be sure to keep you updated. Right now it has just been paperwork, reading, and more reading:)