My Job.

This post has been sitting in my drafts for over two months now, and I figured it was high time I added a few things to it and finished it up!

 

It has been 2 years and 2 months (nearly) since I started my job.  I can't believe it's been that long!  It has gone by so very fast.  I can't believe it's been that long since my last day working at the salon. 

 

It was all so bittersweet, and although it's been over 2 years, the emotions just come pouring back.  And let's be honest, it probably didn't help that I ran across some old posts like this one about my last days - while I was looking for my post about my first day at the new job. 

 

This is what I had to say about change and my first day.

 

And this is what I wrote after my first week. (click here for more job information)

And these are the wonderful women I work with!  Unfortunately, the wonderful men I work with are missing from the photos - all three of them.



And when I think about the past two years, the only word that comes to mind is blessed. 

I have been so blessed by my coworkers.

Blessed by my supervisor and the value he places on family and relationships.

Blessed by his compassionate heart and his desire to truly know me.

Blessed by a leader that leads with such humility and the most beautiful sense of humor!

Blessed by those I interact with.

Blessed by the flexibility.

Blessed by the community and the transparency.

Blessed by the wisdom of those who have gone before me.

Blessed by the organization itself and the mission behind it all - check out CRISTA and CVM's website.

Blessed by the honor and privilege it is to serve the Lord within my job.

I remember how hard the transition was two years ago.  I remember the tears that were shed.  I was leaving a place that was so good and so familiar, for something unknown and uncertain.  But I trusted the Lord, and I was obedient.  I knew this is what He had for me, and so I stepped out.  And boy am I glad I did, as I been blessed by this beautiful opportunity! 

They took a chance on me all those two years ago - I hope and pray it was worth it!  And I hope and pray they know just how blessed I feel to work amongst them. 

Thankful,

Malia

Thanksliving.

No, I didn't spell Thanksgiving wrong, it was intentional.

On Thanksgiving morning I turned to my husband and asked him to list five things he was thankful for.  And you know what he did?  He said me and Jack, and then he listed nicknames for the both of us to finish off his list of five.

I of course wasn't going to let that slide - so I said each thing listed had to be unique.  I suppose I should have told him the rules ahead of time right?

So he then went on to say, not necessarily in this order...

1. my wife
2. my son
3. Jesus
4. God's provision financially
5. and if I'm honest, I can't remember the fifth one.

And then of course he turned the question back to me...and I of course had to copy some of the things he listed.

1. my husband
2. my son
3. Jesus
4. my health
5. Jack's health!

And the funny thing is, so many of those things listed sound so cliche.  How easy is it for us to forget what we are thankful for?  And why is it that we need to set aside a day to give thanks?  Shouldn't we be giving thanks daily?

How easy is it for me to take all of those things for granted?  It's as if I feel I am entitled to a husband, a child, a relationship with the Lord, a healthy body with a functioning heart and a son that is gaining weight rapidly.  The reality is, I'm entitled to none of it.  It is all a blessing from the Lord, and I quite often forget to give thanks.  I quite often get frustrated with the husband, with the son, with the lack of sleep, with the extra pounds of baby weight that I just can't shake off my body, with my own limitations.  And I forget the countless ways the Lord has blessed us. 

Let me show you the ways.

I am so thankful for my partner in life - and I'm especially thankful that he can grow such a manly mustache!  I love this man so deeply.  And I'm so thankful for family that will watch our little guy while we step out of the house for a bit.

And I'm so thankful for the newest man in my life.  Everyone kept saying - oh he will bring so much joy to your life!  And I can honestly say, I had no idea just how much.

And I'm thankful for great grandmas that just love on my son.  Jack is blessed to have 4 great grandmas that are still living!  Isn't that just crazy?

And I'm thankful for my family!

I want to start living in such a way that I'm continually giving thanks.  I want to start thanksliving.  I want to start giving thanks every single day for all the blessings in my life - will you join me?

Until next time,

Malia



Beyond Blessed.

Here I am again folks!  I have resumed my place on the bed, and I have poured myself a glass of red wine yet again, and baby is fast asleep.  I was tempted to sit down and watch the Seahawks game with the husband, but I decided to sit down and write instead.  No offense husband.

It was my birthday on Tuesday, and I can now say I have officially surpassed 30 years of life (read my 30 thoughts), and I am now 30 + 1.  What a blessed year it has been!  So many changes, so much joy, and so much transformation.  I praise God every day for this life.

So the birthday celebrations began on Saturday night with the family - we went out to dinner at Steelhead diner, and Jack did so good, sitting in a restaurant highchair for the first time.  Love that little man!  So thankful for my family, and beyond blessed that they were all able to celebrate with me!

 

On Monday my coworkers celebrated my birthday with cupcakes and party decorations and coutnless rounds of singing Happy Birthday!  So thankful for coworkers that enjoy celebrating birthdays and celebrating me.  Beyond blessed.  On Tuesday, the actual day, I worked from home, and got to hang out with Jack all day, and Peter treated me to my favorite donut and a starbucks beverage!  What a great way to start off the morning.  And that evening a dear friend came over and watched Jack so Peter and I could go out to dinner.  So thankful for a dear friend that is willing to treat us to a night out.  So thankful for a husband whom I love and adore, and truly cherish spending time with.  Beyond Blessed.

 

 

On Wednesday, I had dinner with some dear friends, and finished off a delicious dinner with birthday cupcakes, and again singing ensued.  Jack enjoyed my birthday balloon that I brought home with me!  And even today, people were still celebrating my birthday at work - my decorations were still up and I was blessed with a lovely card and a starbucks gift card from a special few.  Beyond blessed.

 

And I know it's only Thursday, and the week isn't over, but I just want to say thank you to all of you for making my day, my birthady week really, so blessed.  From all the happy birthday texts, voice messages (wish I could share those with you - another dear friend sang this amazing birthday song she made up, and you would think it would be funny considering she made it up right? but it wasn't, it was beautiful - helps too that she has a fantastic voice!! and another friend sent me a video text of her in a cowboy hat singing happy birthday and that was funny!!), phone calls, cards, emails, facebook posts, etc...I was truly blown away by all those who remembered (facebook helps!) and by the kind words that were spoken and shared. 

 

Thank you for letting me share life with you!  It is such a blessing and a privilege to walk through life with so many dear, dear souls, whom the Lord uses to transform and shape me into the woman He desires for me to be. 

 

I am beyond blessed.

 

xoxo,

 

Malia

 

It's the Little Things.

This past week has been a bit of a whirlwind to be honest!  And I think part of that was simply because we were so busy the week before.  We made two trips to the airport - one Monday morning and one Thursday morning.  Normally I get excited about airport runs because most of the time it means we are going somewhere or coming back from somewhere or picking up someone who has come to visit.  And that is the case nearly 70% of the time right?  But then what about the other 30%??  Well, that time includes the airport drop offs for those who have come to visit...and those times are more often than not fairly sad!

Peter's brothers have been visiting from Ireland and on Monday we dropped of one and on Thursday we dropped off the other, and it was sad.  We truly loved having them here and hope and pray that they come back soon!  And it's sad...BUT it probably wasn't as sad as it could have been considering we are going to be in Ireland for CHRISTMAS!! Tickets have been purchased and paid for, and we will be there for three weeks.  So that definitely gives us something to look forward to and it made the goodbyes a bit easier considering we will see them in just six months.

We woke up at 5 AM on Thursday to take Mark to the airport, and that is just way TOO early for me folks!  I'm not use to getting up before the sun's up.  My wake up time is normally somewhere around 7 - so this was a far cry from that. Ugh...it was hard!  I crawled into the car, probably not literally, but that's sure how it felt.  And just curled up into a ball wishing I was back in bed.  I had a terrible headache and I just felt terrible, maybe it was the early wake up call or maybe it was the fact that we had been going nonstop for a week on very little sleep?  Who knows, but what I did know was that I didn't feel so great!  And I actually ended up going back to bed for a few hours and working from home that day.  I feel so blessed to have a job that offers that as an option!  It sure was a blessing.

So what else did we do this past week, you ask?  Well, let's just say that we experienced La Carta de Oaxaca for the first time...delicious!!  I have been hearing about this place for years, and I decided it was high time I stopped hearing about it and actually experienced it.  I can confidently say that it definitely won't be our last visit.  There were so many yummy items on the menu - so I suppose it's only fair that I go back to try them all, right?  So...who wants to go with us next time?

Another item from this past weekend was my Stephen Ministry retreat.  I am in the process of being trained as a Stephen Minister, and you can read more about this here.  It has been such a beautiful experience - a HUGE time commitment, but a beautiful experience nonetheless.

And the last little thing from the past week that I just can't wait to share with all of you is that...Peter changed his first diaper!!  He has somehow managed to avoid all opportunities up until now, and this time he simply couldn't get out of it!  Makes me smile just thinking about it.  The lucky child was a 3 year old boy from our Sunday school class. He had a bit of an explosion in his diaper - let's just say he somehow managed to get poop on his little hand and on his sock!  Peter was so nervous, and it was so amusing.  All I could do was laugh and wish him luck.  The rest of the story warrants it's own post - let's just say Sunday school provided me with all sorts of interesting tales.  Stay tuned for more.

Happy Monday!!  I hope and pray that you continue to be blessed by the little things in your life!