One Year as a "Working" Mom

It has been one year since I went back to work after having our sweet little Finnegan. I have to say, I think Canada and the other countries who offer one-year paid maternity leave really have it right. It wasn't until Finn was one that I really felt fully adjusted to being a mom. It's truly life-altering being in charge of a little human every single day! So since it's my one year anniversary of being back at the office, I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane.

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Starting Fresh Doesn't Have to be Dramatic

I used to make big announcements to my husband when I was going to change something. I think I did it because once I made the announcement I was fully committed, no turning back because someone else was going to hold me accountable if I didn't follow through. After a while it was hard to take me seriously, because the change would last a few days, maybe a week or a month, but eventually I went back to my old ways.

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A Few Things I've Learned Being Married to a Paramedic

When we first got married, adjusting to Zac's ever-changing and always packed schedule was quite challenging. Four years later I still have a lot to learn, but these 8 things have made our lives a bit simpler because life is just easier when I accept reality for what it is rather than trying to change it. As I was compiling my list, I realized these are probably true for quite a few fields...anything that requires non-traditional hours, traveling, is open on weekends and/or holidays, is out of the state or country, anything with the Armed Forces, and probably many others. I'm very happy to be an 8-5er. Thank you to all of you who are not for doing what you do!

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Lydia

I met Lydia almost two years ago. We were in a Bible study together, she was new to the area. I would have never known she was new, when I got there she was conversing with the people at our table like she had known them for years. She was from North Carolina and moved to Minnesota for new opportunities. I don't know if North Carolina is considered south, but she is the closest thing to a Southern Belle that I've ever met. Her smile and laugh were so contagious. You couldn't help but be drawn to her. When she spoke, you listened.

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A Year Without Fear

I've learned that my control freakiness stems from fear; fear of the unknown, fear of exposure, fear of failure. I lessen the fear by controlling the outcomes (or trying to). An example of this, although comical now, was my idea of how to avoid divorce: never get married.

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The Last Card

Our family has been on a debt reduction journey this year. It started with the Financial Peace University Home Study Kit. We watched the nine video lessons in January of 2014 and decided to quit dating our debt snowball and really commit.

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A Quiet Extrovert

My brother sent me a link to a personality test and told me I HAD to take it. I figured it was a Facebook quiz or something he and his college buddies made, but he rarely asks for anything, so I obliged. I've taken personality tests before, but this one was spot on and incredibly helpful. It lead to many conversations between Zac and I about what makes us tick, what our strengths and weaknesses are, and how we can use those to work together more effectively. The conclusion of my results told me I was a quiet extrovert.

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Parenting Power Tools

Two weekends ago I attended the Hearts at Home conference in Rochester, MN. I highly recommend it and if you're a friend, family member, acquaintance, or co-worker of mine, be prepared for me to drag you with me next year. You might as well mark your calendar now: November 13-14. I am also excited to be the newest Hearts at Home blogger, so watch for Third Thursday Thoughts! While I was there, I opted to attend Dr. Debbie Cherry's talk on Intentional Parenting and decided to put what she calls the "parenting power tools" into practice: attention and ignoring.

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