Day 16

What I did:

Yesterday was a work day for me, and I was able to help my client with shopping, cleaning and organizing. It's always encouraging for me to be able to help because I learn new ways of getting things done.

We already had leftovers from the night before, so supper was a breeze. I had the baby in the morning before work so Shelli could go get some more paperwork done for school. Since I was up early again, I was able to shower and get ready for the day before 7:30 to take the kids to school.

I'm noticing subtle changes that are already occuring. We're all changing our habits (we have a long way to go), but there have been some improvements in our household. I'm still hoping that by the end of my sixty days, I will have created some lifelong good habits that will make things run more joyfully and smoothly.

The day went pretty smoothly. In re-reading some of my last few posts, I'm seeing a "panic" theme. What shoud I do when I'm finding myself gulping for air on a "sinking ship"? I need to see this as an opportunity to try something new, since the old way never works, anyway. Wasting all that energy on worry and flailing around yelling, "Help!", isn't going to correct any problems. I'm searching for work. I have a wonderful family who is willing to work with me as I am in this state of transition. But what can I do right now? This leads me to what I've learned...

...what a great segue...I've learned more than anything that I get more frightened, more discouraged and less proactive when I try to go it alone. I've thought about starting some kind of support group for anyone who wants to take sixty days to improve themselves by wanting to do the right thing in their own lives. That may come. What I did find in the local paper is a support group for people who are out of work. They meet on Monday mornings. What a great way to start the week! There's opportunity for networking, I can "dress up" like I'm going to work, and it helps to quell all those isolation issues. It's hard enough to be married and out of a job. It's a completely different story when you come home after a tough interview and no one cares about anything other than "what's for dinner?". There's no one to hash it out with, or to even express your fear to, because I don't want the kids to worry. Sometimes I wonder...Does God get tired of me telling Him how afraid I am? I don't think so...by the time I'm done reading and praying, I feel new peace. "Dear God, please help me to carry your peace with me through the day, not close it back up in the Bible after I've read it. Amen"

Until Tomorrow~~~Elizabeth