Maternity Leave update

So a lot of things have been going on while I've been on maternity leave.

I had a baby, for one! :) And had to adjust to life with two kids instead of one. I also had to adjust to being at home. It is so much harder than going to work - just in different ways. We also had to adjust to being a one income family for three months with added expenses. It's been very hard. Very hard. But I wouldn't trade these last three months for anything. I'll probably always work and they will never be babies like this again. I'll take all the hardship, it was well worth it.

I've also decided to not go back to my job as a fundraiser at United Way. It was a very tough decision. One that I had been contemplating and praying about for almost an entire year. I've been at the same place for over six years. I've worked three different positions. And so many things had changed there in the last two years. I adapt well to change, I do. But I just starting having some issues. Some of them related to my pregnancy. Some related to people and actions to me in the last year. It was just a tough year - mentally, emotionally and physically with the whole pregnancy thing. I just wasn't sure I could go back and have my heart in it the way it should be. No matter where I work, I want to be a good employee. I want to be able to put my heart into it. And I wasn't sure I could.

Long story short -- I was told about a position at the college I graduated from -- and encouraged to apply. I did. And didn't get that job. But was contacted from a different department who had had my resume passed to them. I interviewed on a Thursday, was made an offer the next day. It happened so fast my head was spinning. But the offer was generous. It will involve some Saturday work and some evenings scattered throughout the year which I'm not used to. But it's a great position. With a great employer. The offer was generous. The benefits are amazing. So I accepted it and put my notice in at UW the following Monday.

It was so hard to do. I had worked there for so long and some of those people are like family to me. But I just had to tell myself that that wasn't a reason to stay. My friends will still be my friends and would want better for me. It was a joint decision for me to not return from my maternity leave to work out a notice. So I get two extra weeks at home with these two:

which I am so excited about. But that's another two weeks without pay, which stinks. Plus at the new job, it pays monthly so I won't get another check until the end of September and it won't be a full check. All that stinks. But it will be worth it in the end. I will be making a difference in my family so we will make it through this next month. We will.

I will share more about the new job once I have actually started and figured out REALLY what I will be doing. Please pray for me! I'm so nervous about it. But excited for the change.