Change

Change is scary, but sometimes very necessary.  I have been with my job for 9 years.  Well nine years on May 24th.  My last day is May 22.  After much reflection, praying, discussion, worrying, etc, I decided to make a big career change.  

I have not been happy at my job in a while, but who is.  I know no one truly loves their job day in and day out.  But lately I have been beyond cranky and angry when I get home.  I want nothing to do with anyone.  Not a good thing when you are married with two kids.  I knew it was getting bad.  You know it's bad when your husband is on board with you making the change because it's affecting your family that much.  Or when your daughter writes in her Mommy and Me journal that she is glad you are getting a new job because you are not happy anymore and she misses you being happy. Yep, that blows but it's a wake up call.  One that I needed.   I already made the decision and turned in my notice before I read this so this just reiterates I am doing the right thing.  My mom, my stepmom, my aunt, even most people at my job say I am doing the right thing.  They probably just want me out of there but they seem genuine.  

So in 12 days I will start my new chapter.  Working a few blocks from home versus 41 miles away.  Working 8 hours a day instead of 7 hours a day but still gaining 2.5 hours a day because I don't have the long commute.  Time is something that is hard to come by.  Time is important to me.  My kids are not getting any younger.  My youngest will be in kindergarten.  My oldest is only about 2 years from starting high school.  I don't want to miss out on my kids' lives because of the almighty dollar.  Unfortunately money is what makes the world go round or at least the keeps the power on, water running and the roof on our heads.  Money is necessary but so is sanity and happiness to an extent.  

Don't get me wrong.  I loved my job and the experiences I have gained here.  Good or bad, they all made me the person I am now (again, good or bad - you decide).  I have made some friends here and in all honesty I think those friendships will do better not in a work environment so I look forward to developing those more.  I have grown a lot here and a lot has changed. 

 Here are random things that happened while here (in no particular order)

Serena was 3.5 when I started here.  She is 12.5 now. 

The picture on the left is the first picture I had my desk
and the one on the right is what is currently there. 

I got married.



   We bought a house!

and got a dog!

I turned 30!

I lost 3 extremely important people...

My cousin Luke (pictured), my friend Jason and my grandma Wellen.

 Went on our first girls trip
(and planned another)!

 Bought two cars.  (only have picture of new one)

 Went on a family vacation as a group!

And I had our youngest!

I also gained 3 nieces and 2 nephews, in addition to the niece and nephew I gained by marriage.

I watched both my brother's graduate grade school, high school and one from college. 

That's a lot of life events at one job.  (I know people have been at other jobs longer...just fun to think of how much life has changed in 9 years)