Transitions

In July I transitioned from officially working part-time to full-time.  I am still not sure what is harder, going to work everyday or being a pastor-in-charge again.  I forgot how stressful it was to be the pastor-in-charge.  I forgot how much other stuff (taking care of a building, finances, communicating with groups who use the church) occurs during a day.  Today the health inspector came for our preschool.  I had not planned for that...  Thankfully I have an amazing group of folks who work at Greenland Hills UMC.  Seriously, amazing people.  

The last time I was pastor-in-charge and worked full-time we had one kid and she was two years old.  This time around it is seven years later and life has changed.  Two kids both in elementary school with lots of activities.  I decided to go to the church everyday because I pick them up at 3 pm and take them to all of their activities: Dallas children's chorus, girl scouts, taekwondo, ballet, piano, soccer, volleyball.  And a lot of evenings I go back to the church for meetings.  Working full-time with kids is crazy busy no matter what your line of work.  I still have not mastered cooking while working full-time but it is good to have goals :)  And I can't remember the last time our carpets were vacuumed... 

It is hard to complain when I have a job that I love at a church with incredible folks who love God.  It is hard to complain when my spouse Lee helps me make kid's lunches every night.  I am still in awe of single parents, and I give thanks for kids who are supportive, a spouse who is my greatest cheerleader, a sister that sends me flowers on my first day at my new church, parents that will drop anything to come help, and friends who will help carpool.  It takes a village and I am so thankful that I have one. 

Children grow up...

Today, for the first time ever, all of the Smiths rode their own bikes on a family bike ride.  Everett still has training wheels but I have not had to push him and help him along as much, so today I said we should try for a family bike ride around the block.  We all got on our own bikes and when we got around the block everyone was doing great, so we kept going!  It was simply awesome.  I brought up the rear and occasionally had to hop down from my bike and give Everett a push, but he did great all by himself.  Madeleine and Lee kept circling back to check on us and they had fun leading the pack.

Everett will start kindergarten in the fall and is becoming more independent every day.  One day last week he didn't want me to tuck him in at night, but I told him he had no say in the matter :)  Children grow up so fast.  And I could not be prouder of my Madeleine and my Everett. 

It seems to me that growing up for a child and letting go for a parent is the process of family life.