22 August 2008

so why do i do it? good question :)

well, here is the promised proof of good days, great weeks...etc.. and to answer lisa, some other loving friends and family, and my own brain sometimes: i do work to pay the bills, but thomas could do that. he has a tough job that pays well and he works hard. i do this job because i can. does that make sense? it was placed before me, my bosses are always willing to work around me for the most part and they dont ever believe me when i quit (i sort of have a couple of times) because they know common sense always wins out. do i love what i do? not really- i like the kids in my program and my co-workers though. i graduated in english for crying out loud, but for some reason i was presented with the chance to work this social work job for really good pay and make my own schedule. unfortunately, making my schedule means i do it in scraps of down time and that can be tiring. anyway, i feel like i am rambling, but the point is, i do it because it will help my family in the long run, i'm not going to do it forever, and the bottom line is: i can do it. so would it be like turning down a blessing or spitting in the face of something that will help my family to not do it? i feel like the answer to that question, for now, is yes. it is a blessing, for now. it's sort of like that made-up quote that people love so much that jesus never actually said, but certainly implied: it's not easy, but (in the long run) it is worth it. :) i just have to think "big picture" and in the meantime, realize that i still have a lot of freedom to have many fun adventures in between. here are a few events that happened just in the last couple of days:
the monthly "lunch ladies" excursion! it's a group of broads who get together at a different lunch destination every month to try something new and be together. we have each picked lunch lady aliases for ourselves, i am "flo." i think there is an agnes, roberta, perhaps a blanche in there somewhere...etc. pick your own name and join us next month- all ladies (and their babies of course) are welcome!


and then later echo proposed something that many women partake in regularly, but i never really had: a girls night! we went to coldstone and then saw the sisterhood of the traveling pants- and we loved it in spite of the improbability of many spur of the minute grand traveling schemes that took place, and constant displays of adorable wardrobe and perfect hair and make-up. no one lives like that (right?) but it was fun to get swept away in it all!
THESE PICTURES MAKE ME CRACK UP EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THEM! i really tried to get a shot of the four of us after the movie and for some reason cut half of my face off without fail every time. and, i'm sorry to say, there is not one where anyone looks that good. at least we all looked kinda bad together right? that's sisterhood for ya!




finally, kathleen took matters into her own long arms and took the photo from her angle and ta-da! we all made it in the shot! oh wait... opps...

(i know i can flip this around in editing, but i think i'll keep it in it's true form for hilarity's sake)
and what in the name of everything holy is this thing? it was at the front of the theater by the screen:

and finally, the what-is-becoming-more-regular beach days that ashley and others organize- they are always fun for obvious reasons, but i enjoy getting to hang out with other moms in our bathing suits (ha!) because everyone is in the same boat. they're just a bunch of fun, creative, patient, funny, smart, hot moms that i pledge to be more like every time i get to hang out with them. here's some shots of the perfect beach day (We saw a sea turtle and a hawaiian monk seal! sorry, no pictures of those, they were camera shy):







so yeah, if you have made it to this long point then give yourself a gold star on your patience chart :) life is good. work hard, play hard and other tired but true phrases...

15 comments:

liko said...

stephenie, it was nice meeting you today. maybe we'll see each other more often at our beach-gatherings. i REALLY love reading what you write. you are an english major, like myself, but i lack the eloquence of expression and you so do not. anyways, just wanted to tell you i enjoyed reading your latest posts -- oh, and your pictures are pretty awesome, too!

liko said...

okay, so i suck at spelling, too. stephAnie. got it.

Marc said...

i think that is what we need to do more, focus on the positive, ya know. you get to do a lot of cool stuff and i get to come with you sometimes. i love that. not only do you get to bring ambrose but you get to travel around with your friends too!! i have tons of fun and addy does too. plus i get to get out of the house which is always nice for me. so you are giving service at the same time as being a mom, a wife, a teacher, and working. you really are a superwoman.
girls night was fun and i am glad we could make it work. it needs to be done again. soon. and i love the beach day pictures:)

echo said...

sorry, i wrote that long thing and then realized i was signed in as marc again but then i didn't want to erase it just so i could sign in as me. so anyway, that was echo and not marc. i am silly

Ali said...

Dear Flo

Whether your post is lengthy or short, it's so easy to want to read what you have to say. Does that make sense?

I love how well you explained, "the quote that Jesus never actually said, but certainly implied..."

Your answer in "why" you opt to work certainly made sense. It's totally the right thing, a blessing, for you at this time. Sometimes, certain things fall into our laps that are well... "disguised as blessings" - again Jesus didn't say that, but maybe implied that too?

Anyway, gold star right back at you for getting through this comment.

with love,
Olive (If I were a lunch lady)

Anna K. said...

OH fun! I wish I could have made it to lunch ladies...but I had to work. I love your writing!

darcie said...

so i noticed you've been blogging about your job. i didn't rip you off! great minds think alike is all.

snbjork said...

Boy do I miss Hawaii......please continue to enjoy it for the rest of us! I mean, don't get me wrong, Alabama is great and all......um, wait, no it's really not. Nothing at all even remotely close to be wonderful about it like Hawaii.

I have enjoyed looking at all of your cute family pictures. And I have to say, I am very impressed with your "bang cut". =)

Roeckers said...

Hey I've got the photo of Ambrose's Style shop online: jacobroecker.blogspot.com

ashley said...

gold star baby!

you have a great life, and i am so happy that i get to share in a little bit of it and read about the rest!

Melissa said...

I saw that washer machine thingy too! hmmm a weird place for a wahing machine. :)

glad you have an awesome job that pays so well, and that you can take your little amby man. Also glad that girl's night was so fun!:)

be prepared for another fun day tomorrow!;)

ashley said...

hi again. just uploaded beach day pics and have cute ones of the little man in your glasses...wanna text me your email so i can send them to ya?

Lisah said...

Stephanie- I have been a working mom through out much of my years of motherhood... working as a dental assistant NOT because we needed the money during ALL of the time but because I REALLY enjoy my job. I am not working now, but for me having a couple hours doing something I enjoy is a BLESSING and I don't feel like it makes me a bad mom or anything. I think it ia awesome you are working and if it does pay bills that is even more of a bonus! I hope you didn't think I was judging... because I wouldn't! :)

Stephanie said...

oh no- def. didnt think you were judging :) it's a natural question - one that i have asked myself many times. also, i didnt know you did that! that is so cool!

Diana said...

now its like i don't want to see that movie because i didn't get to see it with you.

and like i always says, you're just such a good person. not that i'm trying to take credit for it of course.