Change

"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." I am about to go back to school. I am a little worried about how to juggle a full time job, 5 kids and school all at the same time, but when I think about the benefits of going back to school, I see the necessity. I have just enrolled at the University of Phoenix and classes start on May 10. I am seeking a Bachelors degree in Business Management. I am excited and nervous at the same time. Most people are drawn to UoP for the online classes, I however, will be attending the Campus classes because I feel that I will have less distraction in a classroom environment. I am especially worried about taking math classes again, I wasn't good at math during high school, hopefully the fact that I am anxious and willing to learn now will change the outcome. My new job has changed my work experiences significantly. I am enjoying it but it is so different. I am not moving wafers much anymore so that is weird in and of itself. I am trying to get to know my employees better and I try really hard to be a good supervisor. I have gotten some good feedback on how I can do better and I try to implement the advice I receive. Sometimes I feel like some people complain just to complain and I try hard not to waste too much energy on that. I have implemented some pretty drastic changes and a lot of people are very resistant to it. I have said to my employees "I cannot make 50 people happy but apparently I am really good at ticking 50 people off." In trying to do better I have found several quotes to be particularly helpful and read them often: "I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." ~ Martha Washington "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." ~Herm Albright "Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." ~Hubert Humphrey I find myself looking up motivational and inspirational quotes more and more often. I write them down on post it notes and attach them to the overhead shelf at my desk. I have been lucky enough to take several different classes at work including Time Management, Productive Meetings and Crucial Conversations. I look forward to reading Crucial Confrontations and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I love learning new things, especially when I can implement the skills I have learned and see them working. Enough about work changes, on the home front.... Babies Change too quickly! Monty is now 5 months old and looks so different already. She is so beautiful and I love her so much. She does the cutest things and I just want to squish her. When Monty gets tired she shakes her head back and forth very quickly until she finally finds a comfortable position, usually 10-12 shakes later. She squeaks and squeals and screams nonsensical noises and I do my best to repeat them back to her. Monty tried baby food for the first time last week, she had sweet potatoes and she loved them. She did so good, I have never had a baby take baby food so easily the first time it was offered to them. Monty is so happy and almost never cries. She demands food constantly and has the double chin and rolls to prove it. All of my kids are growing up so quickly, it seems to be happening even more quickly since I started working. I miss them all so much. Ryan experienced her first New Beginnings a couple of weeks ago and will be joining the Young Women's group in about 3 weeks. I have to admit I am terrified of sending her off to girls camp and youth conference. When I look at Ry I still see my little baby attached to oxygen tubes and monitors and I worry so much about her. The only thing that scares her about camp is bears. Uncle Colton is leaving for a mission in June or July. We don't know where he is going yet but my kids are going to miss him like crazy. So much change.... I have to remind myself that each day is change, nothing is ever exactly as it was the day before. And how boring would this life be it everything remained constant always? Anyway, that is all.