Just Listen.

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...anything can happen, child. Anything can be." Shel Silverstein

Sam and I have been working hard with Maya on her listening skills. As a one-year-old, self-absorbed, unlearned infant, we have a very important job on our hands--to teach her to listen. I want to do my very best in teaching her life lessons, but listening is going to be a tough one, as even we, as adults, still have days when we don't want to listen.

God has been working with me for 26 years on my listening skills...that's a stinkin' long time! You would think by now that I would have the hang of it--I mean, I even have a master's degree so you would think that along my life I've HAD to pick up the skill of listening from somewhere. But honestly, it takes a conscious effort every single day for me to be a good listener. And lately, I've been trying to execute those conscious efforts to hear my Guide's still, small, sweet voice.

I've been looking for a job for over a month now. I've put in well over 30 applications at various places. You would think with an advanced education, computer skills, and the ability to type 77 words per minute that I could find something--even if it's just a temporary desk job to fill the financial gap until something else comes along. Only one place called me in for an interview, and honestly, I thought the position would be mine. However, the email I received this morning stated differently. I'm sure the Valley Center school district's superintendent was reassured his decision was the right one after he drove by my mom's house this morning and saw me outside--I was still in my nightgown, my hair looked like a peacock, I had Gabriel in his car seat on my left arm, burp rags and clothes over my shoulder, and I was gritting my teeth, trying to get Maya unbuckled when the superintendent drove by and timidly waved at me. Needless to say, I couldn't wave back, and I had the look of death on my face--and that was all before I had even read the rejection email!!!

So anyway, here's the ironic part:
Before I even started sending out my resume' to places, I had emailed a lady that Sam and I volunteer for and she immediately emailed me back, stating she would LOVE for me to start working for her, and she would pay me the same amount I was making at KU Med, but she couldn't offer me full-time hours until she received another grant. Well, I kind of "him-hawed" around, and I felt God nudging me in the side, but I didn't want to listen--so I did what EYE wanted to do, and guess what? It got me nowhere. And guess what? I accepted the part-time offer to work for Shannon. My, oh my, how much time & stress I could have saved myself if only I had LISTENED!!!

The place I'll be working is absolutely amazing in itself, and I will elaborate on that in a later post. But, isn't God good?! So faithful...so patient...and how he must just sit back and get a kick out of us, as well as get frustrated with us when we won't listen. I am praying for God to continue guiding me and directing in the path that HE wants for my life, and for Sarah to remember what her mom and dad taught her when she was a one-year-old, self-absorbed, unlearned infant--LISTEN!

Much love to all of you. I need to run, but I'll post some pictures later today for those of you who should be rewarded for reading this long post! :)