The Leyva Life: 2012

We had the Golden Globes on tonight since all the football games were over. I have a thing for seeing celebs in their real roles. I like to see if they are awkward, or quirky, graceful, or silly. I like to see the person behind the character. Anyway we were watching the many cheesy jokes and sappy acceptance speeches.

Lexi clued in to the show and just watched for a minute. Someone with a yellow dress came on. I did not recognize her, but it was a modest dress and it was beautiful. Lexi said, "oh that yellow dress is beautiful! you know mommy it doesn't show her belly or her chest." Next Tina Fey and Jane Lynch came out. Tina wearing a beautiful red dress and Jane in a beautiful black dress. Jane's dress was cut very low and Tina's was a typical strapless ball gown. Lexi says why does that black dress have a hole in it? I said do you mean why does it come so low? She said yeah, I don't like that, but her red dress is beautiful! I am so proud that she is starting to get that modest is beautiful and that is what we want to be. Its baby steps from the beginning...and I will make her come back and read this blog when we are picking out prom dresses 12 years from now.

Then she asked me if everyone would be getting a trophy. I told her no, not everyone wins. Some take home a trophy and some just get to be there to celebrate the winners. A lesson that many these days don't quite understand.

Then when Octavia Spenser won her Globe for "The Help" and they showed Melissa McCarthy crying, Lexi asked if she was crying because she did not win. I told her no, she is crying because she is so happy for her friend that won. I explained to her that sometimes we are so happy we can't help but cry.

Who knew that we would get to cover such fundamental and important life lessons while watching the Golden Globes. Mommas and Daddies always be ready for the teachable moments. They are little chances to teach our little ones. Sometimes they are encouraging moments where you realize that they are catching what you are teaching and other times it is just to reinforce a core belief within them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here at the Leyva home we are living it up Leyva style. We are jumping into 2012 with zest!! Or we are just crazy? No seriously, this first week of twenty twelve has been not a normal week. Rabu is hosting the Memorial Shootout Basketball Tournament that he does for the area Jr. High basketball teams. What this means for us is that he is not at home Tuesday - Sunday this week. It's "girls nights" all week long! Us Leyva girls call daddy's game nights "girls nights" to make them more fun! As if that was not enough to make this little momma exhausted I started my new job last Friday and this was my first week. How's that for kickin' in the New Year. Oh, you didn't know I got a new job? Oh well keep reading I will tell you what I learned through the decision process.

HAPPY NEW JOB!

This past October I found myself in a quandary. I had a job offer from a very good firm with some different opportunities for me. I had a choice to make. Do I stay at my current job that is a good job at a great firm with wonderful people or do I take the risk for the potential of the new job and what it could be. It's a win win for me. I end up with a good job either way! What a blessing! Even though the two job quandary was a blessing it was definitely a fork in the road. A big one! You know in the movies when you see a fork in the road it's pretty clear witch way you should go. One way is dark, scary and they play creepy music when they pan over to it. Then the other way is sunshine, birds singing and clear skies!! Yeah, this was not that clear. It was all sunshine and birds singing on both paths. Thank God for opportunity but a girl has to make a decision.

At a time like this we tend to look for anything and anyone to give us a sign, a word from God, anything to make the decision for us. I found myself responding that way. I talked to some people that I respect in my profession and they said you will make the right choice for you and your family. I talked to a spiritual mentor of mine and she said, " you hear God, you will know what to do." I talked to Rabu and he said, "I have no doubt you will make the right choice. Whatever it is, I am behind you." Are you noticing a trend here? NO ONE would make the decision for me!

So I did what us type A logical puzzle solvers do...I thought about it...talked about it...obsessed over it. All while trying to "figure out what to do". You know there are times in life where you don't get to "figure it out". This was one of those times. God in His sweet way was once again calling me to Himself. God has ways of working in our lives and our situations to create opportunity for relationship with Him. One thing I strongly believe is that in all of God's plans for humankind the original plan still stands true...Relationship. That is all he wants with us. To love us and us love Him in return. Simple really. We make it so complicated.

So, I talked to God and nothing. He is just teasing me now isn't He? So I talked with Him again and nope not a thing. The problem was I was still looking for a sign, a Word through someone, anyone else. It's like talking to your father and looking to your mother for the answer...that makes no sense. You are not building relationship with your father if you are only listening to your mother. Same applies here, it's hard to build relationship with God when you do not listen for His voice. Finally, with focus on God, I heard Him. When I say I heard Him, I do not mean an actual audible voice or even through the Bible. It wasn't even the "still small voice" you hear people talk about. It was Peace. Sometimes Peace about something speaks louder than any "mighty Word from the Lord" or catchy quote on pinterest. Although I do believe God can use either of those. Personally He took me to Peace; Peace to my core. I would take the new job.

I would love to say that it was easy from there. Oh no. As I told one of the people at my previous job, "don't ever leave, it is so much harder than staying!" I had to go tell a group of people that I have grown to care for, friends, and people I highly respect that even though they have been so good to me and have offered me great opportunity I was going to leave and accept another job. Now that folks, is hard!! They made efforts to keep me and when they realized that I had made up my mind they showered appreciation on me. All the love made me second guess. Am I making the right decision? I don't even know but three of the the people at the other firm. What if they are crazy!! Then came the Holy Spirit to remind me of the Peace. Oh yes, that is right, whew; now I am centered again.

The see-saw of doubt and peace went on for almost a month. I worked out my two weeks notice handing off clients and projects to others. Then I took off two weeks for the Christmas holiday. The whole time saying to myself and Rabu, "I hope I did not make a huge mistake. " Even the morning of my first day I was nervous and excited. The thought kept going through my mind, oh I hope this is right. Then God interrupted my thoughts with a simple and slightly exasperated, "will you just let me show myself faithful?"

I simply said, "Yes, please show yourself faithful." From that moment the Peace became more than just a remembrance of a moment. It stuck with me. You see, it went from me having a peace but feeling like I have to go do it to having a peace and letting God do it through me. All He needs us to do is seek Him and obey. He does the rest. He has wired me for this job. He has timed it for now. I just have to go be who He has created me to be and He will show Himself faithful!!

So after the first week I have nothing but excitement for what is to come with the career that God has given me and where I get to do that now. He has already begun to show Himself faithful...oh me of little faith.

HAPPY NEW BLOG!!!

OK so maybe the blog is not completely new, but the fact that I have not blogged since our anniversary in July might make it new. Seeing as though I have not posted anything about Lexi's 4th birthday, Sadie's 1st birthday, Thanksgiving or Christmas, saying I am behind is an understatement...but if you have been following this blog for any length of time you know what I am about to say...

This blog is an outlet not an obligation...guilt gone!! :o)

So happy new year, happy new job, and happy new blog (kinda)