After much prayer and about 8 months of not working (other than temp. work) I have finally found a job! I will be working with an adoption agency called "A Child's Hope" out of Raleigh, NC, as the Lead Adoption Counselor for Mecklenburg County and the 12 surrounding counties. Many people who know me know that this is something I have been interested in doing for a very long time, just haven't been given the opportunity. But God's timing is great, and there have been many things that happened over the past 10 years that have helped me get to a point that I could do this job.
While I'm excited about the job, I'm still a little apprehensive about the income part of it! I will be a contract employee, and there are no guaranteed hours. It's classified as a Part Time position, but some weeks there will be more work than other weeks. But I have faith that if God puts me where He wants me then He's going to take care of me while I'm there. I have seen so many times how He puts me somewhere (even if it's not what I want), but in the big picture it's the best thing for me.
This week has been busy, getting everything together that I need. I called Monday morning (the 27th) and was able to get an override into a class for Wednesday (the 29th) for my NC Notary Training. (Yes, in NC you have to take a 6 hour class w/exam before you can be a notary!) I had a temp. job lined up for Tuesday the 28th, things were slow, so I got my Notary Guidebook read, highlighted, etc. along with 1 of the training manuals for the new job. Thursday was running around getting fingerprints done, background check, notary application sent in, transcript requests, etc. All that FUN stuff! And yesterday I received another training packet in the mail to review/practice for the legal training.
So over the next few weeks, I'll be doing training and getting prepared for this endeavor. Next Thursday & Friday (8/6-7) I will be in Raleigh for training. I will have 1 more day of training to be scheduled after that, and then I will begin taking calls.
I'm excited about this new opportunity, and look forward to where the Lord's going to lead. I'm sure it's going to be an adventure! :)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Anniversary Getaway
Thomas & I were finally able to get away for our anniversary, so we decided to head to Wilmington for the weekend. We were able to leave as soon as he got home from work, and made it to our hotel around 10:30 Friday night.
The thing with our vacations...we're not really having relaxed, calm vacations (unless we're with our families). We're trying to cram everything that we want to see into a very short time frame! Saturday morning we headed to Wrightsville Beach. After a drive around town to look at the beautiful houses on the coast, we were able to find a parking spot and get out on the beach. Weather was beautiful, ocean was ROUGH! We got beat up in the waves for a little while, then got a little sun. Before heading back to the hotel we went to Trolley Stop Cafe' for hotdogs. YUMMY!
Next stop (after showers and changing clothes) was the Waterfront. Walked through some of the shops, had dinner at Pilot House (which was not that impressive) and ice cream from Kilwin's! We capped off the evening with a horse-drawn carriage tour - there were about 20 people on our tour and I managed to end up next to the 3 children around 4 y.o. who were eating ice cream and getting it all over themselves! They were almost as entertaining as the tour itself, so I didn't mind!
USS N. Carolina
Sunday was hot and HUMID! After visiting the NC Aquarium in Fort Fisher, NC, we took the ferry over to Southport, NC. Lunch was at this little waterfront restaurant called "Fishy Fishy Cafe" and was great...I had a Shrimp BLT wrap and Thomas had a Fish Sandwich. All the seafood was fresh, and the food was just great. We drove out to the Oak Island Lighthouse, then around town a little before heading back to Huntersville. Hopefully sometime we'll make it back to Southport so we can walk around and do some shopping. The places looked really cute - but with a heat index of 99 degrees, I wasn't getting out of the air conditioning any time soon!
The Oak Island Lighthouse
Flying over our ferry...
At the Ft. Fisher Aquarium
Thomas being "goofy" (as Kylee would say)!
The thing with our vacations...we're not really having relaxed, calm vacations (unless we're with our families). We're trying to cram everything that we want to see into a very short time frame! Saturday morning we headed to Wrightsville Beach. After a drive around town to look at the beautiful houses on the coast, we were able to find a parking spot and get out on the beach. Weather was beautiful, ocean was ROUGH! We got beat up in the waves for a little while, then got a little sun. Before heading back to the hotel we went to Trolley Stop Cafe' for hotdogs. YUMMY!
Next stop (after showers and changing clothes) was the Waterfront. Walked through some of the shops, had dinner at Pilot House (which was not that impressive) and ice cream from Kilwin's! We capped off the evening with a horse-drawn carriage tour - there were about 20 people on our tour and I managed to end up next to the 3 children around 4 y.o. who were eating ice cream and getting it all over themselves! They were almost as entertaining as the tour itself, so I didn't mind!
USS N. Carolina
Sunday was hot and HUMID! After visiting the NC Aquarium in Fort Fisher, NC, we took the ferry over to Southport, NC. Lunch was at this little waterfront restaurant called "Fishy Fishy Cafe" and was great...I had a Shrimp BLT wrap and Thomas had a Fish Sandwich. All the seafood was fresh, and the food was just great. We drove out to the Oak Island Lighthouse, then around town a little before heading back to Huntersville. Hopefully sometime we'll make it back to Southport so we can walk around and do some shopping. The places looked really cute - but with a heat index of 99 degrees, I wasn't getting out of the air conditioning any time soon!
The Oak Island Lighthouse
Flying over our ferry...
At the Ft. Fisher Aquarium
Thomas being "goofy" (as Kylee would say)!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Saturday Night at Epicentre
Last weekend our neighbor's wife was out of town...so Thomas, Chad & I headed downtown for some bowling and music! Epicentre has been having these summer concerts on the roof for free...free is good! The first one was Ryan Cabrera and Josh Kelley. Sorry folks, we kind-of stumbled into that one so no photos - I'm sure you're disappointed. We didn't stay too long.
Anyway, Saturday night we went to StrikeCity at Epicentre around 5 p.m. That was a good thing, especially since the lanes started filling up about 5:30-6 and they wouldn't take lane reservations. After getting our shoes and setting up on the lanes, we started bowling. Realized quickly that I evidently needed more practice. After I got spanked for 3 games, our hour was up and we headed to Wild Wing for dinner.
Bowling stunk, dinner was okay, but The Little River Band was great! We were probably some of the youngest people there, but that's okay...heres a video of one of their "better known" songs!
Anyway, Saturday night we went to StrikeCity at Epicentre around 5 p.m. That was a good thing, especially since the lanes started filling up about 5:30-6 and they wouldn't take lane reservations. After getting our shoes and setting up on the lanes, we started bowling. Realized quickly that I evidently needed more practice. After I got spanked for 3 games, our hour was up and we headed to Wild Wing for dinner.
Bowling stunk, dinner was okay, but The Little River Band was great! We were probably some of the youngest people there, but that's okay...heres a video of one of their "better known" songs!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Beach Time Part II
Friday at lunch we met Stan, Patty & Brandon at the marina in Emerald Isle to go out on the boat. We stayed in the inlet, fished and rode up the river a little. We were able to get on one of the sandbars & swim, look for shells a little. Brandon loves being in the "pool." Evidently so does Tugger, their golden retriever, because we had to stop him from jumping in several times!
Saturday we left Tugger at the house and went out into the ocean to do more fishing. We all caught a decent amount of little fish for bait, but Stan & I were the only ones who caught fish big enough to eat. Big thanks to Thomas for baiting my hook! ;) I caught a sea bass & a bluefish. Poor Brandon - when I caught the bluefish it was jumping around so much it almost jumped off the line. When I swung it around to put it in the boat I smacked Brandon in the face with it. By the time all was said & done, we definitely had a bleeder! (The fish, not Brandon). Stan caught another bluefish, and Thomas & I ate the fish for dinner last night!
The most exciting was the shark that decided to start swimming under the boat. We stopped over a huge bait ball with lots of bluefish in it...then the 5' shark showed up and freaked 'em all out!
Around 5:00 we headed back in to clean up for dinner at Red Barn, this little "convenience store/restaurant" in Hubert, NC. Fresh seafood, cooked to order, very yummy!
Heading home Sunday we stopped in Burlington and had dinner with our great friends James & Lisa. We ate at Blue Ribbon Diner - my first time - and it was so great!
We're thinking of going to Wilmington for the weekend at the end of the month. With all the "family vacations" we've been on, we haven't been on one by ourselves!
Nothing but blue skies!!
Thomas steering the boat...and Stan "supervising"
Brandon in the "pool"
Stan's bluefish on the left, my bluefish & seabass on the right!
Saturday we left Tugger at the house and went out into the ocean to do more fishing. We all caught a decent amount of little fish for bait, but Stan & I were the only ones who caught fish big enough to eat. Big thanks to Thomas for baiting my hook! ;) I caught a sea bass & a bluefish. Poor Brandon - when I caught the bluefish it was jumping around so much it almost jumped off the line. When I swung it around to put it in the boat I smacked Brandon in the face with it. By the time all was said & done, we definitely had a bleeder! (The fish, not Brandon). Stan caught another bluefish, and Thomas & I ate the fish for dinner last night!
The most exciting was the shark that decided to start swimming under the boat. We stopped over a huge bait ball with lots of bluefish in it...then the 5' shark showed up and freaked 'em all out!
Around 5:00 we headed back in to clean up for dinner at Red Barn, this little "convenience store/restaurant" in Hubert, NC. Fresh seafood, cooked to order, very yummy!
Heading home Sunday we stopped in Burlington and had dinner with our great friends James & Lisa. We ate at Blue Ribbon Diner - my first time - and it was so great!
We're thinking of going to Wilmington for the weekend at the end of the month. With all the "family vacations" we've been on, we haven't been on one by ourselves!
Nothing but blue skies!!
Thomas steering the boat...and Stan "supervising"
Brandon in the "pool"
Stan's bluefish on the left, my bluefish & seabass on the right!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Beach Time Part I - Morehead City
Thomas & I headed to Morehead City Wednesday night to spend a couple of days with his Mom, Mike & Joshua! We got into MC around midnight Wednesday night & went straight to bed. Thursday morning Joshua woke us up..."Hey, Tom!" There was breakfast, playing with trains, and riding his "bike." Then we headed to the pool. Although it was overcast, we managed to get a little sun.
While at the pool we had an encounter with "The Clampett's." Seriously - Thomas had to argue with an 11 y.o. girl over use of a table. A TABLE! Little rugrat lied to her mother and grandmother about us moving her stuff. Seriously?! I was proud of Thomas, he stood his ground. Then the Clampett Clan proceeded to shoot nasty looks and talk trash from across the pool. Sorry, didn't realize we were ALL 11 years old!
Joshua had a blast in the pool and at the beach. He got Mike & Thomas to dig him a huge hole,and a "track" for him to run on. He made a new friend at the pool - a really cute 3 year old girl - and had fun splashing with her. Go Joshua with the older chick!
Friday morning we went to the pool for a little while, but left MC around noon to meet up with Stan, Patty & Brandon for boat time!
Thomas & me on the beach
Joshua & his "older chick!"
Playing in the pool
Mike & Joshua riding go-carts for the 4th time (that night)
While at the pool we had an encounter with "The Clampett's." Seriously - Thomas had to argue with an 11 y.o. girl over use of a table. A TABLE! Little rugrat lied to her mother and grandmother about us moving her stuff. Seriously?! I was proud of Thomas, he stood his ground. Then the Clampett Clan proceeded to shoot nasty looks and talk trash from across the pool. Sorry, didn't realize we were ALL 11 years old!
Joshua had a blast in the pool and at the beach. He got Mike & Thomas to dig him a huge hole,and a "track" for him to run on. He made a new friend at the pool - a really cute 3 year old girl - and had fun splashing with her. Go Joshua with the older chick!
Friday morning we went to the pool for a little while, but left MC around noon to meet up with Stan, Patty & Brandon for boat time!
Thomas & me on the beach
Joshua & his "older chick!"
Playing in the pool
Mike & Joshua riding go-carts for the 4th time (that night)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Trying to catch up....
So once again I've been really slack about updating the blog...like 6 months slack! There are lots of pictures, some explanations, and probably a few gaps. My goal is to try to get on here once every 1-2 weeks and keep everyone updated. So sorry for the slackness!
Other than the updated posts, here's what's going on in the Brooks' world of Huntersville, NC....
* Thomas & I are headed to the beach again Wednesday night...spending some time with his mom, stepdad and Joshua in Morehead City, then heading to Emerald Isle to spend time with his dad, stepmom & Brandon. We got our coastal fishing licenses tonight (woo hoo!) so we can head out on the boat. Hopefully this time I can catch something other than baby sharks!
* I have accepted a Full Time, Temporary position with United Way of Central Carolinas, running August 3-November 19, as a Campaign Representative for the annual campaign. It's going to be an uphill battle with all the negative publicity they've had, but I firmly believe UW does good things and funds good programs.
* Wednesday morning I have a telephone interview with an adoption agency! This is something I have wanted to do since I got into social work 10 years ago, but I'm in a quandary with the acceptance of the UW job. The adoptions job will be part time, but it's in my field and it's not temporary. I'm just praying that God will put me where HE wants me and that I handle all these situations in a professional and respectable manner.
Other than the updated posts, here's what's going on in the Brooks' world of Huntersville, NC....
* Thomas & I are headed to the beach again Wednesday night...spending some time with his mom, stepdad and Joshua in Morehead City, then heading to Emerald Isle to spend time with his dad, stepmom & Brandon. We got our coastal fishing licenses tonight (woo hoo!) so we can head out on the boat. Hopefully this time I can catch something other than baby sharks!
* I have accepted a Full Time, Temporary position with United Way of Central Carolinas, running August 3-November 19, as a Campaign Representative for the annual campaign. It's going to be an uphill battle with all the negative publicity they've had, but I firmly believe UW does good things and funds good programs.
* Wednesday morning I have a telephone interview with an adoption agency! This is something I have wanted to do since I got into social work 10 years ago, but I'm in a quandary with the acceptance of the UW job. The adoptions job will be part time, but it's in my field and it's not temporary. I'm just praying that God will put me where HE wants me and that I handle all these situations in a professional and respectable manner.
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