It's been awhile...

So I have learned that finding balance in life is a very hard balancing act! I have been stampin' ! Just no posting it. Working full time has been quite the experience! I enjoy my job. But the "workplace" is an interesting place. No boring days to be had there! Most days I am so busy that I fell like I have run a marathon by the time I get home from work. Thanks to my wonderful husband that has taken on most of the cooking. I manage to spend some quality time with the kids before it's bath and bed time. Now that we are in the moddle of Summer that kids are staying up later....which has it's pros and cons!! But I get more time to spend with them.

This is my first Summer not being home in the daytime with Liam and Summer. They have been spending time between both sets of grandparents (Which I appreciate them so much for that!!). The kids are having a good Summer. Jon and I have both managed to get vacation at the same time (took some date changes!!) and we are both on vacation next week and I cannot wait! 10 days in a row off!!

I sure do miss my days at home stampin' though. I find myself sitting at my desk daydreaming about the projects I'd like to make and get excited to go home and do some stampin', (I even have Mr. Brown deliver to my work now because I am not home in the daytime, so sometime the box of goodies is sitting there teasing me all day!!!!!) BUT by the time things settle down in the house at night, to go down to my stamp room, I am exhauted! Like tonight for example. I have some stamps that came last week and I have some ideas and I am itching to try but it's already 8pm. Too late.

I am still running one monthly stamp club...so fun! I would love to get another one going too....gets in my stamp room!


I am sorry that I have no photos of cards to share....how about one of the kids?

We went to a weeding in Toronto in June so we too the kids to the CN Tower and The Hockey Hall of Fame...

I love this one!

So just a little update. To let you know that I am still alive and stampin'!

Check out the newest Catalogue ther on the Right and the New Holiday Mini!! Full of exciting products!

Thanks for dropping in. I really do appreaciate it. I work on dusting off my camera and taking some photo's of my projects to share with you.

Jodi

Ta-da!!!!

Loving these new products!!

Loving the colours, the ribbons, the brads, the new Framlits.....love it all!

I know I have been missing in action for a long time...here's why.

In June I got a new job, On Call Client Service Coordinator for Bayshore Home Health. I worked evenings and every other weekend. Honestly, it was awful. After I got the kids off to school I had the day to myself, which was great to have that time to myself, got A LOT of STAMPING done. Then at 2pm I would have to stop and get showered and dressed for work and go get the kiddies from school,  once home make a coffee, kiss my hubby as he walked in the door then off to work I go. I would not get home until 8pm when the kiddies where in bed and my hubby usually asleep on the couch. Then spend a couple of hours by myself again because everyone in the house was sleeping. And I worked every other weekend. I missed out on a lot. Hubby was stressed doing it all by himself all weekend long. It was awful because I was spending all my free time alone - while my kids were in school, and my hubby was working, I was home....and when they were home I was working.

So I put in lots of time, picked up extra shifts in the office for reception and coordinating, sometimes only having one day off a week. It was hard on everyone, and made me SAD a lot. I missed them and the fun things they were doing, without me.

Then positions in the office became open. I applied. In December I was hired for the Full time Receptionist position.

Now I am HOME in the evenings and EVERY weekend spending time with my family and working when they are in school and when my hubby is working.

Now I am HAPPY!!

This is the first full time permanent position I have ever had. For 8 long years I have worked part time evening and weekends. It was great for a long time because it allowed me to be home with my kids when they were little and they didn't have to go to daycare. But now that they are in school full time, it was silly me being here at home by myself through the day and leaving when they got home from school.

 I feel very blessed to have time with my family!

The ONLY sad part is that I have less time to stamp. So now I will work on BALANCE in my life. Balancing my free time for stamping and time with my family....and that's OK with me. I love having the choice about what to do with my free time.

It has been had to see my SU business not doing as well. It has been on the back burner for awhile. I miss all my Stampin' Friends! It really is my social time. I never stopped holding club nights, but I did stop offering classes. I took the month of December odd from SU. The first break I've taken from SU in almost 4 years. I did not even offer Christmas Stamp-a-stacks this year. I struggled with the guilt of that because I think I let a lot of customers down. But I had to take a step back and slow down.

January...a new year begins. I am holding Club on Jan 24th and I am excited to see every one again. Excited to share all these beautiful new products!

A friend asked what words will describe your New Year?

TWO WORDS,

BALANCE & GRATITUDE!

Thanks for stopping in. I cannot promise to be back very often, but I am back.

Jodi Kutz