My birthday was a great day and work issues.

Yesterday I turned 29 for the 15th time! Can you imagine? It was a great day and I got to spend it pretty much how I wanted to. It was very cold here with temps in the 20's and a wind that would whip right through you, but other than that, it was sweet. I received many special messages from friends and family (they really DO like me!) and I ended up at 9:00pm last night at Starbuck's by myself. No, I LIKE being by myself when I can be. I received belated wishes today and still have my Starbuck's gift card to spend since my coffee was free last night with the help of a dear Jessica who works there. It was her birthday gift to me...thanks!

Work has been difficult lately. As much as I love my job, I had thoughts today of exploring other options. It's not the job...it's policies handed down by management that I am not sure I want to deal with anymore. There is a policy that our aerobic classes have to average 8 participants or else they are cancelled the next month. During times like now...with the holidays upon us and people shopping and traveling, our class participation has been low and I have had to cancel a handful of classes. You may think that is no big deal but to the the few members that are still attending these classes, this is huge! I then become the p.r. person, the sounding board, the go -between, the one that has to keep on a happy face and then I go cry in my managers office. I understand that there is a budget and operating costs, I just think they can refigure some things to allow those classes to continue. Our lead sales rep said in our meeting yesterday that our aerobics program is his biggest selling tool.

I NEVER have thought about leaving my company until today. 4 of my regular ladies sent scathing letters to management. I knew this would happen. I TOLD them it would. And yet, I keep getting told that the numbers speak for themselves and if the classes were popular ones then this wouldn't happen. To some degree, he's right. But he is also wrong in that LIFE happens! People travel, get busy, and yes, let their fitness drop to the wayside. It's temporarily NOT the top priority. But to the few it is infuriating to them to be told that the next month their classes will be cancelled. Before leaving to day I told him that I was okay, that I would implement policy and procedres, and that I would be as positive as I can be to the members. But I really am not okay. I don't know if I want to continue to deal with this because it will ALWAYS be an issue since there is an ebb and flow to health clubs. Some seasons are busier than others. Oh, and I didn't mention the LOW budget they put my deparment on. If my payroll goes over a certain amount, I have to cut back classes there, too.

On another note, tonight Mike and the girls have a show and Sam and I will be attending his football banquet where he will receive his letterman's jacket. He is so excited. I also did more prep. training to start personal training members. I won't be certified tos tart but will hoep to get that in February. I am getting my advanced Pilates first.

That's all for today except that I hope to have some pics for you...

Just do the next thing!

Today is my Sweetie's birthday!!! He and the girls have "school day" performances at the theatre and so he has spent the day doing 3 plays back to back. I have a pot roast in the crockpot along with red potatoes and carrots. iIwill add baked beans and a salad for dinner. and then tonight we plan to go to a local amusement park to see their advertised two miles of Christmas lights and then up at Sonic for a birthday chocolate shake. Fun, fun fun!!!

I got home from the gym about 2 hours ago and have been on the computer ever since just taking care of stuff. My counterpart at the other facility, Linda, was put into her position but without much training. Unlike me, she did not received the benfit of being trained as the coordinator and took on her position with out fully knowing all that was required. After today's meeting with her and our manager, she was feeling overwhelmed and behind. I went back through my aerobics files and was able to send her some more info she needed but also sent her a word of encouragement.

I was reminded of the Pastor's Wives conference that I attended when I got to hear Elisabeth Elliott speak. If you have never heard of Elisabeth Elliott, she has written several books one of which, Through Gates of Splendor, was about her life as amissionary wife in Ecuador. her husband, Jim Elliott, was one of the 5 missionaries that the movie, The End of the Spear, was based on. Anyway, this seasoned saint has gone through many trials and heart aches with the death of not only one husband but two. Now married for the third time, and for quite some time, she has traveled and been the key note speaker at many conferences.

This particular conference, for pastor's wives, was excellent and I was very excited about seeing and hearing Elisabeth. Her message that day was simple to these overworked and tired out pastor's wives, "Just do the next thing". Short, sweet, simple and yet packed full of wisdom gained through years of ministry and trials of life. Those words have echoed in my ears many times either by reminder of The Holy Spirit or the Holy Spirit through Mike.

I was able to share those words with Linda today. As she grasps all that her job requires as well as her Personal Training schedule and her roles as wife and mother, my prayer is that it will be exactly what she needs today. Maybe it's what you need today to. It's always what I need to hear.

The Latest...

A little behind...again. I just think that some times there will be a post every day and sometimes a gap. When the kids are home, I can't near the computer between all three of them playing internet games and chekcking and chatting on facebook. Sure, I can kick them off but sometimes I would rather take a computer break and get on it on Monday. So, here's the latest...

Last Thursday Mike and the girls had their opening night for The Best Christmas Pagenat Ever. (Pics to follow). They did a great job and we are just happy that it is finally running since that will cut down on rehearsals. They have all decided that this will be the last time they do this play since this is year #4. The crowd has been low since there are two other Christmas plays in town right now so that has pulled some of the people away. Especially since one is The Grinch.

Friday night I "hit the wall" as I put it and was able to sit a couple of hours while the family did their show. Sam had band practice so I had a couplf of hours with the remote ALL TO MYSELF! I was able to watch a couple episodes of What Not To Wear and loved every minute of it.

SaturdayI had to teach a class, do payroll, other gym stuff, and then went to the Connexion where Sam's band played 4 songs. Let's just say it was very unorganized, there were too many acts, and it was scheduled to be done at 10:00pm but Sam and the band didn't even get on stage untuil 11:00. However, they closed the show, blew the church's sound system, and rocked it out. Their last song was , "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet. It was awesome! By the time they broke all the equipment down we got home at midnight and decided that we needed to sleep in Sunday morning.

So we did. Jessie and I made a big breakfast, we had family devotions, and then Mike and the girls had another show. Sam and I were supposed to go to Scott's to celebrate his daughter's birthday but Scott was sick so Sam and I went Christmas shopping. We had a ball and so enjoyed our time hanging out. We met up with Mike and the girls after their show and went to our church Christmas show. It was so cute and done so well. I was supposed to be in it but with the family in the Christmas Pageant, it just spreads me too thin.

And today...I started getting ready for Personal Training. My Lead Trainer, Travis "the Beast", walked me through some things that I need to know, etc. I came home and took care of gym stuff on the computer and here I still sit..needing to shower, feed the kids, and go to my work Christmas party tonight. Whew!

We will celebrate Mike's birthday tomorrow and mine on Wednesday. I will blog on that later.

That's it for today. Enjoy the Christmas season...each day fo it. In fact, tell someone Merry Christmas today. Say it loud..say it proud!