Grace

It is 3am and I can't sleep. I have been thinking of the concept of Grace, just having finished my first week back at work after 4 months and listening to a great book on tape and praying a lot. I am thinking of grace in the biblical sense, the practical sense and the emotional sense. I have had the most amazing summer. Realizing that I was having a serious case of burn out, my employers (more like family) graciously let me take time off to spend with my family and it has been amazing. Mark and Nicky and Mom and Granny and I have spent a lot of time together this summer that would not have been possible otherwise. Nicky and I booked a lot of travel and, in the process, got to spend a lot of time with Mark that we would not have normally been able to do. We have been to Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio,Louisianna, Florida and North Carolina. We have seen Disney, family and new babies and it has been wonderful! Nicky is growing up so fast it has been such a gift to be able to spend this time with him. He started pre-school about a month ago and is loving it. He is a very gracious child and turns into a total host when people come over, I love it. He is very empathetic when dealing with people and tries very hard to make everyone happy and comfortable and I love and treasure that about him. He and I have had quite a summer meeting people and going to the library and out to lunch and just playing in the yard and I have very high hopes about the type of man he will become based on how he treats others and his concern about Oma and Granny and JuJu and Babcia and Dziadek and Grammy D and Emmy and Ricky and Sean and Amy and....well, everyone he loves in his life. Every night he blesses all his loved ones and even when it is taking half an hour and stretching my patience I appreciate his love for others and thank God for giving me such a sweet child. After our summer I finally went back to work and after my sabbatical, found myself happy to be there again. After a long period of burn out (I have been at this company for 12 years and in the industry for 18) my boss let me take 4 months off to re-group. What company does that these days?? After my first week back I have found the joy in my job again. I have always loved my industry and it is truly a gift to work with some of the people I work with. i think that is grace. I think having my mom next door is grace along with my neighbor who has become family and my co-workers and clients that have become true friends and all of the people who seem to love my child and, even when things look bleak, the people who help you out. My boss has been like my adoptive father since I lost my own dad and he has always had my back and I love him truly. One of my co-workers is my adoptive brother and I value the way he listens and seeks to always be a better man and his honesty. My friends are invaluable and, top of the list, my husband and child and mom astonish me daily with their kindness and goodness. Who could ask for more? Even when I am a goofball, God gives me Grace. Thank you.