Back to the Grind

I've drawn it out far too long I know.  Any suspense or anticipation has fizzled out I'm sure and finally posting this now will probably be rather anticlimactic. But I promised.


I have a job.



Pray for me.



The week after Thanksgiving I started working at Little Flower Catholic Parish.  It's actually the parish Pete grew up in and Grandma Schafer works there too as the sacristan.  For all those that are fans of "The Office"-  I am the Assistant TO THE Director of Religious Education and unlike Dwight am quite satisfied with the humble title.  Unfortunately, right now I am the Assistant to the DRE that doesn't exist.

When I first signed up for the gig it was rather exciting because I would be assisting our friend Bonnie who Pete knows from his college days at Ohio Dominican and I got to know when I started working in ministry in 2007.  I could work a MAXIMUM of 20 hours a week, pretty much set me own hours except for Sunday mornings when the Religious Ed classes are happening, and bring Augustine along since he is pretty much at the eat and sleep phase.  Since Cathy is already at the church for Mass in the mornings I bring Luke along and pass him off to Grandma and Grandpa for one "long day" a week and otherwise set the hours so that I leave once Pete gets home from work to watch the boys.

Less than a week before I was supposed to start Bonnie called me up to let me know that she got a new job and would be moving to Columbus- which was and is GREAT especially since Bonnie's parents, sisters and brother-in-laws, and growing number of nieces and nephews are all in Columbus.  Still, it's a little bittersweet since I wouldn't be working with Bonnie after all and her dedication and contribution from all her years a Little Flower will be missed.  Part of the conversation I had with Bonnie that day was that I could "opt out" since there would be quite a bit of change in the near future.  Scary as it may be,  Bonnie and I both agreed that God certainly had a plan in the making and it was beginning to unfold. So I decided to stick around and see how it all panned out.

As usual though, I am reminded  and humbled by the fact that God does not work on our time.  God works on God's time.  And so, this Sunday, January 6th Religious Education classes start back up at Little Flower Catholic Parish where there is still no DRE and I, the lowly Assistant to the DRE, am clocking in my hours, strictly monitored by my husband not to exceed twenty, and attempting to keep things functioning somewhat smoothly until a new DRE is hired.  I'm enjoying the work so far and it seems to fit rather nicely with family life with some minor adjustments like attending Mass on Saturday evening rather than Sunday morning, and instituting some crock pot meals.  But plain and simple, there is NO WAY that I could do all that is necessary in 20 hours a week and there is NO WAY that I am giving up more time away from my little men, Luke and Augustine, nor my big man Pete.

I'm managing a tiny bit of stress in wondering when a new DRE will be hired, who it will be and whether or not we will work well together- that is where  I  need your prayers.  But other intentions are welcome for the applicants, the selection process, and the parish.  And...it's not too late so if you know of someone that might be interested they can check out the job posting at  this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page for specifics or send me an email for more information.