VBS Showcase, etc.

Today was a big day for me. My bosses asked me to become an expert in children's sunday school curriculum so that I could answer customer questions at our annual VBS showcase. I decided to put together a few binders of information so that I could have resources to show and share. They turned out well, and I do have a pretty good grasp of the information now. This now makes me Servant's Heart's Church Curriculum Specialist. Woohoo ;)

So there I am, sitting in the back of a room packed full of 50-plus VBS directors and helpers from the local churches, plus 15-20 presenters and store staff. I have my little table set up. it says "Servant's Heart, your partner for serving God's people in the local churches." Or something like that. I have my binders laid out, free samples, and my new "information request" form designed to funnel all curriculum questions to myself so that I can get real, personalized answers for people whose business will make a big difference in my store. I feel pretty good. Then my dear boss turns to me and says, "You know, it would just make more sense for you to actually be a presenter. We'll put you between speaker 3 and speaker 4."

Have I ever mentioned how much I loooove public speaking?

I spent speaker 1 and speaker 2 writing out what I was going to say, spent speaker 3 eating breakfast, and the break between speaker 3 and me talking to another expecting mother. She is due in March and it is her 3rd, also. Then it was time for me to speak. The thing about it is, I've been doing my job for three years now, and I actually love it. When I'm at Servant's Heart, I am relaxed in a way that would normally be reserved for home. So although I was still shaking and felt like I was speaking too fast, it wasn't that bad.

Vicky said I was perfect. And the thing about that is that She would not say that if she didn't mean it. That made me feel good because it means I represented the store well. Vicky is very picky about that, which is one reason why the store is doing so well.

Are you getting the idea that I feel really good right now? Talk about a self-esteem boost. I have been a little lonely and insecure the last couple of weeks; I really needed a day like today.

After the show, I talked with a few customers who I will be putting together information packets for. Then I went and sat with Vicky for a few minutes and talked about how we will be following up with people, and how excited we are about it all.

The rest of my shift went quickly. After that, I had to go to an "interview" with Fr. Weiss at church. It is part of the RCIA process. Partly it is to air any questions or concerns I might have, partly it is to determine if there are any problems or concerns from the other end as far as my joining the church. Really, we just talked, which was cool. There are a few questions I think he has to ask, like "is anyone pressuring you to join the church?" ROFL - as if.

Afterwards I felt tired and happy. I had gotten up an hour and a half before work even started to finish my binders, so it had been a long day. I put in my new Rocket Summer CD (my happy happy music), cranked it up, and sped home (a whole four miles over the speed limit, ouch) (yeah, actually, I have to drive through residential camp hill to get home from church, so if I was going 26 I'd be shocked but it felt like speeding what with the music and the happiness)

Was greeted exuberantly at the door by my beautiful kids who always miss me almost as much as I miss them. Boo drew me three pictures while I was gone - one was another "Boo Loves Mom" picture... actually it said something like 'Love Mom Boo' because we haven't got left to right down yet, but the fact that he wrote spontaneously was so awesome. I asked him "Who spelled LOVE for you, Boo?" thinking Daddy must have been involved. No, not quite. He ran to the livingroom and brought out the birthday card he got from "Boz the Green Bear". Then he pointed to the bottom of the card, which is signed, "Love, Boz". "That's where I got it Mom." Then, just to show off, he made the words "LOVE BOZ" on the fridge with his leap frog letters. These kids just blow my mind. The Lord knows I would rather be with them 24/7, but every second away just makes me appreciate them even more. I am so lucky. I am so blessed.

Lee's W-2 came in the mail, so we went to Wal*Mart and bought TurboTax. First he is going to file our taxes, then spend the rest of the night killing orcs on the computer. One quest after another. He has requested Ultimate Grilled Cheese for dinner tonight. As for me, I am going to put the kiddoes (the big ones!) to bed and take a well deserved nap. What a GREAT day.