Things are a'changin' in Griffintown.

Well, after several rounds of "How 'bout this? How 'bout that?," it became clear Friday that Methodist was not going to be able to offer me a part-time schedule that would make sense for our family. With so many changes and unknowns over the past year, one thing never wavered... how much I was missing spending quality time with my boys - all three of them. So, we took the plunge, and I gave notice at work. The team needs someone else. And I need something else.

I am grateful to Methodist for many things. First, they took a chance on me after I'd been a stay-at-home Mom for 18 months. In HR, that's an eternity. This job gave me the chance to launch a social media campaign, which is awesome on my resume. It allowed me to design, market, and create. In HR, that can be rare. It also introduced me to some amazing people with whom I know I'll keep in touch for a LONG long time.

I loved the work when I was there, but at the end of the day (or week), I couldn't ever seem to turn it off. The pace is too much for me, especially when I struggle so with how much time the boys were spending at daycare, and guilt over some the influence it has had on Davis.

I am not sure how we are going to make ends meet, but trust that God will reward our obedience to the call to return to Him and return to the family. I am excited about the Thirty-one business and the timing of getting into it. I have booked six total parties so far and look forward to filling even more slots before Christmas. I also have my feelers out in case a part-time Human Resources role happens upon me, but won't be actively looking until at least after the New Year.

I am SO excited to be home again, and am thankful for these past 10 months, because I will enjoy the time that much more now that I know the frantic, chaotic alternative.

On top of all that change, guess who poo-pooed in the potty yesterday?!! Davers! Yes, the same boy who has slept the past THREE nights in his BIG BOY toddler bed! Wow, I can't wait to get to know him again.

Okay, label me indecisive.

Do you like this better? Or not as much? Honestly. Need an opinion.

Label me happy.

It's almost 1:00am. In the words of Jack Everett, it is "redickelous" that I am still up. On a work night.

But, I've been busy designing this label:



Can't wait to see how it prints out for the Open House.... one week away. How exciting is that?

We had a great weekend and a highlight was showing the products to a couple of girlfriends and seeing that they were as excited about them as I am. I will cross my fingers that the rest of my gear arrives before Sunday, but it will be great either way.

I have already booked parties with Emily (10/30), Ann (11/4), Melody (11/7), and Marilyn (11/16), and am incredibly thankful for their support. There is Thirty-One stuff ALL OVER the house, though, so I really do need to work on a system and find a place to store it all. As soon as my organizing totes and file box arrives.

Better go to bed. Have to be in my desk in, oh, 7 hours. Ought to be interesting. I go part-time (officially) on November 1st. Although the date was moved, hours were changed, and role is completely different than anything we had previously discussed, I am very grateful for the opportunity and feel like it will work out quite nicely.

Let the two-week countdown begin!

"31" is my new lucky number!

Well, I have a LOT to catch up on, but it is time to officially announce my newest business venture!

I am excited to announce that, as of October 8th, I am a "Thirty-One" Consultant!

What's that? Well, here's the short version of the story: I saw on Facebook that our College Minister's wife (and Worship Team lead singer) Stefani Burkholder was hosting a "31 Party." I always like to support a new Momtrepreneur, so decided to host a party at my house.

It wasn't until my living room was filled with some of my most favorite people (some from work, from church, from high school, playgroups...) that I realized how much I have been missing spending quality time with these quality women. I looked around and my eyes teared up a bit. I am very blessed, and these relationships are important. Not to mention, the products were adorable, the party was super fun, and I could see that Stefani considered this work a ministry. And it is. Named after Proverbs 31, I loved that it is a faith-based company meant to encourage, celebrate, and reward hard-working women.

I called her the next night and told her I was considering becoming a consultant. I started crying describing my current struggle with work-life balance, and she encouraged me to take some time to pray about it and discuss with Jeff whether I could handle "one more thing" on my plate. Well, since then, I have felt not only a peace, but a real excitement about the possibilities this could afford if I truly apply myself.

It's funny... I have always viewed direct-selling opportunities as a chance to earn a few bucks but always imagined it would be more trouble than it would be worth. I have also felt like it might be a "waste" of sorts of my education and skills. This time, I realized that it is my education and skills that just might make this work. So, I look forward to using my networking, marketing, sales, and recruiting skills in business for myself. Maybe just maybe in 2 or 3 years, this could become my sole income!

So, to put my own twist on it, I am branding my business as "31 by MBG" and the start-up fee was just $99.00!

First goal: Get the website up and running. Check!

Second goal: Facebook site! Check!

Third goal: Plan a Grand Opening/Blessing of the Business. Check!

Fourth goal: Sell $1000 in products in the first 60 days. Then I earn another big pack of great products for display.

Fifth goal: Lose 31 pounds. (Okay not really. But, seeing as how I AM 31, and I SELL 31, this would definitely complete the lucky number trifecta.)

Thanks for your prayers over this new venture. I appreciate your support and continued encouragement. I promise I will NOT use this blog as a way to advertise products and sales.

I will save that for the Facebook page and website.

However, I will use this blog to record how it's going, my successes and struggles, and of course all the funny "That would only happen to Melissa" stories along the way.

Thanks for being along for the ride!

"I wanna be a Billionaire..."

My boss decided to leave Methodist this week and Friday was her last day. When she made the announcement, we sat there as a team... 10 recruiters, all women... and we cried as she described how the pace of the job has taken a huge toll on her and her two boys. We cried because we have watched it happen for this past year - to her, and to ourselves. She's the hardest working person I have ever met, and burned the candle at both ends. It was clear she had trouble turning it off, which made it difficult for us to turn it off too.

As she worked out her notice, I was proud of her decision to stand up for what's best for her family, but couldn't help but stress about what this would mean for my part-time role and MY family.

Davis continues to receive frustrated reports from his teachers, and Jack continues to share stories with me like, "Hey Mom, do you know the song "Billionaire?" I listen to it on Jared's iPod at daycare!" ... that make me cringe and feel like I am really compromising my standard of care for them.

I trust that God will work out the details, and the new preliminary plan is for me to begin a revised part-time role in November. In the meantime, I have to dig deep and continue to prove that I am valuable to the team, and that this part-time position will benefit Methodist Recruitment efforts.

For now, it's a matter of patience.