Is this my calling?

I can't sleep. I'm up and I am sad. I have been in a place for the last couple of months of being really unsure that I am in the profession that I was called to be in. In college, when I choose social work, I did so because I felt that it was the profession that would allow me to do what I was called to do. Now, I am not so sure. This is my second social work job and I am beginning to feel the way I did during the end of the last one. I don't feel like what I am doing is making an impact. That sounds egotistical I'm sure, but it isn't meant to. I'm not in this profession because I want applause or even really expect a thank you. But, I do hope that I can say that what I am doing is leaving people better off than they were before we started working together. Right now, I feel like I am juggling schedules, legalities, personality types, and the like without really improving the lives of the kids I serve. I spend all my time making sure the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted, until I have no quality time with the kids to impact them in a positive way. I am worried that at 25 I am already getting burned out in this field. Please, pray for me that God will direct my path and help me to determine what His will is for my professional development.

Car Drama

I should have posted this picture a long time ago, especially with the recent turn of events. Before now, I have never had a new car. I have always been blessed, and I really mean blessed, not in a sarcastic way, with being able to use the cars my parents no longer needed. However, prior to the wedding, I was having a lot of car trouble and having to jump my car a lot. It was really not reliable enough for the amount of driving I do for work. When we got home from our honeymoon, I was still having to jump the car and after a fender bender that involved rain and a sleep deprived Becca, Jeff and I decided to buy me a new car. Jeff had been doing research for a couple months, knowing I would need a car sooner rather than later. So, the Saturday after we returned from our honeymoon, we purchased a new 2007 Saturn Aura. It is beautiful with Moroccan brown leather (my teenage clients call them the peanut butter seats) and On Star to help me with directions, and tons of other wonderful features. I love it and am so happy to have it!

Well, on Saturday after the wedding we went to, an older gentleman backed his car into my brand new car. It isn't a lot of damage and if it were in the past when I had older cars, I probably wouldn't have even gotten it fixed, but this is a new car. I went to get an estimate today and it is a bit more expensive when we expected. These type of situations are difficult because for minor damage, isn't really worth dealing with insurance companies and deductibles. Plus, we feel bad for the man that hit us. But, the body shop said I would be out of a car for three full work days and the man is going to have to pay for a rent car for me. We are in a pickle trying to decide what to do.

Weekend Fun

We had a fun, but busy weekend! Mr. and Mrs. Albus, Matt (Jeff's brother) and Austin (our nephew) came to visit for the day on Saturday. We missed our morning marathon training so we could rest up for the day of fun. They came about 10 AM. We showed them the changes we had made to the house, mainly just hanging pictures and putting away wedding gifts. Then we went out to eat and to the neighborhood pool. Our neighborhood has several awesome swimming pools and one of them is like a mini-water park for kids. It's actually really fun for adults too! They have three big slides, but Austin was too small to go down those. However, he loved the one shaped like a frog. He also enjoyed mushrooms that shot water down on you and water fountains that come out of the ground. We all had a lot of fun and we are so glad they came to visit!

After our company left, we got ready to go to my friend, Trisha's wedding. Trisha and Jason started dating around the same time we did and are a sweet couple. It was the first Catholic wedding I had ever been too, so it was interesting to see the differences in the ceremony. It was funny because at the end of the wedding, the priest pronounced them Mr. and Mrs. "James" Bunetello! Oops, but I think it is still legal if they say the wrong groom's name, right? Another new thing for me came at the reception. They had what is called a "Grand March." I'm sure this is more common than I think, but I have never seen it done before. Jeff and I observed the festivities, as we weren't sure exactly what to expect. It looked like a lot of fun though! We enjoyed the wedding, our second to attend since our wedding, almost 3 months ago! Here are some pics: