Big Prayer, little work

I have been much busier than usual lately. As an introvert and more on the extreme introvert side of the spectrum I have been stretched to my limits lately. Well let's back up here a bit... So in April my CrMS work was pretty slow so I had more free time. The other practitioner at our center and I were wanting to get more clients but wanted to wait to see her final exam results before we did business cards and such. So we didn't do much on the CrMS front other than go to a clergy day organized by NFP in OC for clergy in the Orange diocese and surrounding diocese. Well I am technically in the L.A. Archdiocese but I was invited to go so we can mingle with priests from my area if they went. It was kind of an introvert's nightmare but I got through it and talked to a couple of priests and a deacon's wife.

 Then I got the crazy idea that we should do this in L.A. and do what they are doing in the Orange diocese with NFP. So then I started speaking with the priest who was organizing the event and he is a go getter let me tell you. So we met with him to figure out what we need to do which I knew the answer but didn't want to hear it. We have to do a lot of networking with fellow NFP teachers and enthusiasts, more nightmares for an introvert! So he gave me some homework to do which simple, like emailing NFP teachers in L.A. to see if they would be interested in helping. Have I done that yet? Nope. I know that once I do that the real work begins and I am procrastinating. So there is that assignment looming in the back of my head. 

I got another crazy idea that I could start to babysit my cousin's 7 month old son full time. It seemed like a great idea at the time since CrMS was slow. Well let me tell you how bad an idea that was! The week I watched him I had 3 CrMS inquiries and took on 5 new clients a week later. I had to break the news to my cousin that I could not watch her son, that was tough. I would like to do everything for everyone but I can't.

 God is making it clear that right now that the work He is setting before me is CrMS. As much as I'd like to be doing mostly domestic things, like raising children, that is just not where He has me right now. The week that I babysat baby J was amazing and difficult. Props to the mamas and nannies raising children out there. God gave me great consolation in the follow ups I had that week with my clients. I was exhausted from baby J during the day and then going to follow ups at night but I cried because I love my job so much. I love being a practitioner and the people I get to encounter. So I have taken on 8 new clients since then and 2 transfer clients while another practitioner is on maternity leave. This has kept me pretty busy but with each inquiry and new client I say "OK Lord what do you want to teach me through them? Let's do this!" I also need to start the process of getting my certification since I will be the responsible practitioner at our center. This means more paperwork, applications and continuing education training. Which we have a practitioner refresher course coming up in a few weeks in Orange County. 

Aside from that JJ and I recently went to an NFP speaker training in the diocese of...you guessed it Orange. I know we should just move to OC but we know God has us in L.A. for a reason. We would like to get more involved in doing NFP talks at parishes and anywhere where they want to hear what we have to say. JJ has talked about wanting to do this for years but I am the one who would just like to be in a hobbit hole and hide from the world. I would like to stay in my little comfort zone but God keeps pulling me out! So we are on a roster of speakers that they can call to give talks at parishes where they request an NFP speaker. I am sure we are at the bottom of the list since we technically don't live in the OC diocese but hey its still a step forward. 

We are still teaching an NFP marriage prep. class at our parish once a month too which hasn't gotten slow since it is wedding season. We have encountered some great couples from doing this over the last few years. So we get to practice talking about NFP in small groups of about 4-12 people. The practice helps and has made us too very comfortable talking about NFP to people. 

On top of all of this my mother in law was in the hospital last week. She was released last Friday but has to go back for surgery within the next few weeks. This has been a bit nerve racking since this came out of nowhere. I love my mother in law very much and get along with her really well and am praying her surgery goes well. Please keep her in your prayers if you remember! She is an awesome lady who raised six children and despite living in L.A. is such a down to earth mid west Minnesota woman. I am going to her Drs. appts. with her so that I can ask them questions and feel them out. I told my MIL she is going to be so tired of me at the end of all of this! She said she could never get tired of me. I am her favorite daughter in law...well I am her only DIL, haha. 

Sometimes I just want to hide and ask God "how do you expect me to do this?" He has answered with "BIG prayer, little work." When I look at it that way it doesn't all seem so overwhelming. I need to go back to daily Mass which means I have to get up and be ready by 7:15 am to make it by 7:30am. I need some discipline and Mass has always been a preferred way for me to pray. I have been catching adoration whenever I can steal a moment at the office. I mean the adoration chapel is down the stairs and down the hall from my office so I have no excuse! JJ and I have tried to pick up doing a daily rosary together again. This is hit and miss lately but we are getting better at it. With all that has been going on I know I need to steal away time for prayer, solitude and fun or I am not a great human to be around. 

So that's what is going in my life lately. JJ and I will be going out of town for a couple days to relax. Not too far away since we want to be close to my MIL still. We are going with my mom who is on vacation from work so it will be a nice little family getaway. We so need it! Oh and next week is my birthday! 31 I can't believe it! I will probably have some reflections about that soon. JJ asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said, "I'd like to got to a coffee shop by myself so I can read and write. Well you can be there too so long as you don't talk." Ha, classic introvert ;) 

Here are some things that have kept me happy and sane during this time. Yes they revolve around food and drink, don't judge me!  

Making Pioneer Woman's recipe for iced coffee. It is super easy! 

Drinking said iced coffee :) Is it wrong that I feel the only way to drink iced coffee
 is out of a glass mason jar? 

This slice of gluten free cookies and cream cheesecake JJ got me from a specialty bakery.
Don't worry I shared with him ;)