Big Changes





It was my last day.
Boxes were packed, desk was cleared, book shelf bare and my filing cabinet had been emptied. Paintings were stacked nearby and as I looked about my old office, I began to wonder why it was that I had been looking forward to this day.

Rain pattered against my windows and my walls were bare—all except for that ugly "fabric" wallpaper, so 1980s—eww.

I wasn't going to miss the stress, the unrealistic workload, the attitudes, politics, the leaky ceilings, the geese, or even my office with the ugly orange carpet.

The day just felt melancholy. Life was changing, again.

Interestingly enough, life is like that. Just when you think you've got a handle on things—life sends you another curve ball. Or in my case, three extra ones for good measure.

And now ten months later, life is different. Priorities are different.

This is my new normal. I'm no longer just a wife—I'm also a mother. And I wouldn't change that for the world. And to be perfectly honest, I am quite content with my career change.


[Meeting our daughter for the first time]


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Roses are Red

Image
When I was growing up, I was taught that . . . Trees are Green Roses are Red Sky is Blue Barns are Red Clouds are White Flowers are Yellow Violets are Blue My crayon and marker drawings stayed true, until my parents enrolled me in a two week summer painting class. Our teacher (bless his heart) was very traditional and always said "like so" after every instruction. Apparently, I was the rebellious child and he saw it as his duty to curve my unruly artistic ways. "Barns are not green ." He emphasized the last word as he studied my masterpiece. Our assignment had been to copy his painting. The rest of the class had done just that—and to them he gave praise. But as I was dutifully coping his painting, I decided that a red barn would blend in with the burnt umber treeline. And so, mine was green. It was my first artistic rebellion, but it was most certainly not my last. Trees are Whimsical Roses are Elegent Sky is my Backdrop Barns Protect
Read more

Make it a blue. Make it red. Make it a Pony.

Image
There are few things that annoy designers more than having non-designers telling us how to design. I have this poster up in my office—it makes me laugh, on those days when I am being told how to design. Which is usually on a daily basis. It helps keep the irritation down as you work on cover mock-ups and have people walk in on you and give their expert opinion.   They aren't going to like that one. The certainty in their voice annoys you—the eye roll is quite appropriate at this point [as long as it is towards your computer monitor]— it isn't done yet, you find yourself saying— they might like it when it is finished. Besides, you mutter to no one in particular, the final decision is the Art Directors, not yours. We recently had a rush job that had to make a specific [unrealistic] deadline. It was one of those wonder jobs [that fell from heaven] where the upper-ups had been talking about it for months—and then "suddenly" decided that they wanted it no
Read more

Hear Me: Justice and Mercy

Image
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” [Isaiah 35:1-4] Isaiah 35 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible since I was in high school. I have always liked the visual narrative. Life after rain. Joy after victory. Be strong my child, do not fear—your God will come. He will come justly. Don’t fear, He has heard your cry. And He will save you.  Rereading over these verses are a much needed balm to my soul. Because lately, I haven’t felt heard. And that makes me feel so empty and sometimes even a
Read more