Big, New, Awesome Things :: Part 2

So, about two weeks ago I wrote this post where I talked about big, new, awesome things on the horizon... it was that cryptic kinda post
where you can't really share exactly what you wish you could... but you're still kind of excited and wish you could, so you have to say
something, because you can't just act like there is nothing at all going on in your life...
Know what I mean?
So,  there are a couple of BIG things going on right now, all at once,  because that's just how things usually go, huh?
Nothing... nothing... nothing... crickets... then, BOOM.
I have a job.
I am starting a job next week.
There. I said it and typed it, so it must be real.
Eeeek.

First, let me give you a little background on my working/stay-at-home-mom situation...
I have not worked an actual job with an official employer since I stopped working in 2009-- the quick, non-boring version of that story is that
I worked for the school district for about 7 years in the Birth-3 At Risk program working with children + families.
At the end of that school year, in 2009, a big chunk of our State grant got cut and my part-time job was cut right along with it.
A couple months later at the beginning of the next school year,  I was offered my job back but decided I was going to stay home full time
with the kids... the timing was right, it just seemed right.
It was right.

Then last year Charlotte started Kindergarten and we made the decision to switch schools,

 and although I wasn't ready to jump right back into working immediately,  I thought and hoped

 and probably just assumed that something would come up, somehow, 

surely before the school year was over I would be working....  But nothing happened.

I didn't know what to do. I was in a funk.

What was I supposed to be doing now anyway?

What was my purpose?

I had a bit of a difficult time dealing with this big  Life Change  of mine, it was an empty nest,

 midlife what-the-hell-am-I-doing-here-anyway kind of thing. 

And of course I expected to have a hard time adjusting to my baby starting Kindergarten, 

but I didn't really expect a total identity crisis, that's for sure.

But now, somehow, kind of out of the blue, I now have a job.

I had a phone interview for it on Friday and they offered me the job this past Monday.

It was crazy fast.

A job. Working.

Actually getting paid for working.

Oh, how I do love the sound of that!

It's super exciting and nerve wracking and a little bit scary... but exciting.
There is going to be a lot of pressure and responsibility and it is going to be a pretty big challenge,
but I think and hope + pray that I am up for it.
Next week I have to go to Chicago for training, I'll share more details about the actual job after that.
Over night in a hotel for work, and a training... meeting new people, stepping way outside
 of my comfort zone, wearing real clothes and make-up.... this is real, folks.
It's a little bit freaky putting it out there now, too.

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Besides all of this, my brother and sister-in-law are opening a restaurant here
 in town this November.
It has been in the works for a while and now it is officially official.
It's even on Facebook. Ha!!!  So it must be real.
I am over the moon excited for them.
They both finish up their current jobs this week and after that it is all about this new adventure.
I am going to be helping out there some too, and already have been a bit, so I will be going
 from no work outside the home, to having a lot going on.
It's a really good thing though.

I have a whole post, with LOTS of pictures, on the restaurant coming next week though.
It's all happening.
Wish me luck, and them luck and all of us luck on these exciting new things.

Have you made this transition form stay-at-home mom to working?
Or any other big life changes similar to this?
How was it?
Were you completely freaked out, too... like it almost feels like your very first job all over again?
Any advice?

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Happy Thursday!