I LOVE My Job!

I think I have the greatest job in the world.  I've been a Realtor for 19+ years, and I LOVE it!  And I happen to be pretty good at it.  (As negative as I am about myself, I bet you're surprised to hear me say something POSITIVE, huh)?!  ;)  But I DO love my job.  I love helping people find the perfect house for them.  I love helping them through the process of selling the house they've lived in for 45+ years, and are struggling to move on.  I love making the transition as easy as possible for them.  Taking care of all of the behind the scenes problems and drama, so that my clients don't stress about it, wondering if everything is going to be okay.  THAT'S my job.  To take care of things.  To make them work.  To keep my clients' stress levels down throughout the process.  To take care of PEOPLE.  

I think that's why I like it so much.  It's not the paperwork.  I HATE the paperwork.  It's not the hours.  They're not consistent and usually involve nights and weekends.  It's not the pay.  The pay is even less consistent than the hours!  ;)  I think it's being a caretaker.  A protector.  A watcher.  A helper.  THAT'S what I like so much about it.  HELPING people.  

Maybe it's because it's the ONE thing I'm good at.  The one thing that I do well.  The one thing I don't screw up.  The ONE thing, besides my family and friends, that I LOVE. 

I Don't Go To Church, BUT .....

I've run this post through my head a gazillion times, but I've been afraid to post it because of how people might react.  But here goes. I don't go to church.  There.  I said it.  I know that kills my parents who never miss a week, attend every holy day mass, go sometimes just because they feel like it, and have been part of a biweekly prayer group for as long as I can remember. But I don't.  I did when I was growing up, because my parents made me.  I did when I was in college, because the priest there was AMAZING, and I ALWAYS got something out of the sermon.  And I did for awhile after that.  But I don't anymore.  I go Christmas and Easter with my parents.  But that's pretty much it.  And honestly, if I didn't think they'd be extremely disappointed in me for not going on those days, I'm not sure I'd even go then!  :(

I stopped going because I felt like a hypocrite.  When I was there, I kept thinking about all of the things I could and should be doing.  I wasn't really paying attention.  I wasn't getting anything out of it.  I didn't WANT to be there.  I was there because that's what I was "supposed" to do.  So I stopped going.  And I'm okay with it.  But I know a lot of other people aren't.  I know a lot of people look down on me for not going.  They think I'm not a good role model for my children.  I'm not teaching them to be true Christians.  I'm not teaching them about God and being Godly. 

But you know what?  I don't have to go to church to do that.  I would like to think my children learn from my actions.  NOT from my action of going or not going to church, but for my REAL actions.  They see me volunteer at their school on a weekly basis.  VOLUNTEER.  They see me help my friends' when they need something.  They see me drive to Evansville every two weeks to help take care of Ryan's Grandpa.  They see me taking care of him, and therefore not sleeping, while he's here staying with us.  They see my ACTIONS.  They see how I treat people.  They see how I teach THEM to treat people.  They see how I treat THEM. 

I am teaching my kids not to be judgmental.  I am teaching them to love people for who they are on the inside, not for what they look like on the outside.  I am teaching them to help other people in need.  I am teaching them to respect other people, whether you agree with their beliefs or not.  I am teaching them to believe that you don't always have to get paid for the work you do; you do it because it's the right thing to do and because you want to help other people.  I am teaching them that no matter what they do or say, I will NEVER stop loving them.  I will never judge them.  I will never ask them to change who they are.  

So yeah, I don't go to church.  I have a lot of issues with it, and I have most of my life.  But that doesn't mean I'm not a good person.  That doesn't mean I'm not teaching my children the right things.  That doesn't mean I'm not a good role model.  That doesn't mean I'm not a good Christian.  It just means I'm different from you.  YOU go to church.  I DON'T.  And I'm okay with that.  I don't NEED to go to church.  If I did, I would go.  But please don't judge me for not going.  Please don't say my kids aren't learning about God because they're not going to church.  If you judge me for not going to church.  If you condemn my kids because they don't go.  What kind of a person are you?  How are you better than me?  I'm not judging YOU.  YOU are judging ME.  And yet, I'M not a good Christian?

Anyone out there going through the same thing?  If so, how do you deal with it?  Are you okay with your decision, or do you question it?  Sometimes I feel like a bad person because I don't go to church.  But when I WAS going, I felt like a bad person because I felt like a hypocrite.  How do you deal with those thoughts and feelings?  Do they eventually go away?  Honestly, I'm OKAY with my decision not to attend to church.  It really doesn't bother me.  Until someone brings it up.  Until someone questions me about it. Or judges me for it.

What would YOU do?

Thirty-One Outlet Sale . . .

As you may, or may not know, selling Thirty-One is one of my MANY jobs!  :)  You know what they say, Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None!  :(

Anyway, if you like Thirty-One and have been looking to add to your collection, just visit my website.  Click on the Outlet Sale Link and Start Shopping!  :)

31 Website

Day 9 . . . . .

Day 9:  Favorite Book

I LOVE to read.  I don't have the time that I used to, but I still LOVE it.  So I have read A LOT of  books in my 42 years on this earth.  

But I would say my FAVORITE is "The Hunger Games".  It's probably the BEST series I've ever read.  LOVE it.  

I will read it again pretty soon because the new movie comes out in the Fall, and I've already forgotten a lot of it!  :(

Day 7 . . .

Day 7:  What Do You Want To Do When You Grow Up?

Well, since I'm ALREADY a grown up, physically anyway, I guess I'll answer it a little differently.

I'm a Realtor.  And I LOVE being a Realtor.  

But I think my dream job would be either to be a Child and Family Counselor or to be a CSI.  I love watching all the shows that show how they figure things out.  Collecting evidence.  Doing research.  I'm sure it's more boring than it sounds, but it sounds like a cool job to me.

My degree is in Psychology and I've always been drawn to that, so I think I would LOVE the Child and Family Counselor.  I like listening to other people's problems and trying to help them come up with a solution.  I like being the 3rd party that isn't in the mix, so I can look at things more objectively.  I just LOVE the counseling aspect.  If I could afford to go back to school, I would definitely go back for Psychology and Counseling.

Day 7:

Day 7:  Favorite Movie

Another easy one.  My favorite movie of ALL TIME, is The Sound Of Music.  Please don't judge me!  I remember watching it every Thanksgiving when I was a kid.  I LOVE that movie.  I mean LOVE it.  I watch it every time it comes on television.  I also have it on Videotape, DVD, and Blue Ray.  I listen to the CD in the car.  I LOVE it.  Again, please don't judge me!

Whew!  Finally caught up.  *wiping brow*

Day 6:

Day 6:  Favorite Drink

That's the easiest one.  Diet Coke.  I LOVE Diet Coke.  I drink it ALL. THE. TIME.  I probably drink 2-2 liters a day.  Yes, I know it's too much.  Please don't lecture me.  :)

Day 5:

Day 5:  Favorite Place

That's easy.  Las Vegas.  I LOVE Vegas.  I mean LOVE it!  The bright lights.  The people watching.  The food.  The shows.  And yes, the GAMBLING!  I LOVE Roulette.  It's my favorite game.  I could play it for hours and hours.  And I have!  :) 

I love Disney too, but it's always so crowded and hot.  So that's why it's 2nd on my list.  But I love the rides, the shows, the characters.  Disney ROCKS!

I always say if I win the Lottery I will take TWO vacations every year.  One to Las Vegas WITHOUT the kids.  And one to Disney WITH the kids!  :)

Day 4:

Day 4:  What You Want To Do Before You Die

I've wanted to go to Australia for as long as I remember.  Since I was a little kid actually.  I'm not sure why, I've just been fascinated with it.  I used to collect koala bears.  I loved reading about and watching shows on it.  I honestly don't know why though.  I guess when I was little I just saw something on it, and I was hooked.  So that's DEFINITELY one thing I would like to do before I die. 

Catching Up: Day 3:

I was at the lake for a few days and internet on my phone is very sporadic, so now that I'm back in town, I need to catch up.  :)

Day 3:  Favorite TV Show

Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE TV!  Probably too much.  I watch A LOT of TV.  I can't stand silence, so I ALWAYS have it on in the background.  When I'm working, when I'm cleaning, when I'm cooking.  You get the picture.  It's ALWAYS on.  

So I like a lot of different shows.  But I would say I have TWO favorites.  

Criminal Minds and Big Bang Theory

I have seen every episode.  Of both shows.  And I still watch all of the reruns.  I think it's funny that my 2 favorites are SO different from each other!  I'm sure that means something, but I'm not going to psychoanalyze it, because I probably don't WANT to know what it means!  :)

Blog Challenge Day 2 . . .

Day 2 is My Favorite Food

Well OBVIOUSLY I like food!  :(

I don't really have a FAVORITE though.  But Mexican is my favorite TYPE of food.  I could eat Mexican food pretty much every day of the week.

Imagine what it was like trying to get MEXICAN food while living in CHINA!  :)

That was a treat!  

About Me Blog Challenge . . .

I've been trying to figure out how to get more motivated with my writing.  So purely by accident, I found This Site.  There are A LOT of Challenges that I liked, but I thought I'd start with THIS ONE first.  If you've been following me long enough, you know that I have ADD and am a HUGE Procrastinator.  So let's see if I can stick with this long enough to complete it!  :)

Day 1:  Your Full Name

Michelle Lynn (Kremer) Bruner

I wish when I'd gotten married I'd changed my name to Michelle KREMER Bruner instead of Michelle LYNN Bruner.  Kremer is such a HUGE part of who I am.  I actually still use it, it's just not really a legal name.  But, it's Me.  And it always will be.  :)

PYHO: Things I Wish I Could Change . . .

Are there things about yourself you wish you could change?  There are A LOT of things about myself I'd like to change.  I wish I was thinner.  I wish I was smarter.  I wish I had more self esteem.  I wish I was a better Mom.  A better wife.  Better daughter.  Sister.  Friend.  I wish I was more organized.  LESS scatterbrained.  Less ADD. 

But the fact is, I'm not.  I am what I am.  And I'm 42, almost 43 years old.  My guess is I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and be thinner, smarter, more organized, OR less scatterbrained.  It's just not going to happen.  Yeah, I can WORK on some of those things.  And I have been.  I've been trying to write things down and I mark them off my list as I get them completed.  I've been putting the really important things in my phone so that it will remind me to do them.  Then I just keep hitting snooze until it's done.  Sometimes, I hit the snooze button 20 or 30 times.  But I get them done.  USUALLY.  But every once in awhile, something slips through the cracks.  Sometimes the things that slip through aren't that important.  At least not to me.  But they're important to others.  The funny thing is, the LAST thing that slipped through the cracks?  Amounted to about 4 pieces of clothing.  FOUR pieces.  Not a big deal.  Only it was.  Nevermind all of the 100 things BEFOREHAND that DIDN'T slip through the cracks.  THIS one did.  And I HATE that it did, but there's nothing I can do about it now. 

I was talking to a friend of mine last week.  I was telling her that I think I've ALWAYS had ADD, it just seems like it's getting worse the older I get.  She pointed out that it's probably because I have A LOT more on my plate now.  I have a husband who works full-time, and part of that is spent traveling.  I have 3 kids that are currently in 2 different schools, soon to be 3.  I have FOUR part-time jobs.  That's right, I said FOUR.  Real Estate, which is my passion, and I LOVE it.  I've been doing it for 19 years.  I also sell 31 and Avon.  (I enjoy those, but I don't LOVE them.  So maybe that's where I look first if I want to give something up).  I've just recently started Substitute Teaching.  And I LOVE that.  If I could Sub at my kids' Elementary School all the time, I could see me doing it pretty much every day.  I started Subbing because I could work it around Ryan's travel schedule and the kids school schedule.  If the kids are out of school, there's no Subs needed.  And if he's traveling a lot, I can just call myself off so that I can be here to take care of the kids.  But when I DO work, I GET PAID.  It's not like Real Estate, which again, I LOVE, but sometimes I work A LOT before I get paid.  And if there are too many problems and it doesn't close?  Then I don't get paid.  So that's one of the things I like the most about Subbing.  Work.  Get paid.  And while we're trying to pay of the Home Equity Loan, every little bit of extra money helps.

But yeah, I have A LOT on my plate.  So is my ADD really getting worse as I'm getting older, or is it just that I have TOO much on my plate?  And if so, what do I give up?  Definitely not my hubby and my kids, and they're the BIGGEST part!  I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

So I guess I just keep treading along.  I keep trying to do better.  I keep writing things down.  I keep putting things in my phone.  And I hope nothing else slips through the cracks.  Because let's face it, like I said, I'm 42 years old.  I don't think I'm going to just wake up tomorrow and be "cured".  It's not going to happen.  Do I LIKE it?  NO.  But like I said, it's who I am.  And it's just one of the MANY things about myself that I wish I COULD change. 

What are the things about YOU, that you wish you could change?

Old School Blogging . . .

I found this thanks to Shell, who then sent me to Elaine and Jennifer. I liked the idea, so I thought I would join in.

A. Attached or Single? Attached.  Will celebrate 17 years of marriage in October.
B. Best Friend? My hubby.  I've told him things I've never told anyone else.  And never will.  After him, it's Laura, my best friend from high school, and Sandy my best friend from college.  Laura and I have been friends since we were 13.  She's Sarah Beth's Godmother.  And Sandy I have been friends since I was 19.  Not too many people can say they have friends from 20+ years ago.  I'm truly blessed.
C. Cake or pie? Pike's Peak Pie from Buckheads.  Chocolate and peanut butter ice cream, with chocolate and peanut crust, and chocolate and peanut butter drizzled over it.  YUM-MEE!
D. Day of choice? Any day spent at the lake.
E. Essential Item? My phone.  I am LOST without it.  I will actually go back home if I forget it. 
F. Favorite color? Aqua/Turquoise.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears.
H. Home town? Louisville, KY.  Born and raised.  And have NO intention of ever leaving again!  :)
I. Favorite Indulgence? Girls Night Out.
J. January or July?  Both, but for different reasons.  My baby boy was born in January, so it's a VERY special month to me.  But I HATE winter and cold weather, so the ONLY reason I like January is because of Andrew.  Otherwise, it would be July.  Hands Down!
K. Kids? Three beautiful children.  My boys are 14 and 11.  And my daughter is 5 1/2.
L. Life isn’t complete without?  My awesome hubby and kids.  My family and my friends.  They make life worth living for me. 
M. Marriage date? October 5, 1996.
N. Number of brothers/sisters? 1 AWESOME brother.  He's 1 year and 10 days younger than me.  And I love him with all my heart.  He's one of the best people I know!
O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges. Cuties especially.  I could eat 3 or 4 at a time.  YUM!
P. Phobias? Death of a loved one.
Q. Quotes?  "Life is not a dress rehearsal.  It is a one and only performance.  So you live life like you're gonna live.  Not like you're gonna die."  Heard it while in high school on an episode of  "Facts Of Life".
R. Reasons to smile? Hubby and kids.  Family.  Friends.  Days at the lake.
S. Season of choice? Fall.  LOVE the changing of the leaves.  Then Spring.  Then Summer.  Then Winter.  HATE Winter.  HATE cold weather.
T. Tag 5 People.  Anyone and everyone.
U. Unknown fact about me? Harrison Ford has been my favorite actor since I was about 10 years old. 
V. Vegetable? Green beans.
W. Worst habit? Procrastination. 
X. Xray or Ultrasound? Both.  Had ultrasounds while pregnant.  X-rays for my migraines.
Y. Your favorite food? Mexican.
Z. Zodiac sign? Leo

Not Very Consistent . . . .

I keep saying I'm going to try being more consistent, but it's not happening.  I always feel like I have to say something "important" or "life changing" when I'm writing.  But honestly, I just miss the writing.  I've been writing for as long as I can remember.  (You'd think I'd be better at it by now).  :)  It calms me.  It helps me clear my head.  It helps me figure things out.  It just HELPS me.  

So I'm going to try to stop worrying about 'solving all the world's problems', and just get back to doing what I like to do, which is write. 

A Young Tragedy . . .

So I talked about having a bad week.  Another thing that happened that week is that a young girl from Jason's school committed suicide. She got in a fight with her mom, after her mom told her no, and while her mom was picking up her brother from school, she got her stepfather's gun and shot herself.  Thirteen years old.  I didn't even know the girl, and neither did Jason, but I cried for days.  I guess because I'm a mom.  Because I have a 13 year old.  Because I have 2 other younger children.  Because the thought of losing a child, especially by her own hand, just makes absolutely no sense to me.  I can't even BEGIN to imagine the pain that mother must be going through.  So sad.  So heartbreaking.  So tragic.  

I was, however, VERY impressed with how the school handled the situation.  They opened the school the day after.  They had teachers there on Saturday trying to figure out how to handle the situation when the students came to school on Monday.  They had counselors from all over the District in the school for DAYS, so they could help the students with whatever they needed.  The teachers, staff, and Principal all went to the funeral home and funeral.  Yes, I was impressed with how they handled the situation.  

Unfortunately, it's not over yet.  I'm sure there will still be some issues related to her death.  I'm sure Graduation will be tough for everyone.  And I pray for the students, faculty and staff, as they continue to deal with this unbelievable tragedy. 

Saying Good Bye . . .

So this last week has been INSANE!  There has been SO much going on in one week, it actually feels like a YEAR!  But I figured I'd write about them one at a time.  Maybe it'll help me process it better.

For one thing, a family friend passed away.  He has actually been battling Alzheimer's for 8 years, but he lost his courageous battle last week.  (And I just teared up as I wrote that sentence).  To say he's a family friend, really does him a disservice.  He was FAMILY.  You know how you have some FRIENDS that you are closer to than FAMILY?  That's him. That's his family.  I honestly don't remember when they weren't in our lives.  We've been on NUMEROUS vacations together and spent a week every summer at the lake.  My parents, Lonnie (the friend that died) and Karen, and Tommy and Jennifer went out EVERY. SINGLE. SATURDAY. NIGHT, up until a few years ago.  They're close.  

He's been going downhill, so we knew it was coming.  And actually, he left a long time ago.  But it was still hard.  I still cried like a baby when I found out.  I cried at the visitation.  I cried at the funeral.  I'm crying now as I write this.  It's never easy to lose someone, but when it's someone that's tied to SO MANY of your childhood memories, it's even harder.  And I feel sorry for my Dad.  Because he lost a good friend.  Someone he loved very much.  And unfortunately, because of his age, this is going to start happening more and more.  And that breaks my heart.  I don't want to see him hurt.  I don't want to see him go through it.  And of course, it reminds me that MY PARENTS are getting older as well.  And you know what THAT means.  NOW you see why I've been crying?!  

But Lonnie was a GREAT man.  He had the biggest laugh of anyone you'd ever met.  He would start laughing, and then YOU'D start laughing, because you were laughing at HIM!  And he had a big heart.  He REALLY cared about people.  He loved his family.  He loved his grandkids.  He loved his friends.  He loved us all.  And we were very lucky to have had him in our lives.  And I guess THAT'S what I need to focus on.  THAT'S what I need to remind myself.  THAT'S what I need to remember. 

I'M BAAACCCKKKK!

Did you miss me?  Probably not, but that's okay, I missed you.  It's been a CRAZY couple of months with the holidays, the kids being out of school, and out of town company visiting.  Frankly, I'll be glad when the kids go back to school tomorrow so our lives can finally get back to normal! 

How was your Christmas?  And Thanksgiving?  And New Years?  It's been a REALLY long time since I've written!  I missed all of the holidays!  Well, not actually MISSED them, just haven't written about them.  We had a GREAT holiday.  ALL OF THEM.  Thanksgiving is always nice.  We spend the day with my parents and have Thanksgiving dinner with all of the fixings.  My dad even smokes a turkey breast for me.  I LOVE smoked turkey.  Then in the evening we go to my cousins house and hang out with aunts, uncles and cousins.  Just the way the holidays SHOULD be spent!  :)

For Christmas we had Ryan's Granfather with us.  And I am SO glad he was here, but it definitely made for a more low key Christmas.  He fell over the summer, and he's having a REALLY hard time recovering, so he can't do much on his own.  We moved Sarah's bed downstairs to the living room so he'd have a bed to sleep in, and I slept on the chair in the family room so I could be there if needed anything.  He can do VERY LITTLE on his own.  And it's very sad.  Again, I'm glad he was here, and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it still made for a very sobering Christmas. 

We always have a New Years Eve Party, and this year was no different.  We had about 40 or so people in our house.  We started having it about 4 or 5 years ago, because we all have kids and it was hard to get a babysitter.  So by having it at our house, WITH the kids, every one is accommodated.  We ALWAYS have a good time, and this year was no exception.

So now that I'm back, I'm going to try to be more consistent.  I'll post pictures of Christmas and New Years later. 

Hope you're all doing well.  Glad to be back!