It's a Busy, Busy Life

"And someday I'm gonna do something great
I'm gonna make my world a better place
But I don't know if I can today
I'm just trying to make my way."
-Nancy Wilson

I have really been trying to find tiny ways to work from home and to work in areas that I find challenging and new. As I posted several entries ago, I had an interview with the Sonoran Desert Chorale for the Executive Director position. They were willing to give me a chance, even though I don't have true experience other than teaching music and organizing choral festivals. The chorale is comprised of working professionals who have a great love of choral music and who want to perform quality literature. I was so inspired and amazed in watching them rehearse and it is such a great privilege to be a part of their administrative team. The work is challenging, yet I can work from home and at 3am if I need to. (I don't, but I could!)

I continued to look for more opportunities even though I really have enough on my plate with the chorale, teaching part time and grant writing. I discovered a posting for the Mesa Arts Center looking for a part time music instructor for the Spring. After calling, I had a great interview (which took over an hour, probably the longest interview I've had yet!). They were looking for someone really for the summer to teach preschool music, a few mixed elementary music classes and a performance program that is created with the drama/dance department along with the kids. They called me this week to teach next summer, plus they have one class open for me in the Spring to teach. It will run into the fall, with homeschool classes, preschool classes and I can start a mom/infant music class if I want. It is completely up to me what I teach. They do have themes that the dance, art and drama teachers follow. If they are doing the ocean, I would just find songs and music related to that. They have instruments and a nice space to work in.

I also continue to work on my grant writing projects. Maria, my employer, has given me a huge research and grant writing project to fund a music retreat in 2008 for music enthusiasts. I would also work at the retreat (if we can get it going) doing the adminstrative work. The grant work is more sporadic and obviously my pay is based on each project I write. However, I really enjoy the process and it's been fun.

All that being said, working from home has been the greatest challenge. Anyone who feels working at home to be with your kids would be a simple solution, it isn't. I have to work around naps, outings, tears, meals, cleaning, etc, etc. Sometimes I don't work until after 8pm, and I've put in a full day of work already. The baby take very short naps and it usually awake most of the day. I need breaks sometimes and they don't come most days until my head hits the pillow.

I love the opportunities I've been given so far, including being with my boys more often and I will try to make my way and make it all work.