like a rolling stone.

confused, just like her mama is about her career

I was talking to BFF Sara the other night about "the future" & all that it might hold, the time frame in which these lofty things might happen & where the Lumps might be in the midst of growing up. We were also talking about friends, friendship & how lucky we are to have known each other for so long, be at completely different phases of our lives yet still feel connected. Yes, it was one of those deep conversations that may have been aided by a really good beer & sheer exhaustion on my part. As for her, it's just because she's so smart, witty & wonderful.


The conversation came to an end but, as good conversations with great friends ought to, it left me to really think about the answers to those questions. As you might remember from my summertime bucket list, I'm tossing around the idea of going back to school. As much as I like where I work & believe in the mission of the organization & those who we support, I don't think I'm on a career path that's going to take me very far. My first job out of college, for those who need a refresher, was teaching in Atlanta Public Schools. It was hard. It took a lot of time, energy & emotion to do my job the way that I thought it should be done. For all the crap, red-tape & non-supportive administrators, I loved my kids & truly enjoyed that face to face, hands-on interaction every day. Since then my jobs have taken me away from that hands-on experience to more administrative positions. I've learned so much about the medically underserved community & am considering staying in that field.


Now I struggle with the question of how I can best serve. Go back to person to person face time with students/clients/patients or move myself further into administration to make in impact in a big picture sort of way. How does one decide?

summertime bucket list

Tiffany at Mom-Nom.Com had a great post recently about her bucket list. Like her, I don't plan to make an exit anytime soon, but thought I should finally put into writing the things I really ought to, or want to, in my lifetime.  However, these days I'm thinking a little more short term, so, I'll start with my summertime bucket list like Beth did over at Beth: A Work In Progress. In no particular order...

1. Eat local working on this one weekly. check it out here
2. Compost started this one thanks to Michael setting up in the back yard
3. Go on a date with my handsome hubby
4. Spend some time with my girlfriends w/o the hubby or kids Brandi Carlile concert 7/11
5. Pray more
6. Exercise regularly with or without the girls
7. Finish the two books that have been on my nightstand forever (In Defense of Food & Raising Your Spirited Child)
8. Take more pictures well on the way - especially with over 400 taken on vacation!
9. Make a few photo books from the thousands of digital pictures we have saved
10. Organize the storage room
11. Beat Michael at Scrabble completed 6/14 (280-238) & 6/19 (309-234)
    
12. Learn to can/jar
13. Be a guest poster on someone's blog
14. Update the photo frames in our house to more recent photos
15. Put some real research & thought into midwifery & what I want to be when I grow up
16. Write a real letter to a friend or family member once a week a work in progress...a few letters completed, a bunch more to go!

I'll try to remember to update it as the summer goes & let you know, come fall, if I've accomplished everything.

hi my name is...

It's been a while since I spent some time in the blog-o-sphere finding new blogs or saying hi to some of the kind people to visit our blog. Although it's no excuse, my dad left today after a 10 day visit - which, by the way, the girls just loved - so I have a few minutes to explore.  What better way to get back in the swing of things than with "The Ultimate Blog Party."

I realize that I've never done a "proper" introduction of myself or my little family since lumpsonablog began as a little project for family members only.  Although most of the traffic that we get is still family, I've noticed a growing number of hits in places we don't have family.  So, without further ado, the intro.

I'm Jackie, the main contributor to this blog & the momma of our clan. I turned 30 last August &, other than adding another munchkin to the mix a month later, decided that I needed a new project.  Enter blog makeover. It's a work in progress with some halts & stammers & inspiration from great blog-o-friends (shout out to three pugs & a baby!) I'm slowly moving toward a more finished place. I realize that, at least at this point, this isn't going to be a money making blog, or one that get a gazillion followers, but I'm happy with how it's progressing. When I'm not blogging, I work as an event coordinator/special projects manager/do-what-the-boss-needs-done-person. It's not what I want to do when I grow up (which is an entire post in & of itself) but it works for now. I feel good that I, at least, work for an organization whose mission I believe in & have a great boss who has worked with me for the past three years or so since I first got pregnant with C & wanted a more flexible work schedule.  Since K was born I've moved from full-time work to part-time work.  I love that I can spend three days a week with my girls, watching them explore, grow, learn & play. Although there are those days, I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

So, my friends, that's the intro.  I'm sure there's more to tell about me, but at least you've got the nutshell picture.  I'm so glad you stopped by to visit - be sure to leave a comment & a way I can find your blog so I can come visit you!

Happy Blogging!

The Ultimate Blog Party is such a neat way to find new blog-o-friends & ideas. I'm so excited to start surfing. What's also cool is that they have some great prizes to give away. Part of the fun is to make a wish list & link your top three to the blogs that have generously donated gifts. My wish list would include: the $100 gift gift eCertificate to Restaurant.com provided by Amy LeForge of Earnest Parenting, a custom made tutu for my little one provided by Healthy Moms – The Number One Health Blog for Moms or Nellie Bug’s, or basically any of the gift cards or items for little girls on the list. I'm so impressed!