Tea Time at the Harrell's

It's no surprise to anyone who really knows me that I LOVE tea!  It's not actually the beverage I love so much, it's the act of having tea and all that it symbolizes.  It's a beautiful tradition from long ago that embodies the essence of slowing down to partake in the sweet things in life and enjoying the company of great friends and family.  Not to mention how exquisite tea china can be :)  So, when confronted with the opportunity to host a party with my lady friends, it only seemed appropriate that it be a ladies tea party!  Last weekend I was privileged to host a Thirty-One party on behalf of my friend, Amy.  Thirty-One (based off of the Proverbs 31 concept) is a Christian-based company that seeks to reward and encourage women by allowing them the opportunity to earn a little money while maintaining the godly life they have planned for themselves.  The products sold through Thirty-One are precious, girlie, and perfect for any occasion!  They have truly become some of my "favorite things"!  So, my girlfriends came over on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to partake of a little tea and shopping together :)  Below are some pics from the event:

Why I L-O-V-E My Job!

Let me just say, I have never been able to confidently say this before . . . but I absolutely love my job!  There's nothing super special about what I do there, but the Bank in itself is such an amazing place to work.  My department is slated to move locations this Spring from Uptown Charlotte to Ballantyne.  This is a big transition for me.  Right now, I take the bus Uptown everyday.  I only have to fill up my gas tank twice a month . . . it's wonderful!  However, once we make the switch, there will be no bus to get me to work AND I'll have to commute from North Concord to South Charlotte (which is approx. 45 min-1 hr one way).  Certainly not ideal . . . but something worth doing if they asked me to.  The great thing about the Bank is they have instituted a program called "MyWorkplace".  MyWorkplace essentially allows you to work remotely  from anywhere that is best/most convenient for you.  In my case, work from my very own home! :)  I attended an information meeting about it this week and learned many wonderful benefits about this program.  To help get set up, the Bank will provide me $1000 to purchase what I need to work at home.  In addition, they will pay my recurring monthly business expenses (like phone, internet, etc.).  They have already provided me with a personal laptop which obviously is very handy when working from a remote location.  These are just a few of the benefits, but really, how much more convincing do I need at this point???  So I spoke with my Executives about it.  They wanted to know what my feelings were about the Ballantyne move and the MyWorkplace Program.  I told them that it was definitely something I am interested in.  And the good news is that it's highly favored and encouraged in my department, so the likelihood that I would be approved for this program was very great.  Sure enough, they agreed that this would be a great option for me and have granted "permission" to enroll in this program!  Looking forward, I intend to work from home on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's, and drive into the office on Tuesday's and Thursday's.  It's important to me (and my Execs) that I continue to build/grow relationships with them and my peers through face-to-face interaction.  I agree.  Plus, I don't want to get so accustomed to the conveniences of working from home that it ruins me for any other jobs I may take in the future.  I have these grand visions of me, sitting at my desk in the bay window area of our bedroom, windows open, breathing in the fresh air and hearing the birds chirp, all while getting paid to work in those conditions.  Pretty awesome, huh?!  Another reason why this is so great for us right now is because it cuts down on a lot of extraneous expenses.  Not only will  I not need to purchase bus passes anymore, but I won't need to spend money on clothes and food as frequently anymore.  All these extra savings can go directly into the "Harrell Adoption Savings" account :)  Clearly this is also such great news for when we actually do bring baby Noah home.  This way I can still earn a second income, but be a stay at home mom as well :)  Obviously, some assistance will be needed, but ultimately, this is an ideal situation for us as a family!

This is why I can't stop thanking God enough for the opportunity He alone provided for me at Bank of America.  I wasn't seeking this job, He literally placed it in my hands.  He truly works all things together for good!  We are so blessed!