This past week has been a doozy: A quick trip to Ventura a week ago Saturday to haul stuff home - (it looks like our house there has finally sold). Back to Ventura on Monday afternoon to welcome spring break kids from snowy Kansas. Back to Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon for Bernina Club Wednesday night and Thursday morning then back to Ventura Thursday afternoon to see kids off Friday morning. Bill and I returned back in Bakersfield Friday about noon to immediately turn around and join our other kids for three days in Las Vegas. With all the stuff going on with selling our beach house Bill suggested we might want to cancel the visits with our kids. My answer was an emphatic, "No! When kids want you in their lives you'd best be showing up". All righty then.
One of the other things I've been passionate about lately is Bernina Club. If you read this post you know that we officially have a new Club President and I am no longer the one in charge. Here's proof:
Dear Suzanne:
I wanted to thank you so much for last night’s Bernina Club and share with you a personal story of what the evening meant to me. You see, my baby is almost five. My husband and I have been searching for the right answer as to what to do next school year. She’s an August birthday, so if she started school in the Fall, she would be 4 and turn 5 at the end of the month. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but looking forward, it’s the difference in sending your baby girl off to college at 17 almost 18 versus late starting kindergarten and sending your baby off to college at 18 almost 19. As a mom of 3 boys, I’m ashamed to admit it’s different for a girl, but it just is. And then there’s the decision to do private school or Laurelglen. Up until a few years ago, all of my boys were in Stockdale Christian School. There’s just too many options and I have been searching for the right answer knowing the decision had to be made by April 2nd.
You might be wondering why I’m telling you this, and what does this have to do with Bernina Club, so here it is. I believe in divine guidance and that everything happens for a reason; I now know what we’re doing next year and I owe it to Bernina Club. You see, I woke up Monday morning, read your blog, and called Barbara. I told her I wanted to go to Bernina Club Wednesday night and I couldn’t go alone. She had to go with me (I’m really insecure at times). I didn’t know why, after all these years, I chose this month to want to go, but I just wanted to go and I couldn’t explain why.
Jump to Wednesday morning. I was at Laurelglen School counting money for a fundraiser I was leading (I’m the only fool I know who volunteers at a school with no children there) . There’s a lot of changes going on at the school and change brings uncertainty and fear, thus my reluctance to send my angel off to the big bad world of Laurelglen school. While there I heard through the rumor mill that Mrs. Wortiska was moving from 1st grade down to kindergarten (hot dog ‘cause I heard she’s the bomb). I made a beeline to the Principal’s office to give her a proposition she wouldn’t be able to refuse (she already knew what I was thinking about regarding public vs. private) …….very kindly, I explained that hearing that Mrs. Wortiska was going to be in kindergarten was enough for a girl to consider enrolling her angel there if she was given some kind of guarantee that the angel would be placed in Mrs. Wortiska’s class. The principal nicely smiled at me and when I was done whining, she explained that the kindergarten teachers themselves did the assessment and put the classes together; she had nothing to do with it. I thanked her and walked away wondering what to do next. I’ve never met Mrs. Wortiska; I think I kinda knew what she looked like, but I had never personally met her. I’ve just heard what a great teacher she is and that all of the smart people (like me of course) want their child in her class. I was left plotting how I would approach her and when that would take place. She didn’t know me from Adam. I was afraid she would think, “who’s this crazy lady coming in my class demanding I be her daughter’s teacher?”
Fast forward to Wednesday night’s Bernina Club. During “show and tell” I saw a woman in the back that looked very familiar (no name tag). I leaned over and asked Barb who she was; she told me it was Sally Wortiska. Hot dog, I knew my reason for being there. It was my opportunity to introduce myself and talk to her. After I finished sewing my ruffle, I stood up, and she was there behind me. I took the time to introduce myself and explained to her what was mulling over in my head. We had a wonderful conversation and I felt an incredible peace that I was to send my angel to school this school year and enroll her in Laurelglen. I just felt like all of the questions I had were answered and I felt a sense of relief. (I’m bringing tears to my own eyes typing this. That’s how much the evening meant to me).
There’s no absolute guarantee that we will get Mrs. Wortiska, but I feel at peace with the decision. It’s one of those things that when it feels right, it just is. And I owe it all to Bernina Club………… thank you for using your business to bring women together for their personal success whatever that may be.
Kristen
Thank you Kristen for taking the time to write me. I know without a doubt that God has His hands on my business and your letter proves it.
Encourage one another,
