Reflection

It has been about a week since I have been here... at my blog.  I've thought about it often, but for one reason and then another, I didn't write anything. 

I have called this 'Reflection' because I have been doing a lot of that this week.  Yes, it was Valentine's day week, and I thought about the last 8 valentines before this one...  the ones that I had someone to share it with.  Life continually moves on, and so do I.  

This week though there were 3 deaths.  

The first was expected (the father of my roommate's good friend, after a valiant fight with cancer).

The second, which touched my heart, was the brother-in-law of a friend of mine... unexpected. Even though she was in the middle of a move to another state, her first priority was to get to her sister as quickly as possible.

The third, affects me more personally.  Our Aunt Noonie.  Noonie, who's real name is Margaret, was everyone's Aunt... she was everyone's Mother, Sister, Friend, Counselor.  She was teacher and disciplinarian.  

Noonie is my ex-husband's Aunt.  She worked at the hospital, in Long Branch NJ, where my daughter was born.  All the Auntie's were so excited about my pregnancy because Amber was the first 'Grand' baby coming into the Shuler family in Long Branch.  After Amber was born, Noonie, was at the hospital every minute (so it seemed) and she made sure we had the very best care.  When it came time to bring my tiny daughter home... she insisted on driving.  Amber was too small to fit in the infant car seat, and so I had to hold her in my arms for the less than 10 minute drive.

Noonie was the Matriarch of the Shuler family.  She lived in the house that her father owned... the family home.  Everyone's home.  She had an open-door policy and every kid in the neighbourhood knew it.  So did their parents.  Amber wasn't the only baby that Noonie watched out for either.  I am willing to bet there were dozens... not only family.

I am grateful that I saw her the last couple of times I as home to NJ.  We really are going to miss you Auntie.   Thank you for blessing my life, my daughter's and so many others.  I'm certain it will be standing room only on Saturday.  Rest In Peace, you deserve it.  Love you xo

Jenny  ♥

My VA Mentor and Friend...

This is the story of how I got 'here'.

Not long after I met Tracey, I asked her what she does...  You know, part of the usual conversation when you getting to know someone new.  She told me, a VA.   http://www.traceydaviero.com/

Tracey has been a Virtual Assistant for more than 15 years. She was a VA before the term was 'coined'. 

Like most people, I didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but with a short explanation I was intrigued.  Tracey knew that I had many years of Administrative and Management experience and suggested that a career as a VA would be a great fit for me.  She treated me to a coffee and she told me all about her business.  I was hooked.

At the time, it really didn't fit into my life.  I was married and we lived in a rural area with no cable TV (we did have satellite, let alone a reasonable internet service.  Eventually we did get internet but it was pretty slow and expensive.  

I liked my job, but didn't love my job, so I did keep the whole VA  'thing' in mind.  One day, one of the girls in my office told another girl that she had heard about the VA business and it just so happened that I had also mentioned it to her not long before.  Well, the two of us connected and I told her about my friend Tracey.  I suggested that she meet her.

Talk about timing...  We went for dinner with Tracey and asked a hundred questions (maybe more) and as always, she generously answered all our questions.  Then, she told us that she was starting a new business called, Your VA Mentor, and in fact she was planning to launch her first 'course', shortly. I couldn't wait for it to start. Tracey's course can be found at Your VA Mentor - http://www.yourvamentor.com/

At the time I took the course I was still working full time, and although I started learning about creating a website and learning about all the different software that VA's use, I still wasn't able to make the jump.   Almost a year went by and then suddenly an opportunity showed itself to me.  I was offered a one-year contract (covering a maternity leave), which made it a little easier to leave the job and company I had been working for, for over 11 years.  

Fast forward to the last few months, and that contracted ended and my new Virtual Career is on it's way.

Thank you so much Tracey, for everything!  You are a mentor and a good friend.

You can also find Tracey on Facebook.



https://www.facebook.com/traceydavierova
https://www.facebook.com/yourvamentor

Cheers,

Jen :)

http://www.jensheava.com/