With Apologies... I Apologize

Hmmmm.... Whattayaknow? Seems that when one does not take the time to blog as regularly as one used to, one tends to repeat oneself on different points from randomly posted entry to randomly posted entry. And not always in an entirely accurate fashion.

Comfy/cozy, death, marriage, moving, etc., etc., etc. You've heard it all. Again and again. Sorry about that.

If you happen to have checked in here over the last week or more, you will also have noticed that I've changed my blog template a few times. A few too many times, really. And I'm honestly still kinda searching. I like what I currently have, except that the blog's title - and especially the subtitle - are really hard to read with this layout. I suppose I could just delete the subtitle altogether, which is probably what I'll end up doing. But I also think it's a pretty important subtitle to keep around. Hmmm.... darn free blog templates! The best thing I could really do is have someone actually design my blog again. Anyone interested? I can't pay much, but am willing to pay for a great design.

BTW - my originally designed look - with Sweetie's baby picture in the corner and the brown and multicolored stripes - just one day seemed to up and give out on me. Yup. I checked here one day and there were all sorts of funky words and white spaces and randomness going on instead of my blog design. So, no, I didn't get rid of it on purpose. It got rid of me.

And then my search for new awesomeness began...

Won't a blog designer help me out?!

So, no - I'm really not as flighty as I've appeared over the last several months. In fact, my hope is that, along with a new blog look, I'll be inspired to come around these parts much more often to post. About new stuff! Interesting stuff! With no more repeats! Because I'll be up on all the things I've been telling you about! Yes! Yay!

Except for Sweetie. She'll be a repeating theme, of course. But that's okay. You understand...

And if not - I'm sorry. I apologize.

It's Hard To Blog When Enveloped by Comfy Goodness

My sofa is sooooooooo comfy. Seriously. So, so, soooooooo freakin' comfy. I sit there a lot.

For Christmas Santa was kind enough to gift both Hubby and I with Ipod Touches. My first Ipod of any kind. I am in love. Possibly the best/most well worth the money (ya know, that Santa spent) Christmas gift ever. (well - besides from Sweetie, that is. Goes without sayin, really.) But it's difficult, if not impossible, to blog with it.

Life is more or less really pretty good these days. Not much drama going on around here - thankfully. And, you know - just like in high school/college - whenever life had some bits of even keelness going on - pheh. There's just not a lot of agonizing and whatnot to bother writing down in your schoolgirl journal.

On the flip side - we moved, people. Picked up a whole almost 2000 sq. ft. house and crammed (a lot of it) back into our new space that's about half that size. And we had the whole holiday season thing going on. And there was Sweetie's 7th birthday, of course. And my grandmother passed away. And my niece got married. Family was visiting from far and wide. Emotions all over the place. And still so much more settling in. Cah Raaazy!

I've pretty much given up on tutoring. My experience in the spring tutoring No Child Left Behind kids just pretty much killed me for experiencing any sort of joy in the process anymore. That and the bit of online tutoring I did with Brainquest. Nothing against Brainquest. Just my particular experience as a tutor there was way not rewarding and way too infuriating. I will not be returning. And turning down a couple NCLB students a few weeks ago - that felt so deliciously wonderful. I'm free!!!

My part time job is fabulous. I love the work, I love my boss, I love the flexibility in the schedule, I know that the potential and intention for my job to grow in terms of hours per week and dollars per hour is very strong. There are parts - dare I say several parts? - of my job that I'm not terribly comfortable with - yet. I've got a lot to learn. Some of what I have to do downright scares me. But scares in a good, "I know I can do this!" kind of way. An "I want to learn this and master it" kind of way. And my boss is amazing and knows what I can do and knows what I still have to learn and what I have an interest in learning and is allowing me the time, freedom and space to learn it all. It's just an all around tremendous opportunity and I am really grateful to have it.

Sweetie is good. Really good. She's loving school just as much as ever. She has a great teacher who sees Sweetie for Sweetie - not just another kid to stick in the "stubborn, argumentative, overly dramatic kid" box. She's making friends - kids all over the school know her - but she's still just as happy to play on her own. She's acing her tests, both spelling and math, and continues to be the smart, curious, lover of learning little girl that she's always been.

And did I mention how comfy our couch is? THAT'S crazy. We've had the thing for years - as our 2nd option seating area - mainly for guests only - and I never truly knew about, let alone appreciated, how gosh darn good it felt to sit in. So nice....

So - s'all good. So many new things, new ways of living and thinking about life and what's available for the grabbing. But so many great constants to depend on as well.

The one word I have to describe our new house is "comfy." Just the right size. Just the right feel.

Just like the couch.

Just like - at least for now - life these days.

Growing Up

Aaaannnndddd.... she's back!

The computer is now set up on the desk again, as it should be for comfortable writing. Christmas and all it's happening (some planned, some not at all....R.I.P. Grandmother Dot. Dot.) My niece and her new husband are off on their honeymoon in Disneyworld. And all is , pretty much, settling down.

Yeah, so.... we're all moved in to our new home and absolutely loving it. If there is one word to describe this house, it's "cozy." It's about half the size - or less! - than our old house, but it's completely enough room for the 3 of us and our 2 cats. And Sweetie... well, I just cannot express to you just how well she has done with this move! Not one problem with adjusting to the new space at all. I feel that her not having to change schools in all of this has played a huge role in her adapting so well. She has had that constant this whole time and for that we are very thankful.

Beyond adjusting so well, Sweetie has been incredibly helpful during the moving process. I cannot tell you how many times I've had to ask Sweetie to stop what she's doing and help me by taking things upstairs or downstairs both while packing up the old house and moving into the new house. And, seriously, every time she has in fact stopped and helped out. Without complaint. She has been a great, great kid during all of this. She is growing up and doing really well in all sorts of different areas.

For example, she is freaking out less and less about certain things that - not too long ago - would have sent her over the edge. She brought home a small, 2 story gingerbread house that she built with a friend's mom in school the other day. The house was in a paper bag and I went to take it out once we were home. I could see that it had already fallen apart a bit, as Sweetie feared it may have. Then, as I went extract the remaining structure from the bag, even more of it fell to pieces. Right in front of Sweetie's eyes. Aaaaannnnnddd.....

... she was sad, but that's it. She didn't cry. She didn't blame. She didn't get angry. She just whined (eh. not even) a few times that she wished it didn't break more. And that was it. Some of the house was still together and all the parts were still there. She even tried to put it all together again, but when she saw that that wasn't happening so much, she was okay with that too. Wow. Is this really my child?

Of course, she can manage her emotions so much better like this in some cases, yet still flip out over some other things. But mostly, we are seeing a great improvement in her behavior and social development. We are so proud of her!

Happy (belated) 7th Birthday, Sweetie. Looking forward to this next year and all the great things in store for you and our family. Love you!

Now Here's Something We Hope You'll Really Like

Hi again. I'm still under piles of boxes here in the new house, but I didn't want to leave you hanging either.

My friend Courtney has started a new blog of her own - Misadventures of a Military Wife and Dis' Able Mom. Courtney, like myself, has spina bifida and is the mother of a little girl, hers in preschool. Unlike me, Courtney is also the wife of a Navy SeaBee. She's an amazing woman with some physical challenges who's happened to have had to parent her daughter for several months on end with no special outside assistance.

Where I have fallen off the blogging wagon just a bit, I am thrilled to say Courtney is taking up the slack. And she's doing it with humor, spunk and an exceptional "can do" attitude!

I urge you to check her out and follow what she and her family are up to on a regular basis. After knowing her for years (via the internet - she found my blog way back when), I'm so proud of her and excited that she's finally become another voice in the blogosphere for women with spina bifida who want to be assured that, yes!, they CAN have a family of their own if that's what they really want!

Still Here!

Hi all! I am still here, don't you worry! Moved in to the new house about 2 weeks ago and still settling in. It's also difficult to write a post while sitting on the floor (computer not yet set up where it's going to live.) Will write soon, though, I promise.

Thanks for hanging in there!

Hurry Up and Wait

Hi there! Yes, I'm still around. Sorry I've been so quiet lately. What with the moving and all, things have been hectic here...

... or have they?

We've actually done a lot of waiting.

Waiting for the inspection on our house and its results.

Waiting to hash things out with our buyers over the inspection results. Will they still want our house after all? Why, yes - they do!

Waiting to find the best place for us to go. I finally gave it to Hubby the other day, letting him know my opinion that we had to come to a point when we are done looking and we will make a decision among what we've seen so far. Two options rose to the top of the list - both with varying pros and cons. At that point - 2 days ago - I was done. I no longer cared. Hubby's responsibility to just choose. Whichever. I didn't care.

He chose. S'all good. I'm happy with where we're going and, now that he's make the decision himself, I do believe he is actually happy as well. Well, whatayaknow?!

But now - We're waiting to here from our would-be landlord. Waiting to see that she still likes us, approves our application, and we can actually call this new place home.

Until today, we've been waiting to hear that our buyers' bank will indeed come through with their financing. Now we finally got that word - financing has been approve. All is good to go!

Now - we pack... ahhh, but do we? When are we actually closing? Undetermined at this point. Even so, we are only going to be moving about 1 1/2 miles from where we currently live. Moving should be a breeze! No need to be pack so carefully. Just throw things in a box, drive it down the road a piece, and put it in its new spot. Easy peasy! We don't need to stinking pack!

Ah, but the house needs a good dusting/cleaning. I really should be on that. Ya, well.... I really do want to hear from our would-be landlord to see that we are in fact all set with her. Then I'll clean... or.... you know... I'll/we'll clean as we move. No use cleaning something spotless now when we'll still be here for a few weeks. It'll just get dirty again! That's silly...

But...hmmm.... there sure are a lot of businesses that will need to know that we're moving. Sure would be good to spend some time contacting them with our new information. But until I hear from the owner of the little house we're renting, I really can't tell a company for absolute certain that that will be our new address. And even when I get that confirmation, if we don't yet have our closing date, I can't tell the post office by which date to switch or mail delivery. Hmmm...

So, yah... I am/we are waiting. Waiting for to be busy! Packing, cleaning, moving, settling... It's a-comin'! Soon...

but not quite yet.

Ode to Joy

Every Sunday at our church, congregants are invited to come up to the front of the sanctuary and share their various joys and/or sorrows and to light a candle for said occasion(s). Sweetie, like other children there, has been known to share such things as birthday joys or simply the fact that she's lost another tooth. One can also quietly go light a candle at any time during a service without sharing news with everyone, if that is more your "thing."

Neither Hubby nor I have ever, in the year that we've been attending, gone to the front of the sanctuary with news, good or bad. Neither a Joy or a Concern. Not that we haven't had some over the last several months. We're just not sharing folk, I suppose.

But this coming Sunday - hold on to your hats. We have an abundance of joys this week and we're excited to let people know. That day we will be able to announce:

• On Friday Hubby and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. And they said it wouldn't last...

• After exactly 17 months of regular unemployment, I am finally working again, part time, at a job I'm absolutely loving (thanks in large part to our Reverend, as she passed the email from her colleague on to me.)

• After exactly 2 months on the market, we just accepted an offer on our house!!!! (please think of us and pray that all goes through without incident. Also? If you've got extra boxes, extra storage space, and/or a small 2 bedroom place with a basement or garage we can start renting ideally in the middle of November, LET US KNOW!!!)

• And finally, after regularly attending this church for the last year, Hubby and I thrilled to have just "signed the book" to become official members of this church.

Oh - and knowing that Sweetie will want to be part of the action & say her piece as well, we can let her announce her joy that she just learned how to tie her own shoes!!!

Yes, we are a joyful bunch these days. Stressed to the max with new worries and busy-ness. But joyful nonetheless.

Brand New Day

This morning I woke up, dressed myself in something other than 3-day-old jeans & a sweatshirt, got my Sweetie off to school, walked back home, and leisurely drank my tea & ate my breakfast while playing around on the computer - Good Morning America on in the background.

Less than an hour later, I hopped in my car & headed to my weekly chiropractic appointment. I used to go on Wednesday mornings, but now that's got to change. Thursday mornings will probably be my new norm for that.

After my appointment I got back in my car and drove just across the street to the other businesses within this executive park. I was headed to one business in particular. To go to work at my new job.

Yep - that's right. Today was my second day on the job. Granted, it's a part time job (VERY part time, as in about 12 hours per week). But it's a job. A good job. At a very "Amy-ish" type of job and place - a yoga center/spiritual learning center. A small company. I'm my boss's only true employee (others are considered contract employees). I am this small school's new Administrative Assistant.

The school is taking off really well. Even though things are still so seemingly small, it's actually growing. My boss has owned the company for approximately 10 years and used to be able to do things on her own, employing contract workers here and there when necessary. But now a new faction of the business is starting up for which she needs to both focus more of her time and employ regular help (me!) to help her manage what she is now too busy to do on her own. Yes, things are looking up and, with a wing and a prayer, the school will grow, registration will increase, income will increase, meaning my duties will become more and more, increasing my hours and increasing my hourly pay. I am basically in on the ground floor with a great job that will challenge me and excite me. My boss is wonderful. Things look good.

This opportunity - this whole scenario - has come about as a result of our church's Reverend emailing me about her colleague's search for an Admin person. I interviewed. I did well (just as I've believed all these last several months that my interviews have gone well.) I waited. Then I got the call - the job was mine.

I admitted my weaknesses during my interview. Things she needed her new hire to do - some things I honestly had little or no experience with. But I am resourceful. I am a great Public Relations person. I know how to research. I am an incredibly fast learner. I am dedicated and excited. I do whatever it takes to get jobs done. I don't give up.

I got the job.

As I told Hubby - all this time that I've been out of work and interviewing, doing well but never well enough to get the job, never good enough to beat out the competition - I've felt like I just needed someone who believes in me enough to give me a chance. Let me show you what I can do and you will be pleasantly impressed, rather than let me flounder a bit as a I search for the best way to articulate what I have done professionally in the past. Put me into a situation. Allow me to show my skills. Look beyond my resume and my improving-but-still-nowhere-close-to-perfect interviewing skills and into my possibilities. Give me a chance.

I am employed. I've been given a chance. Someone has seen into my possibilities and has faith in me. I can do everything my new employer needs me to do - and more. Let me show you how.

I am employed. Part time, for now, but growing. I am relieved and happy. I think I'm going to like this job.