First of all, blogging and working full time don't really mix for me. My blogging days are few and far between. It has been a year since our year was rocked completely. I celebrated my one year anniversary at my employer this week. I cannot even believe it has been that long. It has been the longest year ever, but somehow managed to fly by. I spent my first fall break away from my family. They all stayed around the house, while we had foundation work done on the house and I worked everyday. I spent my first Christmas break away from my family. I had a few days off, but not quite the chunk of time they had. I did most of my Christmas shopping online on Black Friday and ordered sporadic things here and there. We managed to decorate the tree and wedge it in our tiny living room and put up some of the favorite decorations. We scrambled when kids were sick, trying to figure out which parent had the least amount of things to do at work that day. Sometimes we had to call in my mom for back up. During all of this, we alternated weekly doctor appointments for nearly 3 months, which ultimately ended up in a child being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I've pretty much become a slacker in the kitchen. Gone are the days of my hours in the kitchen cooking yummy things from scratch. Usually I'm scrambling to make something quick and easy, while helping with homework and making sure showers are taken. We have some days where we don't set foot into our house until it is time for bed. When you have 2 parents who are working full-time and then some, with 3 kids involved in one activity each, you have to get really creative with your time. There are days I literally crash into bed while still wearing my clothes and I don't wake up until the next morning.
This year has been really hard. It has been especially hard on me because I have always been there for my family. I have had to learn that I cannot do it all and I have to depend on other people. I've learned it is okay to tell people no. It is okay to put things on the back burner. It is okay if I have pay for people to deliver my groceries or clean my house, because I simply cannot do it all. It has mostly been survival for me because there are just not enough hours in the day to accomplish what I need to do. That's been a hard pill to swallow. I can't stay up late anymore trying to finish up on what needs to be done for the next because my new wake up time is 5:30, and if I do not get at least 6 or 7 hours of sleep, I cannot function the next day.
My children have not only survived, but they have flourished. They made new friends, tried new sports, stayed on the honor roll, and gained more confidence. They have all adjusted so well. They do miss mommy, but we are used to it and for now it is our normal.
I always said that I didn't know if I'd homeschool forever. I took it year by year. I can honestly say that I miss it so much. I miss that time with my children, and if you are blessed enough to be able to homeschool your children, treasure those days. They are rough and they often ended with many of us in tears, but I will never regret pouring that time into my children. It was a gift for which I'm thankful and I pray I have the opportunity to do it again one day.
But here are the things I didn't expect.... I didn't expect to be in better shape physically than I have in years. The scales really don't budge and I'm still a fatty, but I'm a strong fatty. I have exercised consistently for about 8 months. By consistently, I mean 3-5 days a week and doing cardio and strength training. I have made dear friends at work. I have alone time again. We are taking our children to Disney World for fall break! Something that never would have happened before. Then I decide things aren't crazy enough, so I become a LuLaRoe Consultant. I'm super excited to see where that journey takes me. Right now it is fun and I'm obsessed with the clothing.
It is hard to say where we will be one year from now. We may be doing the exact same things we are doing now. Maybe I'll be working in LuLaRoe full-time and homeschooling my kids again. Maybe I'll be working on my masters. Or maybe we'll get a wild hair and move across the country. Heck, maybe we will become nomads and live in our camper while traveling. All I know is that I didn't foresee myself here where we are - but yet we are here anyway. If I've learned one thing in my life, it is to not really make plans and to go with the flow and ultimately to trust God's plan and His timing. I also know that my family will never stop chasing our dreams, especially our God sized dreams.
Peace out homies.
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