a blended life

It seems appropriate that I should say something about this being my last night as a tenant of my parents. I don't know what to say. We have been here for nearly four and a half years. I was a different person then. My kids were 5 and 2, both still in diapers (Leah couldn't make it through the night). They had a ton of strange behaviors and were semi-unsocialized. My parents took us in and gave everything they could to rehabilitate the three of us, a trio of broken, confused souls. We are happy now. We laugh, sing loud in the car, have hobbies and fight over the bathroom. My kids can ride their bikes to the park by themselves and giggle too late at night. I earned two degrees and just got my first paycheck on Friday, accompanied by a small Dairy Queen celebration. I remarried a wonderful man who is attentive, capable, intelligent, hard working, and very loving. I've thought of my tenure here at Day Manor as more of a rehab center than a place to crash because I coul...

Finally, with the new job and new husband, it was clearly time to leave Mapleton and get out of my parent's house already. Because if you're going to make life changes, let's do them all at once. The day after I was offered the job, and Jacob hadn't left me in Utah for a tropical island (nope, not bitter), we found an apartment in the town I'm working. Actually, Jacob found it, called the people and arranged to look at it, filled out the application, and pretty much took care of everything. And I can't tell you how much I LOVE having someone who is proactive on life and just takes care of things. Sooooooo....after 4 years, 3 months and a handful of days, we're leaving and venturing into the real world where a sort-of single mom works full time and takes care of kids and pretends to do laundry. We're taking a couple pieces of furniture and some boxes of old piano music and WAY TOO MANY TOYS. And a few very nice wedding gifts and some super-appreciated h...

I didn't mention in my last post what was going on with my job situation--because it's a whole other bag of fun and frankly, I just didn't feel like talking about it. So this summer, I did 13 interviews in a desperate attempt to get a job in Special Ed. Thirteen. I had a job offer at a charter school in Saratoga Springs and I verbally accepted the job. They sent me the contract--and i never heard another thing from them. All summer, I had a pit in my stomach about taking that job. It never felt right, but I had no other offers. FINALLY, the day before the wedding, Nebo School District called and said they had a job for me, and if I wanted it I would need to interview that afternoon. The job was for an elementary school position in a tiny town. Not what I had in mind, but better than taking a job I never felt good about. Short version--I interview, accept the job while still on my honeymoon, and I'm now working with 5-10 year old kids with reading and math issues (and ...

I've started this post several different times and can't seem to find the right words to describe all that has happened. at Multnomah Falls Jacob the Island Boy came to home from medical school for a 6 week summer break. I went to Texas to meet his dad and drive him up to Utah, then a few days later we drove to Newport, Oregon for a family reunion of mine (insert a round of strep throat in here). 5,000 miles and over 50 hours in the car together (and with my girls), we realized it was time to start planning a wedding. Naturally. No formal proposal, no hoopla, just let's get this thing done and get on with what we've been wanting for months anyway. Newport, OR. Not sure what the serious face is all about. We talked it over with the bishop, the stake president, and my parents extensively. We pored over the calendar and everyone's schedules. I was starting a new job with a training schedule, Jacob had to leave the country on the 11th (sob), my paren...

On my list of things I never thought I would do: Spend my daughter's birthday alone. The dad took her this year.  I'm getting more and more used to it. I'm learning to enjoy the time I have. I'm learning that the way of celebrating and doing traditions--the way I've had in my head since I was wee--doesn't have to be fixed and doesn't have to run life. I'm learning to peel away the unnecessary stuff and figure out what is really most important. I have to stop and ask myself, What will make the most difference to her right now and in the future? What does she really need to have a good day, or at least remember it as a good experience? By the way, I don't have the answers to any of those questions.  She's holding Hannah here after the dance recital. I still don't know what Hannah was crying about (I almost never know).  So excited to be swimming every day.  Also gets very tuckered out after practice. ...

Does anyone else hate the word napkins ?

6/13/2013--I wrote this post over a month ago. I was in such a bad mood and never finished it. The mood didn't lift completely but it's improving daily. Happy blogiversary to me. Here's the unfinished post: As of Monday, we can now celebrate my blog's 5th birthday. I find it fitting that I just figured that out now. On the 9th. Because if I had actually planned and prepared for a 5th anniversary of blog-tastic-ness, well, that would be so unlike me. But here's what would be like me. I'm going to tell you exactly what's on my mind and only censor a little bit. That way, we can celebrate 5 years of me telling you what's on my mind...as if anyone cares. Here it goes: 1. I've decidedly earned the title "Undomestic Goddess". This whole stay-at-home, organize like Pinterest, cook like Martha and be cultured like Oprah is totally not my bag. I feel like those baby toys where they put the shape in the right hole, except I'm shoving my st...