When I think on how long it's been since I wrote in this blog, I can't remember when it was. Frankly, my life is so full, of good things and bad, that my memory fades quickly. I looked back to see that it's been almost 4 years since I wrote, and then just a small amount. Prior to that I started, 6 years ago, in a very different time of my life. Then, in 2013, I was in the throes of home-making and career, and motherhood. All of those are important to me still, but very much changed.
These past six years have really seen the doing and undoing and doing again of me. I would not have ever thought to imagine some of what I have been through. Before I start a new story, I'll recap those years.
I think I crashed a little when the last chick left my nest. My sense of purpose shifted and I, perhaps, wasn't ready for the change. The year was 2013. I threw myself into being present for other kids, as I sent my last child out of the nest. My baby boy had joined the Navy and was serving his time, and my baby girl was off to a faraway city to pursue college and all it had to offer her. My blogging emphasis shifted over to my job as a teacher of physical education. My passion to make a healthier, happier world was extended beyond our home walls. I suddenly had more time to pursue this new challenge. I started a part time position at a county foster residence for teens that needed temporary shelter, I served with a committee at the State Department of Education that proposed and amended changes to the state standards for K-12 Physical Education and Health, I became a competitive grant writer and poured my knowledge and writing skills into obtaining more equipment and opportunities for physical activity for the schools that I was a part of. In all of this, I found purpose and meaning, and consequently happiness.
Of course, all good stories either (a) come to an end; or (b) start another chapter. My next chapter started: (a) because my teaching position rapidly went from being a pleasant way to spend my time and efforts to a time where I suddenly felt that my sense of purpose had morphed into someone else's token of convenience. My teaching assignment was split up in a way that was difficult, at best. I spent a final year in the job I had loved for the previous 13 years with a sense of unhappiness and a surety that I was no longer called to that place.
I felt led back into my old career, hair stylist. I had given that up in 2010 in order that my mom-in-law could come to live in our home, in a space once converted to a beauty salon, that re-purposed beautifully into a studio apartment. She was the best mother in law that I could imagine. I loved her and she loved me just like mother and child. We were the best of friends. She was a great companion, whether we were shopping, watching TV, or just sounding off over whatever nonsense to deep conversation we had to talk about. Her life in our home was a blessing to us, and she always said that she was happy and fulfilled here. Now, Mom was still here when it occurred to me to start back into hair styling, so I rented a little shop and began a second job alongside of the teaching position. It was fun, and it helped me gain a more positive outlook on life and work, but it was expensive and difficult to grow. I closed the little shop and rented a booth in a large salon and it was good. Clientele grew slowly, so I was still teaching, but I downsized to a half time contract in a charter school in 2017. My position is still PE and Health, but I went from elementary school to secondary school. I teach two PE classes of mixed grades, 7-12 and one high school health class. It's been a challenge to learn a new set of standards and curriculum, but it's been good.
Just before the new school year began my mother in law was diagnosed with lung cancer. I'm positive that God set up a plan in advance that let me have more freedom in my schedule so that I could handle the primary care giving for her. In May of 2018, she left us to spend her eternity with Jesus.
After her passing we decided to revert the room back into a home salon. I have been doing business there for almost a year and it is growing and I love it!
There was a slow start to the business because I had a total knee replacement on July 17, 2018. Recovery was slower than I expected but the home salon made it much easier to work through my recovery.
It was not until Mom passed away that Mike and I lived alone together since we met. When he and I married he had three kids, two who stayed with us part time and one who was with us all times. We had two more over the next three years and by the time the last one left home, mom was living in our home.
Living this past year as just a couple, has really been a year of discovery, devotion and oneness. It's like we fell in love all over in a better way!
Now after another year of secondary teaching under my belt and freedom from being a caregiver, a new chapter began. I'm finding that I have time to pursue some projects long denied and spending leisure time that was previously so rare.
I've had a passion to write for many years. I know there is a novel inside that will be written, but starting back with the blog is an effort to hone my writing skills.
If you're still reading it must mean that I'm on to something good.
I'm one year away from 60 and that means that there's less if my life left than has already been spent. God has provided for me all that I need, much that I wished for, and He will continue to see me through. My job is to listen for His Spirit and keep both heart and mind attuned to His ways.
I pray that this blog is an instrument that might be used to bless others and me. So as Bugs and Daffy say, "On with the show. This is it!"
