Back at it

Oddly enough I'm being asked to blog again.  Not exactly sure why.  I often feel like I am a trainwreck of epic proportions.  Perhaps that is why people want to read.  Just to see what crazy things will happen next.  Sometimes I get so damn full of myself that I have to stop blogging and get a handle on myself.  Sometimes there is just so much to blog about I don't know where to start. But let's start with this:

You know that moment of clarity in your life where you know exactly what it is you want to do with your life?  Yeah that hasn't happened yet.  (There ya go Kate.)  I got laid off from my job two weeks ago.  To say that it has shaken me to my core is an understatement.  I devoted so much of my time, energy, and dare I say talent to that place and to have it all end so very quickly has me a bit frazzled.  The long and short of it is the new owners eliminated my position and got rid of management.

So here I sit.

I've had 3 interviews already and am actually sitting back a little bit and trying to decide what I want to do with my life.  No I can't teach for the public school system.  I've quit twice.  Bad life decisions.  I admit that.  In the meantime my teaching certificate has expired and it requires me to back to school to renew it.  That, of course, costs money I don't have.  Plus I LIKE preschool.  Always have.  LOVE the age group.  So I'll continue looking.  Right now I'm going to enjoy the summer with the girls.  I had pushed the girls to the back so to speak in order to devote so much of me to that job.  Now I get to focus on them.   I started back in April with a trip to New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  Why there you ask?   One of my sister's favorite beaches. We let her ashes go on the beach on Easter Sunday at sundown:

After that we swam, relaxed, and basically enjoyed ourselves. Yep.  We made it.

 The view from our room:

 Bingo and Caroline:

 I had time to read Breaking Dawn:

 Megan and Brigid participated in the hula hoop contest:

Abby after the egg hunt:

That's Brigid and Abby with the noodles in the pool and this is the resort we stayed at:

Even the Easter bunny came!  What a way to spend Easter:

Abby on the beach:

Brigid and Megan bodyboarding:

More Brigid and Megan:

Caroline:

Brigid and Caroline climbing on the play equipment after lunch:

It was a wonderful week and I was proud of myself for both having the money to do this and for driving the girls down and back by myself.  I was also proud of the girls for being such great travelers and being such great sports about going down there and having to penny pinch.   We did a lot of dinners at restaurants that had kids eat free deals and then ate in our room which had a full kitchen.

During the 5 months I haven't blogged, pretty much everything has stayed the same.  Well other than getting laid off.  I managed to piss off a couple of friends.  Apparently I am good at that.  A former co-worker once told me I was way to blunt for my own good.  I just have learned in the years since my divorce, to use my voice.  I hate pussyfooting.  Hate it.  I expect to be treated that way too.  Tell me to my face what I'm doing wrong or right.

Oh and for Mother's Day I got a kitten.  So if you are keeping track that is 4 kids and 4 pets.  I think I'll stop for awhile.  Although Ali has pointed out that me being me I'll probably end up with someone dropping off their kid on my doorstep.  And that will be ok.  I've learned in my life that life has a way of working itself out.   I say repeatedly that my faith in God and the Grace He provides me allows me to get through everything. It's been a long amazing journey so far.  Some really bad; mostly good.  I'll keep plugging through.

But for now...I gotta find the inside of this apartment.  It's bordering on hoarders here.