Saying goodbye to the old year

Tomorrow night is the end of  2013.  This is the time for me to post "the year in review' on this blog, and to wax sappy and sentimental about the events of the past year.  There have been blessings and friendships, and my boys have grown like crazy.  In reality though, I have spent much of the year in sadness or sick with stress.  So, what would I say to the old year?  How about "Don't let the door hit you on your way out!"  I feel so light now.  Thanks for listening.

Decisions

Some decisions are just very difficult, especially when those decisions have to be made alone.   Please let me make the right one.  It's almost a new year, and I pray it will be a better one.

Back where I belong

I have a new job at the Orem Public Library.  I am very happy!  That pretty much sums it up.

Okay . . . there's more to this story.  I have been working my tail off for Intermountain Healthcare.  Along with this, I have been stressed and not getting enough hours to support us.  I've also been trying to get a full time job, searching and praying for help.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a part-time opening for a Page at the Orem Library.  I applied and my great friend Rynell  (who works there) put in a good word for me.  On Monday, the position was officially offered to me, and I accepted.  I will keep both jobs, but give preference to the library because they are offering consistent and set hours each week.

Along with all of this, I had an epiphany.  I realized looking back over the last couple of years, and all the heartache of that time, that I really started going downhill emotionally after I left my job at the Provo Library. A place that I loved and friends who had supported me through so much.  Yes, my wages became better by far and I thought I was making a good decision at the time.  Even so, I knew I was on the wrong path, and the damage to my health and happiness continued.

After I accepted this new position at the library, I felt so good.  It's a leap of faith, but I know now that libraries and I belong together.  I will work hard for them, and try to get a better paying position there in the future.  I know how corny this sounds, but while I was training today,  I was following Tammy down one of the aisles of books, and I smiled to myself and had the thought "I'm home."

Thankful!

Christmas day

Micah just came into this room, and said that even though we didn't have a large Christmas this year, as far as presents go, it's been one of the best for him.  I could not have said it better.

Our Christmas has been very quiet.  There were no visitors, except a few neighbors stopping by with goodies.  Our gifts under the tree were few, but meaningful.  Our home has been filled with the things money cannot buy.  We've cooked good food together, watched movies, played games, shopped a little, looked at lights, and talked a lot.

In the days leading up to Christmas, we have been reminded of our family and friends love for us.  The visits, phone calls, cards, and money for Christmas has been generously given.  My car has been fixed by a great friend.  Blessings of other kinds have also poured in.  One of those, I will be blogging about tomorrow.  God lives and he knows us.

On the other side of things:  We were up (they woke me up) at 6:00 a.m.  Legos were built, games played, toys put together, and movies started, all by 7:30 a.m.  Whew!  The excitement goes on every year :)

We had two trees this year, and lots of beautiful flowers given to us...

I tried so hard to keep some of their gifts a surprise this year.

 We are all big Doctor Who fans.  Micah's "sonic screwdriver" confirmed that I AM an alien!

And the games and building began ...

They picked out my Stocking stuffers themselves, and did well!  Of course, there was a Dr. Pepper and some green olives.

Merry Christmas to all!

Almost Christmas!

We are almost ready for Christmas at our house.  Our hearts are full with love of family and friends this year. God has shown us once again abundantly that he is aware of us, and is ever and always caring for us. Although it is another very bad financial time for us,  loved ones have come to our rescue.  Blessings have come from everywhere.  I remain grateful for my little family.

A year older

I'm a year older.  Wiser?  We will see. Yesterday was my birthday, and  I had a good day. Friends called, and a few stopped by.  I received cards in the mail.  My nephew came to visit and brought some beautiful flowers from all of his family.  Most of all, my boys had planned a surprise for me.  They even shopped for my gift on their own.  In the evening, I went sent out to Christmas shop for a couple of hours.  When I returned, there were balloons, streamers, and a darling cake.  We ate and opened my gifts.  From my boys, a beautiful Native American necklace with an amber turtle, which I have been admiring at Runa Arts for a couple of years.  Sweet, they remembered :)

I had been thinking so much about my mom.  About the 36 hours of labor she had endured to bring me into this world.  Most of all, how she always said she would do again, even though she almost lost her life back then.  My neighbor and friend brought over a thoughtful gift of a perfume set.  When I opened it, not coincidentally I believe, it was my mother's favorite perfume.  The fragrance and name of which I had long forgotten.  But now, as I opened it, the memories flooded back.  My friend did not know it, but she was a messenger somehow.  She brought a gift of kindness, and a loving message from Mom.

Today is my best friend's birthday.  So, I got up and made a phone call to her.  I planned to be lazy the rest of the morning.  I have a very good friend who is the best mechanic I know.  He manages an automotive shop, and I have been saving up to have him fix the rear brakes on my mini-van.  They have been getting worse and worse and still no money for repairs.  Tony called me this morning (which is not unusual) and asked if he could borrow my van for an hour. I drove to his shop in Orem to meet him, and he fixed my brakes, and several other things that he worried about.  He did this on a Saturday, with his own money, and about an hour and a half of work.  I should mention that this is by far not the first time he has done something incredible for me.  Anyway, I sat there, playing spectator, and chatting with him.  All the time, I was trying not to get teary.  I cannot cry.  I cannot cry.  When the work was done, and I was ready to leave, I told him that I could pay him half the money, but he refused to accept anything.  It was snowing outside, and he just hugged me tight and said "Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas."

Smaug the Awesomely Terrible

Well, the day finally came.  In my family, we have been waiting for the second Hobbit movie all year long. We watched all the news about it, read some of Peter Jackson's blog diaries, and screamed like a bunch of girls when we first heard the dragon Smaug's voice on a sneak peak preview.  You get the picture :)  This morning at 12:01 a.m. we joined a group of friends at the University Mall theater for the first premiere showing of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug."  It was very exciting, and we had a great time.  Of course, now we can't wait for next year!  I love having these kind of memories with my kids.

We are very very tired now.  Happy, but tired.