I wanna come back

And I think I am going to do my best to get back to blogging and writing down the happenings in our lives.

I am going to make time....soon!!

Until then, we are okay....busy...but doing more than surviving for the first time in a long time!!!

This is Amos....he is our new kitty that adds to our family's craziness!!!

Busy

I just wanted to pop in quickly and give a quick update.

I have been working now for a month and I couldn't be happier.  Sometimes you just need to be patient and God's plan will be revealed.  This opportunity has been exactly what I needed!!  The guys I work for are fabulous, but I am having to bring some organization to the group (and a woman's touch)!! 

Everyone seems to be falling into the new routine without any trouble.  Hunter is slowly adjusting to me being gone again.  My schedule allows me to take Hannah to the bus now (my last contract job started earlier and she had to catch a ride with our neighbor) and that means he gets to ride along.  He knows about when I should be home and Pete said he will sit in the front yard for hours waiting for me to get there.  I love that dog as much as he seems to love me :).

The Yost household is in "Supercross Countdown" mode...we have our tickets for the motocross race at the Georgia Dome on the 26th of this month.  There isn't anyone more excited than the other...even Hannah!!  Hopefully we can get down there a little early so she can some autographs (although her favorite is a West Coast rider and most likely won't be there).  Now that I am gainfully employed again, we are hoping to get back to riding and racing....oh how we have missed it!!!

Tomorrow my Aunt Marge and Uncle Pup from Colorado are coming to visit for a couple of days....we are excited to see them and looking forward to Saturday when we will all get to go to my parents' house to visit with them!!

The weather is starting to get nice....a couple of 60 degree days in February is fantastic!!!  I am sure we are not done with winter yet, but we will take this for now.  The boys are taking golf lessons (thanks to Lil' Pop) and they were able to show off what they have learned yesterday at the course Pete works at.  I know Pete is liking this weather for sure!!!

We are also gearing up for Matt's birthday...I can't believe he will be 7 on St. Patty's Day!!  He continues to provide both frustration and joy.  He told us the other day that "he just wasn't his normal self". 

I will try to get some updates with pictures of some of the activities we have been up...until then know that we are living the dream and remembering how things can change in a heartbeat.

Crazy Days

I have finally downloaded the pictures from Davis' first communion this weekend, but I haven't edited them.

It was a wonderful day and hopefully I can share it with you all by this weekend!

The weather is really heating up and am super glad we were able to get the upstairs air fixed yesterday.

We got a new gazebo for the back porch and I am slowly trying to get the back porch a haven for the summer!!!

I am going to hit the hay since I need to get up early tomorrow for work. Hannah has an outside concert tomorrow night for Chorus.

I will try to get the pictures edited and make a post for what was a very special day!!

The brighter side

I can't believe it has been so long since I updated last. You would think that I would have more time on my hands, but the days seem to fly by.

I am going to give a quick update as I am mentally drained and my heart is hurting.

• Hannah finished her fall softball season undefeated. She has grown so much this season and she really enjoyed it. This past weekend was the end of the season tournament....which they WON the whole thing....stayed in the winner's bracket the entire time. Hannah received the game ball for the second to last game, but really played hard every game!!

• I have a contract job starting on Monday. It is really short term (1-3 weeks) and doesn't have much flexibility. I am hoping it opens some permanent opportunities!! Next week it will be one year since I was laid off.

• I have been trying to prepare for the craft show on the 7th and am not making as much progress as I had hoped. My machine whacked out on me and I ended up having to take it to the shop. I still don't think it is sewing quite right, but I will nurse it through next weekend and then take it back to the shop (the guarantee their work for 90 days). I am a little nervous about the show...just don't know what people will think of my stuff!!

• We are gearing up for Halloween on Saturday. Hannah is planning on going to her friend's to trick-or-treat.....I guess she is growing up and we have to let her fly!! It is Pete's turn to take the boys out, so I get to stay home and drink some wine!!

• I have been volunteering at Hannah's school in the library (shelving books) and the lunchroom (selling ice cream). I am glad I am already done with school and I feel for those teachers!!!

I am sure there is more that I am forgetting. I am going to try to update more often because it is therapeutic for me. I am starting to see the light, hopefully it just continues to get brighter.

Cleaning, Purging, Cleaning, Sewing, Cleaning, Organizing and Cleaning

That is what I have been up to for the last couple of weeks, thanks to the end of our drought here in Georgia.

Our basement flooded....we live up on a hill...go figure. This video was taken from our upstairs above the garage, when we knew that no amount of shoveling was going to keep the water out!!

As soon as the drains caught up, the water left our basement as well!! However, all that "red" you see in the water is Georgia dirt!! The dirt has to be scrubbed off the floors in the basement. We pour disinfecting cleaner and water on the floor, scrub and then suck up in the shop vac.

We spent several days getting everything out that was wet (except for the carpet that does not have padding under it - which we shop vac'd). I have thrown away so much stuff...stuff I didn't need or want. Hannah's baby book was down there on a shelf that was on the floor - luckily I kept it in the box it was given to me in and that kept the important stuff from being ruined.

For my birthday, I got to go to the dump....boy do I know how to have a good time. It was very therapeutic to throw away all that crap!!!! I know Pete enjoyed it!!

Anyone that knows me knows that home organization is not my forte....but now I am going to make it one!! No more cardboard and pictures need to be protected. While I am still out of work, this is a perfect time to get things organized. I am going room by room and am excited when I finish one. I finished my "Christmas" room (where all the Christmas stuff is stored) last night and it feels great - I keep walking in there and smiling!

I am also sewing as I am preparing to join my friend at a craft show in November to sell my embroidered bookmarks and ornaments. My machine is in the basement and I am able to clean while the machine is working.

We registered with FEMA last week and they came out for an inspection on Friday. I wasn't aware that they would need to look in every room of the house (so embarrassed with the mess). We don't know the results of the inspection, but we did receive some money in our bank account yesterday that will definitely help!! The inspector felt our drywall was fine and that we should be able to steam clean the carpets. She said we are doing everything we should be doing, fans and dehumidifier, etc.

Not much going on with my job search. Pete is enjoying his, although I think he is looking for an easier time now that they have finally finished cleaning up after the flood (much of the course was completely under water and the silt is very deep).

The flood was the straw that broke the camel's back for me...I am doing my best to get out of my funk and have Faith that things will change. It has helped immensely that we have a wonderful family that continues to make our rough patch a little smoother.

I guess I need to cut this long entry off now...I am going jean shopping...for Hannah (I know my heart couldn't take jean shopping for me).

Thank you all for your continued prayers!!

Hard Week

I guess I should be thankful that it is Friday, but I think I am too exhausted to enjoy it.

It has been a week filled with Matt crying while getting on the bus, or at school because apparently we can't go visit him at lunch (as a reward for not crying that morning) without him experiencing separation anxiety. His teacher has asked us not to come to the school for a couple of weeks so he can get adjusted. I know she is right and she did it in a very compassionate way...but that doesn't mean I have to like it!! Matt is very tired by the time he gets home and has been awful.....throwing things, saying bad words and just generally being an ass (sorry Mom).

Davis is usually my easy kid....my angel....not so much this week. He has battled with me about homework and then decides he won't do it unless I am home and sit with him. Wednesday he had a meltdown at his friend's house when I told him it was time to go home. I had to chase him around the yard, physically drag him to the car with him kicking and screaming. He said he hated me. None of this is normal Davis behavior and was very hard for me to deal with. Fortunately he calmed down, apologized and hasn't displayed the behavior again.

Davis has been having issues with his left shoulder coming out of the socket for a little over a month now. It has been at the swimming pool each time it has happened and popped backed as soon as he would slightly move his arm. We have a friend that did a MRI on him last Saturday but we haven't received the results yet. Today while at his friend's house on the slip-n-slide (he was instructed to only do baseball slides so it wouldn't dislocate his shoulder), but he fell and he immediately started crying and I knew it happened again. I happen to be standing right next to him, I had him lift his arm but it didn't pop back in like before. I amazingly didn't freak out, I grabbed his arm gently and popped it back in place (makes me a little queasy now that it is over). We will be calling his doctor on Monday to get him in as soon as possible. I am not sure exactly what the problem is, but I hope it isn't serious.

The job stress is really doing a number on our marriage. Not easy to actually say it out loud, but it is the truth. I am praying that things turn around before too long. It is hard to understand why things aren't coming to fruition for either of us....we are trying so HARD!! I know we have so many people praying for us and I am trying to believe that He is listening.

I did get some good news this week....I have an interview next Thursday for a position that my BFF (Hi Amy) helped me get my foot in the door. It is a really good company and a great position. It has all happened really quick, I applied on Wednesday and got the call the next day. I know when I do get back to work, I am going to be a great employee because I will be so grateful!!!

I have a couple of updates that I will try to get up over the weekend. Religious education (CCD) starts for the kids this Sunday (Matt and Hannah) and Monday (Davis). I am also going to be teaching a 5th grade class on Monday evenings. I am actually very excited about it...it looks like I have a really small class which will be great for this first-timer!!!

Hopefully next week will be better!!!

P.S. On a bright note...Hannah is LOVING middle school and it is truly a joy to see her practically glow.

Hangin' In

I am still here...hanging in the best I can.

We are gearing up for the start of school in a week from tomorrow. My baby will be going to kindergarten. I can't believe he will be climbing the bus steps with his brother...sigh!

Hannah will be going to middle school...a newly built school.

We have "meet-n-greet" and orientation this week.

I have been somewhat absent on my blog because I am afraid I would be too negative.

Life is hard right now...I can't lie. I look forward to moving to the next chapter because this one has sucked!!

I am going to try to enjoy the last week of summer vacation with the kids, maybe even try to do something fun (and cheap).

I will try some positive updates this week.

Home

Ahhhhh...we are home. We had a nice trip home until about the last hour. The weather got really bad and we got pummeled by hail. I haven't had the heart to go look at the car yet. The kids were really good and they are all fast asleep in their own beds.

Hunter was VERY excited to see us and ran around like crazy. He is now sleeping as well. We had two neighborhood kids pet sit for us and they did a GREAT job! I missed him like crazy!! The kids were very worried that the storms would scare him....I am not even sure he noticed!!

Mom - you would be so proud of me...my bags (and Matt's since we shared a bag) are unpacked and the laundry is done (folded and put away even).

Tomorrow I will hit the job hunt hard!! I found out today that I didn't get the job with the county either.....rejection really bites!!!!! I am sure there is something out there for me....I just have to have FAITH.

I guess it is time for me to hit the hay...in my own bed!!! We still have two days out of school for "winter break" and then we are heading to the Supercross at the Georgia Dome on Saturday!!!!!