A Year in the Making

I would like to start by officially resigning my status as Land Barroness.  Yes, that's right, I own only one ONE (1!!!) house as of 12:45pm this afternoon!

In other news, happy bloggy birthday to me!

I can't believe it's been one year since I wrote my first post on my own blog.  And while that moment was just 365 little days ago- so much as changed.  When I wrote that post I sat on a bed I no longer own, in a house I no longer own, surrounds by free time and goals that aren't exactly the same now.  In the past year I tried my hand at aerial silks, learned to play the guitar, and experimented with cooking.  In the past year I've shared some stream of conscious thoughts (as well as a few random ones), traveled to South East Asia and knocked my 6th continent off the list. I've improved more than one house and had some major improvement of my own in the past 6 months (1 2 3 4 5) .


In some ways, it's hard to believe it was just 365 days ago that this journey began, it's equally hard to believe it wasn't more.

Define: Emanate

Any minute now life will change for us in some very real ways.  It's not that I mean to be cryptic, it's just something I don't think I can openly talk through here, but let's just say the lyrics to a particular Wayne Watson song keep going through my head.

Or to say it another .... well follow me for a minute ...

I traveled a lot in college.  Some would say I traveled college. Period.  At graduation my dad said they should have given me an award for the graduate having spent the least amount of time on campus during her 4 year college career.  Because I traveled so much (and a few other factors) I graduated with a BS in Liberal Studies (pause here for appropriate BS and Liberal Studies jokes.... done now Dad?).  My degree was in world religion, multimedia, and English (and travel), but through my work in PR and six years as a travel agent I would joke that my degree was pretty well worthless for my chosen career.  I felt like I had chosen travel over getting real a degree that I could actually apply in my daily life.

Then in the fall of 2008 I sat in my living room having completed my online training portal for my agents to use complete with 21 video lessons and interactive training questions.  It required English, multimedia, and all my travel knowledge to get there.  It was a moment where I felt like taking off my shoes and marveling at the way God had orchestrated everything throughout my life up to that point that I would need to experience that very moment.

Today I'm at my kitchen table- looking at the layout of my new house, looking at the blessings God has given me, at the relationships He has brought into my life at just the right time to give me strength, encouragement and useful tools for this exact moment (and all of the hundreds to follow).

The phone rings ... they're on their way.

RTT: Before I Get Old

What time is it: 1007p

Where am I: at kitchen table making my way towards bed-- trying to be better about getting up early means needing to equally be better at going to bed earlier.

Listening to: two fridges dueling it out-- need to move borrowed fridge out now that real fridge is here. REAL FRIDGE IS HERE!!!

Thoughts:
Geo has really been into the Diary of a Whimpy Kid Books so for Christmas we got him the Do-It-Yourself book.  Within the book there is a list of "Things You Should Do Before You Get Old."  I was pretty proud of the fact that I could check off many things on the list.  But one of them- one of them has alway alluded me.  Until tonight.

Tonight I win.  Tonight I made it through a whole lollipop without biting it.  And a toostie roll pop at that. Check!

The Last Night

In a few short hours we will go back to Old House to spend our last night there.  The movers come tomorrow to clear it out and bring everything to New House so we can stop sleeping on air mattresses.

The past month hasn't been bad though. In fact, LK aired my bed up nicely last night and it so it was almost like a real mattress.  But, still, I get this gitty little feeling when I think THE BEDS ARE COMING TOMORROW!

But Old House was a nice place.  In Old House we grew closer as a family- and LK and I learned so much as a couple.  I started my company in Old House.  We had many friends, old and new, over at Old House.  I learned to play the guitar in Old House.  I re-discovered my style in Old House.  And while it seems a bit melodramatic- I think I found a greater part of myself while living there.

Memphis will also be special because it was my first house. But Old House, it was my sanctuary for three good years.  I'm going to be elated to say the least when I sign on the line and relinquish my Land Baroness status- but yes, there will be part of me that will always miss that house.

RTT: Truly Random

What time is it: 936p

Where am I: at the new kitchen table at New House. HORRAY!

Listening to: LK clean up from dinner (I married a great man!)

Last ate: Hearty Beef Stew with warm rolls, but I'm contemplating trying out the pumpkin cream cheese muffins Flower brought over tonight.

Thoughts: I think it's been a month since I officially did a RTT. It's hard to describe the last month except the say that after the contract went bust, we still decided to mostly move and have been living with borrowed furniture and sleeping on air mattresses. But it's not as bad as it sounds. How great is it to be able to fold up your dining room table and chairs when not in use ... we really need to have a bowling contest in there before the real table comes. And as I've been saying, nothing shows how much a man loves his wife as when he inflates her bed for her in the evening. And I say her bed because yes, we are on separate twin air mattresses. Just call us Ozzie and Harriet.

I picked up a paint brush for the first time in a month today. Something about that dining room ceiling- it's the one thing that needs to be done before the large furniture arrives and the one thing I can't get motivated to finish. But T- 6 days til move in so I best get after it.

ISH and I had the best belly laugh tonight as I was trying to get him ready for bed. It was in no uncertain terms completely unproductive for bed-time readiness but it was equally in no uncertain terms one of those moments I wanted to freeze frame forever. Click.

LK is now off to play a game of "old men basketball." My parting words to him before such games: remember your insurance card. Yup, not as cool for sure.

Not As Cool As I Think I Am

Geo to me: Sometimes you say something to Daddy and you both laugh like Ha Ha Ha Ha. But what you said, it's really not funny.

Thanks buddy.

Ask First

LK and I spent Saturday in CPR training so we could be in compliance with a program we're involved with. One of the things that the instructors told us as we discussed choking and other first aid situations is that when someone is in distress but still conscious you must first identify yourself and ask if you can help.

"I'm training in first aid. Can I help you?"

Keep in my the person could be turning blue or could have cut their arm off and be standing there in total shock- but even then, if conscious, they have to be given the right to refuse. Because sadly, even with one less limb attached, they may not want to be helped.

And, if they refuse, all you can do is stand there until their problem is solved, they accept your help, or until they pass out.

That night, following training, as I surveyed the room of the building LK and I were in, looking at all the people there (praying I did not have to utilize any of these new skills on real people), it struck me how true the whole "ask first" rule is in life problems as well.

I've been in conversations where emotionally someone stands before me choking to death on their own problems. But, until they are ready to accept the help I can give, all my training is useless.