Life Goes On...

As in, it's been way too long since I've updated this thing... Mainly because after Conan was unemployed, life got really tough and I just didn't know quite what to say! "Life sucks right now?" I don't even let my kids say that, so it's not really appropriate for me to say, right? On the plus side, my sister Renee' came to visit last month! She surprised me with a day's notice due to crazy communications issues. She had moved from Denmark, spent several weeks in Sardenia, then went on the Bulgaria, and stopped here in the USA on their way to Spain(their move to Mallorca)!!! Yep, it's right on the way... It was the BEST!!! The funny thing was, we were both being totally frugal by necessity, and were both really exhausted, so we mainly hung out with the kids and talked and laughed!!! We found out two major things while she was here- one, our landlords needed to move back into their house (in a few weeks...), and two, Conan got two job offers! The first one he accepted, as a systems engineer outside of Baltimore, MD, working on the UAV (unmanned air vehicle- Army), the second one came a week later, which he turned down, in Pittsburgh. That one would have required him to travel 80% of the year... No thanks... More money, but at too high a price. We are just so grateful that he didn't have to wait it out too long. Reading the news and about rising unemployment, I was preparing myself for the long haul... But praying and hoping for a short one! Tender mercies..

A few strange things happened, including a major change in moving plans (not by our choice) one week before we had to move... and my cute nephew coming to visit, out of complete necessity when he found out his passport was missing in D.C. right before leaving for the airport to go to Spain.. So, Conan picked him up, then back to D.C. a few days later to the passport office, all while we had basically 2 days to find a house to rent... It was CRAZY, INSANE!! The rental business is so completely weird and abnormal here, it's very difficult and time consuming to find anything worthwhile (meaning, not a rat hole!!!). What it came down to was that a family we didn't know very well, but heard about our plight, called us and offered to rent us their house that was empty and had been on the market since May. The downside; though only five miles north of our previous home, it was in a completely different school district and church ward... the kids were freaking out... Heck, I was freaking out!!! But NOTHING was panning out, so after much searching, unanswered phone messages, and constant prayers, etc., we made the decision to accept the offer. Then I spent the next 2 and a half days withdrawing the kids from the old schools and signing up for the 3 new ones... I had one day left to finish packing before we had to be out, then moving day, then one day later Conan started his new job!!! And, the kids started their new schools...and we celebrated Emma's 10th birthday!

So, here I am two weeks later... Meanwhile, Conan spent last week in Georgia at an Army base while I got really sick, dealt with several major meltdowns (I confess to one of my own...), unpacked the house, started chauffeuring kids to their various after school activities (guitar lessons, ice-skating, church youth, gymnastics), not to mention the before school early morning seminary class... Wow, I kind of feel like a super mom right now! I left out the part that I have had NO energy left for cooking, so way too many trips through the drive through... We all hate fast food now!!!! (except Christian who wanted to go to Mc D's after eating three bites of my beef strouganoff the other night- whatever!!!)

Life goes on... and on! I'm ready to get back to exercising, and doing some fun projects. I unpacked and decorated Emma's room for her birthday, now hot pink and black! I have a few pictures, which I have to find the camera to updoad! Somehow, we will all adjust and manage these crazy times.... A lot of praying on my part... And gluing on a happy face... and laughing when I feel like crying... Life is just like that right now. I am so thankful for the blessings, Heavenly Father's love, family hugs (near and far), and the energy to keep going.