Last week the kids were sick with colds, so we skipped planned activities in hopes of getting well. So this week we took them to the lake. They enjoyed themselves, but we tried a new lakeside beach spot which was closer to our home (about two city blocks away). Unfortunately though it was very secluded, we did not enjoy it quite as much. It only had a wading area that was very shallow, my eldest was quite disappointed with that. However fun was had, so here are some pictures.
A post I read on the internet today got me thinking. In the end I came to the conclusion that I am very proud of my maternal extended family. As a child I never quite understood just how amazing they were at unconditional love, but as an adult their love astounds me.
You see our family is truly a mixed bag. We have different professions, politics, interests, etc However it goes deeper than that. We are also made up of a mix of DNA sequences. Meaning that we are not all "Blood" relatives. You might be thinking that this is true of many families. Of course the people who marry are not blood relatives (well hopefully not). I mean to say that some of the children that entered this family were not "blood", but my family taught me that blood doesn't matter. Love does.
I have seen many people discuss how families coming together in this way can be a disaster. Unfortunately I think most of the time this is true. We fail to see past the blood lines and forget that a human being is there. My family never made significant differences between the genetically linked relatives and the non genetically linked ones. This lead to what I believe to be a beautifully cohesive and loving family. Oh of course we have our disputes and our problems, but at the end of the day we love and care for one another deeply.
A family is not just made by the combining of DNA sequences, but also by the acceptance and love towards one another.
We are not perfect, but I am so proud to call these people my family. I wish that I had understood as a child and teenager just how magical their love is.
Spring Finals are over! Only another week or so until I find out my grades. I have graduation tomorrow and everything seems to be moving forward. I do have an online course during the summer that officially completes my As degree, but it is a simple course so I am not stressing it as much as I had been stressing Calc 1B
Please keep John in your thoughts as he has the interview for his transfer this Friday. He had another job interview on Monday. It would really put me at ease to know that he has a firm job lined up for the move. I really do wish to keep the family in one piece and move as a unit.
In a few weeks I should find out more about where I will attend college in the Fall. Also I have a tentative plan for my health insurance once we move as well. That is also taking a bit of stress off as well.
The last BIG thing, other than Johns job or the close of escrow, is finding a rental in our new home. It has been hard finding a home large enough for our entire household.
Also I need to plan a fun trip for the drive to our new state. If anyone has any great ideas, let me know :)
I have to say this process has been an exciting but stressful one. I am currently at the stage where I am saying I am never going to buy or sell a home ever again...haha... We had home inspections today and that seemingly went well. We just need the actual report to come in and then the buyers concessions on things that need fixing or deduction, etc. I have termite inspections, septic inspections, appraisals, and some other minor things to go through.
However the moving date is set for July 3rd! I can not believe it and I am just hoping and praying that time flies for us. I started another class, this time online. Also would really love to hear about John's job transfer...it would set me at ease about our entire family moving in one piece at the same time.
I received a sash from the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program yesterday to wear at the graduation.
Here I am with these awesome graduating STEM students
My sash/stole (their official name)!
Yes, this crazy woman is me...
And last week we went to the beach with my awesome family. Afterwards we went out to dinner with John, who had to work that day.
The next day my kiddos had Track and Field day. Johnny got a ribbon for participation and Aurora actually won second place in the standing broad jump :)
The over the weekend Aurora and I had a girl scout meeting to attend. I am co-leader and some of the girls were done with activities earlier so we had an impromptu science session! They were awed by the awesome stuff they saw under the microscope.
A step in the right direction. We received a great offer on the house, we have accepted it. Only five days on the market! Lets just hope that it stays good. The man who made the offer did so sight unseen. He only looked at a slew of images of the home. He comes tomorrow morning to look at the home he put an offer in on. We will be taking back up offers just in case.
Not super stoked about getting everyone out of the house so early on a Sat, but it will be worth it! If everything does go well tomorrow then it looks like we will be on our way out of Cali in 1 month and 4 days!!!!
After discussion with our broker, realtor, and each other. We have decided to rent a few months out in our new city then purchase. This way we get a feel for the place and explore a bit.
So that is one thing marked off the list. I also sent the necessary documentation to my school of choice. I should be hearing back soon about admission. Fingers crossed I do get in there because it will make me feel better about having turned out some really great universities
Seriously though... stress overload. Its finals, its moving, its selling this house, its getting into my college of choice, buying a new house, Johns job transfer, etc.
Basically, its life. Now do not misunderstand. I have a great life and I love my children and the men in my life, but right now life is just a bit more hectic than I feel I can handle. I will be happy when everything is all settled. Two more weeks and I won't need to worry about the kids school, my school, or getting into the college of my choice. Actually at that point it will just be focusing on selling the house and the move.
I am just going to keep looking on the bright side. 3 awesome and healthy kids, an amazingly supportive boyfriend, and an awesome father/ex husband. I am truly blessed. Also in a few weeks I get to walk for my Associates in Science and Mathematics! Sure it is just an associates degree, but I have gone to school for quite some time now that I am ecstatic to feel recognition for this.
Also once the house is sold and it is moving time, I have some fun surprises up my sleeve for these cute kids. :)
Some highlights since my last blog post
I was able to volunteer at Johnny's school for petting zoo day for his class :)
Only the cool people can hang out with their ex-husbands :) This is one cool dude here and one of my best friends.
My love and I attending my best friend, Nikki's, beautiful wedding!
This week this song really struck a cord with me. So much so that I found myself crying on my way to work and writing a blog in my head. Specifically " Your words in my head, knives in my heart, You build me up and then I fall apart, 'Cause I'm only human."
I have been struggling lately with some criticism and cruelty, often disguised as humor, from someone I cared deeply about. It isn't John or Richard, but someone else that I am in close proximity to on a regular basis. The reason that verse just hits so close to home is because for a large portion of my life this person built me up. Recently, however, they have passively shown that they do not agree with our new "family" through words that are knives in my heart.
I have decided to let it go and realize that some people may never change or understand. Does that mean it doesn't bother me? No and sometimes I still struggle with it. I go against the advice of others to continue a relationship with this person, in the hopes that someday they go back to the person they once were. If not then I can die knowing I let it go and lived my life.
This whole song has me thinking about society today. It seems as though adults aim for perfection that is never achievable. Actually what makes us so special is our imperfections. I fear that people expect a great deal more out of each other than sometimes they are not capable of. Think of the consequences of this on our children. We should push them, but teach them it is okay to fail sometimes. We need them to not be ashamed to be who they are and to make mistakes. Women are full of ever growing insecurities because of their shortcomings when it comes to this idea of a perfect woman.
Those who know me know that I am not a very religious person, though I am not without my beliefs.
However I do believe that the new testament of the bible teaches us to strive to be God like, but yet realize to forgive the faults of ourselves and others.
I think these insecurities that we breed within ourselves and others lead us to judge. Its a vicious cycle and one that truly does need to end. We should embrace each other and these perceived flaws. They make us who we are. I do not wish that my children ever have to pretend that they are something that they are not.
Matthew 7:1-3
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
7 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
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