Life is Writing Another Story

 

In my last post I mentioned that whenever life presents a new story then I take to the keyboard and write.

Here I am.

Life is presenting a new story.

On April 22nd, we moved into our new cottage in Albany.  Three of the four of us left Rochester and began a new life in Albany. (One of us still had six weeks of college classes left and took up with our neighbors to finish the semester out.)

Can I just be transparent with you?  Rochester never felt like home to us.  We met some amazing folks that we absolutely love and miss terribly, please don't get me wrong!  But Rochester (Pittsford) was harsh for our family on so many levels.  The initial move there was traumatic.  Andy's job experience with the company we moved there for...also VERY traumatic.  Two of the five years there were spent under a pandemic!  We just never truly felt endeared to the place.  We tried! But it was evident that we were there for life lessons and relationships so when the opportunity literally fell into Andy's lap to move us, we took it!  And here we are!

Ben started a new high school last week.  Yes, with less than two months to go in his junior year we transplanted him. Learning from his past (11 different schools growing up), Andy shared that he truly believed it was better to start with a couple of months to go than to wait an entire summer in anxiety with no friends.  Oh wise Andy!  He was right! Ben has a great first impression of his high school, of the culinary program he entered at the local vo-tech school, and of ALL of his teachers! (If you know Ben, then you know!)

Andy moved over the end of January to begin his new job which he truly enjoys.  He lived in an AirBnB apartment for three months and it was a little oasis.  While being apart was so very difficult, the apartment came with extra bedrooms so the kids and I would often alternate jumping on the train to visit Dad for the weekend and house-hunt.  (The house-hunt is a total blog post in and of itself! OOF!)

I left my job at Sutherland High School and am back to full-time wife and mothering.  For those of you who know me well, you know this is my favorite career and I love it!  Actually, I'm more of a full-time unpacked right now...but HEY! It comes with its own set of rewards!  Just yesterday I found my bedding! WINNING!

Now I've caught you up on the beginning of our new story. There's so much to see unfold...will Abby move to Albany or stay in Rochester?  Does Ben pass the baking test with muffins that didn't rise? How will Marla and Andy celebrate 26? And what do they NAME THAT HOUSE????  Hmmm....maybe I should try writing a "Choose Your Own Adventure" blog...

(Thanks, Jaime, for encouraging me to write our new story.)

So much truth...

That last post though..... so much truth!

She did it.  She graduated Saturday.   

In what is, arguably, the worst year since ____(you can fill it in)____ my girl rose above all that this world has thrown at her to complete the education we began at the dining room table in Birmingham thirteen years ago.

We now look forward to her chasing her dream and studying World Cinema at Clemson University in September.  I say "we" because, well, chasing dreams has become a thing around here and we're all in it together.

Just over a year ago, Andy began chasing his dream of owning his own business.  It has been a rough road, and each of us have made sacrifices, which makes the buy-in even sweeter.  We encourage each other, support each other, attend football games in snow blizzards...well, you get the idea.  Andy is seeing success and we celebrate that together.  Abby graduated Saturday, and we celebrated together.

And now, I feel the time has come where Momma's dream is knocking at the door.  

I began this blog years ago with the hopes of keeping our far away family connected after my father died.  I needed connection, I needed an outlet, but mostly I just NEEDED to write.  It's part of me- who I am, what I want to be and do.  In the years since, I've come back to this blog to write when life dictated a story, and abandoned it when life was just too big and demanded all of me- my heart, my attention, my time.

I've been dedicating some time to growing myself.  I'm a big believer in lifelong learning and in recent years I have been surviving rather than thriving.  So I'm stepping out!  Signing up for some software courses, developing a better representation of myself online and on paper, and venturing into freelance writing.  It's exciting....and terrifying....and I didn't sleep a wink last night....but I'm ready to give my dream a shot!

 #wewatchedHamilton

Lasts Lead to Firsts

I've noticed, after two solid weeks of hiding in the staff bathroom sobbing, that I am a very involved momma.

Yes, I had a feeling before, but these two weeks of watching my son walk out of the middle school (which I happen to work in) confirmed it.  Make fun of me.  It's ok. I'm good with it.

All the "lasts" hit me like a ton of bricks...last ride to work together....last time he gets trapped holding the door open for me and the string of kids/teachers behind me....last time I hear them say "Wow! Great manners!" or "There's no denying he's yours, Marla!"......last time splitting off in the hallway and saying "Have a great day, Benji!  uhhh I mean Ben!!!!"...…..last time of him jutting his chin out at me when I pass him in the hall.....last time all of his friends warn him when they see me coming "It's your mom, Ben! BEN!!  YOUR MOM!!!!"

I never wanted to embarrass Ben at school (except that time I wrote him up), but I LOVED being in the same building as one of my kids.  When I subbed last year, the best thing ever was to get called up to the high school where Abby would track me down like a blood hound for hugs and insist that we have lunch together or, at the very least, meet up at her locker.  While homeschooling was sometimes difficult, it forged strong bonds with my children.  I'm so grateful.

So now come the firsts....yesterday was the first time Abby got a "senior" discount (Yes, they really gave it to us at a store that was having "senior" day and I mentioned she was now a senior!!!)….. we had our first JV football meeting for Ben to play for the high school...... we're going on our first roadtrip where a kid can help us drive...... and in a couple of months our kids will be headed to the same school together (that doesn't take place under our roof) for the first time.

It feels like all that is ahead for them are steps away from us.  Lots of lasts to come, and lots of firsts.

Dusting off the old blog.....

Hi Friends!  I know.  I know...it's been a while.  The last three years have been a blur.  In fact, I can honestly say that I never saw this coming.  By "this" I mean the moving to the North, the mental illness in my son, football, going back to work full-time, or Andy being unemployed....thrice....in as many years.

Life happens.  And can I just testify to the fact that it reeeeeeally doesn't care if you're prepared or not.  It.  Just.  Doesn't.

In the great and grand scheme of things...I have Andy.  I have Abby and Ben.  And Momma and Beth and Tomi.  I have Jesus and a faith that grows stronger by the day.  I have a great job with great insurance and summers off!  (For now) I have a comforting home with wonderful neighbors.  I have a church family of the most authentic, transparent, encouraging, and loving people.  I'm doing quite well. In spite of.... life.

I'm dusting off the blog because I have felt like I have a lot to express lately- and no safe place to do it.  Sometimes just putting the words down....triggers a relief..release...acceptance.  So I'm coming back. Re-vamping and adding and changing her.  She should be shiny and new soon.