A Big Year End Blow-Out Post!
So, Preston has to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That's okay, though, because we've been sort of spreading Christmas out over the last week or two. There has been gifting, shopping, cookie baking, snuggling, and mistletoe kisses, and there's still a whole tree of presents to share with family and each other.
Preston and I are pretty goofy at Christmas, because we're both more excited about seeing the other person open their presents. We each have already opened a couple of presents, and he bought me ALL EIGHT SEASONS OF CHARMED ON DVD. Which is insanely great. It's my soap. I missed out on liking any of the other Spelling vehicles, but Charmed is a guilty pleasure for me. He's opened his big one from me, a DVD player for his car that also plays from jump drives, SD cards, plays DiVX, and tons of other features that I either can't remember or understand. He was pretty pleased. I can't wait to see what else is waiting under the tree for us!
Actually, everyone's been pretty pleased in general around here. In fact, I'd venture to say that I'm sublimely happy with my life right now. 2007 has ended with us in a wonderful place in our relationship, my school, his job, financially, and everything else. I'm just really, really content. I feel like I've grown a lot in this last year. Some of that growing was really difficult. I've come to understand that I don't do myself any favors by only seeing the best in people. Sometimes I need to see the worst, too, and evaluate where that leaves me.
Preston and I passed our Foster parent certification. We're looking forward to moving and starting to accept placements, but I don't really feel in a hurry right now. I want us to be the best parents we can possibly be, and that means doing everything we can to be prepared and taking all the time we need.
I got my scooter! It seems so silly, but the scooter has been for me all the things represented by the Chariot card in Tarot: mobility, independence, travel, adventure. I have so much fun going place to place, and it's really helped me to notice things I'd otherwise miss in the hustle and bustle. Preston also gets to tool around in the first brand-new car either of us has ever owned, our new Kia Rio.
Preston and I have set sustainability goals to reduce our carbon footprint and to bring us closer to the ideal of being self-sufficient. Some of the benefits of these goals include Preston getting to eat homemade bread every day (we haven't eaten purchased bread in months now) and the health benefits that come with some of our decisions, like giving up eating red meat at home (Preston does have the occasional steak at a restaurant). It feels good to help the environment a little bit at a time and also to feel more in control of the things around us.
I've gotten through a year of this program with all A's and haven't cracked under the crazy Fundamentalist regime. ;)
Preston LOVES his job. It makes me happy to see him doing something he enjoys, and not dreading work every day like he has at some jobs. This job is really perfect for him...he gets to be a ham, socialize, crack jokes, and hassle customers all day. Plus, he's really good at dealing blackjack and craps, as well as all the other games he's certified for. They're trying to get him to start another dealer school already, but he's going to hold off for a bit. Plus, the pay rocks our socks!
Stellaluna has doubled in membership in the past year, and is doing wonderfully well. We're all connecting and sharing, and our rituals are empowered and enlightening. After some initial trouble which I've been thinking of as "birthing pains" for the new group, we've taken off and blossomed and I'm really proud of us.
Some friendships ended, but they ended cleanly and left lots of room in my life for new friendships to take root and grow.
In this last year, I've moved closer and closer to living a life that leaves me completely happy and satisfied. I've realized as I've gotten a bit older that it doesn't matter so much where I am, because I can create a life that is satisfying and soul-filling anywhere. I've become really focused on things that feed my soul and everyone else's opinion be darned!
I only hope that 2008 is a great and moves me as far forward as 2007 has!
Preston and I are pretty goofy at Christmas, because we're both more excited about seeing the other person open their presents. We each have already opened a couple of presents, and he bought me ALL EIGHT SEASONS OF CHARMED ON DVD. Which is insanely great. It's my soap. I missed out on liking any of the other Spelling vehicles, but Charmed is a guilty pleasure for me. He's opened his big one from me, a DVD player for his car that also plays from jump drives, SD cards, plays DiVX, and tons of other features that I either can't remember or understand. He was pretty pleased. I can't wait to see what else is waiting under the tree for us!
Actually, everyone's been pretty pleased in general around here. In fact, I'd venture to say that I'm sublimely happy with my life right now. 2007 has ended with us in a wonderful place in our relationship, my school, his job, financially, and everything else. I'm just really, really content. I feel like I've grown a lot in this last year. Some of that growing was really difficult. I've come to understand that I don't do myself any favors by only seeing the best in people. Sometimes I need to see the worst, too, and evaluate where that leaves me.
Preston and I passed our Foster parent certification. We're looking forward to moving and starting to accept placements, but I don't really feel in a hurry right now. I want us to be the best parents we can possibly be, and that means doing everything we can to be prepared and taking all the time we need.
I got my scooter! It seems so silly, but the scooter has been for me all the things represented by the Chariot card in Tarot: mobility, independence, travel, adventure. I have so much fun going place to place, and it's really helped me to notice things I'd otherwise miss in the hustle and bustle. Preston also gets to tool around in the first brand-new car either of us has ever owned, our new Kia Rio.
Preston and I have set sustainability goals to reduce our carbon footprint and to bring us closer to the ideal of being self-sufficient. Some of the benefits of these goals include Preston getting to eat homemade bread every day (we haven't eaten purchased bread in months now) and the health benefits that come with some of our decisions, like giving up eating red meat at home (Preston does have the occasional steak at a restaurant). It feels good to help the environment a little bit at a time and also to feel more in control of the things around us.
I've gotten through a year of this program with all A's and haven't cracked under the crazy Fundamentalist regime. ;)
Preston LOVES his job. It makes me happy to see him doing something he enjoys, and not dreading work every day like he has at some jobs. This job is really perfect for him...he gets to be a ham, socialize, crack jokes, and hassle customers all day. Plus, he's really good at dealing blackjack and craps, as well as all the other games he's certified for. They're trying to get him to start another dealer school already, but he's going to hold off for a bit. Plus, the pay rocks our socks!
Stellaluna has doubled in membership in the past year, and is doing wonderfully well. We're all connecting and sharing, and our rituals are empowered and enlightening. After some initial trouble which I've been thinking of as "birthing pains" for the new group, we've taken off and blossomed and I'm really proud of us.
Some friendships ended, but they ended cleanly and left lots of room in my life for new friendships to take root and grow.
In this last year, I've moved closer and closer to living a life that leaves me completely happy and satisfied. I've realized as I've gotten a bit older that it doesn't matter so much where I am, because I can create a life that is satisfying and soul-filling anywhere. I've become really focused on things that feed my soul and everyone else's opinion be darned!
I only hope that 2008 is a great and moves me as far forward as 2007 has!