1. The biggest change was the very unexpected loss of my Dad in August. He collapsed while at work, thank God he was not on the road, as he was getting ready to drive the semi, things could have been much more tragic.
We (my husband, kids and I) rushed to Wisconsin-a 10hr drive- to be with him, we said our good-byes, but his spirit was already gone. We were all (my husband & sons, my mom, sister, her husband and daughter and my aunts and uncles) there with him when the machines were shut off, and watched him take his last breath. It was hard to watch, but yet I wouldn't have been anywhere else. I was at first worried about my 7 & 14 year old sons, how was this going to affect them, witnessing the end of life. Fortunately they seemed to grasp a bigger understaning of life, beginning to end, and to see that God is there with us throughout the whole process.
My sister and I immediatly choose the same quote from Little House on the Prairie:
"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you. If you can only remember with tears, then don't remember me at all."
My mom, sister and I have always used humor as our coping method. Not only that, but we know that Dad would be horrified if we were to not remember all the good times with him, and to only dwell on the sadness of 2 days. As we are good at keeping busy, we have been able to deal with this all. I was a little leary as to how our first Christmas without him would be, but we were together, and because of that and the laughter we shared as we recalled all the happy memories, we had a wonderful Christmas.
Our faith in God and the knowledge that we will meet again in Heaven someday has been a big part that holds us together. That and the extrodinary friends and family we have in our lives. Thank you all for being there for us, and for continuing to be there, especially for Mom.
2. The second major change we experienced was that we moved in November. Granted it was only about 10 miles, but it was still a hell of an event. How in the hell do you accumulate so much shit is 4 years (thats how long it had been since the last move) Now we are in the new house, but there are still boxes in the living & dinning room, I'm still trying to figure out where all this crap is going to go, oh and what can I get rid of! Oh and did I mention that I'm sure that we will be moving again in a few years...I think the longest I've lived in a house since I've graduated high school has been 6 years. Right now we are renting, and when my husband finds his PERFECT piece of land, the plan is to eventually build...we shall see where that road leads us.
3. Job change!!!! Okay I live in Michigan, the unemployment rate is over 15%...not only that but I live in Northern Michigan, not a hugely populated area so good jobs are not easy to come by. In December of 2008 I was laid off from the title insurance company I'd been working for (I spend 10+ years as a title examiner) I'd been doing title work since I got out of the Army in 1997. So anyway, back to my job woes, my hours had been cut earlier in the year and I got part-time work at Bath & Body Works...but the hours really sucked. Shortly after I was laid-off I got wind that that Register of Deeds office at the County had a job opening....so me and 110 others sent in our resumes and applied for the job, I had an interview set up for Jan. 5, and started on Jan 12!!!!! I was super excited to get the job.
I knew that I was qualified(+), but this is a small community, I've only lived in the area since 2005-though I had done some researching in the office and was accqainted with the people that worked there. But, the Register grew up in this area and knew a lot of the other applicants. I kept telling my mom (and anyone who'd listen) that I had FAITH that I was going to get this job, something just felt right. Thankfully the Register wanted to hire someone that she wouldn't have to completely train...I was already familiar with the ins and outs of real estate, searching, drawing out long legal descriptions, explaining to people the hows and whys, withOUT giving legal advise...
Sooooo...as you see, that was just the 3 MAJOR changes for 2009, I rather hope that 2010 has fewer changes in store for me.
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