Smooth Sailing

This is the time of year I wondered about. This last fall was peppered with all things kid. The family all got together over Labor Day weekend for Parent's Weekend. Then my daughter stayed around for a few more weeks before she had to go back to school. She popped back home a few weeks later, in town for her old job (she got to spend the weekend playing and watching folks set off rockets).

Then there was Thanksgiving...and the Holidays. But now they're gone.

We won't see our kids again until mid-March.

We are, after all, empty nesters! And, it's okay. I'm setteling into a routine. The lot is pretty well finished for the winter--yes I know, I've said that before, but this time I really mean it. All the random piles of dirt are gone--smoothed out, one with the landscape. Now I'm writing.

Of all the different jobs I've had--and I've had many--I think my favorite is writing. It's practically addicting. I have a goal to write at least 4 hours a day, and that's not difficult.

I'd have to say, at least for now, this empty nester gig is smooth sailing.

Empty Nesting?

I just spent half an hour on the phone with my daughter...all the while I was messaging with my son. I'm pleased to note that just because they are out of the house, they are not out of my life!

I know what my daughter is eating for lunch (and that because she was talking to me she forgot a meeting--she got off the phone fast). I know how many pushups my son did this morning (what can I say, he's at the Air Force Academy). And I'm happy as a clam to be an empty nester.

I think where I get antsy with not having the kids around is when I get out of touch with what they are up to, or if my mommy-sense tells me something is not right in their lives. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a nosy, have to be completely a part of their life, mom (although looking at the paragraph above, it would seem so).

I know we raised them right, taught them to love God and to put Him first. They are going to be great whatever their hearts take them. Knowing that they are solid is, I think, a big key to why our transition into empty nesters has not been too painful.

That, plus I don't have to clean up after them!

Resolve!

I got my attention to have two days where I was out of step. That just doesn't happen to me! Finally, Friday I figured it out. I was freaking out--quietly, mind you, but still freaking. I gotta get a job, get a job, get a job. Of course, that's not taking into account the side job writing I've been doing that, basically, pays more than I was making working part time in an office.

Still, once I finished clearing brush from the lot I had lots of time on my hands. So I started on a job search, but nothing fit. Then I had my two days of wrong turns and I realized my head was on wrong--fear is not an option! I just can't allow it to be a part of life!

So no steady job, no steady freak out--what now? I went to God hard...okay, Daddy, what now? The answer was immediate, simple and easily entreated.

Write!

So now I'm deeply excited to say I'm writing, at least four hours a day! Wahoo. I love it. I have two MSS that have been waiting to be revised, another underway, and another one cooking in the back of my head. Since I started back into writing on Tuesday, I've worked my way 2/3 of the way through one of my manuscripts--Pickle.

I've also re-upped my membership to SCBWI, a worldwide writier's group, and have jumped into the deep end.

I'm excited to see what this new adventure will bring.

Breath In, Breath Out

Have you ever had one of those days?? I had two in a row! A couple of days ago I set out to do a list of things. That was my first mistake. I should have stayed home in bed!

I headed off to the health department--we want to get our new well tested. I got there fine, figured out how to get inside, then learned I was in the wrong place. I needed to go to the state lab. Of course. A gentleman gave me directions...Virginia, across from the channel 5 station...and the post office...?? That's about the time I zoned out a bit. Honestly, sometimes I think I have the brains of a hamster! Of course I couldn't find it!

The rest of the morning was filled with wrong turns, turning down roads with people blocking them, road construction, and such. Still, I managed to stay calm--I even managed to get a few things accomplished.

Then yesterday I went out to get some more errands done (the ones that didn't get done the day before because of the above). The first place I went to was closed. The guy I wanted to visit at the hospital was sleeping. And when I finally, finally tracked down the state lab...I found out that we won't be able to test our water (long story).

Still calm, I went home and basically goofed off the rest of the day, which went very smoothly, I might add.

Nest Visits

We've had two visits from our little ducklings since they both left us officially empty nesters...Thanksgiving and Christmas. Honestly, after the four-day Thanksgiving visit I wasn't too broken up to see them go. It was nice to see them, nice to spend time together, and nice to get back to the routine my husband and I have gotten into. 

The holidays were different. We spent a week together down in Southern California. It was my evil plan. I figured that if we were down there we'd have each other completely to ourselves. We had to adjust to being around each other soooo completely, but it was a quick adjustment and then a sweet, wonderful, happy, rich, full time. In other words, we had great fun!

After out busy week we came home. My husband went back to work and the ducklings did more than hang out with mom, which was great. It was easy. We had a relaxing time just being around one another. It was like we'd never been apart.

Well, when it came time for them to go, man it was different than November, that's for sure. I was good. I didn't cry or anything, but it was like saying goodbye for the first time all over again. Gasp! Oh my achy breaky heart.

However, I've been down this road before. I dove into work around here and hung tight to the husband. It's been a week...we're still here and my heart is still in one piece; we're going to be fine.