Catching up...

[5ft Diva]

So....I haven't heard from anybody for a while (probably because I haven't been on here regularly for a while), but I'm just curious to know how everyone is doing. What's going on? I'm sure you're all very busy so tell me what you've been up to. Hope all is well especially since the holidays are just around the corner!

[bookworm]

I haven't been on here much, myself. I haven't had much free time lately. I'm still working at Northlake and enjoying it, but I'm making plans... I have ambition to do something else and I'm laying the groundwork for that, but I don't want to jinx it by talking about it.

I'm the new Primary Chorister, which is fun, but a lot of work, and with DS #1 doing school sports, two kids in piano lessons, all 4 in scouts, and with regular family activities, we are busy ALL THE TIME! It's insane.

Financially, this has been yet another terrible, devastating year for us, but DH finally found a new job with some potential, so hopefully by this time next year things will be better. I've decided that life is just hard and you can't change that, you just have to learn to roll with the punches and keep going. As much as I want to be a stay-home mom, for whatever reason, it isn't going to happen. So I will continue trying to hold my sanity and my family and my home together with a smile on my face.

What about you, Diva? How is life? How are you holding on with everything you are responsible for now? Are you enjoying it all? Is the calling still overwhelming, or have you settled in?

[5ft Diva]

Yeah, I caught that you were the Primary chorister the other day in your FB post. I had a few minutes before a meeting so I decided to stop in and see you. You're a great chorister and you have those kids behaving so well!

My calling is great. I don't know if I'm actually holding on to anything as my hands are always up in the air for this roller coaster. When it gets too crazy I have friends that keep me grounded; I have found that my sanity is just a phone call away! The calling is overwhelming at times, but nothing like the first six months. I am having a lot of fun with it and, as hard as it seems sometimes, I'm really enjoying the "getting to know myself" part. I just hope all those I work with are having a positive experience, too.

Personally speaking, our basement is almost done. It's so close I can taste it. We're all excited about the changes this addition will bring to our family. Thanks for asking! It's fun to share good news every once in a while.

[Erudite]

I'm hanging in there with a smile too! My calling (humanitarian specialist) is non-existant, since I'm done for the year, though I do serve on the RS meeting committee, so I help with RS meetings. That's a no brainer though.

My jobs are going well, both the paying one and the volunteer one. The volunteer job wants to add to my load by becoming the school's facebook administrator. I hate facebook, but my "boss" assures me that I'll love it once I learn it. I haven't had a chance to chat about it with her, so I don't know if I'll really do it.

My #1DD just turned 12. She's a red head with blonde eyebrows and lashes, so we added make-up to the mix. If she didn't have the blonde hairs, I probably would have waited another two years. We did give her a fun b-day party though...we had a Mary Kay consultant (my sister) come and give a skin care class to all her friends and they all got to try the products. So that was a low stress way to give a fun party. Then I gave her the skin care products and the mascara and eyebrow pencil for her birthday, so she's started on that path. We won't add the other make-up for another year or so.

And that's been some of the bigger stuff happening in my life.

[natickgirl]

I just finished one of the busiest weeks I've had in a loooong time. This next week should be a little better. I am working 30 hrs./week (8-2:30) as the third grade TA at my girls' charter school. I love it, and I especially love that I am through with work when the kids are through wtih school. However, I'm still trying to figure out how to get everything done at home that I used to when I was a SAHM, and I have no "Me Time" anymore. I haven't even made to R.S. (other than Sunday meetings) for months, which makes it hard to get to know the ladies in my new ward.

We've done a lot of work on our yard & pool, and now we can focus on getting our living space organized. DH is putting the 2nd coat on the kitchen ceiling right now. We should have a real kitchen by the end of the week! Then we can get the dining set out of the front room & finally move the piano over. Slowly, the house is coming together. It's taking a long time, but it's better than being with in-laws.

My "baby" just turned nine, so now all my kids are odd (9, 11, 13). Her party was Monday. DS has grown 7" in the last 18 months, and is in the throws of teenage-hood. DD1 is starting to bloom, and puberty is just around the corner. DD2 is adorable & full of energy, but has been throwing up all day.

That's my life right now. We've been without internet at home for over a month, and I've missed everyone, but I hope to be on here much more frequently (even if it is at 11:30 at night...I need some ME time).