A First Time for Everything

In September of 2009, Ronnie was laid off. Bummer. No problem, I thought. We'll make it. Less than a week later, I was fired. NICE. I was in a job I hated, doing what I hated, working with people, that for the most part, I "strongly disliked." I said a prayer that morning before leaving for work asking God to close the door and open another, if that was His will....apparently it was.

Even though it was bad timing (and I feel I was wrongfully terminated), I knew that this was obviously meant to be. So began my list of firsts.

1. Fired from a job. Check.
2. Applied for unemployment. Check.
3. Was more broke than ever before. Check.
4. Relied on the help of friends and family more than I care too. Check.
5. Depended solely on myself to find a job. Check.
6. Became more creative, because I didn't have the money to "just buy it." Check.

There are more, but I think you get the point. Getting fired from a job was a huge blow to my pride. I was stressed. I wondered if anyone would hire someone who'd been terminated. That's such a horrible word. I prefer to use the term "released from my duties." I was even more embarrassed for applying for unemployment. Yuck!

As far as my family and friends? Wonderful! I have the best of both!!! My family made sure that my daughter was well taken care of during the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so being without funds at this time of year...its not right! I know that Christmas isn't about gifts, but I LOVE to buy for people. It wasn't happening. I don't think I've ever been more humbled. Ronnie and I made sure we were able to buy for our families, but didn't do much for each other. Which is how I wanted it. We can buy for each other throughout the year.

I've never found a job solely on my own. I've always known someone on the "inside" to help me. This process started at the early age of 14, when I worked for my father. I didn't even know I could get a job on my own! But, I did. Every interview I went to, I gave it my best. I was hired 2 days before Thanksgiving for a company called First Command Financial Planning. Wow! I did it! So very exciting.

The last 6 months have been wild. Though I've found full time employment, Ronnie has only worked part time. It's been a little crazy, but we've made it. Since money has been tight, I've learned to make things instead of buying them. For instance, I now make Kaitlyn's hair bows. I watched tutorials online, and create from there. They aren't perfect, but they've come a long way from when I started.

I cook more as well. I love to cook; its one of my passions. I collect cook books, and am always up for trying something new. I have definitely learned to be more creative in the kitchen as well. Ronnie doesn't always care for everything I try, but he won't say as much. I can just tell. And that's fine. What good is experimenting if you never have a failed attempt?

The next thing I'm going to try is crocheting. I would love to learn, and classes are being offered on Fort Polk. Now, I know this sounds a little strange. I'm 27, and I want to crotchet? What's next? Quilting? HA!! No, but I would love to learn to sew. I've never had the desire for any of this before. I've always claimed the highest level of "lack of creativity." I've never considered myself someone to say, "oh, I can make that. That's easy." Not me. Not anymore!! I think I may have found a new passion!

As frustrating as losing a job can be, I have made lemonade. And, I'm enjoying every sip.

Yes, I'm Blogging

Overall, I have a strong personality. Everyone knows this. The only time I'm quiet is when I first meet someone. I don't want to scare them away!!

I am optimistic, yet realistic. I know what I want, and I am far from patient. If I want it, I feel like I shouldn't have to wait. I pray that I don't pass these traits on to my child.

Kaitlyn is beginning to show the signs of being a social butterfly. As a mother, I want my child to interact with other children, but I also want her to choose wisely. God forbid my daughter end up with the wrong crowd. By wrong, I mean kids who are doing drugs, drinking, etc. I can only pray that I will instill in her the knowledge to choose between right and wrong.

Back to the point (sorry)...

I started off the morning with an argument with Ronnie over pipe dreams. I don't try to be harsh, but sometimes I come across that way. I always want to be honest with him. And, I hope he does the same for me. I expect it. If you're truly best friends with your spouse, then you must give them the truth. Even when it hurts.

So, after I said my part, I decided to start the morning over. I looked at my husband and said, "Good morning." At first, he wasn't game for this. But, I said it again, and he returned it. My day was SOOO much better because of it.

I think that sometimes we need to step back, maybe step down from our position. Was I trying to insult him? Not at all. Is that what I did? To a point, yes. As a wife, I never want to hurt my husband. I want to lift him up, pray for him, and enjoy him every day of my life.

So, here it is the end of the day, and we have both had a good day. Even though my world is crazy sometimes, and I don't always stop long enough to say "I love you," I love my life, and all that are in it!!

God bless!!

The Background

My life began in DeRidder, La. Now, for those of you who don't know this place, it is a quaint town about 45 minutes from Texas. It is filled with senior citizens, and high schoolers. And some other people in between. At the age of 1, we moved to Beaumont, Texas. And, at the age of 3, we moved to the great state of Alaska. We'll begin there.

I lived in Alaska until the age of 16. I love that state! I grew up in Anchorage, which is probably the most widely known city in the whole state. When I left, I left behind some of the most amazing people I have ever known. I miss each and every one of them! I miss the beautiful scenery; waking up each morning to snow capped mountains...it was amazing!!! I loved snow machining, skiing, and even gave snow boarding a shot. We camped, hiked, mountain biked, etc.

As I said, when I was 16, I left. My parents went through a terrible separation. Long story short, I ended up in DeRidder, La. Again. This time, I was obviously more aware of my surroundings. I enrolled in a high school where I knew noone, a church where I knew noone, and spent my Friday nights, with no one. See a pattern? I was LOST. So, I made the best of what I had.

Eventually, I met people at both church and school. And, I even made friends. I was highly disappointed with the education system, but that's a whole other blog. I graduated in the year 2000. I was FREE!!! Well, sort of. I enrolled in Northwestern State University, and lived my first semester at home.

THEN, I was free. I left home, moved to Natchitoches, La, and spent the next five years of my life in college. College was crazy. I enjoyed my freedom (maybe a little too much) and filled my plate with more than I could chew. I was a full time aviation student, a full time assistant manager, and a full time social butterfly. I didn't have my priorities straight, and left college burnt out in 2005.

I met Ronnie in July of 2004. We began seriously dating in September of the same year. I was in love before we started dating. HA! After a year of dating, we planned our wedding and married October 29, 2005.

Shortly after we married, we moved back to DeRidder (see another pattern?). April 11, 2006, I had a beautiful baby girl.

Kaitlyn Marie has been the most awesome, nerveracking, incredible, scary, amazing, stressful thing that has happened to us. In other words, its been a roller coaster. But, I wouldn't change a moment of it. She has completely changed our lives, and for the better!! Everything I do, I do for her. My life has been consumed. She is entirely too spoiled, and she's rotten to boot. She can be so precious, and so bad all in the same breath. So, many of my blogs will probably be about her!! Here she is today:

So, I guess that's it for my first blog! I hope you enjoy this and all the future craziness that I call LIFE!!!