Life Feels Different in 2022

 "Back to Normal....when will we be able to go BACK TO NORMAL?" I have heard so many people ask that question in this pandemic world we live in. 

I honestly think the answer to that question is very simple........NEVER! 

We will never be back to "normal" there is a new normal, a more chaotic version of life as we knew it. We have lost so much and gained so much at the same time. 

Many of us took up new hobbies and jobs when we lost the ones we had when the pandemic started. So, we have learned new things about ourselves and our ability to survive a change in our whole way of life. 

A lot of people are gone, passed away during this time, and many without their loved ones by their side. It has broken many and changed families in ways some people will never understand. 

Friendships were tested and some survived even the hardest of the time, but others did not and were broken up and lost. In a way, it is a good thing because you should keep people who build you up and are a positive and empowering gift, not ones that think it is ok to hurt those we love. Life can really change just the way it feels by the change in who you keep company with and share your life with. 

For me, the mother to three kids all at different stages of life, surviving the pandemic time and navigating a relationship, household, and the education of my children has been a severe test of my patience, my organization, and my multitasking abilities. 

I am a creature of habit and when this all started, having that habitual day schedule I had maintained for a while disrupted, well it kind of fucked with my mind and caused me to go into a bit of a panic mode. 

Now the time I took advantage of to clean and such around the house had to be spent making sure the kids were attending online virtual learning with several different teachers and printing out worksheets and making sure homework was turned in. 

Along the way, in the time I had for myself, I decided to really take stock of who I am and what I need in my life to be truly happy. I don't mean in the physical sense like trinkets and doodads that beep and such, but the qualities in my life and the hobbies that make me feel within my element. I had plenty of days that knocked the wind right out of me during the time when people I loved were lost along the way and I learned that life can change so quickly that you never really know how much time is left. So why the fuck not just do what adds joy to your life and find a way to make it work for you. See I am one of the lucky few who has a great support system to cheer me on and pick up the slack on the days I just cannot seem to pull it all on my own. 

I truly learned a lot about myself and who I am deep inside. I have learned to express my fears and my feelings whenever I needed help. I found ways to be more active and to really enjoy life.  I found my passions and started finding ways to ignite and keep the fires of my joy burning by incorporating them, into my life more and more each day. I have been learning so many new things like languages, artists, small business owners, and people who are like me and are working on both their physical and their spiritual journey through life be that however they so desire. 

All of this has changed me, has changed my family, has changed the entire world, and there is no NORMAL to our lives except whatever it is we do now and moving forward. Stop looking back, look forward, and make changes that will make you happy! Stop worrying about what is normal and know that however you are living your life IS NORMAL! 

As always, thanks for being here and reading my ramblings! Feel free to comment on something that changed in your life over the last few years. 

Just some updates...and good news!

Well it has been an interesting week. There have been some new friends made, some new foods tried, and some good news! 

Mckenzee and her new friend watching a movie and enjoying some popcorn!

Let's start with the new friends. Where we live now our closest neighbor is on the other side of the wall, and a mere 10 feet across the hall from us! We have gotten to know these neighbors, a family with one teenage daughter and one 9 year old daughter. I seem to have quite a bit in common with the mother and I get along with the teenage daughter as well. The younger girl has made fast friends with Mckenzee to the point of spending a good part of the day with her yesterday, having a sleepover with her last night here at our house, and spending half the day with her today as well.  It was Mckenzee's first sleepover ever and according to her friend's mother she never gets to go to sleepovers so it was a treat for her as well. I even made them pancakes and sausage for breakfast! 

I think it was a great success for her! 

Whole Grain Apple Muffins

Now on to the new foods. This week I made some whole grain apple muffins that were a great success! The kids LOVED them and so did I.  I haven't really made much more this week just because of time and supplies but I have found many ways to do make-ahead meals that we are going to be trying soon to make dinner time a little easier for both me and DJ when he works late. I have found such recipes as "Lasagna Cupcakes" and "Mini Calzones" that can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and then pulled out to be made on the nights we need them. Which I think is especially perfect on Girl Scout nights and the days I work until 5 pm, so I don't have to come home and try to put together a whole yummy meal, I'll already have a meal ready to go so DJ can throw it in if he is home, or the baby sitter or even myself if need be. 

Some of her homework, mostly spelling!

Her 1st spelling test! 

Here is the good news of the week! First Mckenzee got her first spelling test back and she received a 100% on it getting EVERY word right! We are very proud she is an excellent student and just like her older brother, an excellent speller! She loves school and learning and even loves doing her homework! I think it is AWESOME! 

Our Welcome to Hunter! 

The next bit of good news came from 3000 miles away. turns out my mom is up to a DOZEN grandchildren as Baby Hunter, my brother's newest addition with his fiance Kelly entered the world on 9-23-14 around 11 am. I am not sure of the exact time but I know he came a little early and was a very little baby weighing in at only 4lbs. 6oz! Smaller than my princess was at birth! (She weighed in at 6lbs 3oz) He is the cutest little bundle ever and makes me miss my little ones being that small. We made a sign and took a picture to send them to say hi to little Hunter him and welcome him to the world! 

I would love to tell you about some more but I just looked at the time and realized that I have to be up early to get my little girl off to school and to make some calls to the doctors about some things so I will have to write some more tomorrow! 

Thank you for following along with us! #MakingItWork

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