Embracing my new stage of life...

I have found myself lately in a new stage of life. Closer and closer to a true empty nester, with grown children. And a "retirement" stage job that allows me less stress. And less financial stress. And fewer social requirements. And with this new normal, I find myself really paying attention to the world around me, appreciating all of life's beauty.

I am four months into my new career, and I still love it. I work forty hours a week, work with amazing volunteers of all ages that are the most giving people I have ever met, and am challenged every single day. It is ridiculously fulfilling. And I can see myself working there for the rest of my professional career. It has been such a blessing!

The hubby and I have been trying to figure out where we want to be. Where we want to retire. We have looked at land, and at houses, and at fixer-uppers. But we have realized that in all that we have seen, we are giving up some of what we both want in our final home. So we have settled on staying here for a while longer. So I am going to downsize the "things" we have, freshen up some paint, and focus on creating a beautiful space here.

I am not sure how I feel. The idea of a new place is exciting! But I also LOVE this home we have created over the last 23 years. We have made it our own. The tree from when my mom died, all of the flowers from my mom's house that I transplanted, my fun herb garden border, my coffee bar... there are so many pieces I love here. Of course it is far from perfect. A TINY kitchen, no master bath, small bedrooms. But I really think that it is enough for us. So I think staying is the best answer for now. We can move when we are both retired. When we don't have ties here. When hopefully there are grandchildren to live near.

So with no rush to sell this house, and only working 40 hours a week, and no sports or school events to go to, I have come to a weird sense of empty nest balance. I have dinner with friends. I go window shopping with no intent to purchase anything more than an idea. I am redecorating the house. I am cooking amazing foods for my husband and I, making sure we are eating balanced meals and even packing lunches. And I am already dreaming of gardening season.

People can say what they want about getting older. But I am genuinely loving every bit. I love my new sense of independence. I love the freedom, to meet friends for dinner and drinks, to take a weekend to see my daughter, to play a quick game of cribbage with my husband after work, or to walk every aisle of my favorite store with no purpose. I literally go to work looking forward to my day. I take in each sunrise, bask in the crispness of the winter air, and marvel at all the beauty around me. I am thankful for every single day.

And I am ready to embrace the next stages as they come. This amazing life God has gifted me with has been more of a Blessing than I ever thought I would have.

the curse....of my early rising self

I very rarely sleep in. Not because I set an alarm and force myself to, but because after about 6 or 7 hours, if I am woken by anything, ever so slight, I am up.

I have learned to embrace this curse as of late, enjoying my mornings. Spending time reading, stretching, enjoying my coffee, and waking with the world. It really is a gift - the quiet of the sleeping household.

Today was no different. As my husband left for work and kissed me goodbye, I knew my day had begun. So I have read several chapters in my current novel, and am close to finishing my first pot of coffee. I have printed a few recipes to try and have all of my supplies pulled for a couple of Christmas decorating pinterest ideas I wanted to try. (Future blog I am sure - pinterest success or pinterest fail - no one knows!)

So both days this weekend, when I had NO plans, I did not sleep in until daylight, I didn't lounge in bed like they do in the movies. No breakfast or coffee in bed. I am up, and embracing the day, like I do most days.

Such is the curse.

Thanksgiving Blessings

I cannot believe it is already the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

And I am sure I am not alone.

But really?

It was a weird thanksgiving. No big gathering. Didn't have to clean house, didn't have to get all the good dishes out. I cooked dinner for seven people, at supper time, at my father-in-laws. It was more like Sunday dinner than Thanksgiving. I guess it's to be sometimes. With my hubby working swing shift, and the kids each grown, some holidays will fall through the cracks. I survived (thank goodness for spiked coffee and the Macy's parade!).

The new job is going SO well. It's such a breath of fresh air to be working with such positive people. The volunteers, the rest of my department. All such good, good people. I love the energy there. And I love that we really get to make a difference EVERY DAY. This job is such a Blessing!

I am really looking forward to this weekend. To a low-key, at home weekend. Have soup in the crock pot, will do something with the turkey leftovers for dinner, and am hoping to deep clean the house today so I can decorate for Christmas tomorrow. Also have a couple of fun crafty things I want to play with (after I dig out the Christmas deco). So it's going to be a fun weekend!

I am so happy to have balance back. Working hard every day, but having my life back. It's amazing. I have gotten a couple of redecorating projects done. I've been taking time to spend with friends. The hubby and I are loving life as almost empty nesters - going to the movies, taking spontaneous weekends away. We had a great vacation in South Carolina with our best friends..

My new outlook on life is heading into each day trying to find someone to Bless. Someone who I can do something nice for. Be it helping at work, opening a door, baking or cooking, whatever it is. There is a lot of junk out there in the world. It's becoming a dark, scary place. And when I asked myself what I can do to make things better, I realized we all have so many chances, every single day. We can start a ripple of good.

So I do. I try to spread happiness and love. I try to help those in need. Because it's what I can do.

So life is good. Life is Blessed. God has been so good to us. Loving this adventure called life.

And a new chapter begins...

Crazy to be saying this, but I am truly hoping that tomorrow marks the start of my last chapter of my professional career. And by that, I mean, that I truly hope that this new adventure for me will take me through the next fifteen years, until I can retire.

Ever since leaving my management position in 2011, I have been floating. Trying to find my new direction, figure out where I am supposed to be. I have tried being my own boss (which I have decided is really not for me), I was able to stay home for a year to just be "retired" (which I loved, but am too young to consider for the next 30+ years), I sub-taught (which I loved, but cannot do for the rest of my life), and everything in between, just never finding what I wanted to do for the rest of my career.

And then, I got a message from a friend...

This friend is someone who has known me professionally for many years, and on a personal level as well. She asked if I would be interested in a temp position at our hospital as it transitioned ownership. It sounded like a great reason to get out and be professional for a few months, and I was hired.

I was a "utility" person, working wherever was needed. While there, I worked in two offices, one of them managed by an amazing force of a manager who I loved working for. She is one of those managers who is SO good at reading people, finding their strengths, and utilizing them. You leave her office feeling accomplished, and appreciated. You look forward to working there.

Fast forward a couple of months after I was done with the temp job, and a job opened up, for the amazing manager. Two phone interviews, and one in-person interview later, and here we are. Tomorrow morning I am no longer a stay-at-home wife. I am back to a full time employed person. In a position working with volunteers. In a feel-good job, with an amazing manager, in a place I adored working as a temp. Yep. Quite honestly my dream job. I could not be more excited. I really see myself working this position for the next nineteen years.

I have always said that God puts you where you need to be. And when I first left my management career, I had no idea it would be so I could be a sub teacher for my friend with a brain injury when she could no longer teach. And who knew that this temp position would be my opportunity to get a foot in the door with an awesome job.

I am so very thankful for this opportunity. I cannot wait to dig in. To do amazing things. To fill a niche.

Time to turn the page on a new chapter!

patience

I am trying to be patient. I am waiting for a call on a job. A job that I think could be the perfect job to take me right through to retirement. It fits my salary needs, location, and offers me a chance to be fulfilled while making a difference.

But they haven't called.
"
I think I am perfect for the job. My skill set, my interpersonal skills, my passion, my experience... Everything that makes up my frame of reference has prepared me for this position.

But I don't know who else applied. And I am waiting. I am trying so very hard to maintain my patience, and not be pre-occupied with it. But it is getting harder. It's been over a week since my final interview.

I have had an anxious week. Waiting for the call. Emotional.

But out of the blue, I got a message from a former student, someone I had not heard from in over a year.

"I don't know why, but I felt the Lord saying pray for you today. I hope all is well."

God needed to remind me that He's got this. I forget to let my worries go, to give my anxiety up to the Lord. He is taking care of me. And He will provide what I need, whether or not that is what I THINK I need.

Love His little reminders....

One of our hidden gems...

I live in a very small town, on the edge of a small town. I kid you not. But the town we are bordering has a gem in it's center, and I feel the need to shout it from the mountains! 

I was born and raised in Marshfield, living in Nebraska for my college years, and then returning to Central WI as an adult. I have lived in a small town about 15 miles away for the last 20+ years, and for much of my adult life, I have worked in Marshfield as well, putting me there at least 5 days a week. One of the gems in Marshfield is the Wildwood Park and Zoo, a free attraction that I think many people take for granted.

Growing up, the park was a very special place for my mom and I, so going there always brings back good memories for me. 

Aside from a beautiful park full of shelters, playgrounds, and ponds, there is a zoo with so much to offer. One of the newest additions is the Kodiak Bear exhibit, one of only a few in the country.

I have watched the zoo change and improve for so many years, and yesterday I had an afternoon to myself, so I took the chance to check it out. And I was so happy to see even MORE change. Better exhibits, educational tools, new landscaping...so many beautiful things. A beautiful bird exhibit, wild cats, wolves, elk, buffalo, deer, and mountain sheep. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

One of my favorite things is the fun new walk INTO the zoo, filled with tracks! It's these little touches that really make the zoo special and fun for families. 

HOW CUTE IS THIS? 

So here is my plug. If ever you find yourself in Central Wisconsin, please, please find time to add Wildwood Park and Zoo in Marshfield to your agenda. You won't be disappointed. 

https://www.facebook.com/wildwoodzoo

My message to you.......... fill your soul!

I have known for awhile what I was really missing.

What parts of me were hurting. What was making my soul ache.

So I made a list. Life is too short to be hurting, or regretting.

crafting

writing/blogging

travel

visiting family and friends

home reno

creating recipes

read

gardening

So this is my list. These are things that fill my cup, that make me feel whole, and happy. These are the things I need to fill my life with. And I am doing them. And loving every moment.

I read a book this week! A wonderful book called The Wednesday Letters.

I am in the process of redoing our bathroom - new paint, new lights, and a new mirror. Not a major change, but a facelift. And I painted our brick wall, creating this fun coffee nook!

This spring I reclaimed one of my gardens - making my herb garden a beautiful signature in the yard. I combined my love for old things, and my love for my gardening... and it turned out so cute!

My husband and I spent a lot of time this spring bumming around Wisconsin, and are heading to South Carolina in a few weeks - a bucket destination for me.

And I am writing.... I am WRITING! I have written a recipe this week, and several blog posts. I have been journaling for the last couple of months.

I forgot how I love to write...

So this is my message to you. Don't put it off. Whatever "it" is. As Nike so proudly put it, JUST DO IT. Life is short. Opportunities are fleeting. So slow down. Do what you love. Do what fills your soul. And don't worry about what anyone else thinks. It's ok to say no to doing things you don't want to do, and it's ok to be selfish and spend time doing what you want.

FILL YOUR SOUL