Change, change, change

It appears that the year 2014 will be the year of change.  I have been a telecommuter for 8 years and with the company for 10.  I miss the office days. It was my 2nd job ever and my first in an office. I loved being in an office environment.  It was completely different then my first job as a manager at a movie theatre.  The only thing that wasn't new was the customer service aspect.
 Whenever I tell someone that I work from home they say that must be the best job ever, or you're so lucky to get to work from home.  I will say that working from home does have its perks! 1) no commute 2) no dress code 3) i have a full kitchen for lunch time 4) my own bathroom and many more.  The downside to working from home - staying motivated, staying focused on the job, dogs barking while you are on the phone with someone important, interruptions, and much more.
 All of the supervisors/managers I have had with this company have been amazing.  They worked with me through tough times, they allowed me to do things that if I were in an office I probably wouldn't have been able to do.  I was able to adjust my schedule so that I could make it to anything school related for Taylor.
 We have had several layoffs within our company the past few years and it just got me to thinking if I could picture myself here for another 10 years and I couldn't.  I couldn't even imagine 5 more years. I began looking here and there for other work, but I hadn't found anything that made me make the jump, or I guess maybe I was to scared to leave a company that I had been at so long.  It was comfortable.
 I was recently offered full time employment at my part time job that I have been at for 6 years - adding some back office responsibility.  It was a difficult decision to make to leave a company that I had been at for so long. After talking to Brad and Taylor, we decided it would be a good change.  I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life and gaining new skills for any future jobs that might become available!

New appliances, New paint, and a new bathroom!

 We are finally moved back in to the house! It has been really nice sleeping in our own room, on our own bed!  We are still unpacking boxes.  That might take a little bit of time!  Trying to go through each box and putting things away.  Some things we are putting in different spots, trying to figure out what makes the most sense!  We are also finished with the bathroom.  It took about 2 1/2 weeks to complete. It looks completely different.

New Appliances!!

Going to get a ladder and make a reading nook!! The colors turned out awesome!!

Before!

Before

Thankful for the help of my parents!!

Brad found a cool app on our phone that he was able to take a full picture!

Pardon the dusty mess - Its time for more change

I guess i'm not very good at keeping my blog up to date. I will try my best to keep it updated. I had to change the blog name since we are no longer going from apples to pineapples!  We are no longer moving to Hawaii.  I truly believe that things happen for a reason.  We never got any offers on our house, our trailer didn't sell, etc.  Just many factors.  Brad was sick for a few days missing classes. He missed a test and we decided it just wasn't meant to be and that it was time for him to come home.  He had been doing great on test and classes up to that point. We have discovered that we work better as a team then apart.  I was able to spend just about two months with him in Hawaii.  We were able to get a study habit down together.  Maybe it would have been easier if all three of us could have just picked up and moved at once. Unfortunately, that was impossible. Even after graduating there would have been no guarantee.   Brad has been back since the 23rd of April.  I'm glad he took the opportunity to try something new.  Could he have done it?  I'm sure.  It just wasn't the time or the place.  He is now looking for work and we are prepping our house to move back in!! We have been doing lots to the house so my next couple of blogs will be about our updates and upgrades to the house.  We are hoping to be back in soon!

I would like to thank a couple of people though!

 Christy and Dale and the kids, thank you for giving Brad a home, feeding him, helping him and helping me cope with being apart.  Thank you for including him into your family! All that you guys did was amazing, thoughtful and very much appreciated.  Brad probably wouldn't have been able to take advantage of the opportunity without your help, support and love! I'm just a little sad that we won't be able to live by you guys!  But what a great place to visit! :) love you guys!! 

To my parents, who allowed Taylor and I to move in for 6 months so we would be able to save money, allow our house to be shown, and just be with family - Thank you!  It was nice to have the extra support from you guys! It was super hard thinking about moving away and leaving you guys. I enjoyed my time back at home and I love you both, but am ready to be back at our house!

Thank you to Taylor for supporting your dad's decision to move regardless how hard it was to think about leaving family and friends!  Its been fun sharing a room and I feel like we are closer then ever!  I cherish every second we spend together, even if its just watching a tv show! Love you kid! 

To all our other friends and family, thank you for taking the time to check on us, whether it was a phone call, text or message, it was appreciated that you were thinking of us! 

We have emptied our storage and here is a sneak peak at what we are working on.... Before Pictures!!!

               

 

After pictures to come in a few days once the finishing touches are done! 

Getting there

Sure has been awhile since I've written.  Been pretty busy.  Its been a rough couple of weeks.  Getting the house ready to put on the market.  Pictures posted below.  It is really emotional.  We have been in the house for  15 years.  I told Brad that I would be emotional if we were moving across town or across the ocean that it didn't really matter.  To date we spent all our married life in that house and Taylor has grown up there.  Lots of memories.  Can't wait to make some new memories in a new house.  I've been looking online for places just to get an idea of what is out there for sale or rent!  I just have a little bit of stuff to get out of the house shouldn't take to long.  Its so weird to see it so empty!  We got the carpets cleaned today and while they aren't perfect but they do look so much better (can't complain since its such old carpet).  Being at the house is pretty tough, makes me sad and makes me miss Brad even more! <3

My day job has been stressful as it usually is in the last three months of the year.  We have a lot of year end states and lots of work.  It has been a little rough as its very hard to stay focused when you work from home.  I have had a lot on my mind.  Part of me feels very lost.  Is this the right career for me.  When I first started this job I LOVED it.   So many changes in the past years have made it a little more difficult to love.   Hopefully the new year will bring new challenges that will push me in my job.  Or maybe new responsibilities.  The perks to this job, are that working from home is that its pretty convenient, no commute and  I will also be able to bring my work with me when we move.  Bringing my job does have one downside.  I have to keep my pacific time hours to which the only plus to that is that I will be off early in the afternoon!! Hopefully I get out of this funk soon!  I really like the people that I work with!

Started back up at the 2nd job up at the bar! Hadn't worked there since the end of July!  Nice to see all the familiar faces!  Whenever I go back, the customers always tell me how much I was missed!! Once we move if a 2nd job is necessary (which it probably will be) hopefully I will find a nice bar close to home that I will enjoy working at as much as the BS.  We have a groupon which is bringing in some new customers!  I have had several say that they will be returning!

I feel like I've rattle on enough! Below are some pictures from the past couple of days!

House for Sale!

Kitchen

Living Room

Sunroom

mustache Dash with Angela

Taylor and I

She hasn't let me brush or play with her hair in forever

Tried something we saw on pinterest! That is suppose to make your pony tail look fuller/longer!

The First Week

Its the first week with Brad being gone.  It sure does feel different.  I'm not sure it really has fully sunk in.  Sometimes it feels like he is just away for another test and that he would be home in a week or two.  Taylor and I still some work to do at the house.  We have been procrastinating a little bit.  Its Sad to go there.  We miss Brad a lot.  I know we are not the first family to be separated and definitely there are much worse situations, but this is all new for us!  We are all thankful for the support that our friends and family are providing to us, it makes all the difference.  The first day was really the hardest for me, but then came a little relief.  I mean it really sucks that he is gone but I think it will go fast or at least I hope so.  I think the anticipation of him leaving along with all the goodbyes is what made last weekend and maybe even the last month be so tough.  It was exhausting to go through those emotions every time someone else was seeing him to say goodbye. I think because I'm such an emotional person I just felt the sadness for everyone.

Hopefully we can get everything done this week, and turn over our house and get it on the market.  I really hope it sells fast and that we can just start saving that mortgage payment for our move.  I found a groupon for 3 hours of house cleaning at a decent price and have decided to let someone else finish up after we are done getting everything out.  It would take me way longer then that and probably be super emotional.

 

Love and Miss him....

 

 

Taylor is done with Cross Country!  So proud of what she accomplished!  Her last meet was a 5K and she was able to finish in 31 min.  She did not stop and walk, she ran the entire time! Way to go Tay!!!

 

My Friday Night, kid and two dogs in bed with me.. And a RARE No glasses picture..

Doggies cuddling

 

Exhausted Taylor

Hard to say goodbye so instead SEE YOU SOON!!

What a tough day for the three of us.  You really never know exactly how difficult something is going to be until its here.  We wish you lots of love and luck! You got this!! Hope the time goes by super fast.  See you soon babe!! We love you!

The Hardest Goodbye

Family time...

I knew that this weekend would be hard but not this hard.  Lots of Respect to all the military men and women who go on multiple deployments leaving their loved ones behind and who also move from state to state. This last month and half has gone by so fast! Brad leaves Sunday morning so the last couple of days are just a few errands and FAMILY time.  We've met up with friends and family had dinners etc. So now its time to be SELFISH and spend the last day with just the 3 of us!!! Thank you to all our friends and family for all your support! XOXO