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!