I’ve been away for too long, my friends.  My family and I have just had too much chaos in the past few months and I finally had to put the brakes on this out-of-control train, do a little audit of what was and wasn’t working in our little universe, and figure out what to do about it.  Of course, with all that’s gone on over the past few months, that’s taken a considerable amount of time!  In any event, my sincere apologies for staying away for so long.  It’s good to be back.  :)

So, about the title of this post:  An Extreme Life Makeover. Sounds sort of drastic and official, doesn’t it? Well, that’s how it feels, a little bit.

Many things have happened in the past few months that have prompted us to have to get a little drastic and official.  Thankfully the end result is that I - and we - feel like we’re finally finding our feet again, feeling more confident, happy, excited.  And it feels really, really good.

I’ll start off by getting you up to speed on what’s been going on lately…

As you might recall from my last few posts (from August and July, to my utter mortification), my wonderful husband was downsized out of his job back at the end of June.  I’m not going to lie: It was at times enormously stressful to have the primary bread winner NOT, well, “winning bread.” Nonetheless, I think he - and we - have handled it with as much calm and optimism as we possibly could in the circumstances with two children to support, a mortgage payment and all the other usual bills to pay.

There have been several things working in our favor, not the least of which is that my husband is a one-of-a-kind, wonderful, calm “glass is half-full” kind of guy. There’s also the fact that my husband has a fantastic network of personal and professional contacts.  We were stunned by how many people contacted Dan after his job loss, whether just to voice their support or to provide him with contacts or job leads.  If any of those people are reading what I’m writing here, please accept our heartfelt THANKS, because you kept us both hopeful and positive.

I think my husband’s strong work ethic and workhorse personality were also factors in our surviving the past few months.  The man refused to treat any of his time unemployed as “vacation” or “down time,” and he spent every day making phone calls, sending out resumes, finishing antiques “projects” he’d acquired over the years so he could sell them on Craiglist, helping friends complete home improvement projects that they lacked the ability or knowledge (or tools!) to do themselves.  He kept his mind and his body engaged the whole time, and I admire that about him.

So where am I going with this?  Well, let’s just say that Dan’s job search is over.  And we’re pleased as punch!

Don’t get me wrong: I loved having all of that one-on-one time with my husband and am grateful that fate threw us that curve ball when it did.  Dan had been stressed out and anxious leading up to the downsizing; once it was over and the dust had settled, he was back to being himself, the guy I know and love: calm, happy-go-lucky, driven, optimistic.  With his perspective back, it was nice having him around more, and the new routines we developed bouncing around the house together all day every day have been sorely missed now that he’s back to work again.  But Dan was ready and excited to begin his new professional journey, and so far, so good!

There are two other things that came up recently that have also forced us to examine our lives a bit more closely, especially when paired with Dan’s job situation.   Continue Reading »

My wife and I were going through some things in the attic yesterday. We happened across a box full of keepsakes that we had placed out of sight and out of mind. We brought the box down and found some interesting things each of us had stored away.

I happened on some old Boy Scout patches and merit badges, various ticket stubs to memorable events, and some old shorts and poems I had written some long years past.

My wife took some and began to read. She handed me a crumpled page, asking if I remembered when I had written it. Instantly memories I had put away came flooding back at seeing the poem I had written to read at my Mother’s funeral.

As her birthday has recently passed and the 10 year anniversary of her passing quickly approaches, I thought I would share this with the world. Her passing left me with a weighty feeling - simpler times were gone forever. While I have found joy in the new life since her passing, each thought of her brings pangs for yesterday’s life.

Simpler times are not remembered, they only linger;

simpler things cannot recall these times of pain and words of comfort.

With whispered words within my heart,

I reflect upon and walk beneath my shaded feelings and hollowed cries.

These thoughts called to mind have now called to light

my memories of yesterday and better times.

Bathed in sunlight and its golden glow are things of joy and living hope:

A Mother’s kiss and outstretched arms,

simple words not knowing harm.

Her soul sings songs of living on, now giving light to that beyond.

It is these simpler times I now remember,

these simpler things that offer me comfort.

In times of pain my heart rejoices,

as I think of thoughts and dream my dreams of yesterday and better times -

things my Mother’s kiss and outstretched arms

- simply gave to me.

One thing in life is constant, and that is change. My life has been, and always will be, changing; the road I travel leaves me both wiser and richer, but sometimes scarred. May peace be with you, and may God’s blessings light a path in your darkest hour.

Sincerely,

Ken

photo credit to isa13