Positivity Wrapped Up

Hello followers, thanks for sticking around, we have truly appreciated your support throughout the year. I cannot believe it's now 2010 and that we've managed to complete this experiment to it's fullest. I've never typed this much in my life. I can say that I was only happy with about 60% of my entries which I know is not very positive. But, I'm aware I am not a stellar writer and this brought that more to the surface for me. I prefer to write in fragments, brief thoughts, and poetic verse.

This blog has traveled with me through the start of my photography career, losing my job, nine months of unemployment, my medical assistant pursuit, to my now teaching aspirations, to my new job in day-care, to my beautiful wedding engagement. 2009 couldn't have been more life alternating for me and now I have it completely documented. I've kept up journal writing through most of my younger years and this process has been very therapeutic in that same regard. I feel I know myself better. I feel more confident in my own skin. I think this experiment effected me more deeply than Jason, just because I was writing during such life changing times. I became a stronger person when I was unemployed and got to explore all my passions. I did love and appreciate this experience. I know now that I need calming devises around me when my life gets tense and stressful. Exercise, music, films, and my favorite foods to name a few. I feel more positive, I really do. Whenever I sense Jason getting negative, I catch myself getting negative with him. I don't like when I do this and I'm glad I'm immediately aware of it, so I usually find myself stepping out of the situation and concentrating on the positive.

Top big projects that we need to stay positive about are selling the Towson House, affording all the bills including our two mortgages, getting my teaching certificate and becoming a teacher, getting the city house finished, getting my photography career moving and shaking again, and getting a wedding plans together. We have each other to get through these tough projects. We can achieve anything together.

Things I think of when times get me down: My loving mom and dad, my sister and Allen, and their wonderful growing boys, Kaiden and Blake. My grandmom, who needs positivity more than ever. My new dreams of helping and teaching children achieve and grow. Cooking delicious food with my wonderful fiance, Jason. My new loving family- Jan, David, Steph, John, Lou, Karin, Grandpa, and Jackson. And all of our other family members and friends. Starting a new garden next Spring. Starting any new project with Jason. Finishing our city home together. Being a bride walking down the aisle to my beautiful, kind, heartfelt soon to be husband, Jason.

I love you dear, we can move mountains together. I hope all your writing dreams come true. I believe in you- Stay Positive!

Hanukkah, a wonderful holiday!

I had a very pleasant day today celebrating Hanukkah with Jason's family. The day was filled with delicious food, great conversation, beautiful presents, and very lovely people that I'm happy to have in my life.

Thank you Jan, David, and Judy for my wonderful gifts and great company and conversation, Stephanie and John for hosting in your beautiful home and Jackson for being so darn cute. Happy Hanukkah to all!!

Dinner, Annie, and Friends

We are invited to see Jan, Jason's mom, in a musical theatre performance every year. It's part of the Goddard Space Flight Center, which is where her boyfriend, David, works. This year they put on Annie and it was the best show we've ever seen the community theatre group do. I've always been a huge fan of the movie as a child and as an adult, so I was hoping to enjoy it. They always provide a nice dinner before the show and again the dinner was the best they've ever offered. We also got to hang out with Stephanie and John all evening, which we don't do enough. It was great to see them and check up. All together everything was great and very entertaining. I really liked all the kids who performed in the show. To have or to be a talented brave kid like these were must be a wonderful thing. I wish I had had such talent growing up. I of course was too shy to even read out loud in class. I hope if and when I become a teacher I will somehow show my students that being self-conscience your whole life is no way to live. Anyways the show and dinner tonight were splendid. Jan, thanks for the tickets. You put a fabulous performance on as one of the Boylan Sisters and as part of the ensemble.

New Jewelry

I got the best jewelry for my birthday. Jason's family really understand what I like especially since we've been together so long. Karin got me four beautiful necklaces, all of them very different from the last. Jan got me two beautiful earrings from her trip to Alaska. They are made from local craftsmen. My friend Kate, got me earrings while we were at the Ren Fest, which I just adore. I love when I suddenly go from having nothing new to having a bunch of new things all at once, all that I really enjoy. Last night we went to a friend's birthday party and I wore one of Karin's necklaces with Jan's earrings, they went great together. Thanks all for the best gifts.

Special Lunch Dates

Being able to have lunch with friends during the weekdays is a great benefit to being unemployed. I've had lunch with Jason a couple of times. I had lunch with another past Renegade a couple of weeks ago, Nick. Jason has mentioned Nick in a few of his entries now, we went to a local dive and eat the best cheeseburgers with a couple of beers, great conservation and great times were had. Nick's been out of a "real" job for a while, he gets steady freelance writing gigs that keep him busy most days.

Today I'm going to meet Jason's mom, Jan, in Columbia for lunch. She's a great lady and I really can't wait. Not getting to see and talk to people during the day really makes these lunch dates that much more significant and that much more needed.

New Horizons Approaching

Okay I'm finally getting excited enough about my new career proposal to talk about it in my blog. I want to teach Elementary Education. I'm going to apply to two different fast track programs, but they won't be starting up for a while. I keep imagining myself in front of a bunch of 2nd graders and it's making me nervous and excited at the same time. I have a lot of teacher contacts including Jason's mom who will be able to help me through the process. I've been applying for daycare type jobs for extra experience and even though I don't have any background other than babysitting I got a response today from one of the ads. It doesn't make me feel very nervous to talk to them further, but more excited and happy to be doing something I feel good about. I going to continue doing freelance photography gigs, since that also makes me happy. Give me luck everyone. I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but right now I feel it will all by worth it.

Jackson at 4 1/2 months

Jackson's getting so big. He is such a cutie and becoming a real flirt. I went to Stephanie's last week and I took some pictures I'm pretty proud of. Jan, Judy, and Jan's friend Carol were there too and it was great hanging with the ladies.

Jackson is getting a great personality. Stephanie and John are doing great parenting jobs, keeping things humorous and joyful. I love witnessing the growth of child and parent, it is a beautiful site. I think I might be going to visit her tomorrow. I can't wait to hang out with Jax and Steph again.

Love me some Hosting

I really enjoy throwing small parties at our house. Sunday we threw a brunch for Jae's mom for retiring from teaching. Steph, John, Jackson, Jan, David, and Judy came over. Just the right amount of people. I made roasted potatoes with onion and peppers and I made banana pudding from scratch. All the food was great and everything seemed to go pretty smoothly. I like being the host. Especially cause you can drink all you want and just pass out when everyone leaves without having to decide who drives. And that's exactly what we ended up doing. We had mimosa's, Bloody Mary's, and Southsides for the drinkers to enjoy. I love brunch food and beverages. Jackson was as cute as ever. It was a blast and I can't wait for the next party. Bring it on!

Grandpa

The man I call Grandpa these days is not exactly related to me. Jason's Grandpa, Alex as some folks call him, is a true character. He's kind and wise beyond belief. We have really grown close the past 3 years that I've been with Jason. Tonight we went and had dinner with Alex, Jan (Jason's mom), and Jason's uncle, Gary. What was truly unique about this outing were the family relations. Jan and Jason's father, Lou, have been separated for decades now and Gary and Alex are Lou's brother and dad, but this did not affect this fantastic gathering of genuinely fun conversation. And the true leader and reason behind these lasting friendships is Grandpa. Grandpa, you are the coolest. Goodnight Mr. Awesome.