Funny Talk

Mom: Justin, please eat your dinner. Don't you want to be big and strong?

Justin: I don't want to be big and strong. I want to be happy and little.

Funny Talk

Justin: Hey Moms, can I have three chocolate covered almonds, and put them in my finger bag?

Mom: Finger bag?

Justin: Yeah, this thing (pointing at his hand).

12of12 | February (Saturday)

Explanation of "12 of 12" found HERE.
1. James does the New York Times crossword puzzle everyday. He pretty much rocks.
2. A cute face that I love. Especially when she has mop-head hair, and a gooey face.
3. Another cute face that I love.
4. My shoes as James and I head out on our V-day date.
5. On the road to our V-day date.
6. Self-portrait in the reflection of the car window.
7. James and I always hold hands in the car.
8. What I'm reading right now: The Merchant of Venice. One of my favorite quotes: "With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come." And yes, I mark my favorite passages in the books that I read :)
9. Cute Ethan when we got home from our date.
10. Movie Ticket stubs to the movie that we saw.
11. I heart Shakespeare.
12. Good night!

Learning

It's been ten months since James graduated with his MBA.

Ten months. Ten months? TEN MONTHS!!

It's been at the same time the shortest and longest ten months of my life. On the one hand, I can't believe how much time has passed. When we moved in with family, Matthew had just graduated from kindergarten, Ethan was a slightly chubby three year old, Justin still fit into 18 month clothes, and Natalie couldn't even sit up on her own yet. Now Matthew is a confident first grader who reads chapter books, Ethan is a tall, skinny beanpole of an almost-five-year-old, Justin turns three next week, and Natalie is nearly old enough to be in Nursery. Life has gone on even though I've wanted to, tried to, dig in my heels, scream STOP!, and command my life to halt until we have employment and can enjoy a "normal" life. My strategy when we first moved in was to just endure, after all, we would only be here maybe three months, and then we would be living, really living again. But three months turned into five, turned into eight, turned into ten, and we're still counting.

But the ten months have also been incredibly slow.

Apply for a job.

Network, network, network.
Pray, pray, pray.
Fast, fast, fast.
Attend the temple.

Wait for either a rejection or an interview.

Interview.

Network, network, network.
Pray, pray, pray.
Fast, fast, fast.
Attend the temple.

Wait for either a rejection or a flyback interview.

Flyback Interview.

Network, network, network.
Pray, pray, pray.
Fast, fast, fast.
Attend the temple.

Wait for a rejection or an offer.

No offers.

Start all over again.

Hopes high. Hopes dashed. Hopes rekindled. Hopes high. Hopes dashed. Hopes rekindles. Over, and over and over again.

Agonizing waits layered over birthdays, holidays, milestones. The interview process takes too long, and life moves too fast.

That's not to say that we haven't been blessed along the way, or that life has been horrible. Because it hasn't been horrible. But it also isn't what I envisioned when we started this journey. It's not what I would have chosen for us. We've been in a spiritual bootcamp these last two and a half years. We've struggled and we've been pushed to our limits and beyond, but we've also endured, we haven't given up, and we've become stronger. Bootcamp serves it's purpose, but as I'm sure any soldier will tell you, they pray for the day when it's over!

Life evolves whether we want it to or not. We have to keep up, be flexible, and live with faith. We must learn to not only accept our life, but truly embrace it. Life moves on whether we decide to be present or not. Be present! Be content with what you have, and live!

Funny Talk

As Justin was walking into the bathroom to grab a tissue for his runny nose, he said:

"Hi Moms, now I'm gonna go blow my face off."