...Because That's Just the Way I Am

It has been a few years since I have been a stay at home mom. This current stint did not occur by choice, but rather by....well I'm not sure whether to blame it on the job market, my experience, or divine intervention. Whatever the reason, I am now here at home (actually my mother-in-law's home) everyday and I can clearly say with certainty that its not for me. But, should it be? I always say that I'm not a natural at cooking, cleaning, managing a home, but maybe that is an excuse. When do we use our natural inclinations to determine what we do with our lives and when do we need to recognize our weaknesses and strive to overcome them? Just something I have been thinking about lately.

A Quick Update

Well, we are finally getting settled here in sunny southern California. I do have to admit that I am sad, though, that we weren't preparing for a blizzard the last couple of days...the Massachusetts kind of blizzard where it snows over a foot and the relationship between the tires on your car and the asphalt on the street doesn't miss a beat, not the Arkansas kind of blizzard where it snows 2 inches and the entire city shuts down for a week. Being house bound is no fun, at least not for any length of time. I am experiencing some of that frustration, minus the snow, during this season in my life. Husband at work, kids in school, no job, no car....no fun.

Thankfully, Alex has been "on the job" for about a month now. He was offered a position as a chaplain for Pacific Hospice/volunteer coordinator for Meal on Wheels and he jumped at the chance to enter into the work force again. He is gaining some very valuable experience. Jacob just started a new school a couple of weeks ago and is receiving 10 hours of home therapy per week. I have been very pleased with his services so far here in the Golden State. Josiah and Micah have settled into their new lives with ease. They attend the same school and really seem to like it, although they would never admit liking school in general. Josiah has a hard time with what he considers our journey in life..."We have to go to school for 14 or 15 years, then college, then work, and then when we finally get to retire, we die soon! That is so wrong!!!" Micah started kindergarten this year and is doing very well. He gets home from school at 1:00 everyday so I still have some Micah time, something that I try to cherish knowing that my youngest is growing up fast.

I am not working right now, but I am looking. I was first looking for full-time employment and had a very probable opportunity that hasn't seemed to work out at this time. But I may need to be searching for something more part-time. Micah gets home from school at 1:00, Jacob gets home at 2:00 and has therapy from 2:30-5:00, and Josiah gets home at 3:15. I really need the perfect "mothers hours" situation. So, I am beginning to re-adjust my search. Hopefully the ideal opportunity will come my way.

Just wanted to quickly update everyone who may be curious about the ever changing life of the Aarons. I say this every time, but I really want to start blogging again. :)

Settling Down?...What's that?

Well, after spending a year back here in Pine Bluff, AR, we are off to the west coast again. When we left the SF Bay area for Arkansas back in 2001, we had no clue where our final destination would be. We knew that seminary in Massachusetts would be part of our quest, but that was our only vision at the time. After leaving Arkansas for Massachusetts in 2003, we had no idea that our stay in Massachusetts would go 3 years beyond the original 3 years it would take Alex to receive his M.Div. Circumstances prompted us to remain there for 6 years, allowing our 3 children to grow up as New Englanders, which was a great experience for our family. Then...back to Arkansas in the summer of 2009. Now circumstances are prompting us to go back to California...southern, this time. Alex and the kids are there now, allowing the boys to start school and get settled into a routine. I hope to follow very shortly, after finding a renter for our house. ok...now thats alot of moving. (and i didn't even mention the 5 different homes we lived in while in Mass) Any of you thirty somethings (quickly approaching the forty somethings) out there wonder if you will ever feel settled? ...or am i the only one?

Long Way From Home???

Well, its been a while since my fingers pounded these keys and I miss it. About a year and a half ago, I found myself in a situation where I couldn't disclose the thoughts, issues, concerns that I was dealing with. It was nothing shameful or sinister...just an impending move that I didn't want my employer, landlord, or anyone, for that matter, to find out about prematurely. I found myself giving up on my blog for the sole reason that I could not therapeutically write as I had done before because my thoughts were consumed with our relocation and all the changes that go along with that process.

About the time that I decided I needed to change the title of my blog, since I have now been living in my hometown of Pine Bluff, AR for the past year, the title may need to remain the same. There may be an impending move yet again.

Alex's job here in Pine Bluff didn't work out, Jacob went from attending (in my opinion) the "Harvard" of special needs schools to attending, well let's just say there is no comparison, and Alex's father past away in March. For all these reasons, and more, Alex is trying to find a job in Southern California where his mom lives.

So here we are again, in the midst of being unsettled, not knowing what the future holds...an all too familiar feeling for us. But we will persevere, and maybe now I can use this blog to process it all. There is something about seeing my words in black and white that gives me perspective. I hope it can do me some good.

To Blog or Not to Blog...

...that is the question. I don't have internet service at home right now, but I just signed up for mobile blog. Do I delve back into the world of blogging? What to do, what to do...

Like Father Like Son

Josiah had a "brilliant" idea the other day. He decided to tie his shoes together, the right one to the left one...while on his feet I might add. We were in the van at the time, and after just a few minutes he realized how non-brilliant the idea actually was. He actually started freaking out a little bit because he didn't like not being able to pull his feet apart. He asked for my help, but I obviously could do nothing about it while driving. He began kicking his feet and in the process the knot became even tighter.

After parking the van, I tried to assist him but I couldn't loosen the knot, not one little bit. So, I told him to go on inside the house and I would work on it after he took his shoes off. He headed up to the front door as I was getting Jacob and Micah out of the car. I then heard a loud scream. Lets just say Josiah should have employed the "potato sack race" technique to get to the front door rather than taking off running. He banged up his knee pretty badly, but all was well after I bandaged it up for him.

About an hour later he went down into the basement and came back up with a pair of crutches. It has been so cute watching him hobble around on those things. You see, he is trying to be like his daddy. Alex was on crutches for a short while and just last week he began using a cane. Josiah makes the same groaning noises that Alex makes and insists that there are certain things he cannot do because of his "injury" (playing Wii is not one of them). It just makes me smile. I am so glad that Josiah looks up to Alex and wants to be like him.

Update...Sorry, Can't Think of a Catchy Title

I suppose this would be a good time to post an update....seeing as half of the winter season has past by since my last post. There have been things I've wanted to write about but I am unable, at this time, to reveal such thoughts (how's that for suspense?) But I thought it might be a good idea to update everyone on a few things.

Alex has been dealing with alot of painful affects from his accident. He still walks with a limp and simple tasks, such as airing up the tires on our van, are extremely painful. The official diagnosis is nerve damage, which his PCP acknowledges only time can heal. He has been put on this medication that makes him feel weird, but its the only thing out there that claims to possibly help nerve damage. So, please pray for him, as he feels permanently disabled at this point in time, having not seen much improvement at all in regards to his pain.

Jacob is inching ever to closer to being completely potty trained. Even though it has and will continue to be a slow process, I can finally see the finish line. I am so proud of him. I am just thankful that he will do just about anything for a Dr. Pepper (he IS his mother's child).

Josiah is playing basketball this winter which has been alot of fun. I have to admit that it takes me back to my b-ball playing days - the smell of the gym makes me smile....such a wonderful scent (the hardwood floors, that is, not the sweaty children). Josiah is a hustler, plays great defense, and has an eye for throwing a great pass. He hopes to continue playing in the future. He says he likes it better than t-ball.

Micah is just an absolute joy to be around. He has his moments (he is 3, you know) but he's so much fun and makes me laugh. He's also very smart. Alex took Micah along to a neurology appointment for Jacob last month and the neurologist kept observing Micah (even though she was supposed to be observing Jacob) and kept commenting on how advanced his development is. I don't take this for granted one bit. I am so thankful that there have been no reasons to be concerned about his neurological develepment.

I'm still working part time at a dental office and really love my job. I work with great people and look foward to going to work everyday. Not everybody can say that.

All in all, things are going well. God has truly been pouring out his blessings on us lately. More to come....I promise.