It's been over six months since I last wrote...and I'm not sure if I can fit everything into one little post.
On the dark side: We were in a car accident - but the car and our family are recovered; the holidays and two straight months of constant sickness in our household nearly killed our spirits - but we're all better now; and, I lost my job - but I picked up some more consulting work, am ramping up in academia again, and have a few very strong job prospects; and.
On the lighter side of life: Matt loves his company and his job - and is showing incredible personal and professional growth because of it; Dante turned 10 - a feat in itself after almost losing him forever; we are approaching three years of wedded bliss, as well as happiness in our lovely Oakmont home; and, Grant is becoming one giant, smart, funny, fiercely independent, stubborn, wonderful little man.
Sometimes, especially, with me being out of work, it feels nearly impossible to juggle everything from groceries and housework - to keeping Grant occupied and managing his seemingly endless growth spurts and teething bouts - to living in the present but keeping an ever-mindful eye on our goals for the future - to simply finding time for each other.
Don't get me wrong - life has never been better. Just when we think we couldn't possibly deal with one more thing, we find the time and energy and patience and balance and room to fit everything it. Even though it's all too easy to quickly point out what's going wrong, we often forget to acknowledge and be grateful for what's going right. We did have a few strikes going against us there for a while but it feels like the scales are finally tipping in the other direction.
I have to admit that finding new friends is a daunting task at this juncture of life. It's hard to be married. It's even more difficult to be married and a parent. And even when you do manage to connect with someone who you think would be a fun, positive addition to your life, you have to wade through work schedules and nap times and budget restrictions and travel plans - only to find the one day every few months or so when you can squeeze in some time for friendship.
In any case, I'm happy this brutal Pittsburgh winter is over and spring is upon us. I'm appreciative of all the people who have been supporting us through the yin-yang paradox that has been our life over the past few months. I'm overjoyed to see my son growing in so many ways that I can't even begin to verbalize even a tiny fraction of how incredibly proud I am of him. I'm blown away to see my husband thriving in a way we didn't think was possible for him. Most of all, I'm happy that the universe is finally starting to point us in the right direction.
I apologize for this blog being as unfocused and wandering as Grant's method for choosing what toy to play with next...I promise to start writing more clearly and more often! Namaste.
