Friday, April 20, 2007

Barbara on Break

I asked you all to write, so I guess I had better!

Glen finished remodeling and renovating the house he inherited from his father and moved into it last month. Mostly. Some of his stuff remains in some kind of informal storage at my house.

Along with the various leavings of 10 pack rats over some 30 years. It is going to take AGES to clean, sort, and implement some of our plans for the house. (If you want to know about some of our ideas, read my old post
What Shall We Name Our House" on my personal blog.)

He also signed over his interest/ownership and I have gotten my own mortgage. Being the sole responsible person is a little scarey. But I feel good about it. It is OUR house!!

Although not final, I don't even know how close it is - weeks ago (before yet another trip to Mexico!) my lawyer said that his lawyer was going to draw up the papers for us to sign and then it has to go through the court or something - anyway, the divorce is beginning to have healing effects. Although the house is a cluttered wreck, it feels like home. It is a peaceful, happy place. Not that there was yelling or fighting before, but there was tension and unhappiness. Some of us who have struggled with strongly negative personal feelings find ourselves feeling less resentful and bitter, much more Christian. The boys are self-reliant and helpful which makes it so much easier for me. I don't know how working moms do it!

I have been at my job with California State Parks for 5 months now. Almost done with probation and no warning notices. I don't like being away from my guys and home. I don't have time or energy to see the grandbabies much or get anything done around here. But if I have to work, and I do, I am very fortunate to work here. I like all the supervisors, especially mine. My co-workers are almost all good workers and pleasant people. The Chief of services is a delightful, friendly woman. I feel like I am working for something worthwhile. The work is enough to keep me busy and make the days go quickly, but not enough to cause great stress. Much about my job is very convienent and tailor fitted to me. I thank the Lord for blessing me to be here.

Fun stuff - Joseph and I took our old beat-up lawn mower to SMUD's Mow Down and replaced it with an electric mower. I don't know how to use it yet, but Joseph does. I used to have to ask him and remind him to mow. Now, I come home to a neatly mown, pot-holed weed patch, instead of the scraggly mess we used to have. It looks much better.

We adopted a pair of cockatiels from a friend who rescued them from a criminally negligent neighbor. We don't know their age or gender. I tend to think of the yellow one as she and the grey one as he because of birds we had before. We call them Yellow Rose or Rosey Cotton and Mr Cotton.

Andrew is 1 month away from turning 18. I am trying to NOT to get an ulcer as "we" try to finish his Eagle requirements. Finish Communications Merit Badge, do his Eagle project - collect books for a disadvantaged school in the Philippines whose books were lost in a typhoon, do all his paperwork and get a Board of Review. I know he CAN do it and I think he will, but it is going to be a near thing. Believe me, you will hear about it if, that is, when he does!!! I tell you, mothers DESERVE those Mother Pins!

After Andrew, I as Troop Committe Chair, have 4 more Life Scouts to help along to Eagle. The next one has a year and his mom is really nudging him. His project has been approved. My youngest Life is Benjamin. I also need to work on getting our younger Scouts to advance. I love the Scouting program and what it can do for our young men.

Part of celebrating Easter for me was to finally get to the temple for the first time since starting work. I had thought to go on an evening during the week, but that just didn't work for me. Saturday morning seems to work out. I am going to try to manage once a month. It felt so good to go. I truly felt like I was going home and I felt a loving welcome.

Not much news and my lunch break is over.

What is happening with you?

2 comments:

Sariah said...

I like the blog format, so much more "my style". :)

I think Andrew's Eagle project is awesome! Where is he getting the books from?

motherof8 said...

Sariah, I am glad you like this format. I do, too. Encourage our relatives whenever you can. This is kind of slow getting off the ground.

Where is Andrew getting books? - Tuesday, the troop, under Andrew's direction, will distribute flyers in the neighborhood around the church. The next week, they will go around to collect any donations. He is going to put a collection box in the church lobby. If my super oks it, I will collect from co-workers. Hopefully, Dad will as well.

We just had a scare! Andrew couldn't find proof of one of the Eagle required merit badges, Camping, in his Scout stuff! Fortunately, I have a copy of the Troop Advancement Report when he got it. I THINK, that when AJ and I were researching his records at council shop, I made copies of all our troop's that I could find. Glad I did! I don't have time for those hunting expeditions now.

He still needs to see a counselor for the Communications badge.