So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!

Home Sweet Second Home

 So Sad it had to come to this". -Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  

As no one really knows, today was my last day at my beloved Conservice.          
I have worked and grown up there for over 6 years. I wasn't even old enough to legally drink when I first started there. Now I have a little girl starting Kindergarten in the fall.

Why would I leave such a wonderful place? I still have that question nagging in the back of my heart. Logically, I've been going to school since January full time (for medical billing and coding, what can I say, I love billing) and working full time. My health has taken quite a hit and I just can't keep up doing both.

I love it there. I love the people I get to work with, the best summer of my life was while working there 2 years ago. I had a great team and this fun intern sat with us. I don't think you're supposed to have that much fun at work-but we did.

Sushi Foodie Date

It's the only place where your birthdays are fun again. Your friends and coworkers deck out your desk. Even the HR department gives you a gift card for ice cream.

My friend Cori's Bday

This is one of a few birthdays I got to celebrate with my friends / coworkers.

Halloween is awesome there. You can get candybars on your payday. The work is hard but it's fun.

So you can imagine I didn't really tell many people because I wasn't trilled about it. I kept thinking "Maybe some miracle will happen. Maybe my health will improve and I would suddenly become Superwomen, able to tackle any and everything". As of right now, no miracle. 

We've gotten to do so many things we'd never get to without Conservice. Heidi Anne got to do ballet, I developed some of my closest friendships with people thanks to my office. Some people sat at a desk next to me or could have been states away, doesn't matter, we're linked forever.

What do you say when you leave a place that has done so much for you, your family. They gave me opportunists I couldn't have even thought possible  Heidi Anne has grown up there. Some of the people there are true miracle workers, I won't say what they've done or how they have truly helped us in our darkest hours,  they don't do it for the glory, they just do because it's the right thing to do.

So while it may seem like I slipped out into the night without much warning, it's because I would have spent all week saying good byes to great friends, fighting back tears, and being bombarded with memories. I know it was the right time to go - but it doesn't mean I enjoy leaving it.

"Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."-Richard Bach

Crazy Times....

To say the least life has been a "little" hectic the last few weeks. I've started going back to school (for medical billing and coding), Char's parents have left for 18 months on a religious mission, Char is going back to school, and Heidi is just as Heidi Anne as ever.

        Yeah, only a little insane.

Heidi Anne and I just waiting for Char's folks to get on Skype More Webcam fun.

Somehow throughout all of this madness Heidi Anne has managed to still be Heidi Anne. She loves to put on ballet performances for us.

If we're studying she will go get some books to "read" with us. She reminds me of Gus from Cinderella, a huge stack of books overflowing in her arms, with some of them falling down along the way. It's become a common sight to see a trail of books from her room to the office (hence forth known as the study room).

 Studying Anatomy and Physiology with Momma

Webcam Fun

Can I have a pair of these-but for real?? 

Char's folks recently left to go on an 18 month mission to the Dominican Republic. Their main focus will be assisting youth and young adults in gaining an education, not just to go to school, but to get higher education, be it just completing high school, getting into a trade program, or really going off to college. 

That moment you realize the Webcam's been on-for a long time

They can still call us every Sunday, but instead of the phone we use Skype. Apparently we can add hair, hats, masks, glasses, ect on the webcam and take digital pictures. 

Here are some funny webcam photos we took of Heidi Anne while we were trying to get everything ready for the Skype.

This one was her favorite

 Which then became a funny digital photo-shot session vs. learning about Skype.

Hehe! We made it rain INSIDE!!

Mac N' Cheese Musings

Okay, it's not the real Kraft Marconi when I say "Mac N' Cheese Musings" , it's the Kroger / Western' Family version, not that fancy Kraft kind. 

Anyways, as you may have guessed things are a little tight right now. Char works leaving around 8:00 am and then goes to school, coming home around 11:30 pm. I work and then go to school a few times a week mostly gone from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, with Heidi Anne now my constant companion. For the first time in nearly 7 years I don't have my best friend around to help me. I can't just look across the room and tell him whatever thoughts come across my mind. Heidi Anne doesn't have her Daddad just a call away to come look at what she drew. 

Have you ever had a moment when it seemed like everything in your world changed? Like going through a revolving door, your just walking a few steps and BAM-somewhere else.
As Heidi Anne and I were walking to our car after picking her up from Suesue's, she gave me a big hug, looks up at me and says "Momma, I love having you to myself. You know magic words, you read to me a lot more, and you make me happy when I miss Daddad.  I love you." 
See-Revolving door. 

I realized for the first time since all of this craziness started she was right. Even if we've been living of Mac N' Cheese, sandwiches, top ramen (which I have learned tonight she has been loving this whole time, even if we're getting a little tired of it). She is watching her parents work insane hours, but still joke together and try our hardest to see each other, no matter how little sleep they've had. She sees us pray-the little prayer before I drive asking to not get in an accident with her in the car. I never noticed I did it until 2 weeks ago as I looked up in to the rear-view mirror to adjust it I saw her say "Amen". 
When I need a break, Candyland and Guess Who are the perfect games to play. All I have to do is count to 2 and identify the right color-honestly after hours of studying she has an unfair advantage. 

Hate the Pink Cards-Means I have to hunt for my spot...

Why am I posting this? Well, we have another 10 to 18 months left of this hectic schedule  Then who knows what after that. But the door keeps revolving and I have a little girl looking up to me even if I don't see it, she is always watching us. 
And to remind myself years down the road why is it I can only tolerate the Kraft Mac N' Cheese. 
Hint to future me - because sometimes name brand is just better and Kraft comes in fun shapes, who can bet that? 

Do You Believe in Magic? Heidi Anne Does...

Getting Ready for a Tea Party

I got the idea from how much she loved the Elf of the Shelf at Suesue’s. Every morning in December the Elf on the Shelf would be in different places throughout the house. Every night she would tell us what the silly Elf did and tried to guess where he would be the next day.

A few nights ago Heidi Anne forgot to bring Caroline, Ana Rose, and My Molly Dolly to bed with her. (Yes, Char got me my own Molly doll for my birthday so I can play “right” with Heidi Anne). So I placed all the dolls beside her. When she woke up, she was excited. Why? Because her dolls are magical-just like Jessie in Toy Story or the Elf on the Shelf.

Magic Tea Party

Over the next few nights, she’s been going to sleep with her dolls. When she awakes they are in different clothing, in a different place in the house. One new thing her dolls have started to do is play with Heidi Anne’s toys at night. From having a little picnic with Caroline’s apples or working on a puzzle Heidi Anne left out overnight.

Molly Dolly

She loves her magic dolls. She is also very happy that I have my own doll so I can play with her and Caroline and Ana Rose “The Right Way.” Now I just need to get back to making or getting some more doll clothes. Can you imagine the look on her face when she wakes up and Caroline is wearing a new dress? It would be priceless!

Do I look pretty?

I Love Quilting

Here are some of the quilts I've been working on over the last few months. Since I am back in school I don't seem to have as much free time for some reason. 

This lovely quilt is a disappearing nine patch jean quilt. I made a similar quilt for my sister for Christmas. It's heavy and very warm. 

This is the top part of a memory quilt I am making for Heidi Anne. All of the fabric came from her old receiving blankets and crib sheets. The back of the quilt is a work in progress. It's a memory quilt from some  of my old skirts, some of Char's old shirts, and some outfits she wore that have some sentimental value. The dress she wore when she came home from the hospital, the shirt she wore when she took her first steps. Those little milestones captured in a quilt.

This was an experiment with left over scrapes it's called a charm quilt. It looks a lot prettier up close. I think this may be replacing the quilt below, once I finish it. 

Heidi Anne helped me pick the fabric for this quilt. Just a little something to hide the electric panel.