I'm Back

 Hello, Everyone!

I hope you are well and staying safe!  What a crazy couple of years!

The last half of 2018 and all of 2019 will forever be known as the worst year of my life.  My family and I endured so much trauma and loss throughout 2019.  I felt that there was not much positive I could post anymore.  Fortunately, we do not stay in those periods of life too long.  Eventually, things get better and the sun comes out again.  This is the thought that kept me going.  

It was an interesting year in 2020.  So many people were going through so much sadness and pain.  I had already done that the prior year, and I felt a bit guilty that 2020 was an awesome year for me.  

In the beginning of 2020, I was recruited by a larger company.  The company has an awesome culture.  I started in April and on my first day I was handed a new laptop.  My new boss said that they wanted me to stay safe so I was told to stay home to work.  I went into the office 1-2 days a week.  The team that I work with is great and I feel like I get to work with an elite team of accountants.  Everyone on the team is exceptionally kind to one another.

In late 2019, I decided that it was really time to work on my education, so I went back to school.  I have been taking classes online for some time, however, I have ramped it up in the past year and a half.  Last year I decided to really tackle the home projects that I have wanted to complete for years.  I painted my bathroom, organized the garage, and put sod and flowers in the front yard.  I am working with a local contractor now to put in radiant heat tile floors in the kitchen and bathroom.  He will also be creating a new backyard for me and taking care of some new updates on the cozy cottage.  

There have been a number of blessings in staying home for the past year.  With so many companies, like the grocery stores, Costco, and Home Depot now having curbside or delivery, I have more time to do things I love.  I have time to really talk to my family and friends on the phone, to work on projects or to just think.  Life went really fast before we had to slow down.  A friend said to me recently that we keep wanting things to return to normal, however, we should really think about what parts of normal we really want back.  

My crafting friends and I were somewhat confused at the beginning of the pandemic when people were claiming to be bored.  We felt fortunate to have hobbies and interests that always keep us busy.  I am not sure I know what it is like to not be busy.  One of my guy friends said that he felt fortunate to have been a kid that came home alone every day after school.  He said that it taught him early to entertain himself.  He has taken this time to do things he has always wanted to do.  He is learning to play the guitar, cook, and read classics.  Other friends are taking online mosaics classes, quilting classes, and creating gardens.  I have gotten hooked on flosstube and get inspired by everyone else's stitching.  Unfortunately, this means that I have been participating in the economy by purchasing more craft supplies.

So, I am back.  I still have a little editing to do on the blog, so bear with me.  I also have photos to share of my stitching over the past year.  So bear with me for a few days!

I missed you all!