by Sarah | Jul 17, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Oola, Redefining Perfect
4 years ago I discovered Oola.
3 years ago I put my dream on the Oola bus.
2 years ago I achieved my Oola goal to move to Florida.
1.5 years ago I began my new Oola goal to become a nurse.
And then…
My Oola got lost along the way.
Our first 2 years here were ROUGH. The move was tough on all of us. Then Erik’s mom passed away. Then Covid. Then my dad passed away. We were facing the rapid aging of our dog. The girls were struggling with school in a Covid-filled world. We had a lot of issues with Erik’s car that led to some financial difficulty.
There was a lot weighing on our spirits.
Plus I was going to school, which was tough enough, but I was working full time while doing it, which made it ridiculously more difficult.
Stress, grief, more stress, more grief, even more stress…and I completely lost focus on any sense of Oola. My magic was left in the dust, my family was suffering, I didn’t have fun anymore, it was all one big struggle bus instead of an Oola bus.
I’d see my Oola books on my shelf and just…look away. I knew I wasn’t feeling it. I knew I wasn’t trying for it. Too much seemed a struggle.
I’ve now quit my job because it was too much…everything. I was far too stressed, worn out, and failing in school because I couldn’t keep up the pace.
Our finances are a worry and Erik has the added stress of being sole breadwinner for the next six months (I am seeking something PT, but that takes time…and I’ve not had any luck as of yet).
But I have been able to find me again. To gain some sense of focus and peace again.
I’m working my way back to Oola, and continuing to work on that big Oola goal.
5 months to go until nursing school is over.
I’m hoping to reclaim my Oola by then.
Wish me luck.
by Sarah | May 5, 2020 | All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect
Today is the one year anniversary of me crossing the state line into Florida.
It was such a giddy rush crossing the state line, knowing I was home. The moment didn’t come easily, and it wasn’t all the joy I put on social media. Something bad happened shortly after crossing into Florida that I still don’t talk about, but it marred the moment of joy for me and put me a little at an unease (I’m fine it didn’t happy to me) . The year since has lived up to that same initial roller coaster the first few of hours in Florida gave me.
Super high-highs, and crazy-intense lows.
I admit it. I’ve been all over the map. The blog suffered. I suffered. My family suffered. We were massively on the struggle bus for a while.
But now, here we are.
One year later.
And guess what?
Hey, life’s not perfect. We’re living in quarantine now everywhere. Weird shit is happening, pandemic panic, mother earth coming back to life.
However, I’m in a much better place than I’ve been for the past year.
I’ve finished a semester of nursing school, and done well (WHAT? I’m still in shock at this)
Things at my work are looking up, well they were before the pandemic, then that turned into a stress-bomb for a whole other reason. Overall, the worst of the situations is past, so I’m going better.
Financially, we have savings again. We’re still adjusting to hubbers only being paid once a month, but we’re getting there. It took a while to get soluble again, but we’re here and doing better.
Job-wise, hubby’s still in a better place than he was. Things are tough with the pandemic, but he’s coming home to movies and movies and movies…so he’s all good. (I’m reorganizing said movies now and the man has a problem. lol)
I’ve returned to hobbies like crochet and knitting. I’ve finally returned to writing (it’s slow, but it’s going).
I haven’t been to Disney since February, which sucks…but we will return again when it reopens.
I also haven’t been to the beach in ages…but again, we will soon as we can.
The winter was beautiful. The lack of snow even better.
My mood is in a much more tolerable place. Far less doom and gloom.
It’s good to be home…and feel at home…for real.
by Sarah | Jan 13, 2020 | All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect
I’ve been in Florida now for just under 9 months. So what’s up with all of the dreams, goals, and everything involved in the move?
First and foremost: It has been HARD. I mean, really hard.
There’s been wonderful, great, amazing things–but it’s been HARD.
Moving across country, being separated from my family, the girls utter homesickness when they arrived (and some still lingering)…not to mention my job situation?
Hard.
Was it worth it?
Yes.
I truly love being here. I feel so at home. I am where I’m meant to be. I knew life would not be perfect (and said so many times), and I knew that life would encroach on the wonderful things I was looking forward to (and it has). I didn’t expect all of our problems to resolve the minute we crossed the state line. I mostly expected to be home, and some bonuses along the way.
I’ll get the bad out of the way super quick b/c I don’t want to focus on them. My job – it’s a nightmare, but a possible light at the end of the tunnel is coming. Finances – due to several situations (that nightmare job being one of them), it’s taken us longer to level out and get back on our feet than I’d hoped for. Homesickness – primary in the middle teen, she’s fighting tooth and nail.
The good? That’s better to focus on…
Our home: Though we’re paying more per month, it’s bigger, it’s sound, and though the yard needs a lot of work and we have to pay pest control monthly, I really love the house. The girls really love that they each have their own rooms.
Disney: Duh. Though I now haven’t been since November (I hope to rectify this quite soon) we went tons during food & wine, and even stayed on site. We’ve more than made up for the cost of passes, and it’s nice to know it’s right there. It’s a benefit we use often.
Nursing school: Not something I ever thought I’d do, I’m in it to win it. It’s right around the corner too. Considering we’re both putting many more miles on the vehicles, that’s a big benefit.
The Market: Big flea market about a quarter mile from our house. Way too much 45 shit on display, but if you avoid that and head straight for the fresh fruit & veggies on display all year long, it’s a huge benefit.
The school: While I’m not overly pleased w/ the middle school…the high school has been amazing and in a few months I won’t have to worry about any more kids in the middle. The education they’re getting is great, challenging, and the school has been amazing about the IEP. Biggest downsize is that we have to take them and pick them up every blasted day. Is it summer yet? Does Molly have her license yet? Please? Soon?
Erik’s job: Big positive over his last. BIG.
While Erik and I know we aren’t going to settle in this particular area permanently (I want to be closer to water and further south…north-central is meh)…it’s been a good place to land. We plan to stay until the kids are out of school and then cart ourselves further south & west. For now, we’re happy where we are despite the struggles.
It hasn’t been easy, not by a long shot. I feel like we are finally turning a bend, though. I’m trusting that this year is going to shake off some of those bad areas so we can focus even more on the good ones.
by Sarah | Jan 1, 2020 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect
I only started choosing a word for the year in 2018. “Momentum” followed by “Redefining”. They both really impacted my year.
2019 was amazing…and terrible…all at once and separately. So much happened that was so very good, but much happened that beat me up a little, or a lot.
My faith got bruised.
I got a little beat up (figuratively).
I’ve been on shaky ground and feeling very un-oola.
This new year will have me facing new challenges, just as hard or harder than the last.
I’m starting nursing school.
I’m desperately seeking a new job to replace the one that’s mistreated me so badly.
For the past month I’ve been struggling to find a word to take me through 2020, the start of a new decade and a new life.
I went through several, feeling them out for what might work. “Home”, or “Reconnect”, or even “Persevere”. Nothing felt right. I settled on Reconnect as ‘good enough’, but it felt off.
Then…
This appeared in my feed—>
TRUST.
As soon as I saw it it resonated deep inside.
I’ve lost my trust that everything would work out.
I’ve lost my trust in people.
I’ve lost my trust in myself.
It’s time to find it again.
To LIVE it again.
To quote that famous musical…”It’s time to trust my instincts, and leap.”
So hello, 2020.
Hello, trust.
by Sarah | Jul 23, 2019 | 50 before 50, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Bucket List, Oola, Personal, Redefining Perfect
Well, it’s pretty well known that my main goal that went on the Oola bus was to move to Florida.
And, here we are!!
It’s been a crazy two years, since I found Oola, and a crazier year since I got to put my dream on the bus!
At times I never thought I’d make it here.
At others, I remained steadfast and certain it would happen.
Now, as the chaos dies down and we settle into a bit of normality – something has been nudging me.
A new goal.
A somehow much scarier one.
One that I’ve denied for much longer than I care to admit.
A dream that I’ve talked myself out of any, and every time it has popped into my head.
I deemed it a passing fancy.
Something I was never strong enough to do.
I don’t have the constitution for it.
The persistent nudging hasn’t stopped, so I cautiously stepped out and told my husband.
Then my BFF, and my mother.
Yet I kept it close to the vest.
I told myself it was because this one was for me.
But really, in the end, I recognized it for what it was – Fear.
Ooh, that Oola Blocker of blockers.
Fear of what?
Being ridiculed. Failing. Being told I could never do it.
Once I recognized this, I knew it was time to say it.
So here it goes.
My crazy, new goal…
I’m going to school to become a nurse.
It’s in many ways so much scarier than moving across country.
But it feels right.
4 years ago I discovered Oola.
