It's been nearly a year since I posted an entry on my blog! A few life altering events gave me pause and a time for reflection, and I have chosen to move my life in a new direction. It seemed wiser to wait until I was of "retirement age" to make some of these changes, but the birth of several grandchildren proved to be the final motivation for my husband and I to move from the Carolina's we love back to the Northwest to be closer to family. We bought a house, are trying to sell a house, and the process of wrapping up a thousand loose ends has placed my existence into one hectic state of affairs for the last year. I have continued to work on my crafts, but it has been rather sparse and unfocused. As I near the end of this year's long journey (I measure my years by the school calendar), I look forward to being resettled and refocused. I will face new challenges, new motivations, more grief and more joys. Such is life, and as much as I hate to embrace life's sorrows, I find embedded, even in those trying times, strength and comfort from family and loved ones.
I'm not sure about my employment options. As most Americans, I will face the uncertain job market (it was probably not the best time to leave a job I love and offers some security), but those who know me know that I'm a risk-taker. Sometimes I feel as if I'm throwing myself off a cliff and hope to grow wings before I hit bottom. Maybe. Maybe not. I might try to turn my hobby into a livelihood, or I might try to get back into teaching, or subbing, or maybe become a superstore greeter. Who knows? I'll know when I get there. It helps to know I have a loving husband who supports me as we share the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Soon we will be leaving North Carolina to head back to the Northwest though it will be by an indirect route. We have a few eastern states to see on our way home. The very-out-of-the-way Maine and Vermont are the last two states for us to visit before my husband and I can say we've been to all 48 of the contiguous states. We'll stop so I can wave at Lady Liberty and after collecting my Maine thimble swing by Niagara Falls to capture another of our country's (and Canada's) natural wonders.  |
| Beading Across America |
I have packed my jewelry kit for the journey and hope to bead across America. I opted for a lot of blue and turquoise colors--the color of water. I love it when jewelry pieces have names. "Liberty" and "Niagara" are ideas waiting for a creative and free moment to craft into existence, though I'm thinking I might need to pick up a few red beads for my Liberty piece? I'm really looking forward to having the time to focus on being creative. I hope by the middle of summer to reopen my Esty shop. Check back in a few weeks to see how our great nation inspired me. In the meantime, wish me good luck on my new adventures!
