It has been a little over seven months since my last blog post about our plans. A LOT has happened since then, even a ton more than what my typed timeline said.
Most things happened as according to plan, but it took us three days to reach Enterprise AL as opposed to two days. There were tons of issues with my husband's bank account that was still in Minnesota, so cash was tied up and it left us with some major figuring out to do.
We only stayed at my dad's place for around a month and a half before we decided it'd be best for us to just go ahead and find our own place. We found awesome landlords that are SO easy to work with. We have a great three bedroom, two and a half bathroom townhouse in a pretty great location.
Audrey switched schools from where she started here in town and it is easily one of the best decisions we have made while here. She is THRIVING at that school. We love it!
Claire is doing so well in preschool, she loooooves the socialization of it all. And one of the best perks is that her preschool teacher is from Minnesota. She wears this cute little metal state-shaped necklace of Minnesota with a heart punched out by the Twin Cities (where she is from), it was just meant to be!
I've actually been through three different jobs since moving here and it is all quite depressing. Christian is having no luck finding jobs in town. He's found one that is a little over an hour north of here and it pays really well. But, with him driving the van to and from work every day, that leaves me here with no vehicle to take Claire to and from preschool. So we are still on the fence about this job...but we're looking at him at least taking an interview and we'll see where things lead. Fingers crossed!
Speaking of our van...that's new. Our old crappy Impala finally bit the dust back in October (of course, right after I had quit the crappiest and most soul-crushing job I have EVER had) and we had to search the lands high and low for a new vehicle. We actually ended up at a dealership and we signed our lives away on a van. Another pretty great decision, no matter how daunting it seems. The payments are under $200/mo and it's a 2010 Dodge Caravan. It's a rocket ship. I'm in love with it!!
The biggest perk of moving back here is the fact that I've had to have contact with Audrey's biological father. After all the excitement of those conversations, it turns out that he has been paying very little towards her child support since 2011...but it has really added up. So we received that money and it helped us get caught up on bills at the time annnnnnnd I took Audrey in to get braces for her teeth! It is single-handedly one of the best investments I have ever made. I am so excited and happy for her.
I also had a really great friend of mine, that I've known for-basically-ever present me with and help me take advantage of a really great opportunity. I'm still working on that and I don't plan to ever stop!
So this leads me to not a dumb decision, but not a smart decision. We threw our hands up in frustraion and spent what money we had left on gas/hotel/food/etc. and took a road trip up to Minnesota to surprise my husband's family at their Christmas party. It was THE greatest feeling to have his parents and siblings come in, one by one, and see their faces light up when it registered that we were really there. I will NEVER forget those moments. We stayed at four different sibling's houses before winding up at Mom and Dad's for four nights. We also surprised my best friend and then another former co-worker that I am close with. Ended up having lunch with these two ladies and spent the afternoon with my best friend. We had a great time! We did some crafting and I plan to link back to her blog, as soon as she unveils it! I stopped by and saw a really good friend of mine but wasn't able to make it back to hang out with her due to having a dinner at my in-law's with some of the siblings coming over. Despite Claire being sick on the way up and a few times at different houses, and Audrey being sick on the way back, it was a fabulous trip. We left Christmas morning (the girls didn't even know until that morning when they opened a present telling them) and then we didn't even up getting back to Enterprise until Monday night, January 5th. It was a busy 12 days!!
Now, we're back in the townhouse and we are steadily looking for jobs. Like I mentioned before, Chris is looking at taking an interview with the place that is an hour away. So, fingers crossed. I totally do NOT want to go back to Wal-Mart, but that seems to be how things may have to go for a while. Being behind on bills is not how I want things, but that is how life goes sometimes. It'll all work out in due time.
I have seen quite a few friends from growing up. I was (last minute) in the wedding for my best childhood friend, was there for her when she called to spill the beans about her pregnancy (cried. like. a. baby.), and cannot wait to love on that baby! We've attended birthday parties for kids of my greatest friends, we've had Claire's first birthday party away from Minnesota, we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve with my dad. I have been out to lunch and church and painting parties with a handful of really awesome ladies, made some great new friends from that circle. My best customer is still ordering hand-painted canvases from me, she is SUCH a blessing! My best friend from Charlotte sent us Christmas for the girls and just made their holiday extraordinary, another huge blessing. She's also pregnant and I am seriously excited to go visit her and her sweet family in a few months. And I made a new best friend from the last job I had. Her and her husband have been perfect additions to our life here in Enterprise. They are super aware of themselves and how to include my deaf husband in all of our shenanigans. We love them very dearly.
I have court coming up this Monday with Audrey's biological father; that'll be interesting. The next day is her first appointment since getting her braces put on, and then the following week is my birthday. Audrey will turn NINE February 7th, Valentine's Day will happen, and then my old man will really be an old man on February 28th. And then life will carry on, as usual.
It is crazy how much can be jam-packed into life. Some days I can really remember and enjoy why I am here. Then, other days, I can't see past the seconds that are wasting away. Getting through the hard times only lead to more hard times. But the memories we are making between all of that are worth it.
-Erin
