Our new beginning after Retirement

Life after retirement from the Marine Corps was some what a shock to my family.  We went from living in something close to 2000 square footage to living in two rooms in an attic at my moms boyfriends house.  Talk about downsizing.  :o)  I cried the whole weekend we got home.  If you can call it home.  I woke up Sunday and while sitting on my moms boyfriends rattan couch in my make shift living room I decided I had to make light of it all.  After all this weekend I had lost my house, my husbands job, all my belongings were in storage, my girls were without a school (which I had no idea what district or state they would even go to at that point) and I had also said goodbye to my 20 year old son who had finally moved out.  Not to mention all the great people I love I had to say goodbye to in MD.  WOW all in one day.  That's a lot for anyone to take.  

   So as I sat in my makeshift living room my daughter walks up to me while on the couch and I decided here we go.  Let's laugh today because if not my face is going to wrinkle like a child's hands in a pool.  I asked my daughter if she liked my couch and proceeded to tell her it was from Bloomindales.  Then I pointed out my Grandfathers chair we had covered with a fitted sheet and said it was from Ethan Allen's.  I pointed out the 20 inch Computer monitor that we had been watching our favorite shows on online because we had missed them the week before and stated it wasn't a computer monitor it was a 60 inch LCD TV.  I also pointed out that we were not living in an attic but staying in the Penthouse at the CARLISLE.  After that morning I decided I was going to survive this one way or another and humor was really the only way for me.  

    By Wednesday Larry had a great job and we were approved to rent a great home with Abigail's school literally just outside our back gate and Chloe's new preschool is just around the corner.  The neighborhood is quiet and beautiful and upscale.  I guess the Lord wanted to see how strong I was.  I sometimes look back at that week and feel I wasn't very strong and my faith was there but very hidden.  I knew he would take care of us but at the same time I was so sad.  I didn't hide it as well as I normally do.  

   This week we are adjusting a little better.  My girls have been whining a lot and my little Chloe says she can't do things she use to do like pulling down her own pants to go potty.  I am keeping in mind that if I felt and went through what I did then they must be just as bad and they had to watch me break down on top of it all.  We are working on getting them back on the school schedule of bedtime and rise times.  Abigail feel off the wagon there a little.  Her new school starts later then normal so it should be OK and an easy transition.  Chloe is excited to go to school.  She has wanted this for a year now.  She will only go half days for 3 days a week.  It will be great for her.  Larry is even excited to get back to work.  I will be busy with the house.  The girls want their rooms painted and I want to paint the living room and dining room.  It should be fun.   I need lots of advise from my friend Michelle though.  She is way better at this then me.  :o)  Lesson in this I guess is just have faith and keep plugging away at what you want.  It will come.  You just have to make it happen. Plus Lot's of help from the Lord.  :o) Till next time....