Cardinals on the walk and a spiritual funk

Over the years we have lived in several cities in many different states.  In each location there is always some kind of wildlife that I that I take a liking too.   Over the last week I have really notice the Cardinals on the path that I have been walking on.   I love how their bright red sticks out in the greenness of the bushes.  I love how they are all puffed up with the cool weather.     I have been striving to take the perfect photo of one of them to do justice on how beautiful they are.    

Recently I have found myself in a spiritual funk.  I’m really not sure what has caused it as of yet.  I also don’t really know how to solve it either.   I think that one of the reasons is that we don’t have a regular church.  It may be that I have been so busy doing other things and not taking the time to worship God as I should as well.  In the end I am going to try to focus on this part of my life and get it back to the way it used to be or even better.  I guess it is like any relationship and there is ups and downs. 

Walk in the park

With the colder weather here in Rock Hill it has enabled our family to enjoy the fireplace in our house.  

The girls love to sit in front of it and basking in the heat that it gives off,  after they have their fill of the heat they love to roast marshmallows on the coals.  For me I have been able to put the old Boy Scout skills to use, the house sits on 7 acres of land that is mostly filled with trees.   I bought a bow saw and have been cutting the wood for the fireplace.  I really do enjoy the physical work out that it gives me as well. 

With us being newer to the area, I have wanted to find trails to walk on.  Yesterday we went to River Park to check it out.   It was a cool, crisp day and the sky was brilliant blue.    After the 2 inches of rain that we had the trails were a bit muddy though.   Brenna brought her camera and is really getting into taking photos.  She has a good eye for what it takes to compose a good photo.  I also brought my new camera to try to capture some photos as well.   I’m still getting the feel of it and am getting better photos with it now.  

We ended the day with making some veggie chili with cornbread for dinner.   I think it was the best chili that I have made as of yet.  For desert that night I made some smores, Tina and the girls had never had them before.   They sucked them down like crazy, but then how can you go wrong with anything that has chocolate in it J

Christa Grace

New Soccer Mom on the loose!

Life’s changes have really hit our family in the last few weeks.  Christa has started her new school and is really enjoying it.  They have no bus services though so it is requiring us to take her to and from school.   Brenna has started her college career at Winthrop as well, when looking for a place to live we had originally wanted to live close to the university so that she could just walk to school.  But unfortunately we did not and we are a ways away from the school so we have to work her into the schedule of getting to school as well.    Tina also has changes as well, she just recently got offered a new job and will be starting this week J   Congrats to her for sure, I think this will be her dream job finally.

 So my point to all this rambling is that I have gone from a being a sole income provider and traveling mom to Soccer Mom in a month’s time.  The only thing I need is a SUV or wagon, the Jetta doesn't fit in with the image though.

 It has been a huge adjustment to say the least, and I have to laugh because it is the last thing I ever expected in life.   I really do enjoy the time that I get to spend with our family though.   We are getting ready to purchase another car so maybe we should get a car so I can truly fit in as a Soccer Mom.

Time on my hands.

For Christmas Tina got me a digital camera.   When we lived in Sitka I used to take a lot of photos, for a while I sold some of my photographs to tourist to help defer the cost of my camera equipment and film supplies.   I am really new to the digital age in cameras.  I have played with some small point and shoot but I really have not used a full size digital camera though. 

I took a walk today and got to finally really start to take some photos of wildlife and just things that interested me.   What I really like about the camera is the instant gratification of seeing the photo that I just took.   I remember the days when I would take photos and then rush to the store and process them to see if I got any good shots.   Now it so cool I can just look and see, however this camera also acts different then the cameras that I used to use do I think it will take some time before I feel comfortable and used to how it reacts.

I really didn't know how much I miss taking photos; it is really very relaxing for me.  It has always been a dream that I could make a living doing photography. I know that I have the passion for it even more then working with airplanes.

Anyway here is a few photos that I took. 

New things in the New Year

This New Year so far has been full of new things for our family.

   

Christa has started a new school.   The school is newer school and has about 125 students per grade.  The smallness of the school fits great for Christa.   She is also starting a new instrument in band too.  She has chosen to try the Flute.  We went out to several music stores the other day and found the right one for her.   Like most things she is picking it up really fast, but the best part is she really enjoys learning to play it.  She hasn't put it down sense we got it J

We also stepped out of our normal box and purchased an air rifle.   We have had this rule that we would not have guns in the house sense we started having children.   Tina mentioned that she thought it would be fun to get one.  I figured we would buy a inexpensive one on the off chance the girls wouldn't like it.   Christa was pretty apprehensive at first; I showed her the basics and most importantly the safety of things.   After her 1^st few shoots she was hooked.   She loves shooting it, we put up several targets on the back yard for her to shoot.   She is really getting good; her favorite target is the cans that we hung up.    What I really like is that it’s something that the 2 of us can do and enjoy together.  It is a great way to spend time with her.

For me I decided to try something new as well.   I have been wanting to change my hair color for a long time,  so I thought I would change it for the New Year as well. 

Out with the old and in with the new!

Well tomorrow will be a week sense I was notified that I was being laid off.   Yesterday at midnight was officially my last day L   I really have gone through a huge amount of emotions that I never figured I would have.   I was shocked, in denial, mad, hurt, abandoned, heartbroken, sad, used and so on.

One of the things that I really didn't expect is that Evergreen has really defined who I am as a person.  Now I feel like I need to redefine who I am, it is kind of scary but also way cool too.   I feel like I am in uncharted territory for sure.   I find that I’m in a new house that I have hardly spent time in.  A new town that I really have not explored and now no job. It all intimidates me, Evergreen has always been that constant in my life and not its not there.  

One of the things that has really helped out is that I have had some quiet time to myself.  Tina and the girls went to PA to see her mom for Christmas.  So I have had the house to my self for a few days now and it has really given me some quality time to process things.  

I am excited that I have the opportunity to redefine myself and can make some changes to myself.  I think I need to take stalk in what in important to me in life and head in that direction.  On Christmas Eve I worked my last plane for Evergreen International Airlines.   I was worried that I would get all emotional; being the waterworks had been flowing up until then.  But surprisingly it was just like any airplane turn that I did in the past.  It was very controlled on my part and smooth running with no hitches.   I pride myself on always doing the best I can do and on time departure at all times if I can make it happen.  My friend took this photo of me as the plane was departing.

I am scared and sad that this is the end of this road.  However I am also excited at the thought of what the future will bring!

Broken Heart and unemployeed

I am venturing onto a new era in my life.  On the 26^th  of this month will be my last day working for Evergreen International Airlines.   This is only the 2^nd time in my life that this has happened to me.   The last time it happened was after the summer ended when I was working for Alaska Airlines close to 20 years ago. I have to admit I am a bit upset at how things transpired.  The company waited until the last flight out of Miami to tell me on the 21^st.   I had spent all week working morning and night flights with minimal sleep and only to get told you’re done.  I feel hurt and broken, I love the job I do, and I love the company I work for as well.  Next August would have been 10 years with them.

I find myself in an odd position, I had promised myself that if I ever got laid off that I would not go back into the aviation field and try something new.   I find this pretty scary because at this point over the last 20 years I have really only have worked in the aviation field.  

  

I wonder if this is a way for God to push me into a new direction.   I find that I get in this comfortable zone and I really don’t want to move on.   I don’t want to be out of my happy zone!  So where to go now is the question, should I finish school, move over to another airline?   It is interesting how life brings you new and different choices. 

Working for the Evergreen has always been my comfort and constant in life through many different moves to different cities and especially through life’s changes.  Now I find myself surrounded by all new and no constant at all, it feels so overwhelming right now.