• Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - Learning New Things

At this stage of my life, and i have lived for more than half a century  , i am starting a new chapter.  i have been a full-time, active-duty parent for the past 37 years and now i am finding myself out of a job.  All the while my children were growing up, i would ask myself, "Is there life after children?".   i couldn't imagine it.  i figured i would just dry up and blow away or something when i had no more children in the home.  My youngest, ds aged 20, has been at college for the past year and a half, coming home for breaks.  He has been home since just before Thanksgiving (his school has a break from Thanksgiving until after New Year's  ) and will be going back next week.  He will graduate this May and says he plans to get an apartment (and a job  ) next summer.  So here i am, wondering.  i have no desire for employment, or further education although that option does strike a chord every now and then.  Throughout all the years of raising my children i would look longingly into the future when i would have TIME to do all those things i didn't have time for then.  Well, again, here i am.  i now have TIME. What to do with it?   Ordering this new life is interesting and a bit frustrating at times.  i have lots and lots of projects either in the works or in my mind:  quilting, weaving, expanding my soap business, fixing up our old house, making things for the grandchildren, and on and on.       My goal (not resolution, i don't believe in them) for the new year is to spend the month of January finishing the unfinished projects that have been sitting around for a while.  Then to choose one project a month and work on that until it's finished, then start another one.  Hopefully, i can maintain the discipline and not have all sorts of half-done things laying about.  That's the plan, and i hope to be able to post here on my progress throughout the year.       i would love to hear from others in my situation (empty nesters, although i do not like the term) as to how you are re-adjusting to life after children.      One of my unfinished projects that i am currently working on is a pair of socks.  i had always wanted to learn how to knit socks (i knit other things already) and last month my sister-in-love taught me.  i  have one sock done and the second started.       Well, that's enough rambling for one day.   Wishing all of you a very blessed New Year's.

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Comments

• Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - So nice to meet you!

Posted by CountryLiving

Hello there and blessings. It is so nice to meet you and I look forward to reading your blog. I bet you are going to have so much to share. I suppose I am considered a young mother (I am 32... I do not feel too young anymore) and there are so many things I want to learn and to also teach my children valuable skills for their future homes. We are sold of old-fashioned sorts even though we do enjoy our modern technology. My mother was not able to stay-at-home and raise me and there are so many things that I wish she could have taught me before she passed away. She knew how to sew, knit, crochet, cross-stich, paint, decorate cakes, and do just about anything crafty. She did teach me how to bake bread though and I am thankful for that. It is good to meet you and I hope you are blessed by making many new friends and sharing your experiences with others. Blessings, Sharra

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• Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mklene

When you are done withyour unfinished projects, could you start working on mine? Remember the quilt I started in high school? Well.... It's still not finished. The basement still isn't organized, boxes aren't unpacked, the walls in Rhianna's room aren't chinked, the compost bin isn't finished... I could go on and on with this, but you get my drift. Maybe thinking you need to finish up all the unfinished projects is kind of like my tendency to think that life will be well ordered "when things calm down a little". Maybe in real life these things never happen... Maybe life is meant to be full of unfinished projects. Hmmm.... maybe life itself is an unfinished project! Hey, imalive isn't the only philosopher in the family!! :o) Ok... didn't mean to ramble off on a tangent. I am thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. I know that one day I'll be in the same place you are now and wondering how to get used to a new, unstructured, life. (((hugs))) Maura

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• Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Me too...

Posted by DonnaJoy

my oldest DD is getting married in a couple of weeks and moving to Oklahoma - I do have a 14 yo DD at home, but she shares that time between me and her dad. so I will have lotz of free time and have tons of unfinished projects and tons more things I want to learn - I have a full time job outside the home so that takes a lot of my time - God willing some miracle is going to happen so I can scale down and not have to do this full time - looking forward to walking your journey with you!!! Donna

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• Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Hey....

Posted by mklene

You want to come out in the spring and help me set things up? I've been looking at pictures of chicken tractors, and reading about how to get started, and I'm about 90% sure I'm going to get some chicks in the spring. (I'm going to see if Chad, over at Helen's will build me my chicken tractor.) If you can't come out, I'll probably call you frequently for "professional advice" :o) Maura

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• Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by heerhomestead

Thanks for the reminder that some day I will have so much time on my hands I won't know what to do. :-D Seriously, what you have planned sounds good for now. Think of your unfinished projects as your new "children." Maybe schedule time for each of them during the week? God Bless, Sara

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• Friday, December 30, 2005 - Hi JD!

Posted by rosehillranch

How are you today? Did you finish the other sock!? Have a wonderful day! xo Jeani

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• Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - Bathroom

Posted by Anonymous

If you're painting and papering where the bathroom door was...how are you getting in to the necessary room????

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• Monday, September 15, 2008 - Soap

Posted by Anonymous

I was wondering where you sell your soap. I love homemade soap and would be interested in getting some. You can email me at getpampered615@comcast.net Thanks

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