TGIF - Back to Normal!

It's here! After almost six years of working nights, Gene starts on the day shift next week. We have longed and prayed for this day to come. We thought it might happen a few months ago, but it fell through. So I was afraid to get my hopes up when it came up in conversation again. I didn't want to say anything until I was sure it was really going to happen.

He worked his last night - well, last night. No more lonely nights! I'm very thankful for this blessing, and am really looking forward to our lives getting back to "normal." It's been so long, I don't know what normal is, though. Now I'll have to fix dinner for a family of four instead of one adult and two picky kids. I need to go grocery shopping!

And I'm going to have to get used to sharing the remote control for the TV. I have gotten used to having complete control. And I tend to watch two or three shows at a time, which drives Gene crazy. I also like to watch TV in bed until I fall asleep (again, two or three shows at a time).

I guess I'm now going to have to take Krista to school and pick her up every day (Gene usually takes her in the morning, but he'll be working 6:00 - 3:00 now). That's going to be rough.

Most Sundays it will just be just the girls and me going to church, because he'll be working Sunday through Thursday.

This could be a difficult adjustment for all of us. But all of these challenges haven't dampened my spirit. I'm still VERY excited!

My Home Office

Although I do miss the social aspect of having a "real" job, I LOVE working at home in my own office. It's at the back of the house, and I can close my door and have complete solitude.

Of course, it doesn't always work that way. The girls can't seem to get it in their heads that, when I'm "at work," they aren't allowed to come in unless it's an emergency. Somehow I still get interrupted in the mornings with, "My stupid hair is too poofy! I HATE my flat iron!" And that's from the ten-year-old, for crying out loud. Or, it's something like, "Mom, Krista won't stop slurping her cereal, and it's gross!" Argghhhh!!!

So, I tried closing my door. That worked pretty well until the dogs started crying and scratching to come in (or go out). So, Gene put a doggy door in. It works great! Now, my puppies can come and go, and I can work in solitude again. (Sort of.) I absolutely LOVE it!

I have a recliner in one corner and a small, flat-screen TV in the other, so I can take a break and watch some HGTV anytime I want. I even have a place to store all my scrapbook stuff (which I never seem to find time to work on anymore). Did I mention that I LOVE my office?

My camera isn't the greatest, but here are a few photos.