Tis the Season!

Tis the season for missing family.

I haven't posted a real life update in awhile because... I guess because there hasn't been much to write.

Or there has, and I just haven't wanted to write about it.

BUT NOW, it is time to release all the craziness.

I knew fall was going to be difficult for me, and it was. All of October, I had Halloween to look forward to. The stretch from Halloween to Thanksgiving felt like an eternity. I think November is going to be the Florida equivalent of the Months of Doom and Gloom that I experienced in New Jersey (January-March). I've lived here long enough now to feel the seasons change, and even though it's still 70+ degrees during the day, that is much different than 90 degrees. I want to feel normal, but my brain is saying, "IT'S COLDER THAN IT WAS, SO YOU SHOULD FEEL SAD AND ANXIOUS AND GO INTO HIBERNATION!" At least it's a shorter time period, but it still sucked. Really bad.

Eric's dad came to visit, which was nice and uplifting during the November Doom and Gloom. I had a little vent sesh with him and Eric about my job. I am glad I have supportive family who accept me no matter what. I love working with the kids, and I love my supervisor, but something just did not feel right. Things were getting crazy at the school, which comes with the territory, and doesn't really scare me, but... one girl brought a knife, another kid almost threw the ID printing machine at my head... I love the kids to death, but not LITERALLY TO DEATH. Come on. And it is not okay to get two hours of broken sleep per night and want to throw up every morning.

So, like a sign from the heavens above, my friend told me her addiction rehab was looking for a new therapist. I figured there was no harm in checking it out... and they hired me. It was a giant internal struggle, because I have been counting on the millions of days off I get in the school system to make it through life. But I would get a pretty nice pay increase at the rehab, and mental health/addiction therapy is where I feel most comfortable. Maybe if I felt more comfortable, I wouldn't NEED all the time off to make it through. Maybe I would actually LIKE going to work every day, with a friend, at a small rehab.

So I took the job!

I feel awful about leaving right before Christmas, but everyone at my company and the school has been very understanding, supportive, and excited for me. I feel like everything happens for a reason. There was really no down side to taking this position. And Eric made a good point: If I truly hate this position, too, then maybe this field isn't for me.

We shall see.

Thanksgiving was sad without our family, but it was fun with our Florida fam. Chloe looked adorable in her little turkey dress, the Eagles won, the food was delicious, and everyone was happy. Kristin and Ben's dads were giving me house-hunting tips. I am really lucky I have people down here looking out for me, seeing as I am clueless in all aspects of adult life.

A few days after Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have visitors in our area! My cousin Matt, his wife Emily, and her family were in the West Palm area. Eric's brother is actually best friends with Emily's brother, so Eric's family and all of them are buddies. Weird how our families connect like that! We met them for lunch at Dubois Park. I have never been there, but it was such a beautiful place to have a little picnic. It's right on the intercoastal by the Jupiter inlet, with a great view of the lighthouse. I don't get to see Matt and Emily nearly enough, seeing as they've lived in Utah for many years now, so it was REALLY nice to see them in my new home.

In Christmas news, I have had Christmas music blaring 24/7 to get my mind out of the Doom and Gloom and into Christmas Spirit mode. Eric and I invested in an artificial Christmas tree on Black Friday, much to my chagrin. It should be arriving soon, and it is a very nice one, but I grew up with a real tree. I am very adamant that fake trees kill the Christmas spirit. MURDER IT. No offense to you fake tree lovers. It's just not what I'm used to. We will be in Florida for Christmas this year, so I won't even see a real tree, or my family, or snow. I might cry.

My parents sent down a Christmas package for us, which almost made me cry when I opened it. Here is what was in it:

Christmas dish towels, light-up snowman, "snowballs", and ELF ON THE SHELF! What should we name him? Eric says "Tinklepoo"... so please give us some suggestions... 

Eric's mom made me a stocking (yes, she made it herself!) to match Eric's stocking from his childhood. One of the nicest gifts I have ever received.

My own nativity set!

Our first husband-wife ornaments

A unicorn, Gene Simmons, soft pretzel, and us... What can I say? We're eclectic.

Mistletoe!

My childhood ornaments are in these boxes! A few of my faves: airplane, Lucy the psychiatrist (I am basically her), Converse Chuck Taylors (duh), tailgate cooler full of beer (college), and my Frog Princes. When I met Eric, my mom didn't need to buy me any more of those guys. :)

These will end up going on my HALLOWEEN tree in the future, but they can go on my Christmas tree for now :)

 And to top it all off, my mom packed some of the ornaments in THIS lovely gift bag they had left over from one of my Christmas gifts last year:

This was probably the best package I have ever received. I will miss my family more than words can say on Christmas, but now, our apartment will feel a little more like home to me. I'll be sure to post pictures of our place once it is completely decorated, tree and all.

So, there you have it. Things are changing rapidly, but such is life. I have come to accept that things will work out for us no matter what. Life is too short to worry and be sad all the time. That is much easier to say than actually feel, but I am trying my best.