next, please

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

This verse has stuck with me through the years.

Last week…

Our dog died

I got sick

I got an interview (!)

My grandma had a stroke (minor stroke; she's on the mend now)

I was turned down for another job

Nathan was gone on a business trip all week

This week…

I am healthy

Nathan's home!

I had a job interview (!). It went well. I am now waiting and trying not to get my hopes up.

I took a two mile walk

New goal…

Increase two miles to five

And as for what the rest of this week brings…I’m trying to trust God on that one.

i was going to...

My plan for the week looked like this:

Monday - volunteer at the library

Tuesday - sort summer clothes, go to the bank, the grocery, and the mailboxes, followed by dinner with my small group girls

Wednesday - a trip to the library, the mall (not to buy, but to walk, as it was supposed to rain all day), and dinner with my in-laws

Thursday - more library volunteering

Monday and Tuesday went off well enough, with me accomplishing everything and finding less time to sit at home and be bored.

Wednesday looked like this - Wake up with a terrible sore throat. Can't talk. Can't swallow without convulsing in pain. Go to the doctor for a diagnosis and meds. Find out I have a fever to go with the throat. Spend the rest of the day on the couch.

Thursday - Called off the library, but feeling much better. I can swallow again! The fever is gone. I've been at home, trying to force down lots of water on the advice of some moms and a concerned husband.

So, I was going to do a lot of things this week, and only made it about halfway. The unfortunate part - most of my days look like Wednesday, minus the sickness. Spend the day on the couch...reading, watching movies, messing around online. And it's boring. I even go to bed early sometimes, in hopes of escaping the monotony.

I realize that sounds like depression, but I don't think I'm depressed...I'm just really bored. And that's part of the reason I started blogging again. If I put it out there, whether anyone reads it, I think I'll be more motivated to come up with things to fill my day.

Tomorrow, I plan to clean the house. I've tried to make that my usual Friday activity. Maybe afterward, I'll take that walk at the mall.

sad day

On Sunday, our little bichon Desiree was put to sleep. She had too many health problems to handle.

And so begins my life, minus one dog. She joined our family when I was in high school. She was, as many pets are, a well-loved member of the family who will be greatly missed. My pretty girl, my sweet puppy, my little Desi. 

Life will not be the same without you.

so much time...so little to do

I have been unemployed since last May. I quit my job of four years to do an unpaid summer internship at the public library. It was a great experience that I hoped would lead to a job. And then the internship ended. I spent fall semester finishing school and graduating, and the internship itself…

…led to volunteer service, which has been helpful and informative, but it only keeps me busy about four hours out of the week. I’ve snagged a few interviews, but they have so far ended with me being “too inexperienced.” I’m not yet sure what to do with that; I try to make sure the public library people know I’m willing to do just about anything. Plus, I have the degree! Gah!

This leaves me with unemployment, which is very BORING. It’s hard to fill the time. The house is usually clean. With only two people, there aren’t many errands to run. There are no children to take care of, and we don’t plan on that for a while. Job hunting is not time consuming because I am limited to the area in which I live, thanks (a very grateful thanks) to Nathan’s job. (I must also add that the job hunt is not time consuming due to not searching too widely outside of the library profession. I’m holding out hope…for a little while longer).

I’m afraid it sounds spoiled to have so much free time when so many people are busy trying to keep up with schedules, work, kids, and more. But I find myself struggling with a lot of free time. Days can feel endless and without purpose.

Maybe I will have a focus: Ideas to fill Emily’s day...

back again

I began a blog during my junior year of college and kept it until some point last fall.

I’ve missed it.

Toward the end, I was out of ideas, my blog entries rambled about nothing, and no one really read it. Which may continue to be the case…but there’s something about putting my words out there, whether they’ll be read or not, that I miss.

The things that are notably different since my last blog experience:

I’ve been married to Nathan for over a year and a half

I’m done with school and have a master’s degree in Library and Information Science (!)

I am unemployed

I’m not sure where this will go. I thought about doing the library job search angle, but lots of blogs are already tackling that. This probably won’t be too focused…just me, writing. Whatever I end up going on about, it does feel good to be blogging again.