No, this isn’t about politics . But it could be.

Where do I start this blog? It’s been a very busy few months but I don’t want to spend a lot of time looking back. I feel very encouraged about the way things are going today . I haven’t said that in a long time!

The past year was very hard. Watching my mom slowly deteriorate and die from ALS was torture on everyone. It was impossible to be truly happy while she was suffering. But now I can begin to heal and do the things I know she’d want me to do, like being successful at my job and taking care of my family and enjoying life again.

My mom will always be my inspiration and my cheerleader. I wish she was still here but she’s in a better place now. I find it symbolic that my mom died on Inauguration Day. She was inaugurated into her new role as saint. It feels like the world changed that day even though I was too busy to think about it much at the time.

Quick recap of the past few months. Mom’s house is gone, my husband’s kidney is gone, and my sisters, who were here taking care of my mom, have both left to resume their lives. I haven’t seen or heard from my brothers since the memorial service.

My time working for Turbo Tax has been exciting and interesting and a true blessing . Work was a good distraction from the stress of my husband’s cancer, and I’m happy to share that I’ll be going back in December, God willing. In the meantime I’ll be studying for my enrolled agent exam. This is a credential recognized by the IRS that will improve my skills, opportunities and pay level as a tax professional.

Intuit is a great company and I’m thankful that God sent me down this path! My aunt’s sister had worked for Intuit for a long time and she recently passed away after a long battle with lung disease. I appreciate my aunt’s encouragement to apply for the position. Being able to work from home is truly necessary in my situation. But tax season is over now and I just boxed up my equipment to return it until next season.

Good thing #1 : My youngest son got a job. Hallelujah! I’m excited for him to break out of his shell.

Good thing #2 : My husband is recovering well from his kidney surgery so we took our daughter for a little getaway to Galveston. It was our first trip with her since she got her trach and ventilator and it was a success!

We mostly just relaxed at the hotel, but we also took a scenic drive and rode the ferry as usual. It was a little daunting taking her on a trip. We had to bring so much equipment and be strategic about our plans, but now we feel empowered and eager to plan more adventures with her.

My plan for the next few months is to study, take the EA exams and clean my house and give myself time to miss my mom and adjust to the many changes in my life. I have missed a lot of church and I look forward to getting back into that Sunday routine . I want to get back to exercising and get a real haircut and maybe even go to the dentist . We still don’t have a weekend nurse so we are limited to what we can do away from home.

I hope all my blogging friends are doing well. Can’t wait to catch up on your posts!

These are my plans for the coming summer , but we’ll see what God has in store. For today, I’ll be thankful for His grace and salvation. Everything else is a bonus!