Friday, August 29, 2008

Its Official!!!

So we are officially moving to Cincinnati. We need to be out of our house by the 15th...of september!! So we will be packing and getting a u-haul and be moved into cheryl's house by then. My last day here at the Journal Star is September 12th. We will be renting out the house to a couple for a year that is building a new house in the spring, but sold their old house. So that is awesome for us because we have someone pay our mortgage so we can move, and when we sell next year we wont have to worry about the capital gain and will have way more equity in it to invest into new house. I am seriously dumbfounded about how seamless and quick this has been. We decided LESS than 2 weeks ago. It is a slight burden off my shoulders, but it will be alot better once I get to there and can settle in a bit.
As far as my job, I am thinking I will probably go in and talk to Mesh and give them my application and start there October 1. I dont anticipate having an issue, plus I know there is money to be made, especially during the holidays. I also talked to the photographer here in Peoria and he is going to give me some mentoring to help me get started there--and maybe we can come up with some other arrangements for me to do some weddings on the side...most likely the more long-distance ones...who knows! I am pretty flexible right now and I life like that. It will be interesting to see if I like serving again, or if i would prefer the more 9-5 gig (although now I dont care so much for it). It will also test my marriage because Nat will be working days, and me nights and weekends (most likely) and I will have to sacrifice some quality time with him till i figure some things out. But as long as I am bringing in some money, I dont think he will mind.
I am very excited to see everyone this weekend. Especially Abbi, since I havent seen her in over 2 years...girl! that is way too long! I think Abbi really needs some friend love!
Of course Nats family is very shocked and scared and disappointed. But I seriously agree with Nat that this is a good move for us in a lot of ways. We will have to live with Cheryl for more than a year, but we will see how that pans out. It will take some adjusting, but I think it will be awesome! nat has plans for remodeling, etc..
Thats all i know for now....and I am still trying to adjust and get things done...it is going to be a BUSY, STRESSFUl couple weeks!!

love you all
Mrs. P

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

my hubby loves me

nat sent this to me a while back and i printed it out, hung it on my wall and it is also my desktop image...apparently it really meant a lot!! he may not do things like this very often, but when he does...he does it PERFECT!


nat sent this to me a while back and i printed it out, hung it on my wall and it is also my desktop image...apparently it really meant a lot!! he may not do things like this very often, but when he does...he does it PERFECT!

aww memories....

Friday, August 22, 2008

what you have all been waiting for.....

It all started on sunday on the ride home. I did not say anything to prompt the conversation, somehow it just happened. We talked about it thoroughly and Nat had pretty much already made up his mind. On Monday, Nat searched around and made initiative to talk to several people, on Tuesday he talked to his boss at work about figuring out how it would work, and basically because they love him, everything was approved DEFINATELY by thursday.

Basically Nat and I have decided to move to Cincinnati.

Nat will keep his current job for now and just work from home (whereever that may be, whether in Peoria or Cincinnati). He can start doing that as early as September 1. He is so excited about it, and so am i. He is eager for the change and expecting the best. Apparently he saw while we were there over the weekend that I seemed like a different person, his word was "lively" and he likes me like that. He finally met someone that was in his field that could help him navigate the job market (although he will be staying at his current job, it will help in the long run). I think he finally could see himself there, not just for me, but for him.

We both agree that now is the time to move and this is the best scenerio. There is no rush to find a new job and move (for him), he can stay here until everything is a green light here. He doesn't have to start a new job and rush into moving and being stressed about starting fresh, but will continue doing what he loves and since he will be working from home, we dont have to try to figure out how to get him a more reliable vehicle. We will move in with Cheryl for the time being and he has plans to help her renovate her house (we will see...).

I, of course, will have to find a new job, and i am debating on what i really want to do. Get back into a 9-5 career or branch out and start the business. I had a meeting with a photographer here in Peoria yesterday as we discussed my future in his company, I am hoping to still have a chance to work with him, just to build up my confidence and skill level before/if I decide to go out on my own. That is really the part that is bittersweet. I have this amazing oppurtunity in front of me to get into my field and to grow in my experience and abililties. It sorta sucks to have to not take it as fully as i thought, but still hoping that I can get enough life lessons under my belt and a friend co-photographer to help me get started when I get to Cincinnati (so I can drag Cheryl and Cindy around as my second cameras!). We will have to see how that goes. I am excited however to get out of my current job, as much as a cake job it is...its not fulfilling or challenging anymore. I am OF COURSE THRILLED to be coming home to my family and friends and rejoining in our life journey. I am so excited for you all to really get to know Nat and love him (if only because he loves me!! cant you see how much now!???!?!) I think I will be more comfortable and less terrified of starting to build our family and have kids, knowing I have such an incredible support system in driving distance! There are so many pros to this scenario, the timing, the way it all came about. And as excited as I am, I think Nat is MORE excited!

It has been an overwhelming week...thinking about, waiting for definate answers, trying to keep my head level and stay in reality, but everything has fallen into place seamlessly and without a hitch. But it is only the first step. The biggest dilemna we have is selling the house. We still need to do some final retouching and finish work. I need to clean it really good and take pictures to post. We need to find out about the capital gain crap and decide if we want to sell or rent it out. Although the move seems to be inevitable, the when aspect is all contingent on selling the house. So in that area is where we need the prayers...that someone will come along as they did in Tremont and sell it quickly and for what we need to get out of it.

As soon as we sell the house, the sooner we will be there. If it takes a year to sell, it will be a year...and I am not sure I can really wait that long. I am surprizingly very grounded even though it could take that long, I am of course in much anticipation, but seeing how it has been up to this point, I have no doubt that it is what we are supposed to do and everything else will fall into place as well.

We have already told Ken and Vanessa but will be telling Hope and Steve tonight. I am not sure how she will take it. Ken and Vanessa are quasi-supportive, of course they dont want to see us go. I know it will break Hopes heart because she so wants to be around her kids. I really do believe that this is the best thing for both of us, Nat and me. I will be excited to see how we grow as a couple and become more in love through this. We have already been through so much, I seriously doubt anything will weaken us at this point, but only make us stronger and better!

So there is the news. it is exciting , scary, fantastic and adventerous and although it is pretty much definate, it is still contingent on selling the house....so dust off your prayers and get to it!

LOVE YOU ALL!!! SEE YOU (more often) VERY SOON!!
Mrs. P

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Don't get TOO excited ....YET

So it has been killing me to try to keep from writing this post until everything was settled and a firm decision was made. My husband is wonderful!
There are still alot of loopholes, and delays to look forward to, but up to this point things have been running very smoothly. Just keep the prayer lines open because it has worked wonders up to this point.

I thought i was going to write this blog with the sharing of our news, but I am tired and I think I will wait for tomorrow! hahahah
So you will just have to wait...but trust me...you will LOVE IT!!

just the best of the best....

it can only get better!!!

I AM SO EXCITED! I JUST CANT HIDE IT! I AM GOING TO LOSE CONTROL AND I THINK I LIKE IT!!!

one thing down, several more roadbumps to go....

did i mention how FABULOUS my husband is?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

bittersweet

So i have a tough situation that I am going through. I need all the prayers you can muster up. I am someone that is pretty good with change, but that doesnt necessarily make it easy. I think the next couple months will be scary and sad and exciting and adventerous! I am finally going to start venturing into a new (yet old) profession. I will take on the experience with excitement and a little bittersweetness. It is something that i have longed to do for quite a while and now I finally get to try my hand at it, but I know it will be short-lived. But regardless what the future holds, I have to take this moment and learn and grow in it....because ultimately it will make me stronger person, and give me experience that will make me better in my chosen profession. TImes are tough...my company (the cake job) is basically going bankrupt -- and currently it doesnt scare me, cause frankly I dont think i will be there long enough to see it. Change is always scary..you come to a place that you have to start over and rebuild from almost scratch, then it always seems like when you finally have your feet knee-deep in the gunk..something happens and you get ripped out and have to start over all over again. Starting over isnt always bad, sometimes it is exactly what you want, takes you exactly where you want to be...but still isnt easy to do. Sometimes i feel like it would be easier to go back to high school and have no worries and not have to make big lofty life-changing decisions...but as i said..change isnt always bad, and honestly it rarely ever is. i am lucky to have such a wonderful, loving, supportive husband. My heart truly desires that you there could see him as i see him...see how much he loves and adores me and basically do anything in his power to make me happy. my heart is thrilled to have someone in my life that can see me--know me--and still love me despite myself.
Life is heart-breaking sometimes. People come in and out of your life for reasons you can only see in hinds sight. I have been lucky to keep most of those amazing people fairly close by. I am thankful for those friends that tell me how it is or how they think they see it because they love me and want the best for me. it is much harder to be on the other end of that spectrum...not knowing how to react, not knowing what to say --and having no control over making the pain go away. It breaks my heart to see people hurting...and it sucks even more when there is nothing I can do to make it better. I guess that is a ting of peace-maker in me.
I am asking that you pray..because if I believe in anything, it is the power of prayer. I want you to pray that everything will fall into place. That this new transition will be seamless and leave no doubt of it being the correct path. I want you to pray that I have wisdom in my decisions and that i could have the words to help and heal. Pray that the doors will open wide, that no one gets hurt in the process and that I could regain some sort of vision for my life, my purpose, my career, my love, and that I will truly find something that makes me happy.
I know I am talking in circles...but you can trust me.....

Monday, August 18, 2008

i am here....

So i really wanted to write on thursday last week, but in order to get friday off i had to make sure all my work was done...and the work just never stopped coming in...so sorry to that one person that stayed up all night with her insomnia and blamed me for it!

I really have a LOT on my mind today. There has been alot of things that have happened, with family and friends and even decisions that need to be made. I am not sure what is going to happen...and frankly i am scared, uneasy and excited! This weekend has been a whirlwind of emotional uneasiness, hopeful thoughts and just not having words to say, knowing what to do or having sound and wise advice to give.

Its funny that life gets to a point that you climb above the pile of chaos and for a glimpse can see the horizon and stand on top with the wind in your hair...then all of a sudden, out of no where, with no warning, you loose your footing and end up on your back looking back up the towering pile of chaos..wondering to yourself if you will ever regain the strength to climb up it again...but i remember the view on top...surreal!

We really have a habit on our group of friends to share thoughts and feeling with metaphors that people may or may not understand. I find it humorous.

I must say that the game was AWESOME!!! It was so nice to hang out with a group of people that you can truly be yourself around and talk to and just be with. I really do miss it. I know it wouldnt be like it is when i come for the weekend if I would ever move back...but there is just something about being close enough to people that you care about. I truly do have the most amazing people in my life. There is just not enough time in a weekend to feel like I have had quality time with everyone...most of the time on my ride home I think about who i may have not talked to enough..or wishing I had more time.

I am feeling more grounded here in Peoria. I have one good friend and some open door oppurtunities that have get to flourish. My job is cake and I enjoy it---i am basically a clip art queen....but i am good at what I do, which gives me some satisfaction. I am pretty content. I think I have learned to not hold on so tightly to my comfort zone and let it go. For the first couple years I was so focused on what I was missing out on in Cincinnati and waiting to get out of here that I didnt try as hard as i could have. I really feel like I have stepped out and made an effort here....and I am really proud of myself. Now I feel like I can conquer the world no matter where I am.

(this is for sarah craynon) I have liked chocolate most of my life. Chocolate has been really good, but there was a point where chocolate just wasnt enough anymore. I really want to try something different, so I sampled some dark chocolate, and that is nasty, and white chocolate is ok, but nothing quite compares to milk chocolate. Then someone introduced me to caramel...and I fell in love with it. it was so creamy and delicious. I wanted to eat caramel all the time and I really thought I had passed over the chocolate addiction until once in a while i wanted chocolate. Then I thought, what if I can mix chocolate with caramel, that would be the ultimate satisfaction! It would work in theory, but I didnt have the resources to make that happen. So I continued to really grow to love and adore caramel alone, and made it a point to eat chocolate as much as i could. Now, although I really love chocolate, I tend to eat more and more caramel, and honestly I dont mind it...it is tasting almost as good as chocolate. Chocolate will always have a place in my heart, and if I could put caramel and chocolate together, I would be a happy happy girl...even though I like them just the same seperately. But I see a glimpse in the future, and a promising hope that my desire will come -- and if everything works out then chocolate and caramel can always be together....I can have the best of both worlds!! so maybe, just maybe, one day it will happen! (hahahhahahaha -- love your metaphors, had to play along!)

thats it for now...i need to get some work done...
Mrs. P

Thursday, August 14, 2008

i will i promise

I am SO in the mood to blog today, and i need to and i will....just give me a minute! I am actually kind of busy at work...shocking i know!

Monday, August 04, 2008

UPDATE REDS/CARDINALS GAME

Two weeks until the game!!! and I am still waiting on some money and PEOPLE...(see below).

Below is again the CONFIRMED LIST:

1. Chrissi Pflederer
2. Nat Pflederer
3. Amber Tillison
4. Phil Tillison
5. Cheryl Bond
6. Cindy Tucker
7. Sarah Nunery
8. Ben Nunery
9. Becky Palmieri
10. James Palmieri
11. Sarah Craynon
12. Rachel (Sarah Nunery)
13. Stephanie (Cindy Tucker)
14. Emma Gibbons
15. John "Gibbons"
16. Carol Bond
17. Kaitlyn Palmieri
18. Jimi Bird
19. Katie Bird
20.Sarah Ralston
21. Trevor--hahahah I mean, TRAVIS (Sarah Ralston)
22. Kaitlyn Palmieri Friend
23.
24.
25.

PAID

I have three tickets available if you know of ANYONE that wants to come...

Thanks