Today was a good day with a familiar feel. Familiarity is okay unless I become too "comfortable" and my curiosity diminishes. I'm sure you know by now that is not the case for me grin emoticon

Since our return there is lots of activity, seen and unseen, set in motion. I get things moving. The time spent in SoCal socially starved me for a long season and the kids can identify as well. My curiosity of the culture kept me persevering and cultivating relationships however, because I never give up.

I found that planning lunch dates, coffee shop, computer work, walking on the beach and the whole "scene" is a bit too boring for me. I like to get my hands around something, as well as my brain, and get to work. Being idle is not inspiring.........

After getting great information Tuesday from the DMV in Harrisburg, PA, Logan and I headed to the local office to apply to renew his Pennsylvania driver's permit! Even though he's had a permit out west, nothing showed up in the system. PA however, remembered him and he was granted a renewal after almost 2 years! This means within a short amount of time, he can be a licensed driver:)

He has sacrificed this part of his life to head to SoCal. Little did we know the complicated process and expensive one to apply for a license there. Hindsight often reveals those details.
I was also more than thrilled to be dealing with common sense people, who gave me accurate information and were on my side. I received HELP rather than hassles, as I have for almost two years. The east has so much going for us............. and I will continue to speak that truth:)

Following picking up his permit, we set foot in our local Home Depot to make a big purchase of flooring for a rental coming open. The tasks that were so tedious with my late husband I am now overseeing..... and I actually felt......... accomplished.

In the morning I spent over 3 hours working on my own at the rental home, cleaning and scrubbing, and doing the things that have made me........ me.
All the years of doing the same thing, the right thing, faithfully and together, allow me to go it on my own and know what we need. My help remains in place but I am able to fully engage again.........

It took me leaving the familiar to find myself..... and my youngest has too.

Beliefs take a hit when your world is rocked and something so out of the ordinary is thrown your way. Belief in ourselves, in humanity, and in a "Higher Power" are shaken down to the very core of one's existence....... perhaps that is why some say they have none.....

With no hope, there is nothing invested. Nothing is lost. In my opinion, that is not a life lived.

The kids and I came to this land of idolized images and perceptions perpetrated, with great expectations and good intentions. Had our belief system hinged on man's ways and what money secures, we would be sunk, let down left and right......... however,

"Hope is the anchor for our souls which is firm and secure....."

As a woman and mom, I have always tried to offer the best of my beliefs to my kids, not cramming in through control, but modeling by my lifestyle. Here, the climate is not conducive even to the basics; there then, is no foundation to build from. Nothing is firm. Nothing is sound. The ground shifts. There is no progression.

When loss hits, there's a chance to rebuild......... your beliefs, the basics.

There have been tough lessons for my 20 year old to learn lately......... issues of incompetency in every arena; hoping for help but finding there is no one to care in this SoCal climate. Self preservation prevails......... it is The Beautiful Letdown.

My belief remains that each lesson learned and opportunity taken is meant to add to the quality of my life, in one way or another. Hope is a hot commodity; easily taken or traded away; hope needs to be protected. For some, it is all that is left to build upon........

Hope is a belief in the better.