New Changes for 2022

 A FEW THINGS--

Welcome to 2022--I am still trying to deal with 2019-2020 and 2021 and here we are in 2022. The good news is--it is 2022. We are still breathing and moving and loving and living. So we are off to a great start right?

The highlight of my 2021 year was becoming a Grandmother. That blessing had me rethink my life, my health, my career and my friendships.

I spent a lot of time in November and December having diabetic appointments, getting my teeth fixed, having a mammogram and getting a physical. I have not had a pap smear in about 8 years and this was NOT smart. Although I have had a hysterectomy it was a different type of a hysterectomy that they no longer do. Because of that I still need to have a pap smear every 3 years.  In all honesty--after 3 years of not having one done I decided I just didn't WANT to know if something was wrong. Blind faith and stupidity. Side note: my new OBGYN is amazing and really did a great job helping me sort through all of my concerns and fears and we even had some time to discuss my weight and what direction I need to go with that moving forward in 2022.  I have had mammograms--but ditched the pap. Will never do that again--and I suggest you don't either. We are needed in this world. We need to remember that.

My mammogram looks great so I am happy about that. My pap smear was clear so that was a huge sigh of relief for me. I qualified for a continuous glucose monitor so that I can understand my bloods sugars better. I have the left side of my mouth completely repaired and in a few months I will have the right side of my mouth repaired. I had amazing blood work. My kidneys are awesome, my thyroid is working great. My cholesterol was amazing. I am just a diabetic--and fat. So my focus in 2022 is learning portion control and blood sugar control. 

A personal decision I made this year was to officially leave the United Methodist Church. I am not happy with organized religions--I am not happy with unorganized religions. It just isn't for me right now. I don't feel that I need to go into detail about leaving--it was not an easy decision for me. I did find out through a member of the local United Methodist Church that my son was not asked to attend confirmation classes. At first I was really hurt. My family spent countless hours in that church. We put in new carpet, we brought in new Bibles, we committed to that church through classes, attendance and I even preached in the pulpit a few times. But my son was "left out" of confirmation class. I was venting my frustration about this to my other children and my oldest daughter said "would you want the Pastor of that church being in charge of his confirmation?" And the answer is no. I would not. So right now--this church is not for me. I do miss communion though. Right now I am involved in the micro church movement. I don't really know if I will ever use my love of preaching in the pulpit and open my own micro church...but I like this movement--it has built my faith up when I have lacked a lot of it these last few years. I definitely feel more balanced being a part of this movement and look forward to seeing where this will lead me.

I also had to take a look at all of my "side hustles" and decide how much longer I want put my life into them. I have loved these "side hustles" because I could work my own schedule while raising my kids. I just recently retired from running a greenhouse for 20 years, recently retired as an EMT and started withdrawing from community involvement. In all honesty these were not easy decisions. But I feel this will be the best for me and my family. 

1. "A Little Bit of Everything" has been brought back to life as a "one and done" store. It is time for me to sort through all of my collections and sell off what I don't want. I plan to keep my vintage childhood items, my movie posters, all depression glass along with the amber "Tiara" glassware collection--which is a collection of dishes my parents had growing up, anything given to me through a family estate and any atomic collection I might have in all of those boxes because right now I am fascinated with that collection. 

The purpose of this business is not to gauge customers with outrageous prices. I really want people to see my collection and think--my Grandmother had that dish--or that piece will complete my collection. I just want to help people who love vintage like me to have these pieces and not wipe out their bank accounts to get those pieces. This store (online) will be a "one and done" store meaning when it's gone--I am done. My goal is to have it all gone but 2024. The year I turn 50.

2. Origami Owl--or Think Goodness as it is called now-- is a little jewelry side hustle I have had since 2012 I believe. It has been an amazing little side hustle. It has paid for many trips both nationally and internationally. It has paid for many trips to NFL games to watch Peyton Manning play. I mean--this was really a fun money side hustle for me and my kids. It has been so much fun. 

I plan to end my time with "Think Goodness" in 2024 when I turn 50. I plan to start selling my collection of Origami Owl in 2022. My daughters and I will be sorting through and keeping what we want and then selling off the rest at a massive discount. This will also be a "one and done" store. Meaning--when it is gone it is gone.

3. Finally--my time as an International Coordinator. THIS was the hardest decision I have ever made because I absolutely love the people I have met, traveled with, and worked with. I started with this program coming right out of my deep depression--because nothing is better for the soul then trying to convince people to take international kids. It DID teach me how to take NO for an answer...but I definitely struggled tweaking taking that no for an answer. This has been such an amazing experience for me. I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. And by being a part of this program--I grew up. I grew up a lot. 

My goal is to be done as an International Coordinator in the summer of 2024. The year I turn 50. I still want to be involved in the program--but I don't want to be the State Coordinator for it. Because of Covid-19 and the postponement of the program I have had the time to "rethink" promoting the program. So--I will be putting this plan together this year and spending the next few years "tweaking" it so that whoever takes my place will have everything in front of them to keep it going. I would love to chaperone for the program. I would also love to send my son to Japan before I retire from the program. So we will see how this all plays out.  

I decided that I wanted to be a travel agent...right before Covid-19. So yeah--selling travel when you literally can't travel was perfect timing. So I postponed it. I decided to get my certificate in Travel and Tourism and did everything I was suppose to do to get started as a travel agent and Covid-19 stuck around. So to say this has been frustrating is an understatement. So I decided that in 2022 I am just going to keep moving forward and see what happens.

Time management in 2022--it will be a challenge. But I am SO ready for it. 

And finally--.Removal of Toxic Friends and Family

We recently had the school Holiday band/choir concert and a woman taped the performance at the teachers' request so that the kids could watch it afterwards. I recently found out that this particular person who taped the concert was not a good friend. And I chose to just end the friendship--I didn't feel the need to go public about it. I just ended it--like an adult. When it came time to watch the video--the person/former friend who videoed this concert made sure my son was not really in it. She had videoed over him. And he noticed. Now--I haven't seen the video so I can't confirm. But I know that my son was hurt over it. So--I had to have a conversation with him about how sometimes adults forget they are adults. And this was a jab at me not him.

This isn't the first time this has happened to me in this town. Many moons ago--another woman--spread around that I had an affair with my husbands' twin brother and that my youngest daughter was his and not my husbands and this rumor went into the school. And I had to once again--explain to my child that adults sometimes forget that they are adults and this was a jab at me--not her.

Similar personalities with these two women--both are very involved in the community--they will tell you they are involved because it is their duty--but they are in it for the gossip--not only to collect it but to spread it. They will do anything for you. And they will backstab you while they do it.

A town doesn't grow on stunted seeds. With that being said--I have been sorting out who should and should NOT be in my life and that is both privately and on social media. I am hoping that the less I am around-- maybe the town will find another victim to mess with. Unfortunately--with the recent events--and the extremes that were taken to "get me" I have had no choice but to continue to unfriend mutual friends, family, maybe the entire community. If you choose to support it, to participate in it--then you aren't for me. And I will actually miss you. I really will. I mean--it is the ending of  20 year friendships. But--these two women came after my kids. That is where I draw the line.

2022 is going to be an amazing year for me. I feel like I have this new opportunity to make things happen, to actually be a positive in a world of negative. And I no longer desire to waste my time on people who just suck. I am so excited to meet new people, make new connections and make new friends. I am so excited to be able to just love my husband, my family, and my grandson. My life is good--and no one is going to mess with that.

Cheers to 2022.

Until Next Time

Kristi