My life right now looks so different then it did a year or even a few months ago. It feels like a totally different life. I can't believe I'm the same person who accomplished all the things I apparently did and went all the place I went.

Now I'm back in Texas, of course, in the town where I lived when we first got married. We just bought a house, a cozy little place built in the 80s. I always thought that we'd get an older house with more character, but I'm making the commitment to be grateful for this one. It's not our forever house, but it was cheap and will provide us with lots of home repair practice. :) Hubby's sister is moving in with us in a couple of weeks, to live with us until her wedding in May. I'm looking forward to it -- L is so sweet and responsible, and it will help the house feel more homey.

My hubby is thriving at his new job -- he works for a small company that does sea floor mapping and data collection, usually for big oil corporations or the state. He goes out on the boats occasionally for weeks at a time, but most of the time he's here. He's the first and only mechanical engineer at his company and I'm so proud of him! When school starts in August, I'll be working as a Head Start assistant. I love the lead teacher in the program -- I've worked with her before. My background is special ed, and the Head Start classroom partners with the Early Childhood Special Ed class across the hall where I worked last year, so I feel like I'll be really useful.

As for what I do right now, not a whole lot. I have a gym membership and sometimes I go, I have a Bible study and weekly coffee dates with friends, I go for walks at night and keep up with the housework.

We actually have *friends* now that we are in our old stomping grounds, and see them at least twice a week. Since our social network here is so deep and goes back so far, we've been kept busy with parties and weddings and graduations. I can't express what a difference it is to live where you've always lived, with people you've always known. I feel like life is moving again.