Ryan's visit with his Dad yesterday was uneventful.The only concern was the road conditions - we had freezing rain and the school busses for at least a hundred miles around us had been cancelled. It was worrying for sure. But Ryan's nurse had driven 45 min to get here in the morning and she said it was fine and I checked the transportation websites and they appeared fine as well. His nurse did tell me after they got back that her drive to the house in the morning had been difficult. I'm not sure why she didn't tell me that when I asked her. But what's done is done...
There was no mention of the card and Ryan brought home 2 gifts. Usually when he is with his Dad they open the gifts then but maybe it was different because the younger kids weren't there.
So no drama is a good thing.
Busily getting everything ready for Christmas - same as most everyone else. I hope to wrap things today. Up till now it has just been a shopping frenzy.
And Josh and I have decided to host a party for our local friends and acquaintances. Used to have a big party every year in Niagara. Had planned a house warming when we moved here but we were overwhelmed with all of Ryan's care planning and the chore of getting the actual move done. (we have WAY too much stuff). Also - we barely knew anyone that first summer.
So we've invited about 25 people. Middle child, Brandon, will already be here for the holidays so that will be good.
And speaking of Brandon... He has struggled the past couple of years. Job dissatisfaction. Finances. Apartment not safe. No girlfriend. Right after Christmas we had a LONG talk about how to turn things around. He had already moved to a better area albeit a tiny apartment but he loves the vibrant, safer atmosphere. So next we tackled the financial stuff. I kept encouraging him to explore better job prospects but he told me he was being on his credit card payments. Almost in crisis. He only has one credit card. So I put him in touch with my own financial advisor but also advised him to use some savings to pay off the card. And that took care of that. Not sure why he hesitated on that.
In April, just before he turned 30, he was really down. We talked a lot about how to turn things around. He had got into it with a co-worker and his boss had threatened to fire them both. (It was verbal with the co-worker and they worked it out). He was really afraid of losing his job, living paycheck to paycheck and felt his boss disrespected him. So I encouraged him to be more vigilant about looking for a new job in his field and that's when he told me he did not have internet at home - just work. I bought him Internet for his birthday (which he did not want to celebrate) and despite his protesting - took him, Josh & Ashley to see Cirque du Soleil and out to a nice steakhouse for dinner. And that week things changed.
5 days later he saw a posting a friend had told him about for the perfect job. He emailed them. They phoned him the next morning and asked him to come in. And within 24 hours - he had been hired. And he LOVES it!
In the new job, he has a co-worker who introduced him to a couple of friends and he went on a couple of blind dates. But they didn't pan out. Then a couple of weeks ago - totally out of the blue - he got an email from a girl who had been a client at his previous job. She got his email from his former co-worker and she asked him if he was interested in helping her set up her digital recording studio at her apartment. (that is his line of work). I had a good feeling about it when he mentioned it but said nothing.
And they are dating now and he feels she might be "the one". I saw her photo (she is actually a twin - and she is gorgeous). His mood has gone sky-high!
I think that one of the best gifts you can ever receive is to know that your children are happy and doing well. Ryan (who had serious complications from MRSA this past year) is doing great - healthy and happy. Ashley (who wanted to break up with her boyfriend a year ago) has moved her R to the next level with her boyfriend moving in and sharing her expenses ($ was a big issue with her as well) and she landed a job in her field but also kept her other job part time. She is happy as well.
My kids were all profoundly affected by the divorce. It seemed that when one was doing ok, one of the others wasn't and the past couple of years have been challenging to say the least. But I'm pleased things are all working out.
I hope you joys will be many this Christmas, your struggles few!
