It's a Wonderful Life...

So it has been a week or so since I last posted.  Life has been busy…but life has been wonderful.  I have been in the process of moving and getting into a routine so there has not been a lot of time for blogging.  I have hand written one (political of course since I am such a sucker for such things) and hope to get it typed out today sometime.   There have been a lot of changes so let me try to get my friends out there caught up on it all…

1. New Family…

As many of you know I have been dating long-distance with Mandy (@MandyVaughn) for a few months now and we had come to the mutual decision that this long distance dating was for the birds!  The trips were expensive, tiring, TOO FRICKING SHORT and well a huge inconvenience!  So we decided it was time to merge our families, homes and resources.  For reasons that are not necessary to go into here it just made sense for me to move here rather than her move to where I was. 

So I began job hunting.  Now in a day and time when our economy is in the shape it is in and jobs are so scarce my story is almost unfair…though I am very glad for it and thrilled.  I put an application in on craiglist.com and less than 5 minutes later got a response.  I did 3 interviews over a couple of trips down here and received a call that they were ready for me to start on the 9^th and could I get here by then?  Well let me tell you I made it happen!  So I loaded me and the kids (all three of them) up and moved to SC.  I started my new job on August 9^th.    The following weekend I went back to GA to make a quick drive up to Ohio to meet my oldest kid’s mom to deliver her two of the most precious treasures in my life.  It was a long weekend, about 30 hours of driving, but I got it done and back in time for the other kids here to start school.

The kids started school here on August 16^th and it has been a little bit hectic but it has been fun!  I am happy to be here and be a part of Mandy and the kid’s lives.  Every day I find myself more in love with all of them.  The kids and I are getting along great with slight bumps along the road…nothing you would not expect in any transition period.  Mandy and I have a wonderful relationship and a level of compatibility I would not expect.  Now that I am here, we are learning each others idiosyncrasies and we are getting the comfort level to actually disagree…you know…that stage when “yes dear” (spoken in a resigned voice) is heard less. Lol

I know this relationship is new and those that look at it might just nod and smile knowingly as if to say “give it time” but I am watching it develop and early on we are already developing good communication habits, habits I have never developed in any former relationship I have ever been in.  We disagree, don’t think we are acting all “wear the same t-shirt” silly.  We disagree, sometimes firmly, but we are learning to discuss things and listen.  I am learning to not only lead but really and truly listen…something I have not always been good at, I admit.   Mandy is a good woman, more woman than I deserve….and I am determined to not screw this up!   

The kids have just totally stolen my heart.  Abby is 7 going on 17.  She is smart, sweet and really has taken up the role of big sister to Bethanie magnificently.  She seems to have really gotten attached to me, was even calling me “Papi” till her dad had a bit of a cow about that…but the sentiment is still there and I am proud to be here and a part of her life.  Zach-meister is the man!  The little guy is two and is already mostly potty trained (knock on wood).   He is an emotional little boy and is Mommy’s little baby boy, but he seems to like me except when he is sleepy, hungry or just irritable…which with our wacky schedule adds up to about 15 minutes a day! Rofl!  I love the little guy and love those moments when he wants to hug up on “who-yo” as he calls me.  And then there is the incomparable Molly-pop.   Molly has the sweetest smile that just transforms her whole face.  She is the epitome of sugar and spice!  She has an explosive temper but an equally explosive affectionate personality.  When she cries she just breaks your heart because just like her smile transforms her so does her tears.   When she cries, even when she is faking it (and make no mistake she can fake it with the best of them) she still manages to make it feel like it is coming from her gut.  I keep telling Mandy that she is going to be the next Shealy (Mandy’s side of the family) that will be a politician!  I swear she could be standing over the dead body with the smoking gun, spit on the body (just for added DNA) and STILL not only convince you she did NOT do it but that you should be deeply ashamed of yourself for even insinuating that she did!  God I love that little girl! Lol  Bethanie is blossoming like I have never seen her before, talking even fighting, she is doing  good in school, interacting good with her sisters and brother.  She is developing a personality (who wouldn’t amongst this crowd!) and I am totally enjoying watching her.

2. New Job...

I really like my job.   I am going from an ER hospital environment to a back office hospital environment.  I am working for MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) in Charleston, SC.  I am training for a position where I will be working in the Financial Assistance Department, basically the charity department of the hospital which is kind of cool.  My brother says it is the perfect job for a liberal…where I get to give away rich Republican’s money…hey…he said it not me!  Basically when uninsured people need treatment that is catastrophic but have no way to pay for it, they fill out a long ass application and I will be looking over it to be sure that the need is legit and that they are not trying to pull a fast one on us.   Once reviewed and approved they can get the treatment for as much as 100% discounted.  The job satisfaction is two fold…I get to help some people that really need help AND I get to “catch” the people that  have the 200,000 dollar home and two Benz’s in the driveway and spend 200.00 a month getting their nails done and are trying to get out of paying their bills.  So is kinda cool.

The office environment is very friendly and laid back.  There is a lot of joking and goofing around which suits a cut up like me just fine!  The pay is less than my last job but I get more hours so it balances out nicely.  This week has been mostly training (yawn) but my trainer has been great and I look forward to hitting the ground running in this upcoming week.

3.  New Outlook...

This year I began the year with a determination to Live, Laugh, Love and Learn.  Those were my New Year’s Resolution.  And I look at this year and how far I have come in the last eight months and for the first time in my adult life I am happy with my year.  I find myself laughing more than ever, I find myself looking at life with a new ray of hope and a “joie de vivire” like I have never known.  I have a woman that loves me and appreciates me as much as I do her.  I have four kids (six kids in the summer) that get along great, are growing up happy (well as happy as kids can be in spurts lol) and love me ALMOST as much as I love them.  I am employed in a day and time when a job is a priceless commodity.  I told My brother just this last week….for the first time in my adult life I feel hope.  And hope is such a priceless thing and you never really realize how priceless till you have lost it…and it becomes even more precious when you get it back…

Just Another Day in Paradise...

What a weekend it has already been.  Friday I had a job interview that went really good (good enough they just called me for a second interview tomorrow-Tuesday)  We went to Abby's award banquet for her swim team where she won the "Most Dedicated Swimmer" award for her age group.  She is pretty damn good, a regular little fish.  Then there was Saturday where we went to Mom's house and had a fun day in the pool and just hanging out and some pretty damn awesome Chilli/Slaw Dogs.  Mom made a chilli that was to die for.  

Sunday Abby and I went to her City Swim meet.  I was touched that she wanted me to go with her.  She did great...1st place in each of the heats she swam.  On the way home she told me she wanted to call me Dad....hey...it meant a lot to me...HUGE moment.  

There is so much more to say about this weekend....and many more to come...so Mandy and I decided to start a blog to kind of track our journey as a family....wanna see it?  

 http://sosfamilysos.blogspot.com/ 

When you go..do me a favor....tell Mandy we all would like to see more of HER on it!  Thanks!

I could not ask for more...

Last night...about 10pm...I stood in the living room. The kids....all SIX of them...were in their beds asleep...Mandy was in our room dozing off. And this song came to mind. I had had a great day. We went to the pool...hung out with Mom and Will..played in the pool with the kids. My body was sore from picking up and throwing five kids (Zach wouldn't hear of it!) and the fun chit chat, the play...the feeling of family as we came home got baths and cleaning done...

I stood there last night and really...almost cried from a full heart as I realized the simple truth...

I am home...

And I could not ask for more...

I could not ask for more...

This last weekend a major milestone was crossed in my life as well as in the relationship that Mandy (Gamecock Mama) and myself have been developing and watching grow,with both wonder and amazement.

This weekend Mandy drove up to Georgia where my family (My Parents and My brother) had a cookout get together and Mandy came to meet the family. Mandy was nervous about it, as was I...just because you never can predict these things. I was confident my family would like her and accept her, but you know...there are always those little unpredictable dynamics that are completely out of your control that you worry about.

We had enough food to feed an army...hell we STILL have leftovers! Chicken, pork ribs and pork kabobs, grilled pineapple and corn, potato salad, baked beans, brats...damn...there was just a LOT of food. What can I say? My family is always more cooperative on a full belly!

My past choices and decisions, when it comes to women, has been, shall we say,less than satisfying for my family. I will refrain from saying anything more since they might one day find my blog...and it would really suck if they saw me writing what I think about them....as if they didn't know already! But due to my bad judgement in the past my family was...shall we say....cautious. And frankly I can't blame them...it was not a reflection on Mandy as much as it was a reflection on my past idiocy.

So the big day arrived and Mandy came over. My older two kids fell in love with Mandy immediately, with BJ going so far as to use the word "Awesome" which is pretty good! My brother, bless his snarly heart, was his usual smart ass self, which is exactly how we love him. He did call her Sweety, which I am pretty sure was a good thing! Dad tried to sell her on his new business...which is also a very positive sign (sorry about the 16 minute video Mandy baby doll!).

I was completely blown away by my mom. My mom is a selective person, and she is also the barometer of my family. Usually if mom approves everybody ends up falling in line. Mom was very impressed with her and made no bones about it which goes a long way. We joked, ate, talked, ate, sat and watched a movie....and ate...did I mention we had a lot of food?

Mandy left on Sunday...and it seemed like the weekend was way too short...I may have cried after she was gone...not that I would admit to it. But it left a big empty hole in me...a reminder to me again that this woman really means everything to me. Sunday morning she came over, mom and dad were gone to church, my brother had gone home and my kids were off doing their thing...and Mandy and I sat at the kitchen table and talked for a couple of hours over a cup of coffee...it was symbolic...a reminder to me that she really is everything I have been looking for...and I could not ask for more...