Tuesday, April 22, 2014
A View from the Eyes of a Convert: Wisconsin Friends, Wisconsin Blogs!
A View from the Eyes of a Convert: Wisconsin Friends, Wisconsin Blogs!: My mission blog! Sister Cutler updates this, you will see me on here from time to time, and will be able to see what is going on mission wid...
April 22, 2014
Hi everyone!
Well, just an update here to let you know I have talked to Angelena today! She had a layover in Denver at DIA for a couple of hours and we talked for almost an hour!
She sounds good, although tired from them getting her up at 1 am this morning to get the the Salt Lake Airport. She is not a morning person! LOL Plus, I could tell her blood sugar was running because she had not eaten. We had a great conversation, she called me 'momma' which she has done since she was little. She only refers to me as 'mom or MOTHER" when she is frustrated with me hehe!
She was full of everything she did while at the MTC, and I got a sense that she is very happy. So with that I am comforted that she will survive, and I guess I will too!
As for me, I got through my first holiday (Easter) without her. I had to work, which occupied 8 hours of my day, even though I was counting down the hours until I went to dinner at my cousin Carol's house with her mom (my only living aunt Joyce) and her siblings and their kids! We had a lovely dinner, and really I was so full I really thought I would explode. I must explain here, my family is full blooded Italian, and we don't understand the meaning of a 'small' dinner!
I have kept pretty busy with work, that does help. i have the next 2 days off, one of which I plan on doing some genealogy work on my family tree. Believe me that is a process and will take up my day.
Tomorrow, I am going to meet with Carol and we will be doing something! I don't know what, but it doesn't matter, I will be getting out of the house!
I am actually doing pretty well, I have joined a group on Face book called "Missionary Momma's". A whole group of us who have missionaries out and we are able to give each other a pat on the back and virtual hugs if we need them.
I do feel the effects of being lonely still. The apartment is fairly quiet except when Bella, Angelena's cat is whining about food. Some days are better, some I feel like crying. But for the most part I feel ok. I was talking with friends all they have all said that I sound good.
It will be a long 18 months. But I look forward to her emails and weekly letters. I will never look at "Monday" the same way again. That is her "P" day, which means she will email and write letters home (about an hour every week) do laundry, grocery shop and I think have time to lounge around in jeans? Don't know for sure yet, I will have to ask.
For me this week? I plan on some serious Anna time. I plan on reading which I do anyway,maybe finding a family line that I didn't know existed. As spring is approaching, I am thinking getting out and taking photos, which is my passion. I hope to have a buddy with me when I do this, but I am making myself do it alone. I have to reinvent Anna right?
Be aware, I might sometimes vent on here. Its not always easy to be alone, but I am learning. I don't like it much, I would rather be sharing my day to day with someone. But that's ok too, I have to be able to be comfortable in my own skin.
I am going now, time to get my day started!
Love, Anna
PS>Just a photo here, thought you might enjoy the early tulip in my courtyard!
Hi everyone!
Well, just an update here to let you know I have talked to Angelena today! She had a layover in Denver at DIA for a couple of hours and we talked for almost an hour!
She sounds good, although tired from them getting her up at 1 am this morning to get the the Salt Lake Airport. She is not a morning person! LOL Plus, I could tell her blood sugar was running because she had not eaten. We had a great conversation, she called me 'momma' which she has done since she was little. She only refers to me as 'mom or MOTHER" when she is frustrated with me hehe!
She was full of everything she did while at the MTC, and I got a sense that she is very happy. So with that I am comforted that she will survive, and I guess I will too!
As for me, I got through my first holiday (Easter) without her. I had to work, which occupied 8 hours of my day, even though I was counting down the hours until I went to dinner at my cousin Carol's house with her mom (my only living aunt Joyce) and her siblings and their kids! We had a lovely dinner, and really I was so full I really thought I would explode. I must explain here, my family is full blooded Italian, and we don't understand the meaning of a 'small' dinner!
I have kept pretty busy with work, that does help. i have the next 2 days off, one of which I plan on doing some genealogy work on my family tree. Believe me that is a process and will take up my day.
Tomorrow, I am going to meet with Carol and we will be doing something! I don't know what, but it doesn't matter, I will be getting out of the house!
I am actually doing pretty well, I have joined a group on Face book called "Missionary Momma's". A whole group of us who have missionaries out and we are able to give each other a pat on the back and virtual hugs if we need them.
I do feel the effects of being lonely still. The apartment is fairly quiet except when Bella, Angelena's cat is whining about food. Some days are better, some I feel like crying. But for the most part I feel ok. I was talking with friends all they have all said that I sound good.
It will be a long 18 months. But I look forward to her emails and weekly letters. I will never look at "Monday" the same way again. That is her "P" day, which means she will email and write letters home (about an hour every week) do laundry, grocery shop and I think have time to lounge around in jeans? Don't know for sure yet, I will have to ask.
For me this week? I plan on some serious Anna time. I plan on reading which I do anyway,maybe finding a family line that I didn't know existed. As spring is approaching, I am thinking getting out and taking photos, which is my passion. I hope to have a buddy with me when I do this, but I am making myself do it alone. I have to reinvent Anna right?
Be aware, I might sometimes vent on here. Its not always easy to be alone, but I am learning. I don't like it much, I would rather be sharing my day to day with someone. But that's ok too, I have to be able to be comfortable in my own skin.
I am going now, time to get my day started!
Love, Anna
PS>Just a photo here, thought you might enjoy the early tulip in my courtyard!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
April 15th, 2014
Hi everyone who is reading this! ;)
Its been a week now since my daughter left. I have 1 email from her, and was over the moon with that short email! Yahoo!
Its still very weird having to come into my apartment and not have anyone there. Well except my fur child Bella! She may not talk to me, but has kept me company at least. Best thing, she doesn't care that I talk, just as long as her food bowl had food!
I have accomplished a few things in the week she has been gone.
I finally printed photos for a photo collage that I have had for years. Now being a photographer, you would think I have a lot to put up and look at. Well yes, I have tons of my personal photos of the kids, my family and friends and my sunsets, landscaped and flowers. I just never had them hanging on the wall. Why you ask? Well, because of my weird insecurity that I will be displaced. After my divorce and another relationship that led to me being on my own, I just felt displaced. So...I had photos on the computer, in a large tote(s) (I have thousands of photos by the way), just never enjoyed my own photos. So, I did it, they are printed up, in their frames and I am hanging them up tomorrow!
I know I need to find something for me. So, I downloaded an app on my phone called "Duo Lingo" and I am going to try and learn Italian! Yup, something just for Anna, and it doesn't cost me anything. I can practice all by myself and maybe someday, I will be able to hold a conversation...lets say in Italy? ;) That is on my bucket list to go where my family is from and walk where they have walked.
I am in the process of getting my car fixed. Yeah, that along with all the other stress in my life, my car is trying to die. Well I am not letting that happen! I am currently getting help with the breaks! Yup things are looking up for me in a huge way.
I am still trying to reinvent me. This I think will be an interesting ride! I plan on updating whoever wants to read this. ;) If anyone who does happen to read this and is an empty nester, please feel free to leave advice!
Lastly, again I say I love you and thank you to all my family members and friends who have helped me and continue to help me! Without your love and support, I just don't think I would be where I am today! So I am not really alone, I have you!!
Love, Anna
Hi everyone who is reading this! ;)
Its been a week now since my daughter left. I have 1 email from her, and was over the moon with that short email! Yahoo!
Its still very weird having to come into my apartment and not have anyone there. Well except my fur child Bella! She may not talk to me, but has kept me company at least. Best thing, she doesn't care that I talk, just as long as her food bowl had food!
I have accomplished a few things in the week she has been gone.
I finally printed photos for a photo collage that I have had for years. Now being a photographer, you would think I have a lot to put up and look at. Well yes, I have tons of my personal photos of the kids, my family and friends and my sunsets, landscaped and flowers. I just never had them hanging on the wall. Why you ask? Well, because of my weird insecurity that I will be displaced. After my divorce and another relationship that led to me being on my own, I just felt displaced. So...I had photos on the computer, in a large tote(s) (I have thousands of photos by the way), just never enjoyed my own photos. So, I did it, they are printed up, in their frames and I am hanging them up tomorrow!
I know I need to find something for me. So, I downloaded an app on my phone called "Duo Lingo" and I am going to try and learn Italian! Yup, something just for Anna, and it doesn't cost me anything. I can practice all by myself and maybe someday, I will be able to hold a conversation...lets say in Italy? ;) That is on my bucket list to go where my family is from and walk where they have walked.
I am in the process of getting my car fixed. Yeah, that along with all the other stress in my life, my car is trying to die. Well I am not letting that happen! I am currently getting help with the breaks! Yup things are looking up for me in a huge way.
I am still trying to reinvent me. This I think will be an interesting ride! I plan on updating whoever wants to read this. ;) If anyone who does happen to read this and is an empty nester, please feel free to leave advice!
Lastly, again I say I love you and thank you to all my family members and friends who have helped me and continue to help me! Without your love and support, I just don't think I would be where I am today! So I am not really alone, I have you!!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Hi, I am Anna, and I am an empty nester! I live in Colorado. I have 2 kids Aaron who lives in MO, and Angelena who just turned 21, is now serving a 18 month mission in Wisconsin. I am trying to figure out 'who' I am.
Once you become a 'mom' your entire job is helping them grow, and become independent. Well, that mission is accomplished, they are both gone. Its hard to go from 'mom' mode, to all I have to please is myself mode. Its very strange.
When my first born left, even though I was sad and cried, I still had one at home, and I was getting her raised. Aaron has been back home a couple of times, but I usually go and visit him yearly.
Angelena just left this past Tuesday on her 'journey'. She converted to the LDS church just a bit over a year ago, and wanted to go on a mission ever since. She had to wait 1 year, and she submitted her paperwork. She got her mission call last December, and it seemed like my life has been on a fast roll foreword ever since.
I was born and raised Catholic, I am Italian what else? LOL But, I am not a 'practicing' one. I didn't raise the kids in any structured religion, my ex and I decided that the kids should 'choose'. Well Angelena did.
The 1st few months, I asked questions, and 'googled' everything I could find to better understand her journey. I met her friends, they are an awesome group of young adults. I learned new lingo, and tried the best I could to encourage.
Just until the 'mission' came up. I was scared. I was worried. I just couldn't understand why anyone would want to leave their job, family and friends for 18 months. We will write letters, email and I will get 2 phone calls: one on Mother's day and one on Christmas. I was SAD.
As the day approched, it was time to find a new place to live. I was in a 2 bedroom apartment that I couldn't afford by myself. Looking for that seemed to be a huge nightmare. I have moved into a 1 bedroom now, she had her farewell talk the next day (March 23) and 18 days later April 8th, I was saying goodbye at the airport.
The months leading up to that, I am really sure that my friends dreaded the phone calls I would make to them. I was either asking my one friend who is an ex Mormon and what is this or that, or my other friends who had to put up with the endless phone calls.
Well, she left, and I didn't crawl into a hole and die. I am sleeping, and going to work. My life isn't going to change much, my daughter's will, she gave up everything to serve the Lord: tv, movies, being with her friends, her cat Bella, and her family.
So now the remainder of the 18 months for me? It is time for my own journey now. I think its time to re invent "me". Since its only been 4 days since she left (3 since entering into the MTC=missionary training center) I don't know what 'me' is yet. The only drama will be my drama! I hope to learn and grow in this time period also.
I want to thank my friends and family for putting up with me! You know I love you and I can never thank you enough for your endless hours of listening to me. You all have earned your wings!
I will keep you updated as this progresses.
Anna
Once you become a 'mom' your entire job is helping them grow, and become independent. Well, that mission is accomplished, they are both gone. Its hard to go from 'mom' mode, to all I have to please is myself mode. Its very strange.
When my first born left, even though I was sad and cried, I still had one at home, and I was getting her raised. Aaron has been back home a couple of times, but I usually go and visit him yearly.
Angelena just left this past Tuesday on her 'journey'. She converted to the LDS church just a bit over a year ago, and wanted to go on a mission ever since. She had to wait 1 year, and she submitted her paperwork. She got her mission call last December, and it seemed like my life has been on a fast roll foreword ever since.
I was born and raised Catholic, I am Italian what else? LOL But, I am not a 'practicing' one. I didn't raise the kids in any structured religion, my ex and I decided that the kids should 'choose'. Well Angelena did.
The 1st few months, I asked questions, and 'googled' everything I could find to better understand her journey. I met her friends, they are an awesome group of young adults. I learned new lingo, and tried the best I could to encourage.
Just until the 'mission' came up. I was scared. I was worried. I just couldn't understand why anyone would want to leave their job, family and friends for 18 months. We will write letters, email and I will get 2 phone calls: one on Mother's day and one on Christmas. I was SAD.
As the day approched, it was time to find a new place to live. I was in a 2 bedroom apartment that I couldn't afford by myself. Looking for that seemed to be a huge nightmare. I have moved into a 1 bedroom now, she had her farewell talk the next day (March 23) and 18 days later April 8th, I was saying goodbye at the airport.
The months leading up to that, I am really sure that my friends dreaded the phone calls I would make to them. I was either asking my one friend who is an ex Mormon and what is this or that, or my other friends who had to put up with the endless phone calls.
Well, she left, and I didn't crawl into a hole and die. I am sleeping, and going to work. My life isn't going to change much, my daughter's will, she gave up everything to serve the Lord: tv, movies, being with her friends, her cat Bella, and her family.
So now the remainder of the 18 months for me? It is time for my own journey now. I think its time to re invent "me". Since its only been 4 days since she left (3 since entering into the MTC=missionary training center) I don't know what 'me' is yet. The only drama will be my drama! I hope to learn and grow in this time period also.
I want to thank my friends and family for putting up with me! You know I love you and I can never thank you enough for your endless hours of listening to me. You all have earned your wings!
I will keep you updated as this progresses.
Anna
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