A year in the life

So one year ago today I was laid off from my full-time job. Since then...

1) I enjoyed a true-blue summer at home with the kids.
2) I did part-time contract work for a local magazine, which included not only writing but editing, layout, photography and production work as well. Fantastic experience.
3) I took the kids to their dance recitals, dress rehearsals, football practices and games, and their grandmother's house... all without the worry of how I'd make up the hours I missed at the office.
4) The family and I traveled with my husband on a couple of his business trips.
5) I had time to actually make/shop for and wrap holiday presents.
6) I took a yoga-pilates class.
7) Oh yeah... I BREATHED.

We've got less money. We buy less stuff. I clip coupons every week and shop around for the best price on toilet paper. We almost never go out to dinner, and when we do it's with coupons and/or gift cards. We'd love to take a vacation - nothing extravagant, just a getaway to a beach or a cool city - but we know it's just not in the cards anytime soon.

And yet, we love life more. We spend more time together, we are more patient with each other. The house is cleaner and runs more smoothly. The kids are happier. And so am I.

Bad events can lead to better things. They happen for a reason, whether we want to believe it or not.