I payed off the last of my student loan this week. Such a releif.I have worked very hard to pay this off as quickly as possible which is why even with my travels and uncertain employment situation I am now debt free! Of course it didn't hurt that I qualified for interest relief while I was in Africa so the government paid all my interest payments :)I still owe the parents some money but that isn't 'real' debt since it doesn't show up on any credit report and has no interest. And as long as things go according to plan that debt will be gone by the summer too.
Who am I kidding, when has anything gone according to plan?! I hesitate to even say what the plans could possibly be since every other time I thought things were happening they didn't. So I'm not getting my hopes up and I'm not dwelling on it. I'm just praying "thy will be done" and we'll see where He takes me.
I just finished writing a report for my old boss, so I am now officially and totally unemployed. I am enjoying what I am seeing as a month off. I have been going to the gym, doing a lot of shovelling and getting things done off my "to do" list. I'm looking into some volunteering opportunities and will probably be at the food bank and maybe some other places starting next week. I am trying to train myself to think that I'm not busy since I am so used to thinking that I have no time. I'll use some of that time to spend with friends. (Except my friends all have jobs and so are busy...the irony) I laugh when I look out the window in the morning at the snow on the ground or hear another forcast for freezing rain and think fondly of my carpool that still has to brave the crazy commute. I plan to read at least part of my stack of books still in the "to read" pile - starting from the bottom with the books that have been there the longest. So I'm enjoying it. So far - it has only been a week and I still technically had some work to do. I am also keeping eyes and ears open for other job opportunities and looking for that snow covered path to be revealed.
Now that the debt is payed off it is less stressful not having a paycheck. I still have some money and one more paycheck coming so I'm not broke. I'm also blessed to have parents who are letting me stay with them rent free - another reason the student loan was payed off so quickly - so I don't have to worry about eviction or a lot of bills piling up.
All that said, I know that if this "time off" goes on too long I will go crazy. I like working, not just for the money and stability, but because I love what I do. Or I did at WV and am hoping that I will at the next place too. I get a lot of satisfaction from it. If all else fails Starbucks is always hiring...
Friday, January 09, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A New Year's Post
I am dog sitting for family from church this week. This morning I was out at 5:30 walking the dog before I left for work. It was still dark, cold and very quiet. It snowed almost 5 cm over night and the dog and I were the first to walk through it. The quiet crunch crunch crunch of my footsteps broke through the stillness, but in that muted way that happens when everything is covered in snow - like it absorbs all the world's noise.
Since it is New Year's Eve walking through this fresh blanket of snow put me in a reflective mood. I had a good year in 2008. It was full of adventure, friends, comings and goings. I left some friends, made new ones and reconnected with old ones. I learned a lot about myself, the world, God, my family. It was a good year. Now 2009 stretches before us, not unlike the fresh blanket of white snow. It has yet to be disturbed and we don't know what it hides. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has planned for the next year although I am hesitant to leave the comfort of this past year. Today is my last day with WV- at least as far as I know. My contract is over and there isn't the budget to renew it. There are a couple of opportunities on the horizon but nothing definite and everything is a maybe. More on that another day. So 2009 holds a lot of the unknown for me. It is a little scary and nerve wracking but I have learned from the past that God has a path and he is leading me on it. At the moment it is covered in snow so I can't see where it is leading but I trust that He knows and that it is Good.
Wishing you all a Year full of blessings and peace.
Laura
Since it is New Year's Eve walking through this fresh blanket of snow put me in a reflective mood. I had a good year in 2008. It was full of adventure, friends, comings and goings. I left some friends, made new ones and reconnected with old ones. I learned a lot about myself, the world, God, my family. It was a good year. Now 2009 stretches before us, not unlike the fresh blanket of white snow. It has yet to be disturbed and we don't know what it hides. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has planned for the next year although I am hesitant to leave the comfort of this past year. Today is my last day with WV- at least as far as I know. My contract is over and there isn't the budget to renew it. There are a couple of opportunities on the horizon but nothing definite and everything is a maybe. More on that another day. So 2009 holds a lot of the unknown for me. It is a little scary and nerve wracking but I have learned from the past that God has a path and he is leading me on it. At the moment it is covered in snow so I can't see where it is leading but I trust that He knows and that it is Good.
Wishing you all a Year full of blessings and peace.
Laura
Friday, December 12, 2008
Big Brother is watching - Shout out to Maria...
Short post because I think its funny. I use a service called blogpatrol that keeps track of how many people have looked at my blog and how they found it. Now, I realize that I am not a hightraffic blog so I don't check this very often but it is neat to see how people are finding my blog and where they are from. Most people who read my blog use firefox instead of Internet Explorer and I have had people from Italy, Turkey, the UK, the US, Rwanda, South Africa and of course Canada look at my blog. They have used google searches for "mushanana dress", "african skies" and "Canadian Politics" which have led them to my humble little blog. Most of the time I have no way of figuring out who is looking at my blog when and from where. I just don't pay that much attention, but twice now my friend Andrea's name has been used in a google search to find my blog using the same IP address. Maria is that you? Hope things are good in Otown! See you at Christmas!
Snowflakes that fall on my nose and eyelashes
... These are a few of my favourite things!
1) Baking. I haven't done much of this recently since when you bake something, someone needs to eat it and I no longer have roommates or people on my floor to eat what I make. Today I have already baked two batches of bread and I'm starting some biscotti and it is only 10:30 am!
2) Christmas. It is almost here! Advent at much church this year has been great and I am loving all the snow and lights and music. Last weekend at my small group Christmas party we ate good food, sang carols and then listened to a David and Marley Christmas story from Stewart McLean. Also, Christmas gives me an excuse to do lots of baking!
3) Checking things off my 'To Do' list. Sometimes I put things on my list I have already done, just so I can check them off. Today I didn't need to cheat as the list is long enough all by itself. In addition to baking I am doing Christmas cards, finishing a project for work (yes, in all of this I am still doing my job...)and I need to sharpen my skates and I am meeting a friend for 'coffee' over my lunch break.
4) Fridays. This doesn't really need any explanation. Fridays mark the end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend. I had a really good week, got lots of work done, spent time with friends and didn't get stranded anywhere or have any car problems. This weekend is going to be super busy with three Christmas parties, a family reunion and my regular weekend things like cleaning the house and going to the market.
5) The market. I go to the Kitchener Farmer's Market almost every weekend. It is like the St Jacob's market only smaller and there aren't as many touristy things. I can be in and out with all my fresh produce, meat and bread needs for the week met in about 30-45 minutes. I buy local, organic when possible and it is a fun place.
1) Baking. I haven't done much of this recently since when you bake something, someone needs to eat it and I no longer have roommates or people on my floor to eat what I make. Today I have already baked two batches of bread and I'm starting some biscotti and it is only 10:30 am!
2) Christmas. It is almost here! Advent at much church this year has been great and I am loving all the snow and lights and music. Last weekend at my small group Christmas party we ate good food, sang carols and then listened to a David and Marley Christmas story from Stewart McLean. Also, Christmas gives me an excuse to do lots of baking!
3) Checking things off my 'To Do' list. Sometimes I put things on my list I have already done, just so I can check them off. Today I didn't need to cheat as the list is long enough all by itself. In addition to baking I am doing Christmas cards, finishing a project for work (yes, in all of this I am still doing my job...)and I need to sharpen my skates and I am meeting a friend for 'coffee' over my lunch break.
4) Fridays. This doesn't really need any explanation. Fridays mark the end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend. I had a really good week, got lots of work done, spent time with friends and didn't get stranded anywhere or have any car problems. This weekend is going to be super busy with three Christmas parties, a family reunion and my regular weekend things like cleaning the house and going to the market.
5) The market. I go to the Kitchener Farmer's Market almost every weekend. It is like the St Jacob's market only smaller and there aren't as many touristy things. I can be in and out with all my fresh produce, meat and bread needs for the week met in about 30-45 minutes. I buy local, organic when possible and it is a fun place.
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