Starting anew

Ok, so this blog used to be a place that I would come and write random ramblings. I wasn't using it regularly, and I had very few readers. I have decided to start over and tell my friends about this blog, so that maybe it can actually become a way for people I care about to know about my life.

For those who are "behind on the times", I moved from Southern California to Dundee, Oregon in February, 2010. I have been living with my mom over the last year and a half, and during that time, I completed my Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, including the ESOL endorsement at George Fox University. In addition to the MAT program, a number of life changing events happened, as well. In August 2010, my maternal grandmother passed away. In March 2011, my paternal grandmother passed away. This year has been tough, trying to balance my schooling and family situations/grief.

Even though things over the past year have been challenging, current events are also challenging. In May, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. This summer (up until now) has been a whirlwind of appointments and such. I've been her transportation for much of it, with help from her friends and our family. Things are looking good, even though the path isn't easy. She has her good days and her bad days, and we're hoping and praying that she will have more good days than bad days from here on out.

In addition to helping mom out with transportation and other things, I also got to be a bridesmaid in two weddings this summer. The first, in June, was for Raphael and Melissa (Jacobson) Melgar. Melissa and I went to high school together, played in the band together, hung out in the same group of friends, and were a part of a Bible study group called "GIFT" (Growing in Faith Together) that we formed with two other girls. The GIFT girls were my core group of friends at school during the end of high school, and I love these girls so much. I feel like we are all still close, but I know that it's been hard since we are so far apart. I love the times that we get to spend together, though, because these girls are so uplifting and fun to be around! It was a blast to get to spend time together and celebrate Melissa's wedding! The other wedding I was in was for Mike and Sarah (Reinhart) Hofer. Sarah has been one of my best friends since elementary school. She's been there for me through some of the hardest times in life, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of her wedding! Sarah and I met at church, and we went to school together for three years in middle school.

Another thing that's been happening this summer is job search. You'd think that finishing school with my Master's would help me find a job, right? Not in teaching. I know that the job market in general is a real challenge these days, but teaching is one of the worst. I feel like I've applied for a thousand teaching positions, but in reality I don't know that the total is even at 20. I haven't gotten any interviews for teaching, but my outlook currently is that I need to find a job (any job) and make some money, and I'd like to do that nearby so that I can be available to Mom if she needs me. So, in the mean time, I've had two interviews for a position at Staples, which has actually been my only interview all summer. I'm waiting to hear from them to see if I got the job, and if I did, I think I'll probably take it.

Well, I think that's all for now. There's a lot that has been going on, but I just wanted to give everyone a starting point. I'm hoping to update regularly, filling everyone in on the job situation, how Mom is doing, providing anecdotes about my cat or dogs, posting pictures from fun travels or with friends.

Feel free to bookmark this blog, write down the url, check it periodically, and check up on me.

Erin