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by Hope

Hello BAD community,

It’s been a while. And like always, my life has been a crazy roller coaster. Summer is officially over with Princess moved into her college digs as of this weekend. And then there was one…

It’s just me and Gymnast now. He’s virtual schooling again and working as close to full time as he can. And I’m just working and working and working.

Where are they now:

• Beauty moved out of the house into a rent controlled apartment with a friend from high school just a couple of miles away. She switched jobs and is currently taking a break from school, but says she will go back in the Spring. She’s over weekly to do laundry, raid the pantry or just hang out. According to her, she gets the best naps here at home.
• Sea Cadet took a new position as a firefighter/EMT a county over. Previously, he was just a part time EMT for our county and volunteer firefighter. He continues to pursue his paramedic training.
• History Buff went back to school this summer, but it’s a toss up as to what he will pursue…welding or auto mechanics right now. He’s also looking for a new full time job and has had several interviews but nothing has panned out so far. The twins both visit regularly to do laundry, eat a meal and help me with “man chores.”
• Princess got a job in the field she hopes to pursue. She was able to train at the branches up near us this summer but will work from here on out where she goes to school. She moved into an apartment for this school year and signed a 12 month lease. She is paying her own way this school year. She even took her dog with her (the 3 lb chihuahua in her arms above.)
• Gymnast is now in his senior year. He’s taking four online classes and then technically is eligible for graduation. But we have decided to continue “high school” through the spring. He will enroll at the four year university that Princess attends and commute two days a week to take college classes as a dual enrolled student. This is a win-win. Georgia pays 100% of the costs for dual enrolled classes while in high school. So no cost. And since he has no clue what he wants to do post-high school, it lets him really try out college without a huge commitment. Kind of a try before you by.

Some highlights of changes that have been made over the last several months:

• My corporate job ended last month. I’m still pretty raw with what happened over the last six months since the woman that hired me left unexpectedly last Christmas. Let’s just say it was a mutual decision and leave it at that.
• I fell right into a new contract job with a slight pay decrease, but no gap in employment.
• I continue to work for my own clients on the side and that has grown significantly this summer.
• Gymnast and I celebrated my last day at the job by adopting two new dogs. We now have 7 (see picture above) and they are all officially adopted and ours and staying.
• I have paid off ALOT of debt. Debt update coming. But no more hearing aid debt, most of the medical debt is gone, etc.
• Between the money from Princess first car, my tax refund and a small dip into savings, I was able to buy Princess a car that I feel good about. (That process was a debacle though, I’ll have to tell you about it.)
• Prioritized and needed house work is complete. I still have a few projects I would like to do, but they will wait until additional debt is paid down and I know what Gymnast is doing post high school. But I did buy myself a hot tub. And I have no regrets there.
• My fiance and I continue to be long distance. We see each other about once a month. He typically comes here, but next month Gymnast and I are going there for a long weekend.

Life is good. It’s quiet. We’ve got a few things planned for this fall. But overall, I think everyone is settling down into “school” mode. And I am ready to write again.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.