Bo's Log: Supplemental. Actually, that was always the start of Jean Luke's picard's introduction in the old TV television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. I think keeping a log is so important so I'm going to try and keep up this blog, even though it's been nearly a year since my last log entry.
So much has happened in almost a year and how fast 2022 has been. I am happy to report the year has gone from getting better to incredibly awesome. Yes!! The covid hibernation and depressing days are nearly behind us. As some of you may know, from following me previously on my entries, life has been on the rough edge, and in many cases, on the bit of the dark side. I was depressed, unmotivated, and just wanted to escape. Yes, I've been through a lot. I've been through a lot of disappointments, failures, discouragements, and frustrations. TO the point where I wanted to truly give up -- why try? But here I am. That's because I kept on hanging.
I'll start off with the recent projects I've been involved in. Just lately, the Holy Spirit has been gently pushing my interest in rekindling the SoulCore project. I got certified in 2018 when I went to a SoulCore class at St. Joan of Arc church in Boca Raton and was hooked. A friend and I were supposed to go to the retreat together and get certified but how things turn out doesn't always go as planned. I end up going alone but met some new supporters and friends who helped me start the classes in South Florida. Only problem was that I wasn't able to establish it because I moved to DC and my co-partner was not able to get the classes continued at the Parish. Meanwhile, in Washington DC, I visited several churches only to have the door on me closed. Yes, failures and discouragements, but I move on. So now is my chance again -- will I be around South Florida to get it established for my community? Only God has the say I suppose.
Next, I started back with the Church Choir again. The ministry has been on pause also because of the covid, but when I started singing again with the group, I realized how much I missed singing. And it was so true, that singing is like praying twice. I want to improve my singing and my voice, but for now I'm glad to be in the church with my friends again. I know in the past, I felt like I went to far as to how much influence I wanted on the group - I was trying too hard to build a better team and improve things but sometimes, it's best to surrender and let God take care of it. I will work on my own ministry now, the SoulCore project since I am the ownership of that.
Project 3 - I started getting back into exercise. For those of you who have not seen me in two or three years, you would noticed I've put on 30-40 lbs. I attribute this to lack of a good diet in DC, along with the stressors I've faced. Thank you all for not judging me, and for not making a comment about how "heavier" I look. The only thing I got from a co-worker I haven't seen in 5 years was, "are you pregnant?" No I'm not. I wish, LOL. Along with getting back to Zumba classes, cycle classes, going to the gym the last year has been a challenge to say the least. I've lost energy, I've lost motivation, but all I can say it's a work in progress. Oh, and I've started this new sport, "pickle ball" which is really great exercise. I have been taking dance classes, but truth be told, I have really been pushing myself. Some days I just didn't want to be there. Again, I kept going.
I've been involved in getting Alyssa's memory book up-to-date. I realized I dumped a lot of her school grade reports and work in a file in the cabinet and felt, as a mother, I should have done more with it. I look at my mother-in-law as an inspiration, as she did a great job with Jason's baby book and school book records, and made me realize, I should be a little more organized. Not to say I wasn't involved in Alyssa's life enough, I was, but I guess I needed better prioritization. This project was great -- I was able to remember all the details of all the years, rekindle with old folks via E-mail -- thank Goodness for the Internet age right? I can pinpoint down to the year she was in ice skating, gymnastics and horseback riding... I was even be able to find out who her friends were too during those years. All through Facebook, GMAIL and google photos. Recording grade 9 through 12 now should be a breeze if I was able to pull all this up. If I can remember to fill it during and at the end of the school year and not 8 years later!!
Earlier this year, I got promoted at my office. Many of you have heard of my frustrations with trying to get on the Foreign Service promotion list for years. Year after year, it's disappointment that I couldn't make the list. Well, I'm at that point where getting the recognition is nice, but I'm really ready to retire. I've been working in the government since I was 18 years old, I really can retire now. My passion is waning down, it's time for the younger folks to take over. Getting the promotion off the books is nice, it's like the recognition is finally catching up, after meeting up with so much frustration with previous management teams who were not supportive. Even my training got denied in DC due to short staff, and someone had to back me up, saying "that was not right." Well, what can I say? Let go and let God.
Now, onto the news you guys are probably waiting to hear about -- my daughter Alyssa. She has and will always be the spotlight in my life. She has been cancer free now for two years. It was so rough and a lot of people knew the emotional ride my family has been through with that. She graduated from the 8th grade this past June, with honors. I'm so proud of her, but most of all, she kept a group of great, supportive friends. This year she also got confirmed, so I feel like she definitely has entered the rite of passage and is starting a new chapter at Archbishop High school. May God be with her.
We had a family cruise in April with Jason's sisters, Lisa and Cindy, and his nephew, Michael. We had a blast!! The three of us have done several cruises, but to have a family cruise was a different experience and I truly enjoyed it. Getting back to work after that week was rough, but that's why vacations are so special. They come only once in a while so we have to appreciate those special moments.
We also spent a week for Christmas in Canada and it made me realize how much I miss being with family. Again, I'm glad this covid craziness is nearly over!
To summarize this novel today, the year has definitely gotten better since covid hit. Things are normalizing up, I'm so happy that my passions are being rediscovered and that my motivation is back. I got to go back to in-person bible studies. I felt like this group helped my journey a great deal, we studied the Book of Matthew which was about the ministry of Jesus during his years on earth. What a blessing it was. Life has it's ups and downs, both Alyssa and I miss our old friends and old ways of life, but God has taught us we have to learn to move on and continue to count our blessings however big or small they are.
