Thursday, January 5, 2012

My New Year's Resolution: It's just a blip!

Earlier this week I had a conversation with my mom. I was kind of feeling frazzled about some recent conversations Martin and I have been having which include some pretty big changes to the "master plan."  When you first begin an endeavor like this the frazzles come from just saying "yes" to the idea and along the way your frazzles get much more detail oriented. We're there, at the details. I was frazzled.

The conversation went something like this...

Me: (said with a big sigh and a slightly...you guessed it...frazzled! tone)So, we've been talking a lot lately and a lot of the big things have changed.

Mom: Like what?

Me: Well, we're still unsure about selling the house versus renting it out but either way it will probably be later than we thought because Martin's job is still unclear and so we have to wait to sell the house. Plus, it will just be easier to get to Poland and move directly into our flat which won't be available until July anyway, so we can't sell before late June, so that way we don't have to rent somewhere between moves for too long.

Mom: That makes sense.

Me: Yeah, but that also means that we won't need to come to America for Christmas to be in the country for 6 months this year for tax stuff... so we will be buying a one way ticket instead of a round trip. Which means we won't be back next Christmas, or you know, ever, until we can afford it.

Mom: Are you really worried about that? Is that a big deal?

Me: Well, actually, I'm relieved, I think once we get there and get settled and visit with family and finally sort of start "living" on our own, it would be way more stressful to turn right back around and pack up the kids and come back for Christmas. Confusing for them, and time-zone changes, and complete disruption of any routine... I'm kind of looking forward to living with just us in Poland, and being restful...you know? But, that also means we won't be here next Christmas. What do you think about that?

(this is where it gets good)

Mom: Olivia. Do what is best for *your* family. Do what gives you peace and what is best for *you*. Don't worry about anyone else. We'll miss you and wish you were here, but that's just the way things will be. Do what you need to do. Sounds like you have it all figured out, you've thought it out, you're on top of it. What's the problem?

Do I have a kick-ass mom or what?


On the day I was born. Me and my mom. I have no idea who that little boy is on the bed with us.



And I learned something. I gleaned some wisdom from the chat.

There is no problem!

 This year is such a  blip in our lives. Our long, full, blessed, lives, to date, and God-willing, after.

 It's stressful. It's money sucking. It will be full of highs and lots of lows, but dude, what is the point of stressing over every little aspect, especially the one's we can't control?  I can choose to dissect it and try to control it, or I can just be positive and go with the flow while at the same time working hard to do what is right and good for our family. And I can pray. I can do that.

 No problem.



“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be..."
                                                                                                                                      - Mother Teresa







7 comments:

  1. Your mom is awesome. And I see so much of you in her in this picture. Love the whole thing! Right down to that strange boy sitting there ;)

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  2. Amen sista. What a comfort you have to have a mom who understands all this. BTW - As far as taxes go, I was reassured by a friend that you don't have to pay anything (on your foreign income) until your income exceeds 90,000 US dollars a year. You probably already knew that, but I thought I'd share anyways.

    Good luck with the house! Still shuffling piles of junk around ours thinking, "How would we ever make this all work for a showing?"

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  3. Recently I've been tired of figuring out what decision should I made... Then my close friend told me:
    "Do what you think is the best for you. Even if it's not, God will fix it up and support you". And I think that's the point.
    Thanks for giving this hope by this post :)
    and greetings from snowy Bielsko...

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  4. Yes, I think having people who are eager to help you succeed, even if they don't necessarily look forward to your choice, is key. My parents are like that. I'm fortunate.

    Gosia- The first snow...we will be there! And for the next snow after that, and after that, and after that... I'm sure there will be many visits to Bielsko!

    Heather, yes, we did know that, and it's definitely a good thing but for the first year, it will just be easier to not have to deal with any of it. At least that's our plan...we'll see how it goes.

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  5. Heather, also, I forgot to mention. Taxes in Poland are way higher for us, than here in the U.S....so that's really what we're trying to avoid. Having to pay taxes there, for this year. But if Martin gets a job there then all of this will be a non issue and we'll just deal with that when it comes.

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  6. And you know that's a boy because he's wearing a blue hand-me-down to match his cute bowl haircut! "Ma'am, what a handful! Three boys and a girl!" oi.

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  7. Wait, is that Teresa?? HAHAHAHA!!!

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