Move

I spent the past month in Oregon taking care of a lot of business and pleasure.  I was sent outside from Alaska to take care of myself while a difficult situation resolved itself.  I thought I would have to adjust to the noise and traffic, however, I have been able to relax.

Leigh and I moved our lives forward and today spent the day in my storage area looking for ways to merge our households more.  I moved every box in there which was no small feat.  I am grateful for the help from the foot surgeon. 

Last Friday I took my National Examination and passed.  I was amazed to get the results right then and there.  That was the last step in Oregon licensure.  It could transfer to Alaska as well. 

So, in one month, we completed the exam process, registered as domestic partners, started to merge our households and we're leaving for Alaska in a few days.  Leigh gets to spend 10 days there with me.  We have lots of friends waiting for us to celebrate passing the exam, becoming legal partners and Leigh's turning 50 in the beginning of March.  I would say that my life is coming together in some amazing ways.

All glory back to the Creator.  And, I might add, I have had a blast with my friends in Oregon whenever I was not deep in my studies.  We're planning our Michigan summer trip and all that entails.

Domestic Partners

There is this thing in Oregon called a Domestic Partnership.  First, let me tell you, the form is excruciating, the process enduring, the frustraions, huge.  Moving mountains to please the State, priceless.  I went to Alaska prepared to face a life of service, something akin to those vows made by nuns.  I could work, play with friends and cavort in the snow, all single, all in the service of the Lord.  I had a calling, a calling to serve.

I sat in the cabin, when not serving, and thought about my life.  Seems the events of the past four years wound around time like a coil.  I had no idea what might happen if I let just a little tension off that coil.  So, I took a risk.  I was perusing a site and saw this woman that made me stop, ponder and write.  I thought, seriously, I did think, "This woman won't write back to me, I'm in Alaska and she's in Oregon."  Those of you who know me know that I challenged those odds.  So now the story is no longer about me.  The story is now about We, Akki and Leigh.

Priorities

Of late, I find I'm asked to examine my priorities.  You see, I've reached the stage in life where I'm all about maintaining the success I have achieved.  That's the theory anyway of career maturation.  I find, however, that I have entered into a relationship that turns my head to stare at the view.  This past Sunday, while at church, I had a great time seeing my friends.  We greeted, hugged, welcomed, fussed over and enjoyed a great deal of connecting.

We looked at a house and wondered at living back where I moved from before I landed in Alaska.  I visited with friends at their houses and cheered on the end of the Superbowl.  People asked if I would have more time to see them and I had to put forth the effort necessary to prepare for my exam.

I met with the foot surgeon today to receive a prescriptions for 12 weeks of physical therapy, the word "fragile" as it now relates to my other foot and some more limitations.

I studied hard today, filed for my passport, changed my address and prepared a few steps closer to my goals.  We worked together, played Guitar Hero, loaded my iPod, given as a gift and spent time talking about plans, goals and needs.

Potential is in the future.  Whatever I am doing right now makes up my priorities.  We're doing our priorities.  I'm asking questions regarding my potential, my limitations and measuring the length of my wing span.  I am prepared for take off.  Navigation nearly at the ready.  Direction still not locked and loaded.  Desire, plenty.  Flying doesn't really require the use of my feet.  Thinking this through.

Moving Forward

I have been chunking out a 550 page study manual for two weeks now.  I have just under two weeks left until I take the examination.  I have taken study quizzes, practice exams and read all but 100 pages of the manual.  Several years of education are summed up in that manual and in this study process.

Some of the information rocks my world and reminds me why I got into this field.  Other of it provides hours of pure tedium as I memorize so many things.  I realized, however, from a Native friend that it is important to ask the Creator to help me prepare.  So, I have begun to include that request in my daily prayer time.

Circumstances are changing rapidly in my life.  I have been forced to face that which I'm willing to sacrifice for a job.  I have come to realize that I have spent a lot of time recently dealing with unrealistic expectations toward me and from me.  I have not felt safe in my work for a very long time and a recent situation escalated that feeling and sense of threat.  I have had to ask myself several questions regarding my own obligation to myself and those outside me that love me and want me safe.

Sometimes, it is hard to see the picture when we're in the frame.  In this case, the situation mounted, the expectations toward me, the messages that I would be the problem if I could not handle very difficult situations and all of that has entered my awareness as I take a break from all of it.

So, back to my studies and more on the adventures of life soon.