Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

Well, hey, long lost readers! Other than holiday posts, I've been slacking a bit. On this relaxing Saturday morning. Lately I've been grateful for Surviving two weeks in Miami for work! I lucked out with a like-minded, minimal partying, ok-with-hotel-chillin roomie Emily. It was a cool experience with extra tasty foods and hilarious foreign littles but I don't know that I'd be back.   Hearing the Abby Song last night that my sweet munchkins sing when they know I'm coming to nanny.  Coming home to sweet boy helping out with my paleo challenge meals.  Pa and Grandma talks the other day! And new business ideas from Pa to smuggle goats to Miami.  Being reminded of how incredibly blessed I've been with my super parents. Boyhood was an extra reminder of that.  Super silly mornings with turkey-wolf calls and songs, and getting back to the beach for biking, Lillie's, and Miss Meryl time!  And a new addition to the family with Genevi...

I've been waiting for the go ahead to post this for like a week now because of some exciting news I include. It's been a good couple of weeks in the world of Abby. Here are some of the things I'm grateful for lately.  Going to my first  Reggae Sunday in St. Augustine with Dana, Martin, Will, and Milton. What a place for people watching... Old man with crazy, salsa-like dance moves all around the dock and funky smelling tent, old lady with crazy bejeweled hair net and... chest squares? It looked like she used the jewels preteens use to bedazzle their cell phones for a chest decoration. We said these two probably "came to Reggae Sunday 20 years ago and never left." We're such "consistent smilers."  Will and I had a Cute Niece Contest. Adaleigh won with a forfeit after one video of the precious angel baby's smiles.  A surprise birthday dinner to celebrate Mr. Chad Baker. I've been back in Jax for like 10 months now and had probs only seen the ki...

Dear Jacksonville, sometimes I don't give you enough credit, but you're really not so bad. I'll try harder to focus on you and control my lust for Denmark. Though I do miss it mucho lately. Dear Watercolor Painting Endeavors,  you are challenging me in patience, creativity, and persistence.  One actual original of Boston. Not done yet though! Dear Genevieve ,You know I love you when I go to work on my day off for a special visit and storytime. You're the best. This little one got released back into the world yesterday. She brought much joy and laughter to my days and will always have a special place in my heart. Dear New Watch , forget graduating college, getting a big girl job, paying bills, getting my own apartment, and other grown up things, I feel like you were my final rite of passage into adulthood.  Dear Super Tinder Chris, I'm so excited you're a fan of this here blog that you get your own shoutout. And this link to read about our or...

       Last year I was fully enjoying a beautiful, snowy Christmas. This year I've been fully enjoying and appreciating Christmas in the Sunshine State. Some things I've been loving about this Florida Christmas...  Biking around and finding decorations like this...   Atlantic Beach's awesome lights... Luminaries in Riverside (photo credit: roomie)   Jax Beach's lifeguard chair display A trip to the Zoo with The Roomie to see the lights. The chilly air, full moon, starry sky, and hot cocoa made it quite an enjoyable night.    Sweater weather for coffee on the beach. And cuddling up for some Christmas reading by the sea.

Where's Abby now? Feeling ridiculously blessed sitting on my new front porch steps from the beach. Update time?! I was offered a job in my field that I'm super excited about. I'll be starting as a residential counselor at a great children's organization in Jacksonville next Tuesday. I finished all my paperwork on Wednesday so I've been extremely enjoying this free time before work starts. You might think "she's been unemployed for like four months, how much more free time does she need?" Not so. That was so stressful and just plain not fun. But patience pays off. Turning down job offers may have seemed like a bad idea, but I'm glad I kept trying for what I wanted. Sorry, Dad for prolonging that period! ;) But I got the job, found a place to live, and am so excited about what's happening. I mean, this week I moved in with a roommate and his cuddly cat, Chomp (go Gators!), in a little apartment in Jax Beach. The place (plus the older man roommate...