Well well well...

A lot has changed since I wrote in here last.

I ended up sending out lots of inquiries to random medical offices asking if they were hiring, towards the end of October.  Turns out one of them just happened to have an opening for a receptionist.  A few days later, that Friday, I had my interview, and by Monday I had a job offer.  The following Monday (Halloween to be exact), I started.  Everything seemed to fall together pretty seamlessly.  I'm getting paid a good amount, have real health insurance again (which is both a blessing and curse - I'm paying a ridiculous amount of money for it each month! Oh how I miss Medicaid already!), and so far, the job hasn't given me any panic attacks.  I work in an all female practice, and everyone for the most part, is friendly and helpful.  I don't know if this whole reception thing is what I was meant to do, but for now, it works.

Chad also moved up, and as of November first, we legally live with my sister and her husband.  Not ideal, but it seems to be a pretty decent transition for us to get our own place once this lease ends, and gives us lots of time to save up!  Chad is beginning his new job next week.  Things are good, everything is falling into place!

It's a great feeling have Chad here, and not having to worry about when he's leaving, how long until we see each other again, or how we're going to get the money to fly to see each other.  We were very fortunate to see each other as much as we did before making this transition, and everything just feels "right".  I never thought I'd have someone to wake up next to everyday, to snuggle with and to make dinner with, all those things that couples do on a regular basis  Now we have that, and it feels amazing.

This last year was an emotional roller coaster, and I have to admit I'm glad it's coming to an end shortly.  I'm very much looking towards our future and all the great things we'll be able to accomplish with each other.  Chad is my rock, my best friend, my soul mate, and I've said from the get-go that things would happen as they should. I'm glad they seem to be working in our favor.

We had our first road trip down to Maryland to spend Thanksgiving with his family. We had our first "real" Christmas together this year. Last year I flew down on Christmas day and immediately after getting off the plane, we went to his family's get together and I met everyone in his family.  It was terrifying, and it was only about a month into us dating.  This time around, as silly as it sounds, we got amazing gifts for each other (since we now know each other so much better!), and were able to appreciate being together for the holiday so much more. There's no one in the world I'd rather share these things with.

Last year, we spent our New Year's eve in Maryland.  We went to dinner at Chili's, then went home and laid in bed being all mopey because I was leaving the next day.  This year, we're going to a somewhat upscale restaurant, and since we're not drinkers, we will be ringing in the new year by drinking ginger ale out of fancy glasses.  It's the little things like this that make me realize we're pretty perfect for each other.

I know this all sounds gushy, but I'm truly experiencing what it's like to feel genuinely happy and content with life.  Sure, there is a long way to go in some aspects, but having Chad around makes things feel pretty damn near perfect.