I Got to Drop a Ball....

It's been a month since I have had a chance to actually sit and write. It feels so good to sit and do this again. I woke up this morning excited and ready to blog.

Chaz and I have had so many things come up in the past month that I have only had one night of really good sleep since his Alive Day. I personally think I was so exhausted that my body made sure I got that night of sleep. Today I started my day truly hopeful things will get a little easier. Why? What happened, you ask? Yesterday I officially got to drop a ball that has been in my juggling set since Fall 2010.


My degree is in Political Science and History, but no one in Clarksville would hire me when I married Chaz. I married the Army, that meant I would move. And I had a degree that meant they had to pay me above minimum wage. It was a very frustrating situation.

I saw an advertisement to learn how to do taxes with H&R Block and decided to go for it. I ended up loving it and worked for Block for 7 years. In 2008, I felt that Block was taking a different course from what I wanted for myself. At the end of that tax season, I had a delightful conversation with the IRS (yes those exist) and began my own tax company. I knew that I wanted to do more than tax returns. I wanted to help people develop plans to help put their lives on financially positive paths. I started taking classes on topics like IRAs, investments and all things financial. In the Summer of 2010, I accepted a fellowship with the FINRA Foundation, AFCPE and the National Military Family Association. Here's the link for those who want to know more.  http://www.militaryspouseafcpe.org/

I started the fellowship in September 2010, just months before Chaz was hurt. Of course I put the fellowship on hold when I heard he was injured, but I have been trying to complete the fellowship this entire time. It has been hard work, but it was totally worth it. My deadline for completion of the fellowship is February 28, 2014. Over the past thirty days I really studied and crammed a lot of knowledge into my head and I passed the final exam yesterday. I am now an Accredited Financial Counselor (as soon as the AFCPE acknowledges my test score). I can finally drop the ball I have been juggling with everything else for the past three years. 

Today I got to wake up with one thing completed. One thing that can come out of the juggling set permanently. One less thing looming over me. It feels so amazing!! Now I find myself this morning looking for other things that can be completed and taken out of my set.

Our evening last night was so splendid. It was our 13th anniversary. I took my test in the morning and then had the rest of the day to just chill. I found myself so relaxed, yet energized with that one ball out of the set. Healing a Hero is so hard and exhausting. Then we chose to homeschool. I chose to continue working two jobs. I chose to lead a Girl Scout troop again. But knowing I can juggle everything and still accomplish a goal I set for myself years ago is empowering.


I never thought being able to drop a ball would be so relaxing and bring so much peace. I have been working so hard to keep the balls in the air I never stopped to think about how it would feel to throw one down.