52 weeks Book of You-week 4

I’m joining a challenge, it’s a layout a week for a year for a book of me.  It’s 4 weeks in, so I’m a bit late, but here is this week’s journaling prompt, and my "answers"  Now I’ve just got to find good pictures to go with it.

What 7 Decisions Changed the Course of your Life?

1) When I was 13 or so, my dad said that the military could tell if you’d EVER done drugs.  I thought about this, and at this time, didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my life.  Would I want to follow dad’s footsteps and go into the Navy?  I decided at this time that I would NEVER do drugs because I wanted no doors closed to me because of something I did as a teenager.  Also, I knew that many of my family members on both sides struggled with alcoholism, so I decided not to drink because I was concerned that I might become an alcoholic, seeing as it traveled through both sides of my family.  These decisions served me well throughout the years, and kept me from harm.

2) I decided to drop out of college.  I was taking early childhood education classes, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.  I actually took quite a few different classes, and just finally realized that I wasn’t really DOING anything, so I quit.  I still don’t know what the ramifications of that decision were, if any. 

3) I read in the paper that the state I lived in, Colorado, had recently passed a law allowing anyone to marry a couple, including themselves.  So I convinced my boyfriend at the time, Gregg, that we should go get married.  He wasn’t sure we should, because he didn’t like my slobbish ways, but I convinced him I would be better.  However, I never really was better, and the marriage was probably not a good idea, and about 5 years later, ended in divorce.

4) One of the BEST decisions I ever made was to move to California to take a job with Apple Computer, doing the same thing I did in Colorado for 5 dollars an hour less than what I would make in California.  Not only was it one of the best decisions I ever made, it also seemed like it was MEANT to be, because everything having to do with getting to California flowed so smoothly.  I had money when I needed it, I had help loading my moving truck when I needed it, the weather was cooperative, gas prices were low, my dad was able to go with me on the move so I wasn’t alone.  Everything simply fell into place for me.  And the funny part is that the job with Apple was a TEMPORARY position.  I wasn’t sure WHAT I would do in a year if they didn’t pick up my contract.  However, 3 months into the job, they did pick up my contract, and I spent 4 years working for them.  This on top of the 4 I’d spent doing the job for a contractor in Colorado, meant that I worked tech support for 8 years.  I was proud of this, because most people burn out after 2 years, and I managed to last 4 times as long. 

5) When I first met Jerry, my now husband, he was actually married.  They had an agreement, and she had a boyfriend, so I wasn’t “breaking up the marriage.”  However, I struggled with committing to the relationship, because I wasn’t sure WHERE it was going.  On a trip back home by myself, I realized that if we had ANY chance of making it, I needed to commit myself fully to the relationship, no matter WHERE it would lead me, good or bad.  And early on, he promised me that if I would follow him, he would lead me good places.

6) My second marriage to Jerry, one of the absolute best decisions I ever made.  I can’t think of ANYONE I could be happier with, that I would want to grow old with, who I would be more compatible with.  He is my rock, he keeps me grounded, and I quite simply adore him AND the ground he walks on.  And I know all his faults, all his issues, and I love him despite and because of them.  I always thought that “I married my best friend” was silly… but I truly married my best friend.  I go to him with all my problems, and he always has a good solution.  He’s fun to be with, and life is never dull or boring with him around.  He’s been the biggest blessing I could ever ask for, and I am a wholly better person for knowing him.  Plus, he came with two daughters, Becca and Sydni, whom I simply adore.  Never could a woman ask for better step daughters.

7) Shabree, Samantha, and Alexandria.   My 3 youngest daughters.  It was a huge decision to have each of them, but I am so happy that I did.  I love my kids so much.  I can’t even begin to put how much they all mean to me.  I can only say that they bring me so much joy, and even when they drive me to distraction, I love them all so much.  They make me glad to be a mom (all 5 of them!) I am happy to have a “large” family.