Hello World!

Hi there!  I’m thrilled that you have decided to stop by my blog, From Food Stamps to a Future.  I hope that you enjoy your time here.

So, I suppose that introductions are in order.  My name is Krista, and I am one of the oldest 30-something year old women that you will ever run across.  I have lived a lot of different lives, and I have held numerous titles throughout the years.  I am a world traveler, and have had the opportunity to learn a lot of valuable life lessons from others.  I am an old soul, and I don’t believe that I would want it any other way.

I have spent a good share of my short time on this beautiful place we call Earth as a single mother.  So, needless to say, I have experienced more than my share of difficulties and struggles.  Rather than having a pity party, I have chosen to focus on all of the multitudes of blessings that have come into my life over the years.  I know now that all of my experiences in this crazy life have prepared me to help others get through their days, and to know that things do eventually get better.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope that you decide to stay for a while.  Happy Reading!

Purpose of my Blog

I have been entertaining the idea of starting a blog for about 4 years now.  Time has always been an issue, and everyday life has always gotten in my way.  When I created my 5 year plan (explained in more detail on My Creations page) in December of 2012, creating my blog was included in my checklist.  So, what are my reasons for wanting to start a blog?  Well, for the past 11 years I have been compiling a list of ideas/topics that I want to write about.  These are things that I have learned during my travels that I know could benefit others.  By having a blog, I will finally be able to bring my handwritten notes out of hiding and share them with the world.  Others will be able to learn from my life experiences, I will be able to encourage my readers to follow their dreams, because it is NEVER too late to make a fresh start, but most of all I want to inspire those who feel trapped like I have been all of these years.  I will be discussing a wide range of topics which include:

• Life lessons I have picked up
• Surviving single parenting
• How to have and maintain a successful relationship
• Interesting life hacks that I run across
• Following your dreams
• Success tips and tricks
• A wide range of craft tutorials and DIY’s
• Managing your super busy life

and SO much more!

These are the main categories that I intend to cover, but I know my mind, and there is no telling what I may decide to post about from day to day.  It will be an adventure to say the least.

HOW OFTEN DO I POST NEW CONTENT?

I am planning to post new content to my blog on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday each week.  My weekends are spent working on my Etsy creations, as well as posting these new items in my shop.  There may be times when I am unable to post due to my hectic schedule, but this is my goal.  My Tuesday post will be devoted to my “Tell All Tuesday’s” series, which will consist of a single question being directed at my readers.  I want to know all about you, and this is a great way to begin our friendship.  I ask a question, and you put in your two cents.  Wednesday and Friday’s posts will vary by topic depending on what I feel that week.

Here’s to Knowledge…

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

-Sidney J. Harris

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A Little Inspiration to Brighten your Day

I wanted to share a little inspiration with you today.  I hope that you enjoy…

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.

-Ziad K. Abdelnour

Tell All Tuesday Series: Missing in Action

Q-Did you miss me?

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

A-I sure missed you! When I began my little adventure (my Insurance class) back in November, I had NO idea that I would be absent for this long! I (foolishly) was under the impression that I would come out of the class licensed, and ready to tackle a new job, if that was the direction in which I felt was going to be best for my family’s future. Needless to say, that wasn’t EXACTLY how it turned out!

Class was great…a vacation from reality, if you will. But, as soon as class was over, I was thrown back into my “GO, GO, GO!” routine. Before I knew it, Thanksgiving was upon us, then Christmas, and all through the hustle and bustle of the season, I was working SUPER long hours. Then, out of the blue, I was called in to interview with HCA, which I ended up accepting. When I wasn’t working or running, I was hitting the thousands of flash cards that I had made, trying my best to retain all that I had learned. I finally tested out this past weekend, and am happy to announce that I passed BOTH exams! My hard work and countless hours of studying paid off!

So, I have spent the last two weeks as an HCA employee. I am a Patient Care Liaison, and work in a call center assisting patients who are looking for new physicians. I will eventually be moving over to ER Follow-Up, which basically means that I will be assisting patients who have recently visited the Emergency Room get scheduled for their follow up appointments. So far, I am truly loving my job! I have been working in child care for the past 12 years, and I must admit, it is a refreshing change (a breath of fresh air) interacting with adults on a daily basis, rather than children. There are certain aspects of the job that I do miss, but I am thoroughly enjoying this new opportunity! We even had a “Popcorn Party” on National Popcorn Day! I don’t know of too many organization’s that do that; do you?!  It is a fun atmosphere, and everyone has welcomed me with open arms. I am looking forward to seeing where this new path takes me!

I hope that things start to slow down soon, so that I may get accustomed to this new routine.  I am  anxious to get back to my crafts (oh, how I miss them!) and back to my writing.  Without these two, I am incomplete!  I am super disappointed that I’m not going to be able to meet my deadline for my book/workbook/inspiration pack, but know that I will complete it when the time is right.  Just wanted to check in with you, and let you know that I’m still kicking.  I’m SO happy to be back!

 

Change is in the Wind

My lovelies…

I had not intended to be out of the scene for so long; I have had my hands in a little bit of everything this holiday season! When I left you last, I was headed off to take an insurance course. The class was wonderful, and I learned SO much! A much needed “vacation” from my daily grind. It just so happened that during that week it was time to renew our insurance policies. It was crazy timing! I understood absolutely everything that the agent discussed with me…FIRST TIME EVER!

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On that first day of class I was convinced that I had made a horrible mistake! I was a blubbering idiot compared to the rest of the class (as they were already working in the industry), and low and behold, the first topic we tackled was the Tennessee state laws. NOT my forte, let me tell you! As each day passed though, I grew a little more comfortable in my abilities, and ultimately, became a sponge for knowledge. Learn something new everyday, that’s what I always say. Since class has ended, I have been reviewing my handwritten flash cards ( in excess of 1,000), and am nearing my comfort level to proceed further and take the exam to become a licensed agent. I took a mock exam a few days ago which consisted of 569 questions, and I scored a 95. I would have scored even higher than that if I had not fat thumbed some of the answers.

In addition to my diligent studying, I have been preparing for a memorable and joyous Christmas with my family, and have been stocking our home with delicious treats which come but once a year. Our Christmas was an absolute success, and everyone was surprised and overjoyed with their gifts.

My grandson Maddox turned one yesterday, and has been battling with RSV. I pray that the doctors can find the right medications to give our precious little bundle of joy to provide him the much needed comfort he so deserves.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Also, during my absence from WordPress, I was offered (and have accepted) a position at the hospital in the next town over. I will begin my training on January the 9th. I have enjoyed my time teaching these past 11 years, and have formed some amazing friendships with not only my co-workers, but with my employers and their families as well. As much as I hate to leave, this is a wonderful opportunity, another open door, that I just cannot pass by. I pray that this transition be a smooth one that will enable me to get even closer to my ultimate goals in life. With love and support from my family and friends, I know that I will be successful!

I trust that each of you are happy, healthy, and loving life, and that great things are happening in your day to day. I have TRULY missed our interactions! As we move towards a new year, I wish you all the peace and prosperity that life has to offer. May 2017 be an unforgettable year for us all!

Tell All Tuesday Series: Christmas

Q-Did you enjoy your Christmas?

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A-We sure did! It was hard to get into the spirit this year with SO many different things on our minds and our plates this season, but it ended up being one of the best Christmas’ we’ve had to date!

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Tell All Tuesday Series: Sizing up your Community

Q-What is the best/worst thing about where you live?

A-The worst would be the winters here.  The cold weather hurts me more and more the older I get.  It’s definitely not the coldest place I could choose to live, but MUCH colder than I prefer.  The best thing about Tennessee would be the scenery.  It’s a lush, gorgeous state, especially in the fall!

So, on to YOUR community…

What are the best and worst parts of your town/state/province/country?

Krista’s World

Hi my loveys; I have some fantastic news to share with you this evening!

First, the Go Fund Me campaign (A New Lease on Life) that I organized for my husbands dental work has received 3 donations so far! Casey, Stephanie, and Linda, Thank you SO much for your contributions!!! Your generosity is truly appreciated! Also, quite a few of you have been sharing the link for this campaign on your blogs and on various social media sites, and I wanted to take this opportunity to express just how much I appreciate your help in getting the word out. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we all work together!

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Second, I have been saying since this time last year that 2016 was GOING to be MY year! Those who have followed along beside me on this journey can attest that this just has NOT been the case, despite my optimistic and hopeful outlook. At every single turn, conflict and obstacles ( A LOT of which I have not shared) have plagued my path. But, I believe that the tides are FINALLY beginning to shift.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

A fantastic opportunity presented itself to me (an open door if you will) this past week, and I wasn’t EVEN going to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I pounced on it! Things like this never happen to me, so you can imagine just how psyched I am! I have been given the chance to enhance my knowledge by attending a certification course. I am thoroughly excited for this newest chapter in my life, and am anxious to see what may develop next. Investing in yourself is ALWAYS a smart idea! I will be attending class all next week, so if it takes me a while to get back with you, please forgive me. My nose will be in the books. Wish me luck…

I hope that you have a fabulous weekend, and that you will create memories that will last a lifetime!

Tell All Tuesday Series: Debriefing

Q-What do you do to debrief from a stressful situation/day?

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A-When I find myself highly stressed, I lock myself in the bathroom and run a nice HOT bath, FULL of bubbles. It’s soothing, it warms my generally cold body, and it allows me the much needed time to relax and unwind. My best ideas come to me here, and I have found that I can generally find the answers that I’ve been searching for when given this opportunity. Life centers back into alignment; all is right with the world once more.

So, what do YOU do to debrief?

A New Lease on Life

I apologize for my recent absence. Life has had me going in a million different directions! From surgeries (Success), to funerals (RIP Sandra), and yard sales, to my day to day obligations. I haven’t had a moment’s rest.

So, I trust that each of you had a fabulous Halloween this past week. Ours was nice. We took our youngest door to door. I suspect that this was our last “kid” trip. He had originally told us that he didn’t want to go because he was “too old.” Such a shame!

For those who were with me last year, this next bit will be old news. My husband has been having dental issues for several years now. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma years ago, and due to this and the treatments that he has undergone, the enamel in his teeth has been disintegrating. I have orchestrated a Go Fund Me campaign for his dental work, and would appreciate all the support that we can get, either through donations or by sharing on social media outlets. To learn more about our plight, please click HERE. Thank you in advance for your support!

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I just wanted to touch base with each of you, and tell you how much I’ve missed our interactions. I hope that each of you have an amazing weekend!

Fall Photo Hunt

Are you ready for a little fun? I am going to list 10 items below, and I want for you to go on a little scavenger hunt and see which items you can find from the list. Involve your friends, co-workers, your spouse/partner, or create a new, special memory with the kiddos. Make sure to take some pics and share them with us in the comments below.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Are you ready???

1. Classy Fall Decorations
2. CHOOSE ONE: Apple Orchard, Corn Maze, or a Decorated Hay Bale
3. A Clever Pumpkin Design
4. A Massive Pile of Fall Leaves for Jumping In
5. An Intricately Designed Spider Web
6. Tacky Halloween Decorations
7. A Giant Pile of Acorns
8. A Disfigured Pumpkin/Gourd
9. A Bushel of Indian Corn
10. A Spooky Haunted House

I can’t wait to see who can find them all! Make sure to share your finds in the comments below…