Back At It...Then And Now

I've decided to get back to blogging. Seven years ago, I had a bloggity-blog. I even had it printed into a book. You know, for posterity :) I wrote and documented two years of my life. At the time, I was a 30-year old stay-at-home momma and life was truly bliss. To this day, I can really say it was the best time of my life. I was happily married, lived in my dream home with my two delicious children. I had great skin, a perky laugh and, not a single grey hair, lol! My life was perfect... Until it wasn't. It's funny; life gives you the best and then takes it all away. It knocks you off your feet, brings you to your knees, lifts you back up, and knocks you down all over again, SEVERAL times. I have thoroughly become accustomed to this vicious cycle, but damn it! I am learning and growing so much! Fast forward seven years and, here we are. So, let me reintroduce myself...

Hi! My Name is Carmen Lynch (Carmen Cholico). I am a single mother of two still delicious children and I am nine days away from turning 37 (gulp!) Since my last blog, I got divorced and had to rejoin the work force. So much has changed, so much. I really don't know where to begin. But I will give you the Cliff Notes version of my happenings.

What I thought was my 'happily ever after' turned out to be not so happy. My marriage failed, I lost a lot of friends, my dream home and, and at one point, my identity. I have been through some really crazy shit in my life. Particularly as a child, but truly? 2010 was one of the hardest times and one of the lowest points in my life. I am sad to say that life got even lower after that.

I am however, happy to report that since then, I have found my balance and my footing. Life is still challenging, but I am taking it day by day. It's really all I can do. Overall? I am a happy and content person. I am thankful for the lemons life has handed me. With my 'lemons', I have made strawberry lemonade, lemon chicken risotto, and a stiff Limoncello. Cheers!

I originally stated that I had a previous blog and printed it out into a book. Can I tell you how glad I am that I did that? It's somewhat cathartic to read through it, look at pictures, see what my life used to be like... It's been hard, but I wouldn't change a thing! I wouldn't be the person I am today for every trial and tribulation.

So here goes! It's 2017. It's a new year. I don't do new years resolutions, but how fitting is it to start up a new blog and document a new time in my life? A new journey!

So, I dedicate this NEW blog to my delicious children, Rylee Nicole and Carson Ryan. For you my darlings, I live and breath!