Year 2016 Review and What does the New Year hold?

2016 the year of Change.  2017 the year of Even More Change

Well it's been just over a year since we made the decision to continue on with the first aid business.

A few things changed.  The first being the name.  We went from being Orillia First Aid and Safety Training to Orillia First Aid.  That was because legally it was just easier then trying to change the ownership.  Mom and Dad are co owners. Lynda is now happily retired.
The second biggest change was the downsizing from the space on Rose Avenue back to the house.
We couldn't afford to stay there.  Nor could I keep the space running on my own as Mom has been out with her health and Dad works full time at Honda.
So how do we teach the larger classes?  We rent a room from Mariposa Dance Company on an as needed basis.  It works out great.  We have storage for the mannequins and it mutually benefits us as well as the dance studio.  I like that fact it's closer to walk to then the old space.
I do miss having a dedicated space, but at this time we couldn't have been as successful as we have been if we had to pay rent month month oppose to class to class.
The third biggest change was what hit me the hardest.  I am everything.  I am office manager, book maker, Instructor, Marketing, Online guru, book keeper etc oh and I home school William on top of all that.
It hasn't been easy, but I have done it all to the best of my ability and we've been successful because of it.
The bottom line is if it hadn't been for me Orillia First Aid would not exist, Mom says I get to inherit the business when she and Dad retire.  I am hoping now that we are settled and running smoothly that we can hire a part time instructor.  As much as it is nice to get paid every time I teach, juggling the teaching and the office is a big challenge. Then there is the small detail that I might not be with Orillia First Aid much longer as I have no idea where my partner James is going to land a job.
I am hoping it will be somewhere he can commute to from Orillia, but there is no guarantees.

My life.  Well still home schooling.  It goes well.  We're about to change online programming in March to the Canadian based content.  Not sure William is going to be happy about it.
The Orillia Home School Group is a great community and very supportive and helpful.
I look forward to more events with everyone this year.

James and I have been together for just over a two years.  We are planning to officially move in together once he establishes where his job is going to be --he is officially finished his accounting degree!!  Hooray!
As to getting married?  It is in the long term plan.  The hiccup right now is that the Custody agreement for William isn't formalized and Andrew doesn't seem to care. Why is this important? Because until the custody agreement including child support is resolved I can't file for divorce.
Andrew and I get along for William's sake.
I could go on at length about my issues with Andrew, but this post isn't about him.
I am just sick and tired of going to court to accomplish nothing because someone hasn't filed their taxes.

Mental health wise I am coping.  I am at an all time low with regards to my body image.  The stress of trying to juggle everything for the business has resulted in some poor eating habits and I haven't been to the gym since November.
I have never weighed this much in my life and it is very frustrating.  It doesn't help that one of the medications I take makes weight loss difficult.
Some steps have been taken already to do better.  And I am hoping to go back to one medication for my anxiety next month and see how that goes.  Some days are still hard even with the medication, but this is life with Anxiety, Depression and PTSD.

The biggest thing I am looking forward to this year is moving.  As scary, stressful and unknown as it is I look forward to having  a home to call my own again.
I have enjoyed and very much appreciate the support, love and place to live that my parents have provided, but it's time.  They need their house back especially as the business continues to grow.