So after a year and a half of not blogging, I think I will start again. Our life seemed to go a little crazy the last 18 months and I could not find anything to write about. Well, nothing that I would want to share with other people. I love jotting my thoughts down, whether they are deep or not, simple or complex. God gave us hearts, minds, and souls. I feel, think, and love with those things. I think I'll use this to write about those things...feeling, thinking, and loving. Also just to give updates on life for those we love that live farther away than we'd like.
To start, I ran this morning in the 37 degree temp, I will be getting ready for work as soon as I put this cpu down, I have no idea what to wear today, I have a pretty important meeting at 11am today, I will stop at Starbucks to get a decaf, nonfat, misto with 1 pump white mocha and 1 pump gingerbread (unless I change my mind between here and there which I do often), and when I stop at Starbucks I will see my husband :) which is always nice on my way to work. After work I will try running again because I was too cold this morning and only got 1 mile in. I'd like to go another 2-3. But we'll see because Ben will be home and we have cleaning, taking down the Christmas tree, and a get together tonight at 7.
Gotta get ready for the day, and go to work. But I think I will like to be blogging again - I like processing through words, writing them down, and learning from them.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, May 28, 2009
a few facts about me A-Z
A - Age: 23
B - Bed Size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: cleaning up after my doggie
D - Dog's name: Arabelle
E - Essential start your day item: alarm clock...lol...really I would say chapstick
F - Favorite color: pink, creeping up though is something I didn't expect - blue :)
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'68"
I - Instruments you play(ed): several when I was young but I did not like practicing so I quit
J - Job title: PT aide and nanny
K - Kid(s): are cute but I don't have any!
L - Living arrangements: with my adoring husband, I was so thankful for him today!
M - Mom's name: Arlene
N - Nicknames: Lor, Lol, Lupy
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: never, not even for birth, my mom did home births
P - Pet Peeve: not planning something well when it affects me or people I love
Q - Quote from a movie: "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" - Notting Hill. Makes me cry every time!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 5 sisters total
T - Time you wake up: 6:00 am
U- Underwear: optional
V - Vegetable you dislike: egg plant
W - Ways you run late: If I forget my car's gas tank is on empty and I need to stop for gas...that happened this morning!
X - X-rays you've had: teeth and stomach
Y - Yummy food you make: I will say that I am a pretty good cook and I enjoy it so I make some good food! Best I think is fruit&marange, or salsa, or cookies
Z - Zoo favorite: I haven't been to the zoo in a long time - I remember riding a camel when I was little somewhere so I'll say that!
Hope you enjoyed this - now post it for yourself so I can read about you!
B - Bed Size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: cleaning up after my doggie
D - Dog's name: Arabelle
E - Essential start your day item: alarm clock...lol...really I would say chapstick
F - Favorite color: pink, creeping up though is something I didn't expect - blue :)
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'68"
I - Instruments you play(ed): several when I was young but I did not like practicing so I quit
J - Job title: PT aide and nanny
K - Kid(s): are cute but I don't have any!
L - Living arrangements: with my adoring husband, I was so thankful for him today!
M - Mom's name: Arlene
N - Nicknames: Lor, Lol, Lupy
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: never, not even for birth, my mom did home births
P - Pet Peeve: not planning something well when it affects me or people I love
Q - Quote from a movie: "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" - Notting Hill. Makes me cry every time!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 5 sisters total
T - Time you wake up: 6:00 am
U- Underwear: optional
V - Vegetable you dislike: egg plant
W - Ways you run late: If I forget my car's gas tank is on empty and I need to stop for gas...that happened this morning!
X - X-rays you've had: teeth and stomach
Y - Yummy food you make: I will say that I am a pretty good cook and I enjoy it so I make some good food! Best I think is fruit&marange, or salsa, or cookies
Z - Zoo favorite: I haven't been to the zoo in a long time - I remember riding a camel when I was little somewhere so I'll say that!
Hope you enjoyed this - now post it for yourself so I can read about you!
Friday, May 22, 2009
The "perks" of a hospital job
I have worked at Scottsdale Health Care for 6 weeks now. I have been able to handle the grossness of it all until today.
I have seen a lot of really gross stuff. I have had to quickly grap a bed pan and place it under a patient so he wouldn't "let some go" on his bed and on my hand; I held a bucket for a patient as she threw up the "nothing" that was in her stomach after her surgery; I have watched an elderly patient have a BM as we walked him down the hall; I have had patients faint on me and the PT in the hall; I have seen urine very unnatural colors of amber and puce; I have seen blood drains; blood stains on sheets; BM stains on sheets/gowns; stapled up incisions; very young sick people, and very elderly people in their last days. I have been able to handle all of that fairly well. Of course some teary eyes for the sad moments, but I've handled it. Until today.
Today a patient spit disgusting saliva and whatever turned it that nasty color into a bowl and I had to wash it. I gagged and dry heaved (thankfully silently and the patient's back was to me) I had to excuse myself from the room to keep from throwing up right there. I could not handle that. After working in a dentists' office I knew I didn't like saliva but I thought I was over that after going through all the above mentioned...but I discovered today that I am not. Saliva/spit will make me gag and dry heave.
So you can bleed/urinate/throw up/and even have a BM in front of me.
Just don't spit.
Thank you.
I have seen a lot of really gross stuff. I have had to quickly grap a bed pan and place it under a patient so he wouldn't "let some go" on his bed and on my hand; I held a bucket for a patient as she threw up the "nothing" that was in her stomach after her surgery; I have watched an elderly patient have a BM as we walked him down the hall; I have had patients faint on me and the PT in the hall; I have seen urine very unnatural colors of amber and puce; I have seen blood drains; blood stains on sheets; BM stains on sheets/gowns; stapled up incisions; very young sick people, and very elderly people in their last days. I have been able to handle all of that fairly well. Of course some teary eyes for the sad moments, but I've handled it. Until today.
Today a patient spit disgusting saliva and whatever turned it that nasty color into a bowl and I had to wash it. I gagged and dry heaved (thankfully silently and the patient's back was to me) I had to excuse myself from the room to keep from throwing up right there. I could not handle that. After working in a dentists' office I knew I didn't like saliva but I thought I was over that after going through all the above mentioned...but I discovered today that I am not. Saliva/spit will make me gag and dry heave.
So you can bleed/urinate/throw up/and even have a BM in front of me.
Just don't spit.
Thank you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Oklahoma
I just got back from spending 6 days in Oklahoma! There is not much to that state but it is where my dad's younger brother lives and 2 of my cousins go to school in towns outside Oklahoma City. My cousin Melissa got married on Saturday in OKC so I flew out Tuesday night to help her with all the last details that come together in the days leading up to a wedding. I got in late Tuesday night to find that my poor cousin was sick with a really bad cold. She had only 3 days til her wedding! We bought echnecia drops and Emergen-C, stopped at jamba juice to load up on fruits, and she even decided to go to a clinic where they gave her antibiotics, liquid cold medicine, and to top it off: a shot of steroids. Needless to say her body kicked into high gear and fought off every ounce of sickness! She was feeling great by on her wedding day!
We spent our time together finishing the programs, doing a picture/ribbon project for the walls at her reception, talking about what photographs to do, finalizing details with the vendors, and then finally....friday we were joined by our sisters and moms for pedis, manis, luncheon, packing for the honeymoon (in Maui!), and gabbing about our lives and her WEDDING! We had so much fun! There are 7 of us girls in all - and that day will hold some of the best memories we have shared together. On the day of the wedding everything went so smoothly! There were a few things that needed extra attention or work...but Melissa never knew about those things and was able to relax and enjoy her special day. Well...she was mad when the photographer was an hour late and we couldn't hide that from her...but her sister did a great job of helping her get through that.
Ben came out for the wedding and was an amazing help getting the truffle favors finished and running back to the house when something was forgotten....We didn't get much time together because Melissa needed me to be doing lots of other things. He did however make sure we danced a few dances, held hands, and smiled at each other from across the room. He is such a perfect husband for me! He let me have my girl cousin time and didn't complain once about what I was doing for the wedding to make sure it ran smoothly.
The flight back home was comical. We needed to drop off me, Julie, and Cathy a little early (8:30 for a 12:00 flight) because we didn't want our Uncle Steve to have to leave a car at the airport and he did not have one vehicle that would fit all 5 of us in! In all there were my sisters and I, Ben, and our Grandma Ceil. The rest of the got to the airport around 10:30 only to find that the flight has been delayed an hour, set to leave at 1:00pm. BUMMER. We found things to keep us busy and our uncle Steve and Nana sat and talked with us until we needed to head through security. We got through, ate at Schlotzsky's, grabbed a deck of cards to play with, and shortly boarded the plane. We were getting nervous as 1:00 drew closer because in order for Julie, Cathy, and Grandma Ceil to make their connecting flight to Tucson we needed to be in the air at 1:05. We took off at 1:02, according to Ben's watch, and as we walked off the airplane in Denver we heard over the loudspeaker, "All remaining passengers on flight **** to Tucson please report to gate ** we are ready to take off." The three of them booked it (as quickly as Grandma Ceil could go) down corridor to their gate and thankfully they made it! They were the last ones on the plane but they made it.
Ben and I had a 2.5 hour layover and I wanted to go outside and walk around. Afterall we were in Denver and it looked like the weather was gorgeous outside. We made our way to the front of the airport - security didn't look like it would take very long to get back through so we continued past it. There were actually hundreds or people in line that we couldn't see. bummer....Ben wasn't thrilled because he didn't want to have to go back through security in the first place - sorry ben. We walked over to where they had an outside patio but they had "closed it for cleaning" we didnt want to walk too far from security because we needed to have enough time to get through. We got TCBY yogurt to make up for not being able to go outside. We then got in line for the 30 or so minute wait for security...got back on the tram that took us to our terminal. We had about 30 minutes til boarding when we got to our gate so we played cards and games on his itouch. We made it home a few hours late but were glad to be back with Arabelle. She's so fun and cute.
I can say for sure that aside from seeing Arabelle, we were not ready to go home on Monday. We loved being in OK and I love my cousins. My whole family was there and we loved all the time we spent with each other. Both Ben and I loved the weather, the scenery, and everything else about OKC. We definitely will be visiting our family in OK often.
*I will post pictures when I get them from my sister...
We spent our time together finishing the programs, doing a picture/ribbon project for the walls at her reception, talking about what photographs to do, finalizing details with the vendors, and then finally....friday we were joined by our sisters and moms for pedis, manis, luncheon, packing for the honeymoon (in Maui!), and gabbing about our lives and her WEDDING! We had so much fun! There are 7 of us girls in all - and that day will hold some of the best memories we have shared together. On the day of the wedding everything went so smoothly! There were a few things that needed extra attention or work...but Melissa never knew about those things and was able to relax and enjoy her special day. Well...she was mad when the photographer was an hour late and we couldn't hide that from her...but her sister did a great job of helping her get through that.
Ben came out for the wedding and was an amazing help getting the truffle favors finished and running back to the house when something was forgotten....We didn't get much time together because Melissa needed me to be doing lots of other things. He did however make sure we danced a few dances, held hands, and smiled at each other from across the room. He is such a perfect husband for me! He let me have my girl cousin time and didn't complain once about what I was doing for the wedding to make sure it ran smoothly.
The flight back home was comical. We needed to drop off me, Julie, and Cathy a little early (8:30 for a 12:00 flight) because we didn't want our Uncle Steve to have to leave a car at the airport and he did not have one vehicle that would fit all 5 of us in! In all there were my sisters and I, Ben, and our Grandma Ceil. The rest of the got to the airport around 10:30 only to find that the flight has been delayed an hour, set to leave at 1:00pm. BUMMER. We found things to keep us busy and our uncle Steve and Nana sat and talked with us until we needed to head through security. We got through, ate at Schlotzsky's, grabbed a deck of cards to play with, and shortly boarded the plane. We were getting nervous as 1:00 drew closer because in order for Julie, Cathy, and Grandma Ceil to make their connecting flight to Tucson we needed to be in the air at 1:05. We took off at 1:02, according to Ben's watch, and as we walked off the airplane in Denver we heard over the loudspeaker, "All remaining passengers on flight **** to Tucson please report to gate ** we are ready to take off." The three of them booked it (as quickly as Grandma Ceil could go) down corridor to their gate and thankfully they made it! They were the last ones on the plane but they made it.
Ben and I had a 2.5 hour layover and I wanted to go outside and walk around. Afterall we were in Denver and it looked like the weather was gorgeous outside. We made our way to the front of the airport - security didn't look like it would take very long to get back through so we continued past it. There were actually hundreds or people in line that we couldn't see. bummer....Ben wasn't thrilled because he didn't want to have to go back through security in the first place - sorry ben. We walked over to where they had an outside patio but they had "closed it for cleaning" we didnt want to walk too far from security because we needed to have enough time to get through. We got TCBY yogurt to make up for not being able to go outside. We then got in line for the 30 or so minute wait for security...got back on the tram that took us to our terminal. We had about 30 minutes til boarding when we got to our gate so we played cards and games on his itouch. We made it home a few hours late but were glad to be back with Arabelle. She's so fun and cute.
I can say for sure that aside from seeing Arabelle, we were not ready to go home on Monday. We loved being in OK and I love my cousins. My whole family was there and we loved all the time we spent with each other. Both Ben and I loved the weather, the scenery, and everything else about OKC. We definitely will be visiting our family in OK often.
*I will post pictures when I get them from my sister...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Pictures from March
We surprised my mom at a sports bar to watch the UofA game...they made it into the sweet 16!She didn't even know we were coming to Cali and then we all got to go to Disneyland. It was a year of surprised for my mom!
We went to the beach the day we got there - windy and cold - but we still had fun and took some pictures.
It has been a long time since we were all together like this!
First ride of the day!
Me and Cathy :)
We LOVE this ride - no motion sickness in our family!!!
My mom's birthday dessert from a delicious restaurant in Disneyland!
Snow White's wishing well
Saying good bye to Disneyland...sigh...And this is the video from my mom's surprise party for her 50th. Her sister Paulette who she dearly misses came in just for her party and surprised my mom - you'll see her reaction. It makes me cry.
Pills and flowers
I asked my sister about the pictures and the video - she will send them to me soon. Until then I decided to post about my vitamins and supplements that I take. A couple of weeks ago I decided that Ben and I should take vitamins. My gracious husband humored me and started taking the vitamins along with me - and he really likes how he feels with them! I really felt that we did't get enough nutrition in the food we eat and I think our bodies suffer all around from lack of nutrition. So I talked to my cousin-in-law Brent who is a chiropractor and has tons of knowledge about supplements. He has his office stocked with lots of them so these are what we bought. The group on my left is what I take in the morning, the group on the right I take at night. some pills are in both and the bottle in the middle is vitamin D drops that we take 2x per day.
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I know that I was the one with the grand idea but I discovered that I do not like taking pills and I don't take them very well. I choke, gag, and have even spit them back out. Wouldn't you if you took this many??? Ben is my cheerleader who says to me over and over "Just do it" "Don't think about it" And he does it lovingly. I was the one who brought them home and he is the one convincing me to take them almost every time! I did discover that if I take them with pinnapple juice I handle it much better than with water. A couple of the pills have an awful taste. I still gag - I think I will always gag. But at least now I am not spitting them out! These are all of the bottles.
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I also wanted to put a little post in about my flower garden. I started this yesterday and was so happy to finally have something pretty in there! And I think I will truly appreciate it because it took a lot of work to get the planter cleaned out and new soil in there. I love my pretty purple and white daisies - I just hope they hold up well in the sun...the papers said they would but this planter is right in the sun almost all day. I'll keep you updated with how the flowers grow :)
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I know that I was the one with the grand idea but I discovered that I do not like taking pills and I don't take them very well. I choke, gag, and have even spit them back out. Wouldn't you if you took this many??? Ben is my cheerleader who says to me over and over "Just do it" "Don't think about it" And he does it lovingly. I was the one who brought them home and he is the one convincing me to take them almost every time! I did discover that if I take them with pinnapple juice I handle it much better than with water. A couple of the pills have an awful taste. I still gag - I think I will always gag. But at least now I am not spitting them out! These are all of the bottles..JPG)
I also wanted to put a little post in about my flower garden. I started this yesterday and was so happy to finally have something pretty in there! And I think I will truly appreciate it because it took a lot of work to get the planter cleaned out and new soil in there. I love my pretty purple and white daisies - I just hope they hold up well in the sun...the papers said they would but this planter is right in the sun almost all day. I'll keep you updated with how the flowers grow :)
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updates March and April
My blog title "Ever Changing Life" is so appropriate right now. That is partially why I have not blogged in over a month...any time I though oh I should blog about that something new happened and I was busy with that or didn't know how to blog about it. But I thought I should just sit and write. So here I am on a rainy Saturday looking out my livingroom window listening to the falling rain. I love the sound of the rain! I am sipping on my delicious TODDY coffee (http://toddycafe.com) and eating the last of my birthday brownies. I like cake but I LOVE brownies so I asked for my mom's zebra brownies for my birthday this year. SO YUMMY!
Ok so I'm thinking back to my last blog entry....and I told you all that I had my job interview at shc. Well...I got the job! It pays about 30% less than my old job :( and is on call so they don't promise any hours....they told me to expect 2-8 shifts per month (I know what a range)! I am encouraged because most of the other on call workers are in school and I am not so I might be more available than the others to pick up extra shifts when needed. They also like to promote on call workers to part time after a trial run as on call. I hope that I do this job well and that I like it!
I decided that although I got this job I would still try to find another part time job, possibly as a nanny. I interviewed with one mom on Friday and have applied to 2 other families so we will see what happens with that! They pay almost what I was making at my old job so I'm praying that I get interviews with them. I know that God will take care of us - we are learning about trust and responsibility so much right now. I think we were spoiled to start off our marriage with both of us working in semi-good paying jobs. We were making good money. Now...I'm laughing...we are constantly having to watch money in and money out. I'm praying we don't get overwhelmed with it because it is just money.
I got to spend 4 days in OKC with my cousin Melissa! She is getting married in May and wanted help getting everything ready. We spent my time there putting invitations together, addressing envelopes, putting together decorations for the reception, looking at the reception site, deciding how else to make the place spectacular, laughing together, talking about memories of childhood camping trips, staying up til 2am, wine and cookies, seeing her college campus, seeing her cute apartment in Stillwater, going to my uncle's new property that he is going to build a house on, gathering tree branches from the property to make into beautiful decorations, getting unique and delicious bottles of "pop" from POPS on route 66, picking out her china (it is gorgeous!), and most importantly...made countless memories together! I love that even while living so far apart we grew up to be kindred spirits :)
The weekend after this my mom's sisters and I threw a surprise party for my mom. She turned 50 in March :) We had it at my cousin's house in Chandler and my aunt who lived in Dallas came out just for the party. She lived in PHX for about a year and my mom loved having her so close! Now she misses her like crazy. We were thrilled that she came out - and we have the moment my mom saw her on video...it's the best! It was a very fun night seeing my mom and her siblings together....some cousins came too and I like being with everyone :)
After that I got sick. I thought about blogging during that time but I couldn't even think straight. I was on the couch for like 4 days and then could get up slowly and walk a little but was so lightheaded I only stayed vertical for limited amounts of time. I slept, watched movies, and watched daytime tv....mostly dumb tv. It took about a week to be able to be outside and function well.
Right when I started feeling better it was time to go to disneyland again! My dad planned a family trip to Disneyland for my mom's 50th birthday :) She loves Dland and we haven't been as a family in about 15 years. So we all went. I was sad though because Ben had to work and couldn't come with us. March is Discount Tire's busiest month so they rarely let employees take vacation then - I know it sucks. But the 6 of us had fun. My sister still has the pictures I think I'll get those from her and then make another post with pictures.
I got home from that adventure on a Tuesday and Ben and I left for the marriage retreat on Friday....I told you I was busy! We LOVED the retreat. It was up at Khols Ranch just outside of Payson. It was so refreshing to hear about all the wonders of marriage and our relationship with God. I love marriage and how intricately God designed relationships - especially marriage. It is such a wonderful and powerful relationship. I am thankful every second of every day that I married Ben who seeks God's heart. We get to seek his heart together. I know that there are so many things that we are not doing prefectly or even very well right now. But we both know that we have our whole lives together to work on our marriage. We are trying to simply enjoy our time together and trust God and each other more. It is weird to trust my husband with our family...I have a hard time thinking of him as our leader because he has been my friend since I met him. Something that we want to focus on for our second year of being married is our strengths. We want to point out each others strengths and write them down every time we get. We hope that this will help us get to know each other more deeply, bring out what we are strong and weak in while focusing on the strengths, and learn how to encourage each other. I hope this will help us submit to each other strengths and help me see Ben as a leader for our family to come.
We got back on Sunday and I went to Flagstaff to visit my cousin Deja and her sweet family! I love going to Flagstaff! Both Ben and I love it but I just didn't have a job and work was too busy for Ben to take off so I got to go this time. Deja and Brent, her husband, have 2 little girls: Bella who is 3 almost 4 and Macie who is 1 almost 2. I love spending time with them, playing, laughing, and talking. I got to stay in their new guest suite and cook in their new kitchen, and watch a movie in their new man cave with surround sound and a great tv...they just did a major remodel and addition :) It was a short yet fun trip to be up in the cool weather and relax a bit. I also got to see Eden for a whole afternoon. I picked her from her NAU dorm and we went to lunch at the Pita Pit...HIGHLY recommended I love eating there! Then we went shopping for spring clothes/accessories and work clothes for me. I had a great time with Eden!
Whew...almost done...
I had my first of 2 orientations at shc on Monday the 6th. I got a name badge, parking pass, and was cleared by my medical exam to work. WOO HOO I HAVE A JOB! I have my 2nd orientation Monday the 13th...out one-year wedding anniversary!
Tuesday April 7th...my 23rd birthday. I can not believe that I am 23. And even more I can not believe that Ben and I have been married almost a whole year. Ben and I had both of our families over for dinner Tuesday night (our parents, sisters who were in town, my 2 cousins and the two little ones, and my Nana) 13 people total. Pretty packed table but I love having everyone together. We served pizza fondue which was delicious - we will totally do it again. Ben also grilled pinnapple for dessert (along with brownies, strawberries, and ice cream) and for dinner grilled vegetables. We LOVE having grilled vegetables. It was a very fun and yummy night. My parents bought me a power juicer which is so much fun and some luggage because I'm always borrowing theirs :) the Godings bought me a coach pouch and the movie Marly and Me. My sister bought me a shirt I had wanted from AE - she is so sweet to remember me looking at while we were shopping a while back. Ben bought me a clock I saw at Target and comment on it every time I see it there because it is so awesome. I have so many people who love me!
Ok so I think that is a lot of updating for one blog. I will get the pictures from my wonderful month and post those next. Have a great Easter weekend!
Ok so I'm thinking back to my last blog entry....and I told you all that I had my job interview at shc. Well...I got the job! It pays about 30% less than my old job :( and is on call so they don't promise any hours....they told me to expect 2-8 shifts per month (I know what a range)! I am encouraged because most of the other on call workers are in school and I am not so I might be more available than the others to pick up extra shifts when needed. They also like to promote on call workers to part time after a trial run as on call. I hope that I do this job well and that I like it!
I decided that although I got this job I would still try to find another part time job, possibly as a nanny. I interviewed with one mom on Friday and have applied to 2 other families so we will see what happens with that! They pay almost what I was making at my old job so I'm praying that I get interviews with them. I know that God will take care of us - we are learning about trust and responsibility so much right now. I think we were spoiled to start off our marriage with both of us working in semi-good paying jobs. We were making good money. Now...I'm laughing...we are constantly having to watch money in and money out. I'm praying we don't get overwhelmed with it because it is just money.
I got to spend 4 days in OKC with my cousin Melissa! She is getting married in May and wanted help getting everything ready. We spent my time there putting invitations together, addressing envelopes, putting together decorations for the reception, looking at the reception site, deciding how else to make the place spectacular, laughing together, talking about memories of childhood camping trips, staying up til 2am, wine and cookies, seeing her college campus, seeing her cute apartment in Stillwater, going to my uncle's new property that he is going to build a house on, gathering tree branches from the property to make into beautiful decorations, getting unique and delicious bottles of "pop" from POPS on route 66, picking out her china (it is gorgeous!), and most importantly...made countless memories together! I love that even while living so far apart we grew up to be kindred spirits :)
The weekend after this my mom's sisters and I threw a surprise party for my mom. She turned 50 in March :) We had it at my cousin's house in Chandler and my aunt who lived in Dallas came out just for the party. She lived in PHX for about a year and my mom loved having her so close! Now she misses her like crazy. We were thrilled that she came out - and we have the moment my mom saw her on video...it's the best! It was a very fun night seeing my mom and her siblings together....some cousins came too and I like being with everyone :)
After that I got sick. I thought about blogging during that time but I couldn't even think straight. I was on the couch for like 4 days and then could get up slowly and walk a little but was so lightheaded I only stayed vertical for limited amounts of time. I slept, watched movies, and watched daytime tv....mostly dumb tv. It took about a week to be able to be outside and function well.
Right when I started feeling better it was time to go to disneyland again! My dad planned a family trip to Disneyland for my mom's 50th birthday :) She loves Dland and we haven't been as a family in about 15 years. So we all went. I was sad though because Ben had to work and couldn't come with us. March is Discount Tire's busiest month so they rarely let employees take vacation then - I know it sucks. But the 6 of us had fun. My sister still has the pictures I think I'll get those from her and then make another post with pictures.
I got home from that adventure on a Tuesday and Ben and I left for the marriage retreat on Friday....I told you I was busy! We LOVED the retreat. It was up at Khols Ranch just outside of Payson. It was so refreshing to hear about all the wonders of marriage and our relationship with God. I love marriage and how intricately God designed relationships - especially marriage. It is such a wonderful and powerful relationship. I am thankful every second of every day that I married Ben who seeks God's heart. We get to seek his heart together. I know that there are so many things that we are not doing prefectly or even very well right now. But we both know that we have our whole lives together to work on our marriage. We are trying to simply enjoy our time together and trust God and each other more. It is weird to trust my husband with our family...I have a hard time thinking of him as our leader because he has been my friend since I met him. Something that we want to focus on for our second year of being married is our strengths. We want to point out each others strengths and write them down every time we get. We hope that this will help us get to know each other more deeply, bring out what we are strong and weak in while focusing on the strengths, and learn how to encourage each other. I hope this will help us submit to each other strengths and help me see Ben as a leader for our family to come.
We got back on Sunday and I went to Flagstaff to visit my cousin Deja and her sweet family! I love going to Flagstaff! Both Ben and I love it but I just didn't have a job and work was too busy for Ben to take off so I got to go this time. Deja and Brent, her husband, have 2 little girls: Bella who is 3 almost 4 and Macie who is 1 almost 2. I love spending time with them, playing, laughing, and talking. I got to stay in their new guest suite and cook in their new kitchen, and watch a movie in their new man cave with surround sound and a great tv...they just did a major remodel and addition :) It was a short yet fun trip to be up in the cool weather and relax a bit. I also got to see Eden for a whole afternoon. I picked her from her NAU dorm and we went to lunch at the Pita Pit...HIGHLY recommended I love eating there! Then we went shopping for spring clothes/accessories and work clothes for me. I had a great time with Eden!
Whew...almost done...
I had my first of 2 orientations at shc on Monday the 6th. I got a name badge, parking pass, and was cleared by my medical exam to work. WOO HOO I HAVE A JOB! I have my 2nd orientation Monday the 13th...out one-year wedding anniversary!
Tuesday April 7th...my 23rd birthday. I can not believe that I am 23. And even more I can not believe that Ben and I have been married almost a whole year. Ben and I had both of our families over for dinner Tuesday night (our parents, sisters who were in town, my 2 cousins and the two little ones, and my Nana) 13 people total. Pretty packed table but I love having everyone together. We served pizza fondue which was delicious - we will totally do it again. Ben also grilled pinnapple for dessert (along with brownies, strawberries, and ice cream) and for dinner grilled vegetables. We LOVE having grilled vegetables. It was a very fun and yummy night. My parents bought me a power juicer which is so much fun and some luggage because I'm always borrowing theirs :) the Godings bought me a coach pouch and the movie Marly and Me. My sister bought me a shirt I had wanted from AE - she is so sweet to remember me looking at while we were shopping a while back. Ben bought me a clock I saw at Target and comment on it every time I see it there because it is so awesome. I have so many people who love me!
Ok so I think that is a lot of updating for one blog. I will get the pictures from my wonderful month and post those next. Have a great Easter weekend!
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