February was a pretty good month. Flew by with the little things of day to day life.
We moved into a new house. It's a 3 bedroom quad and I LOVE IT! It's big enough to host people and I cannot wait to get started! Our church recently reorganized our small group studies into age groups and we will be hosting here often :) We will also be hosting women's prayer night, and I am working to get my co workers and friends to come too.
I spend my Mondays with a friend who moved out from Colorado to join the church here too. I hang out with her and her two kiddos, and found out that she and her husband will be having a third. That makes for 4 pregnant women in a church with only 11 or so young married couples. Our church is a growin' :)
Which is exciting for many reasons, but one of them is that I took over Children's Ministry at church and get to be in charge of toys, curriculum and scheduling. It's been quite a bit of work, but I'll find my groove.
I'm also still trucking along in my online class. Online classes require GOBS and gobs of reading. I didn't even read this much in my senior capstone. But it's been pretty fun things and I am learning some useful things for work, and maybe for a future career.
Work has been busy and stressful, mostly because of several emotional situations. It's hard working with so many broken people and having to maintain boundaries. Sometimes they're blurred and sometimes you just want to leap past them to help a person in need...but of course if I did that I'd wear myself out jumping for everyone, so I keep working towards finding a balance.
In other news, I am still waiting to hear back from grad school to see if I've been accepted. Hopefully I will know by the end of March.
Oh, and that picture of the flowers and chocolate..that was a gift from my boyfriend Josh. We've been in school together since the 7th grade and friends since 9th. We recently began a long distance relationship, and we will see where things go.
Any way, that's my month. I just wanted to let you readers know that I love you. I may be the worse communicator alive (which is why I started this blog in the first place). But in all honesty there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about each and every single one of you..which is probably why I don't call or email...because it would take me all day to talk to everyone I love in a day. Not very good reasoning, I know. I'm working on it...
Books this month: Case studies...and more case studies...
Songs this month: case studies and more case studies...didn't really listen to much music of note.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
January 2013
January was a good month. One I desperately needed.
I left for Colorado on the 23 of December and was able to stay in Colorado until the 23rd of January. It worked out that I was able to keep my job, and I missed my girls. I had serious anxiety about how it would be when I returned to work, but so far, so good, and my girls missed me too.
I spend January staying with my Nana, in her newly finished and awesome basement. I was able to spend some more time with her than I would have otherwise. I also had an opportunity to catch up with good friends and had LOTS of time with family. Taking my daddy on dates, eating meals with my family, spending time with Katie and her family too. It was nice to have that normalcy again in my life, despite some really hard things that have happened in CO recently.
Nana is recovering fabulously from her hip replacement and is already back to walking her dog Dickens. My "nieces" and nephews are growing like weeds and, they all still know and miss me. I have to tell you it feels good to have them come running to my arms when they see me :)
I was also able to serve the Alvarado family while I was out there and help with cleaning and child care. The kids are getting so big (except for little Esther, who is doing really well). She has completed chemo and her stem cell transplant and is now onto radiation. Once that is complete, she will be able to return home. She will still have no immune system for about 6 months and they will have to keep an isolated, germ free lifestyle, but at least they will all be together.
We moved to a bigger apartment on the 24th, and I have spent the days since then unpacking, organizing, cleaning and settling in. I have also signed up for an online class and will be spending copious amounts of time reading for the assignments. I am going to really enjoy the class though :)
Not much else I can say about January, but all in all it was good to be able to be home and see to some things and feel some normalcy. I miss it a lot already.
Books this month: I started reading Beautiful Creatures (it's being made into a movie) and it's good so far.
Music this month: I am still on a country music kick, but my brother gave me some Ozzy Osbourne cds for Christmas and I am LOVING having those :) ...just need a cd player in my car.
I left for Colorado on the 23 of December and was able to stay in Colorado until the 23rd of January. It worked out that I was able to keep my job, and I missed my girls. I had serious anxiety about how it would be when I returned to work, but so far, so good, and my girls missed me too.
I spend January staying with my Nana, in her newly finished and awesome basement. I was able to spend some more time with her than I would have otherwise. I also had an opportunity to catch up with good friends and had LOTS of time with family. Taking my daddy on dates, eating meals with my family, spending time with Katie and her family too. It was nice to have that normalcy again in my life, despite some really hard things that have happened in CO recently.
Nana is recovering fabulously from her hip replacement and is already back to walking her dog Dickens. My "nieces" and nephews are growing like weeds and, they all still know and miss me. I have to tell you it feels good to have them come running to my arms when they see me :)
I was also able to serve the Alvarado family while I was out there and help with cleaning and child care. The kids are getting so big (except for little Esther, who is doing really well). She has completed chemo and her stem cell transplant and is now onto radiation. Once that is complete, she will be able to return home. She will still have no immune system for about 6 months and they will have to keep an isolated, germ free lifestyle, but at least they will all be together.
We moved to a bigger apartment on the 24th, and I have spent the days since then unpacking, organizing, cleaning and settling in. I have also signed up for an online class and will be spending copious amounts of time reading for the assignments. I am going to really enjoy the class though :)
Not much else I can say about January, but all in all it was good to be able to be home and see to some things and feel some normalcy. I miss it a lot already.
Books this month: I started reading Beautiful Creatures (it's being made into a movie) and it's good so far.
Music this month: I am still on a country music kick, but my brother gave me some Ozzy Osbourne cds for Christmas and I am LOVING having those :) ...just need a cd player in my car.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
December 2012
This was one of the most stressful months of my life. By the end of the month it felt like a million pounds had been lifted off my shoulders.
I told my boss on November 30 that I needed to take leave starting December 22 and leave was not approved until 10:50am on December 21...then at 4pm they told me that my leave started December 23 and I had to go to work on Saturday...
After 3 weeks of unbelievable stress and anxiously wating, I was on the road on December 23 back to CO. I spent the rest of December catching up with family and being there for them and with them. It's been a relief and reprieve to be able to be home with them.
My leave is until January 26th, and while I will likely spend the rest of the year paying for this leave, I know it is the right thing to do. I have such a peace about being back here and I am able to help in situations I have been longing to help for a while.
For stress relief I have been hanging out with kiddos and catching up with friends in my spare time. I'm staying with my Nana, whom I have decided is "kick ass". She broke her hip the week before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve morning she came downstairs to greet me like it was no big thing. She is already taking her golden retriever Dickens on short walks and I even her physical therapist has been impressed with her progress.
Needless to say, I am glad December is over.
2012 was a hard year and a good year. I am looking forward to 2013 with some trepidation and am working on setting some goals. I am applying to grad school, and am hoping to be accepted into a program at ASU called Infant-Family Practice. It's the program I was initially accepted into when I moved to AZ, and now that I have in state tuition, it seems like a great idea. I am prayerful that I will be accepted. I still need to complete a personal letter, get 3 letters of recommendation and transfer my transcripts. I recently found out that the deadline is January 15th and not February 15th, so I am in a bit more of a hurry. However, in God's goodness, this program has rolling admission.
Christmas was amazing and it was nice to be back with family, all alive and healthy, and enjoy the almost normalness of the situation. I think it will be a while before we're all at ease, but it was a good start.
Not much else to report.
Books this month: Beautiful Creatures ... it's being made into a movie, so I thought I'd check it out. It's good so far.
Music this month: whatever is on the radio at the time ... I am looking into getting a CD player in my car and working on a better playlist on my Ipod.
I told my boss on November 30 that I needed to take leave starting December 22 and leave was not approved until 10:50am on December 21...then at 4pm they told me that my leave started December 23 and I had to go to work on Saturday...
After 3 weeks of unbelievable stress and anxiously wating, I was on the road on December 23 back to CO. I spent the rest of December catching up with family and being there for them and with them. It's been a relief and reprieve to be able to be home with them.
My leave is until January 26th, and while I will likely spend the rest of the year paying for this leave, I know it is the right thing to do. I have such a peace about being back here and I am able to help in situations I have been longing to help for a while.
For stress relief I have been hanging out with kiddos and catching up with friends in my spare time. I'm staying with my Nana, whom I have decided is "kick ass". She broke her hip the week before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve morning she came downstairs to greet me like it was no big thing. She is already taking her golden retriever Dickens on short walks and I even her physical therapist has been impressed with her progress.
Needless to say, I am glad December is over.
2012 was a hard year and a good year. I am looking forward to 2013 with some trepidation and am working on setting some goals. I am applying to grad school, and am hoping to be accepted into a program at ASU called Infant-Family Practice. It's the program I was initially accepted into when I moved to AZ, and now that I have in state tuition, it seems like a great idea. I am prayerful that I will be accepted. I still need to complete a personal letter, get 3 letters of recommendation and transfer my transcripts. I recently found out that the deadline is January 15th and not February 15th, so I am in a bit more of a hurry. However, in God's goodness, this program has rolling admission.
Christmas was amazing and it was nice to be back with family, all alive and healthy, and enjoy the almost normalness of the situation. I think it will be a while before we're all at ease, but it was a good start.
Not much else to report.
Books this month: Beautiful Creatures ... it's being made into a movie, so I thought I'd check it out. It's good so far.
Music this month: whatever is on the radio at the time ... I am looking into getting a CD player in my car and working on a better playlist on my Ipod.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
November 2012
November was a hectic month. Crazy hectic!
This month I was busy:
- Looking for a new place to live as my roommates and I need to be out by December 31.
- Looking into classes at CSU, ASU and MCC
- Coordinating Christmas Vacation... re coordinating Christmas vacation.
This month, my Nana broker her hip, my dear friends in CO (with the beautiful daughter with Cancer) asked me to come back for a bit in January, and a loved one close to me almost committed suicide.
With these three events, I have decided to go back to CO for Christmas and stay most of January. I am waiting to see if I qualify for FMLA (family medical leave act), and if I don't get it, I will be quitting my job to go back to CO for a month.
2 Corinthians says "my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
And that sums up how I feel. There are some hard things going on in CO and I can't be here without taking some time to be there for a bit. I have no rest, and it's time to go. It's a bit scary, because I may be quitting this job to get that peace...but God has always provided and I know he will continue to.
Prayers that I would get FMLA would be lovely!
On to fun news!
Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I spent Thanksgiving day with about 35 people at one of my pastor's homes and we had so much fun together and the food was great! Then I had to go to work, and I was actually able to organize a bunch of things that had been on the back burner.
Then on Monday we had Thanksgiving two at my other pastor's home. There were just a few of us but the food was still AMAZING and we had a good conversation afterwards.
I love my church and I love the fun things we do together. I love their love for each other and each individual heart for the Lord.
I didn't have much time to read this month, but am hoping to read some this month.
Christmas presents are bought and ready to be wrapped. So very excited :)
Tune in next month for December update and hopefully the resolution to the housing situation, job situation and whether or not I will be taking classes.
This month I was busy:
- Looking for a new place to live as my roommates and I need to be out by December 31.
- Looking into classes at CSU, ASU and MCC
- Coordinating Christmas Vacation... re coordinating Christmas vacation.
This month, my Nana broker her hip, my dear friends in CO (with the beautiful daughter with Cancer) asked me to come back for a bit in January, and a loved one close to me almost committed suicide.
With these three events, I have decided to go back to CO for Christmas and stay most of January. I am waiting to see if I qualify for FMLA (family medical leave act), and if I don't get it, I will be quitting my job to go back to CO for a month.
2 Corinthians says "my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
And that sums up how I feel. There are some hard things going on in CO and I can't be here without taking some time to be there for a bit. I have no rest, and it's time to go. It's a bit scary, because I may be quitting this job to get that peace...but God has always provided and I know he will continue to.
Prayers that I would get FMLA would be lovely!
On to fun news!
Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I spent Thanksgiving day with about 35 people at one of my pastor's homes and we had so much fun together and the food was great! Then I had to go to work, and I was actually able to organize a bunch of things that had been on the back burner.
Then on Monday we had Thanksgiving two at my other pastor's home. There were just a few of us but the food was still AMAZING and we had a good conversation afterwards.
I love my church and I love the fun things we do together. I love their love for each other and each individual heart for the Lord.
I didn't have much time to read this month, but am hoping to read some this month.
Christmas presents are bought and ready to be wrapped. So very excited :)
Tune in next month for December update and hopefully the resolution to the housing situation, job situation and whether or not I will be taking classes.
Monday, November 5, 2012
October 2012
When you are single with no children, it's easy for each month to be exactly the same. It's sometimes hard, because you feel like you're in a rut, or you're behind. It's also hard when you have a monthly blog that people actually read to hear about your month...
This month, was much like the ones before it, but I will try to highlight some different things that happened, for all our sakes to break the monotony and for me to remember that I actually do things other than work.
I will however start with work...Work is busier and crazier than it's ever been. The main child care supervisor quit, which means I am effectively doing her job and mine, and that of a fired employee...And on Halloween, my supervisor let us know she has put in her resignation...meaning I will be getting added job duties...quadrupling my work load.
This has been tough, because now I am doing paperwork and watching babies all day. Don't get me wrong I LOVE BABIES, but I want to be able to be there for the women, get all my things done and make a difference. I don't feel like I'm making a difference right now...and it's hard. I am praying for leveled ground at work and a pay raise, or the job at the Children's hospital down the street that I applied for...that is unless money doesn't fall out of the sky to pay all my bills and let me go back to school (but as it hardly rains water here, I think my chances of that are slim).
In other news, this month was my Cousin's birthday, and it was a hard one to miss. She is my best friend and I love her and miss her and her kiddos. Can't wait for Christmas.
It was also my roommate's birthday. Dear Andrea is such a gift from God to me! Our friends KJ, and Joel came out to celebrate and we had lots of fun. The time with them was too short though. I didn't get any pictures of us and am going to refocus on getting pictures for the blog again.
I also took Andrea to my secret spot out here. It's a great place, and she loves it as much as I do...I actually remembered to get pictures there, and they are added into the slide show.
I've also been working on being more crafty with my time. It's finally cooling of in AZ, and football season is in full swing, so I made a fall wreath in honor of all things fall. Fall colors, football ribbon, and straw. It was pretty fun :) I included the picture of that too.
I worked on Halloween, so nothing exciting there.
Nothing big planned for November, I work on Thanksgiving, but am planning on spending the morning with friends before heading in. Check in next month for the happenings and hopefully some new photos :)
Books this month: 1000 Gifts (still reading through this one, and I highly recommend it!)
Song this month: Every Storm (Gary Allan) -- really good country song!
This month, was much like the ones before it, but I will try to highlight some different things that happened, for all our sakes to break the monotony and for me to remember that I actually do things other than work.
I will however start with work...Work is busier and crazier than it's ever been. The main child care supervisor quit, which means I am effectively doing her job and mine, and that of a fired employee...And on Halloween, my supervisor let us know she has put in her resignation...meaning I will be getting added job duties...quadrupling my work load.
This has been tough, because now I am doing paperwork and watching babies all day. Don't get me wrong I LOVE BABIES, but I want to be able to be there for the women, get all my things done and make a difference. I don't feel like I'm making a difference right now...and it's hard. I am praying for leveled ground at work and a pay raise, or the job at the Children's hospital down the street that I applied for...that is unless money doesn't fall out of the sky to pay all my bills and let me go back to school (but as it hardly rains water here, I think my chances of that are slim).
In other news, this month was my Cousin's birthday, and it was a hard one to miss. She is my best friend and I love her and miss her and her kiddos. Can't wait for Christmas.
It was also my roommate's birthday. Dear Andrea is such a gift from God to me! Our friends KJ, and Joel came out to celebrate and we had lots of fun. The time with them was too short though. I didn't get any pictures of us and am going to refocus on getting pictures for the blog again.
I also took Andrea to my secret spot out here. It's a great place, and she loves it as much as I do...I actually remembered to get pictures there, and they are added into the slide show.
I've also been working on being more crafty with my time. It's finally cooling of in AZ, and football season is in full swing, so I made a fall wreath in honor of all things fall. Fall colors, football ribbon, and straw. It was pretty fun :) I included the picture of that too.
I worked on Halloween, so nothing exciting there.
Nothing big planned for November, I work on Thanksgiving, but am planning on spending the morning with friends before heading in. Check in next month for the happenings and hopefully some new photos :)
Books this month: 1000 Gifts (still reading through this one, and I highly recommend it!)
Song this month: Every Storm (Gary Allan) -- really good country song!
Monday, October 8, 2012
September 2012
Sorry for such a late post. I have been incredibly busy at work and thusly exhausted at home...and really busy on the weekends too.
September was mostly just work again. BUSY, BUSY! We are super short staffed with more budget cuts (and possibly positions) on the way. I still love my job, but it's a bit strained at the moment.
The beginning of the month was AMAZING, because Katie and her boys came to visit me. We got to spend some time together and play. I miss my whole family, but those boys have a special place inm y heart and it was wonderful to get to see my first friend and her boys. Can't wait to see them again!
September means Football (American Football)...I LOVE FOOTBALL! A few friends and I went to a sports bar to watch the afternoon games. The Broncos (my team) and the Cardinals (everyone in Arizona's team) we playing at the same time (but not against each other) So it was nice for us all to get to watch our games and cheer with each other for their team. It was super fun. I am also on a fantasy football league, with several guys back in Colorado, so getting to watch a bunch of football simultaneously was also great to see how my players were doing. I'm not doing amazingly in the fantasy league, but I'm holding my own :)
September also meant buying a new car. I had one from some friends, but they needed it back Oct 7...and my dad refused to let me just buy a bike (Love you Papa)...so several of my guy friends down here volunteered and helped me find a car. I put a picture of her in the slide show...and she's basically the same thing as my old car.
I was supposed to go to Colorado for the last wedding of the season, but with us being so short staffed and so busy, my vacation request was denied...So no Colorado until Christmas (assuming I get that holiday off).
In other news, Esther, the sweet little girl with Cancer, is doing well. She's completed 4 rounds of Chemo and surgery. She still has quite the road ahead of her, so please keep her in your prayers. I added an updated pic of her too...and again, here's the link to her parents' blog.
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
Nothing big planned for October. Halloween games, singles movie nights, and work...work...work :) Meeting more single ladies out here though, and it's nice to be able to get together with them.
Books this month: The Secret Garden (got stalled in it) and Out of the Comfort Zone
Songs this month: 10,000 Reasons Matt Redman, and the country music genre
See you next month :)
September was mostly just work again. BUSY, BUSY! We are super short staffed with more budget cuts (and possibly positions) on the way. I still love my job, but it's a bit strained at the moment.
The beginning of the month was AMAZING, because Katie and her boys came to visit me. We got to spend some time together and play. I miss my whole family, but those boys have a special place inm y heart and it was wonderful to get to see my first friend and her boys. Can't wait to see them again!
September means Football (American Football)...I LOVE FOOTBALL! A few friends and I went to a sports bar to watch the afternoon games. The Broncos (my team) and the Cardinals (everyone in Arizona's team) we playing at the same time (but not against each other) So it was nice for us all to get to watch our games and cheer with each other for their team. It was super fun. I am also on a fantasy football league, with several guys back in Colorado, so getting to watch a bunch of football simultaneously was also great to see how my players were doing. I'm not doing amazingly in the fantasy league, but I'm holding my own :)
September also meant buying a new car. I had one from some friends, but they needed it back Oct 7...and my dad refused to let me just buy a bike (Love you Papa)...so several of my guy friends down here volunteered and helped me find a car. I put a picture of her in the slide show...and she's basically the same thing as my old car.
I was supposed to go to Colorado for the last wedding of the season, but with us being so short staffed and so busy, my vacation request was denied...So no Colorado until Christmas (assuming I get that holiday off).
In other news, Esther, the sweet little girl with Cancer, is doing well. She's completed 4 rounds of Chemo and surgery. She still has quite the road ahead of her, so please keep her in your prayers. I added an updated pic of her too...and again, here's the link to her parents' blog.
spendandbespent.blogspot.com
Nothing big planned for October. Halloween games, singles movie nights, and work...work...work :) Meeting more single ladies out here though, and it's nice to be able to get together with them.
Books this month: The Secret Garden (got stalled in it) and Out of the Comfort Zone
Songs this month: 10,000 Reasons Matt Redman, and the country music genre
See you next month :)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
August 2012
August came and went in a hurry. Work was busy and fun...lots of new babies and I love holding them and cuddling them. We also started a new rotation of daily groups for the women, which means that I have a whole new class of women to teach parenting skills to.
This month, Megan turned 22 and Austin turned 7. It was weird being so far away from it all. I'm not used to missing birthday celebrations and have missed so many this year already.
In other news, my car was totaled this month. My dear roommate borrowed it for a road trip and crashed it on her last leg home. Thankfully, she is completely okay and was close enough to home to get someone to pick her up. Insurance has been great, but it has lead me to a whole new line of questions...
But I digress. I am working on figuring out my next steps and best financial decisions.
I spent the rest of the month working out logistics with insurance and anticipating a visit from Katie and the boys. I cheated and posted a few pictures from their trip (although it was technically in September).
As for last months update. Esther has completed 3 rounds of Chemo and it's been radio silence from her family. They appear well supported and I've become very necessary at my work, so all appears settled.
I am hoping to take a quick trip home in September to see family, but it's not looking good at this point with the way things are at work...Hopefully I will be able to leave early on a Saturday and fly home for my days off.
Church is going well, we were relocated for the summer due to construction, but we are finally back in our home location. The church has shrunk some since the beginning of the year and a few folks are moving away, so that's sad. But at the same time that we've shrunk some, we've also gained a few newbies. A couple has moved from home and another couple joined us from Hawaii. We also have a few men coming around. All in all it's encouraging and I love my people here :) grateful for this place and God's kindness in it all.
Not a whole lot else to report.
Song this month: 10000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Books this month: The Secret Garden, 1000 Gifts
This month, Megan turned 22 and Austin turned 7. It was weird being so far away from it all. I'm not used to missing birthday celebrations and have missed so many this year already.
In other news, my car was totaled this month. My dear roommate borrowed it for a road trip and crashed it on her last leg home. Thankfully, she is completely okay and was close enough to home to get someone to pick her up. Insurance has been great, but it has lead me to a whole new line of questions...
But I digress. I am working on figuring out my next steps and best financial decisions.
I spent the rest of the month working out logistics with insurance and anticipating a visit from Katie and the boys. I cheated and posted a few pictures from their trip (although it was technically in September).
As for last months update. Esther has completed 3 rounds of Chemo and it's been radio silence from her family. They appear well supported and I've become very necessary at my work, so all appears settled.
I am hoping to take a quick trip home in September to see family, but it's not looking good at this point with the way things are at work...Hopefully I will be able to leave early on a Saturday and fly home for my days off.
Church is going well, we were relocated for the summer due to construction, but we are finally back in our home location. The church has shrunk some since the beginning of the year and a few folks are moving away, so that's sad. But at the same time that we've shrunk some, we've also gained a few newbies. A couple has moved from home and another couple joined us from Hawaii. We also have a few men coming around. All in all it's encouraging and I love my people here :) grateful for this place and God's kindness in it all.
Not a whole lot else to report.
Song this month: 10000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Books this month: The Secret Garden, 1000 Gifts
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