Graduation, Christmas, and .... Life

Graduation came and went extremely quickly, probably faster then I even wanted it to.


As always, Christmas did as well. We were so excited to actually spend this Christmas together, not being apart at all. It was nice to be with each other, to open gifts with family and to relax a bit with each other.

Jason will go back to school here soon, with only 2 phases left in school (4 months). I am so very proud of him, he has worked so hard. He recently accepted a job with the Toyota dealership in town just about 2 blocks from where I work. He loves it there, which I cannot ask for any more then for him to be happy. I am so glad that he has found something that he enjoys.

We have settled into our new home and look forward to when the winter begins to disappear. We hear that there is a lot of fun things to do in Cheyenne during the summer time. Today our run was 60 mile per hour wind with snow, it would be nice to at least not have snow hitting our eyes.

Work for me has been going well! I am excited to get my hands dirty and learn more. I like how Terracon is located nationwide, so Jason and I might look into moving back to Colorado one of these days.

We are realizing that we need to take some time for ourselves every now and then. Christmas at the hospital was eye opening to how tired I have really been.

We hope that this holiday season has brought much happiness to you and your families! Happy New Year!

10 Reasons I am Looking Forward to Graduation

1. No Homework!!!!!
2. I can read a novel, not a text book
3. I won't feel obligated to study instead of relax
4. Having a home instead of just a place to live during school
5. Actually having a degree
6. Being able to call myself an engineer
7. No homework
8. Being a CSU Alumni
9. Having a real job
10. Getting paid for the work that I do, instead of paying to do the work that I do.

I guess this is a good time to tell you that I have accepted a full time Environmental Engineering position in Cheyenne Wyoming at a company called Terracon Consulting Engineers and Scientists starting part time now and full time when I graduate. This is going to be good because it is close to home and close enough that Jason and I can live together while he finishes school. I am looking forward to the position as it deals with writing ESA Phase 1 and 2 Assessments and is a lot of field work!!! My new boss says that at Terracon there is no glass ceiling, and I hope to someday attain my PE and be a mentor to younger engineers. I might also have the opportunity to move anywhere in the US (including Colorado!!!).

2 Years in the Making...

That's right, 2 years! Jason and I have been engaged longer then just dating. Crazy... I know.

The first time he proposed, yes I made him ask me twice, was in May of 2009. I knew it was coming, we had talked about it so much. He proposed in the Oval on a windy day. We were there throwing the frisbee for Charley (Kenya nor Kit were part of the family yet!). I turned around and he was on his knee. I said yes, but after a month I felt the pressures of our different backgrounds and didn't feel that I could "fight" that fight forever. Let me tell you, I HATED that summer.

But, come July of that year, I was back telling him that I was ready again. The fight was worth it. Thanksgiving rolled around, we were with my family but the day after we were at DIA waiting for a flight to Utah to see his family. They downgraded our big SouthWest plane, to a tiny propellar plane. If you know me at all, you know I'm scared of flying. (You may ask now why we are flying 19 hours to Australia for our honeymoon!? Crazy I know!) Jason sat next to me holding my hand with the hand closest to me with the other bent accross his body like he was hugging himself. I remember putting my head on his shoulder and looking down. The ring was in his hand. A few minutes later he slipped it on my finger. No words were spoken. We both knew the question and the answer.

I wanted to write this to share just a little bit about our 2 year journey as an engaged couple, the ups and downs that have been so hard. Let's start with Jason. Man, how did I land a guy who is always so level-headed? Someone who has never questioned that I am "The One", or at least not out loud, and someone who has given so much to me.

You know those couples you see at church, the ones that you can tell have been married for 65 years and still love each other like the day they first met? I have always wanted to be that couple! That walks into church hand in hand, and are just the spitting image of what marriage is all about. When I broke off our engagement, I kept telling Jason that I couldn't give the hope of one day having that up. I want to walk into church holding my husbands hand in 65 years. The hard part was what church? I knew that I couln't give up my image of the church I had grown up in, the beliefs that have become more a part of me since knowing Jason then before I met him. He told me... I will be there with you no matter which church it is. But what about kids? I couldn't raise my kids in something I was so foreign to, in something that really no matter how hard I tried I couldn't agree with. He told me.... I will be there with you and the kids no matter which church it is. And believe me, I am holding him to that!

I guess right now you are either furious with me, or you totally understand. I hope it is the latter. I mean, think about you, what you wanted for your marriage and your children. You want/ or wanted exactly what I do. Maybe my kids will not follow me, my sister has not followed my parents. But, I will raise them in a church that I am familiar with and feel that they will be strengthened by them in the way that it has strengthened me. After 4 years of dating Jason, I know he is good for his word, and will help me to raise my children and walk me into church someday holding my hand not even blinking at the sign on the building. He loves me and knows that my heart is strong and is in the right place in all that I do.

Now for me.... I have been told many things since dating Jason. Some are wonderful, some not so great. Of course it is always the things that are not so great that stick with you. By two seperate people I have been told to my face that my marriage will not be as Holy as theirs. That because I am not going to be married in the same way, God will not be as present in our union. Imagine being told that. What do you say? What do you do? I have no idea. I still dont know even after being told multiple other things about our future, our differences and how our future will be based on our different histories. It hurts...

Four years, two engagements, and fifteen days before we say I DO. Let me tell you, it has been a bumpy ride. We can handle anything after these four years! It has not always been cupcakes and butterflies, but when he holds my hand and looks at me like he does, I do get butterflies. I do love him, and our marriage has this foundation.

For those of you coming to join us at the end of July, I hope you enjoy yourselves. I hope that you feel the happiness that Jason and I have found in each other. We love you all!

1 Year Post Op

Dear Lord,

Thank you for helping me through this past year. I never thought I would feel well enough to run again, and I finished my 1st half marathon after surgery 1month ago.

So thank you Lord! For this past year, I know there are reasons for everything and I have learned so much about how strong I am with you by my side!

The Greater Good

Someone once said, “Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves - or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.” .

Do you believe?

I do...

Some might not see, that just as God has granted us life, he has granted us a large responsibility of protecting his Earth and it's resources.

You may not see it now.... but you will someday.

Jason's New Adventure

I know, I am sappy, I think way to much, and I will never have ALL the answers. But hey, at least I am trying in everything that I do and I only want to be the best version of myself. I have wanted to write this "letter" since last Monday, but seeing as I had a Water and Soil Engineering and a Hydraulics test this morning, work started last week, FE Reviews started last week, and I have to fit time for school and running in that mix it just hasn't happened. So after those tests... and only 1 and 1/2 weeks after Jason started school I will finally get to share how I am feeling about all of these new experiences.


Jason,

WOW! You amaze me, waking up before 4 in the morning every day to sit in class for 6 hours then go to work for another 4 is crazy! You are crazy! I am so so so proud of you! I remember the conversations we used to have trying to figure out what you wanted to do as a career. (even though I remember saying you should be a mechanic about a million and one times) You never seemed really that passionate about any of our ideas. But last week I think I heard you refer to yourself as "the old man in class". You are feeling like you never have before.... absolutely exhausted! HA! Welcome to the club! But I think you are also feeling something called responsibility. And I think I fell in love with you all over last week when you walked into my apartment in your button up WYOTECH shirt and tie. You look so cute in it!

But anyways, I am getting off subject. I cannot express to you how happy I am for you that you found something you like to do. You are way ahead of me in that. But I am also proud that you are mine. That you are not like all of those guys in your class that you talk about. You don't complain about being there, and instead you for once want to be where you're at!

I also wanted to say that it felt strange wanting your attention while you were doing homework, instead of the other way around like it has been for the last 3 1/2 years. Tables have turned I guess. We have so much to look forward to in the next year! We will finally be married, and hopefully I won't miss you as much as I do now, not seeing you because we are both so busy. I will graduate in December and you next February. Our lives will be off and running!!! Hopefully we will both find time to be grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves this past year. I know one thing I am so grateful for is you. You complete me and I miss you like crazy, but I know someday soon we will be together forever.

So anyways, I am proud of you Jason. I am pretty sure everyone else is too, including my family!

Love you Babe.

The similarities between a dog and Jesus...

Ya I know this sounds funny. This weekend I was at home and saw my 14 year old lab. She was so happy and yet I could tell how fragile her life was. I know some of you think I am crazy. Maybe I am.... a little. We got her on Valentine's day hence the name Valentine. I don't have a picture on here... which is awful. But I really got to thinking about the similarities between my dogs and Jesus. Of course there are many obvious differences, like they weren't born to a virgin or they aren't able to heal the sick and feed the hungry (although I could debate the healing... a hard day is always cured with one run with a dog!). But... They love unconditionally and do not care what you wear or what embarrassing thing you just did.

So I wanted to share this from "Marley and Me" in dedication to the life Val has given my family and whatever she has left to give we will always be thankful for the love, comfort, and protection she offered us...Just like Jesus.

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."

Here is to Val and Holly and Gussy and Bagels (These are all from my child hood) and of course...

My Kenya

And my one and only Charley...