Lots to Share

It's been super crazy around here! We are moved into our apartment. Unpacked, however, is a totally different story. It's a lot of work, especially since we have a lot in boxes but not much furniture. Thankfully there have been some wonderful people who have given us various pieces. We now have things to sit on, sore things and eat at. Thank you to Kathy, Scott & Manda, and Wes & Trisha! And a special thank you to our families who have not only given us physical things but their time and energy as well! We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives! We like being on our own doing our own thing. Living in an apartment is more of an adjustment than I was expecting, but I'll get used to things.
A major adjustment that I wasn't expecting quite so soon was Nick surprised me with a sweet little dog the day we moved in. I quickly named him Rupert. Poor thing has been sick since that day with kennel cough (a doggie cold) which has been trying for me. He coughs all night and scares children and neighbors when he coughs. But the biggest trial with him has been that we thought he was house broken but he isn't. To prevent any accidents I need to take him outside every hour in a half to two hours. And sometimes even then he still has accidents. It's rather difficult to get much done with having to go out every 2 hours and spend 15-20 minutes each time. It's like I have a newborn (not saying I know exactly how it is to have a child) only his surprises I find randomly throughout the house and behind boxes and under things. We are working on it so hopefully he'll get it.

My snuggly Rupert

Our biggest struggle right now is finances (like everyone else). And we have been feeling the strain especially hard this week as my health has taken a bad turn. I've been extremely sick. To the point of not being able to get out of bed. I went to the Dr. on tuesday where they debated admitting me to the hospital. Instead I was sent to get several emergency tests done. It made for a long and exhausting day. Nick stayed up late into the night to keep an eye on me incase I needed to be taken in. I found that if I didn't move I could bear it and we made it through the night. The next night Nick got to experience one of my "episodes" for the first time. However it was not a full blown one, I was able to stay in control enough to not wail. I have not felt this horribly in a long time. It seems that all of the different things I've been dealing with health wise have come together and hit me all at once. I'm so grateful Nick was able to give me a blessing so I've been able to go to work (as there is no way I can miss it right now). Now is the trial of my faith. The tests I took earlier this week came back that everything is normal. I am going in for a major test next week, so we shall see what that shows. It's back to more doctors and more tests. I guess my main struggle is that we are spending so much money trying to find out what is wrong with everything coming back normal. I feel like we are wasting precious money we barely have. I just need to have faith that things will work out.  It is, after all, through the Lord that all things are possible.

Movin' Out!

After almost a year and a half of marriage Nick and I are finally able to move into our own place! It is such a blessing. I know that if it weren't for the hand of the Lord we would not be able to do this. While at the moment I am extremely overwhelmed with packing and getting everything ready, I am really excited to have a place to call our own. We both feel like we've been stuck in limbo. Both of us have said that we'll finally get to see what married life is like and really start our life together. We found an apartment about ten minutes from both our parents. The search for an apartment I liked was quite disappointing. I went to several places and was let down, it was gross and filled with cigarette smoke, or we made too much $, or it was way over priced. I kept going back to one of the first places we (I drug my sweet SIL Kate everywhere with me) saw. When I took Nick to see it, the moment I walked in I felt, This is where we are suppose to be. And as soon as Nick heard the y offered fiber optic internet he felt the same way. He was totally giddy about it actually. We filled out an application that day. After what seemed like forever we were told we were accepted and chose a move in date. And that day is tomorrow! We have so much stuff but barely any furniture. So we've been trying to find things. Nick's step-grandma gave us several items as his grandpa just passed so she is moving in with her daughter. So in addition to getting packed I've also been trying to spruce up some of the things we got and make them a bit more us. My first project was a total fail. But I'm loving how the dinning room set is turning out. I promise pix to come! Now we just need to find us a couch and I think we'll be set for now. I am so excited to finally get to do all the wifey things and set up our own household with all that entails. We will be in just in time to celebrate our birthdays, I can't wait, I get to do so much more now! I'm also excited to decorate! And of course this also means adding to our family, but don't get too excited, we're getting a dog before we try for a baby. We need some time to be us first. We are both so excited and so very blessed at this opportunity. We are also so grateful to my parents for letting us live with them. It has been quite the experience for everyone. I'm so glad I have the parents I do and that they have been so gracious to us!

I'm thinkin a Corgi

Or maybe a Bulldog

Moving our Blog

Some time soon we will be moving our blog to wordpress. With all the issues I have with blogger Nick decided that we should try something a little different. So I am hoping that I will be able to see everyone's blogs and everything and not have such issues posting. We shall see. So I will be asking for invites to everyone's blog (as just about everybody is private) once again. And I'll be sending you the new one as well as soon as I get it how I like it.

Employed Again!

Things have been really tough as of late with us being unemployed for quite some time, not to mention all the time of unsteady employment. Nick has been the customer service field far too long which made him quite jaded. After the last cs job ended I told him no more. I didn't care how long we had to go unemployed, he was not to go back into that field. So he has been putting in application after application in the computer field where his heart truly lies. And after many applications and countless prayers (not to mentions tears) he got a couple of calls back. He had phone interviews with two companies then both had him in for interviews. The first was with an engineering firm doing animatronics. The second (where the interview lasted 6 hours) was with the church doing software development in the family search department. Both are amazing opportunities. But we could only do one. So after much thought, prayer and lists we went with the church. He starts next Tuesday. We are both over the moon. Now we can finally catch up on all of our bills and take the steps to get a place of our own. This has been the greatest blessing! I am so grateful that Nick has this opportunity and that he can finally get into the industry he's been longing to get into.

One Year!!!

Ok so I realize it's a year, a month, 3 weeks and 2 days (ish) but I didn't have a chance to post during the anniversary weekend. I truly cannot believe it's been a year already but at the same time it feels like we have been together since the dawn of time. We had a marvlous anniversary. Nick planned the entire thing and can I just say he did the most fantastic job! Though we were a little down and nervous about the plans because he lost his job the week before and we knew we shouldn't spend the money. But as most of it was already paid for we decied to continue anyway and not think about all that for the weekend. We started the morning off doing a sealing session. It was beautiful! I loved kneeling across the alter with my sweetheart and sharing our special day with those who have gone before. I think this was my favorite thing we did. We've decided to make it an anniversary tradition. I was so curious where he was taking me for the evening as he said he got the idea for something I had said when we were first married. Needless to say my interest was piqued! Especially as we are driving all around downtown. I thought for sure he was looking for Armstrong Mansion where we had my bridals. After driving around for a bit we turned into the Anniversary Inn. I thought for sure he was either messing with me or just stopping to figure out directions as we had passed it several times plus for some reason he had me convinced that was not where we were going. It was and I was thrilled! We had spent our honeymoon there and we both really enjoyed it, I especially love their breakfasts (ask Nick, I crave it often). We checked in but I didn't get to see the room yet as it was a surprise. Then Nick whisked me away to dinner at Olive Garden. We had so much fun going all out; getting appetizers, several drinks, and even dessert (that's the great thing about gift cards, all you have to worry about is the tip). The food was divine and the staff was incredible! After stuffing ourselves to the point of ridiculousness we headed back to our room. I opened the door to a pirate ship covered in rose petals! It was the sweetest thing! However we've decided that we will never again stay in the pirate ship room as it was rather creepy. The wood kept creaking, and at one point it sounded like someone had opened the door and was moving around the room. It made for a restless night to be sure. Poor Nick woke up so sick. I just glad he was feeling better by the evening for my final surprise; improv at the Off Broadway Theater. Where he won us tickets by getting on stage and doing one of the skits with them. It was a riot! Needless to say it was the most wonderful weekend. I am so grateful that I married Nick. He is the love of my life, my companion, best friend, confidant. He is my everything. I am so blessed!

Away

It's been a long time since I last posted. Not that there hasn't been anything to say, it's just that I have been going through some struggles and didn't want to just blog my complaints. Of course there is not a whole lot going on in our lives to blog about. With it being just the two of us living in my parents house and not being able to really go anywhere or do much of anything, we are the definition of boring. I've been having a very difficult time with my health and with that my self confidence. We have missed several things both with family and friends because of this and I am sorry if this has upset or offended anyone. I hope that you can forgive me and bear with me during this time. I truly am grateful for everyone in my life and am so grateful that I have Nick who is my rock. Thank you all!