Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Looking Back

Yesterday Nick, Emma, and I met Mom, Dad, Gma, and Gpa in Rock Port to celebrate my birthday early as we always have. We usually get together at Gma and Gpa's for a weenie roast and a big family get together, but this year with me working we just had to compromise. We met at the truck stop in Rock Port for lunch, then we went to the park for cupcakes and gifts :) It was great getting to see everyone and spend some time together, but boy does the detour we have to take, suck!!!! I don't think I've mentioned it in any posts, but this past summer there was some major flooding from the Missouri River from north of Council Bluffs all the way down I-29 to Rock Port. Therefore, even though the flood waters are receeding, they have left the interstate between Glenwood and Rock Port damaged and undrivable, and so we have to take this crappy detour where the roads are super hilly and wind around a ton which means that if you get stuck behind some people who are piddling along (which we always do!), then you're stuck behind them for over an hour, or longer, depending on how slowly they are driving!

Looking Ahead
Anyhow, we had a great time with everyone and now that we're back home, I have been decorating for Halloween and Fall in general :) I am so excited for the holidays this year because Emma's older and I just think that they are going to be a lot of fun, except, perhaps for having to watch Emma super close so that she doesn't destroy our Christmas tree :P I am planning on putting in to have Black Friday and that Saturday off here in a few weeks, and so my fingers are crossed for those days off to be approved!

God Bless the U.S.A.

Ten years ago today I remember walking into my sophmore History class only to see the television on, and a building with a smoking, gaping wound on it's side. I think maybe I was too young to understand the magnitude of what was happening, but now it really hits me hard seeing mothers and relatives draped over their loved one's name on one memorial or another. September 11, 2001 is a date that Emma will be learning about from a History book. The book will give the facts about what happened, and how many people were killed, but it will not be able to recount how people were jumping to their death from windows, from fear of being crushed should the towers fall. It also, will not tell the stories about those who are alive today because they had a busy morning and were running late for work, or because their child was sick and they had to stay at home with them.

I think perhaps the noblest thing from this day was the courage that United Flight 93 showed, as they forced their plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania rather than crashing into the White House. They knew that they were going to die either by the hands of a terrorist, or that they could sacrifice themselves and save some people who would be able to fight Al Quaeda (as we found out later was behind the attacks.) Nick and I were talking, wondering if we would be able to do the same thing given their situation, and sadly, I am not sure I could. I know that for everyone there is a time to die (as stated in the Bible), but to cause your own death is something I have a hard time grasping, and therefore, I see these people, along with the firefighters, as the true heroes of the day.

"God bless America. Land that I love! Stand beside her, and guide her, through the night with a light from above." Lord please guide our country through these troubled waters in which we sail, and bring us to a safe harbor soon. Keep those who lost their lives ten years ago today in your hands, and be with the innocent Muslim population who has received a bad rap from a few bad apples among them. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

No More Training

Tomorrow is my first day that I won't be in training at OTC, and will be completely on the phones all day excepting my breaks and lunch. I know that it really isn't going to be any different than Friday was because I was on the phones most of the day then...but I'm still just a little nervous and hope I do good and have a good day! Fingers crossed!

My Life in the Blogging World

I can't believe that I have reached over 100 posts now! I started this blog back in 2008 and am going to do a quick recap of each, in case anyone's interested :)

1. Very first blog post ever. Thoughts on blogging and the Obama/McCain election.
2. Thoughts on Obama's winning the election.
3. Talked about wedding dress alterations, engagement pictures, and decorating Nick's for Xmas!
4. Excitement about going to see the Transiberian Orchestra with Ethan.
5. Black Friday with Ethan....it's was crazy hectic, but we got all we wanted!
6. Reflecting on my last day working at Grand Paws Kennel :(
7. Results from Special Ed Praxis II, I passed! Thoughts on what I am going to do after graduation.
8. Mine and Nick's Christmas together. Looked for a found a new car!
9. Christmas 2008 with my family. Fell down stairs on Christmas Eve and broke my big toe.
10. Got my new Toyota Camry. Toe condition worse.
11. New car photo. Questionair on 2008
12. Thoughts about getting ready to start my student teaching.
13. Taking the 2nd Praxis II test for Special Ed. Going with Martha to David's Bridal to look for a maid of honor dress for my wedding.
14. Tried on my wedding dress.
15. Thoughts on starting Student teaching.
16. Nothing of importance to note.
17. While at Omaha, Nick got sick.
18. Exhausted from Senior Seminar class.
19. Relaxing before starting student teaching.
20. All about me post ;)
21. Getting wedding plans taken care of such as flowers and meeting the pastor who would marry us.
22. First day in high school classroom I was to student teach in.
23. Super tired from student teaching.
24. Excited because I passed my 2nd special ed Praxis test.
25. First day actually teaching
26. Finishing first week of student teaching, and potential job opportunities.
27. Nothing important :P
28. Contacted by Papillion/La Vista School district to come in for an interview for a Special Ed position.
29. Looking forward to Spring Break, did not get Papillion/La Vista job I interviewed for with it turning out to be pretty much a waste of time, went to Kati's bridal shower.
30. Entirely exhausted from student teaching and wedding planning. I think I was beginning to get a feeling that teaching would not be my ultimate career, but I didn't voice those thoughts.
31. Stressed from student teaching. Yes, I do realize a lot of my posts are about this, but that was a big think in my life for about 6 months at the beginning of 2009 :P
32. Giving my first test during ST, stress, and finding a hairdresser for my wedding (I ultimately ended up doing my own hair).
33. Rambling
34. Great week student teaching, and looking forward to spending spring break in Omaha,
35. Had a great spring break, preparing to start my last 2 weeks student teaching, and enjoying some spring weather.
36. Thoughts on family, my bridal shower, and tornado warning!
37. Annual Liberty garage sales, reflecting on my college career and upcoming graduation, and thinking about how it will be different not living at home.
38. Picture of the new puppy Nick and I would be getting shortly after our honeymoon. Siberian Husky we named Akiba.
39. Got to see Akiba for the first time.
40. Thoughts on our wedding that was 2 weeks away!
41. Wedding, honeymoon, and life as a married woman updates, along with pictures!
42. Talking about how Akiba was growing. Got a new job with the Petshotel in Petsmart.
43. Found out Martha was getting married, and she is pregnant, due the following February (it was September in this post).
44. Nick and I began talking about maybe wanting to start a family in the next several months.
45. Found out we were expecting a baby!
46. Thoughts about the Christmas Season.
47. A reflection on 2009. We got rid of the dog.
48. Went to first OB appt and got to see baby on first ultrasound and hear the heartbeat :) Looking for a new job, as I quit the one at Petsmart in November because they required you to work holidays.
49. Got a new job at Kmart. Money woes.
50. Growing belly. Getting ready for our Washington D.C. trip!
51. Found out we were going to have a baby girl! Thinking about name ideas.
52. Talking about our Washington D.C. trip.
53. Nursery pictures.
54. Phone interview for Nick.
55. Asking for prayers for Nick's job situation. Having to go to the hospital for a Gestational Diabetes test.
56. No gestational diabetes
57. Nick headed to an interview for a job he really wanted.
58. Waiting on a call from the company Nick interviewed with.
59. Nick had a second phone interview with the company he really wanted to work for.
60. Anniversary plans. 4th interview at Bosselman for Nick.
61. More interview thoughts.
62. Interview doubts.
63. Nick's very depressed about his job situation and life in general. Feeling like we are in dire straights.
64. Nick didn't get the job :(
65. The reality that we would soon be parents (in about 2.5 weeks) really began to hit us. Getting ready to head back to Grand Island.
66. Body beginning to prepare for Emma's arrival (effacement and dilation).
67. Nick's feeling left out of the pregnancy.
68. Pregnancy update.
69. More pregnancy updates. I think I'm getting close to becoming a mom!
70. I had Emma :)
71. My pre-labor and labor story, giving birth, the first 5 weeks at home with her. She was staying at Mom and Dad's for a week because she'd been going through an incredibly rough patch.
72. Some pics of Emma :)
73. Emma's 8 month update! Preparing for 2 month shots.
74. Update on Emma in photos.
75. Emma's doing better. On Neocate formula.
76. Pictures of Emma and how she's grown.
77. Emma turned 6 months old. Nick learned that his name was on the list of people to be let go from Infogroup the following March, which was about 1 month away.
78. Reflecting on the death of a baby from SIDS. Feeling bad about getting frustrated with Emma.
79. Frustrations about not getting help with Emma and the house while I'm sick.
80-84. Got a new fishtank and had some fish I wanted identified by cichlids.com members.
85. Nick got hired by Oriental Trading Company. Photos of Emma.
86. Thoughts on the writing process and my need to keep a hold of my creativity.
87. Preparing for Easter. Frustration that Nick doesn't seem to appreciate what I was doing. Getting ready to head to Missouri for annual Liberty garage sales.
88. Easter update and pictures!
89. Pictures of Emma at the park.
90. Pictures of vacation with mom, dad, and ethan in Branson and Eureka Springs. An update on the past several months.
91. Getting ready for Emma's first birthday!
92. Photos and an update of Emma's bday party :) Reflecting on all I have to be thankful for.
93. Talking about my weight and wanting to lose some of it.
94. BBQ wknd in Maysville.
95. Getting ready to start my first day at my new job with Oriental Trading Company.
96. Frustration. Nick's getting sick...I'm doing everything at home, plus working.
97. Date night with Nick.

Okay, so I seemed to have missed a few posts, but that's about the nudge and gist of what's been going on these past 2.5 years :)

Date Night!!!!

Okay, so tonight Nick and I are having a date night, minus Emma, so I won't stay long! Just wanted to say that work went great today and I got several compliments, which felt awesome! Emma is at the babysitter's, who offers one date night a month so mommy and daddy can have some time together, which I think is awesome!!!! Anyhow, I'd better get off of here and back to my man :)