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 :)

Changes This Way Come

Well tomorrow is my first day at work at Oriental Trading Company, and consequently Emma's first day at Daycare! We decided, after much debate, to go with an in-home daycare which is run by a woman that lives just a few miles from our house. At first, I was deadset against an in-home daycare, but after doing some research and price comparisons, decided that just because you paid more to take your child to a daycare center doesn't mean it's any better than a licensed in-home daycare.

I am really excited to start to working and think it's going to be a good place for me! I also think that, after she gets over any shyness and anxiety, that Emma's going to enjoy daycare and getting to play with 4-5 other kids :) Please say a prayer for all of us! Nick gets to be the bad guy and drop Emma off to daycare tomorrow, and I'm the savior and get to pick her up, at least for this first week! After training this week, my schedule will be 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, so then I will be taking her to daycare and Nick will pick her up. Anyhow, I will update my blog tomorrow night on our first days! Fingers crossed :)

Weekend in Maysville

We just got home this afternoon from Maysville where we had a bbq birthday thing for Emma at Gma and Gpa's house. Lonna, Zack and the kids, and Greg and Wendy and Lauren all came and it was great getting to see them! The only downside was having to come back home. I SOOOOOOOOOOO enjoyed getting to have a get together with everyone, and it just reminded me how lonesome and sad I can get here in Omaha. Nick goes to work at 7:45 a.m. and doesn't get home usually until 6:30 if not a little later, and it just gets to me, spending almost every day by myself (not counting Emma). Here I hear about everyone down there getting together and having supper, and yet here I sit all alone and wishing sooo badly that we lived closer so I didn't feel left out of everything.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my family more than anything, I just don't love living here in Omaha, so far away for everyone :( I hope that a few years from now (if not sooner!) we are able to sell our house so we can move closer to family.

"Weighty" Issues

If you're close to me then you know that I've had some issues with my weight for about the past year now. After giving birth to Emma I got back within 3 pounds of my previous pre-baby weight of 130 within a month. However, due to postpartum depression I had to start taking Zoloft, and the zoloft mixed with less activity caused my weight to creep back up to 151.4 pounds (at the heaviest) these past few months. It's always been hard for me to lose weight and after looking through some photos and just feeling bad about myself, I decided it was time to really DO something about it.

Enter the HCG diet. I won't go into details of it, but it's a diet where you take drops under the tongue three times per day about 15 minutes before meals, and then you proceed to follow a strict diet and calorie limit of 500 calories per day. Well, I bought the drops and began the program and am on day 8 now. I am down 5.4 pounds and am happy about that, however, I don't notice any change in how my clothes are fitting yet. Also, this diet has been really tough for me because being such a picky eater, I don't like many of the things that are approved for it. For the first few days I lost about 1.5 pounds per day, and now my weight loss has slowed down to about .5 pound per day. I know that compared to other diets these results are great in such a short amount of time, but I'm having such a hard time sticking to it really strictly. However, if I can deviate from the diet a bit and feel a little more satisfied, and my weight loss slow to .5 pounds per day, it's a sacrifice I would be happy to make. I think in the long run it would be harder to keep the weight off if I were to stick to the diet really strictly, because I would think the carbs and starches would be a shocker for my metabolism.....at least, that's my reasoning :P

Anyhow, my goal is to get down to 130-133 by my birthday which is about a month and a half away, and a very achievable goal if I can set my mind to it. I read a quote today that I will have to remember when temptation is about to overcome me: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!" Amen!!!