{what's your dream?}

Dreams are complicated. Forever will it remain a mystery how an individual discovers their dream or doesn't, and what prompts that same individual to squelch it or to follow it. Reminds me of the song in Tangled..."I've got a dream." The dreams they sang of were so different! A person may carry a dream for years without affecting anyone. But a PURSUED dream translates to changed lives, discomfort perhaps, a sense of adventure, flexibility, and unfamiliar surroundings.

Our lives have taken a complete 180 since this time last year. What a difference a year can bring! In May 2010, we took a motorcycle trip, stayed in our RV on our land, and soaked in the Pagosa Hot Springs for our 7th anniversary. This May, we sold our house, RV, and Jeep commander, paid off the Honda civic, sat through Chad's kindergarten graduation, said good-bye to friends and family, moved to California, and celebrated our 8th anniversary eating sushi on an hour-long date. In June 2010, we went to my cousin's wedding in OKC, then vacationed in Branson. I also left The Children's Hospital Neuroscience Institute and began working at Swedish Medical Center in the trauma/neuro ICU. This June, I'm enjoying a summer of being a stay-at-home-mom (whatever that means...we've been out-n-about more than home;-), unpacking the last few boxes in our quaint ranch-style rental house on Sunset Drive, taking a refresher chemistry course, lining up grad loans, and buying books... Jonathan is working from home and, I think, prefers walking down the hall over driving an hour in bad construction traffic.

For you see, my dream is nurse anesthesia. And just simply to be accepted into school required that I return to the ICU, get my certification (CCRN), take a masters stats course, become completely debt-free, take a leadership position in my field, and endure several intense interviews. Last January, I wrote a post on how disappointed I was that I did not get into school, knowing I had a lot to do before trying again. I did not realize at that point that the timing was still not right. Jonathan and I were continuing to heal and move forward from some stuff in Jon's past, and could not have focused wholeheartedly on school. This February, I got my acceptance letter listing Arrowhead Medical Center in CA as my didactic and clinical site. NOT Denver. I had 2 weeks to let the school know. With much thought and prayer and research, my incredible husband decided to take on the adventure, and requested he be able to work from home...

And here we are...in sunny Redlands, California! I start nurse anesthesia school in August and will graduate in December 2013. To make it seem more real, my California RN license came in the mail yesterday. Sometimes, I stop and think, "What the hell am I doing?" or "it's not too late to back out, is it?" I am excited, uncomfortable, more than a little unsure of myself, but glad about the direction. God is by my side, along with my husband and kids. Let's do this!!!

{Chadwinkle Chaddywack}

Birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese

Chad, you have been my pride and joy since the day you were born 6 years ago, constantly making me smile and giggle. You are sweet, gentle, and sensitive to people's feelings.  As a master of buttons, gadgets, and all things electronic just like your daddy, you can figure out a remote or new game in less than 5 minutes. And you continue to surprise me...from the realization that I was pregnant with you, to your hilarious faces, to winning the school spelling bee last month, to practicing that spelling with sharpie marker on our Jeep---not so cool, but now we actually kinda dig it;-) You are a great older brother to Katelyn, and although you fight with her and give her a hard
time (as every brother does), you also take care of
and look out for her. This year in Mrs. Johnson's kindergarten class of 15 at Silver State, you have been a star student and told me you want to go to that school for the next 20 years. You got a new 2 wheel bike and learned to ride it, but not without injuries. You went to your first baseball game, and cheered the whole time. You learned to swim, and went to Branson and the lake with us. You turned 6 in November, and were more than overjoyed with a party at Chuck-E-Cheese. You only wanted boys invited, and 12 of them came. Boy, did you have fun! You are also reading like a fiend, and tell me constantly, "I don't like to put the book down!" Things you love include ice cream, playing dress up, competing with daddy and I on Little Big Planet, going down to South Fork, and discovering new things. Like skiing. Your last ski report card said you are doing great on turns and "going from pizza to french fries." For your birthday, daddy bought you a rocket and has since built and launched several with you. Thank you for being our son. We're excited to see you grow up, discover new things, and love you like crazy. We're gonna have so much fun!

Built and launched this rocket with daddy

At the Rockies game

At Silver Dollar City

{long time, no write}

I must admit, this is the first time I've entered my site in the last 3 months without a message popping up that I was blocked from using it. Yes, a few months ago, someone hacked into the e-mail that this blog was tied to. I think the problem is finally fixed. Somehow I was able to post our Valentine's card this year. And now, I shall try to catch up...because every day is a precious moment with my two! And as for Jonathan and I, our lives are always changing.

Valentine's Card 2011

Many Memories Heart Valentine's Day Card

Unique party invitations and announcements by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

{sold cookie dough}

I just had to add that my two darlings each sold $330 worth of cookie dough and tied for first place. I mean, who could actually turn them down?

{selling cookie dough}

I must admit, I've never been "gung-ho" on fundraisers. Too busy, I would be doing all the work, not-so-great memories of standing in the cold trying to sell candy bars as a kid...the usual excuses. Of course, I usually buy one or two of what my kids are selling. That's only the right thing to do. So, when my mom (the fundraiser queen) came into town and found out that there is a cookie dough sale going on for Silver State, she jumped right in. She corraled Kate and Chad, taught them what to say, and took them out door to door. Mom took Chad and I tagged along with Kate, thinking I could help somehow. Little did I know the blessings I would receive!
No one turned Katelyn down. Big surprise there. But we've got a few things to work on;-) As soon as we walked out the door, Katelyn asked a young couple walking by with a double stroller. They paid right there. I was delighted to meet a couple in the area in our age group. At the first door, Katelyn walked right in, while Maria was finding change. She made herself quite comfortable, and even started up the stairs. Maria had me help her hang her Halloween decorations, then overpaid and told us to keep the change. At the second door, Linda didn't want any cookies, so paid for Kate to get her favorite kind: M&M. Pat next door was in her 90's, was on 6 liters of oxygen, slept in a hospital bed in the front room, got around in a wheelchair, and had a caretaker there making her meals. Pat wanted white chocolate macadamia, but couldn't find any money. I told her that her neighbor had just paid for it. When we got to the fourth house, Patricia was writing a check when Katelyn walked in the kitchen and said she was "so hungry." Patricia found a protein bar, which Kate spit out and said was "nasty!" Embarrassed, I pulled Kate out of there, promising her supper after we went to one more house.
At the last house, John met us at the door wheeling a large trashcan out. As I held the door open for him, he growled, "What do you want?" Kate responded, "Well, I'm selling tooties for my stool." John growled again, "Over-priced I bet." Kate didn't know how to respond to that. Just then, John's grandson Salem ran out and asked for M&M cookies. John didn't have enough cash, so went inside for his checkbook. When he came out, he sat down in a broken plastic chair by the garage, pointed to another broken chair, and ordered "Sit." I sat. He wrote out a check, asked for a receipt (which I didn't have), then proceeded to talk to me for 45 minutes. After a while, his grandson Salem went inside and brought out gatorade and crackers for Katelyn-who was starving. When we left, John said "No one ever has time to sit down and just talk. I'm glad you did. All I do is sit around with my right hand shaking constantly, trying not to die from cancer and Parkinsons. When you come back with the cookies, bring your husband so I can talk to him." With that, he slammed the door shut.
So maybe I have changed my mind a little about fundraisers. This one anyway. It was a great way to meet new neighbors and help them. Even if it was a little out of my comfort zone. You just never know.

{mountain autumn}

As usual, I love to brag about the state I live in. And this year's autumn has been exceptional. We've taken several fishing/hiking trips to the mountains to "soak" in the beauty as much as possible. And as the weather gets cooler, I start baking. Bring on the apple crisp, pumpkin pie, and hot cider, brisk evening walks in the crisp, cool air and relaxed conversation around the fire pit. Love it!!!

In fact, it would be all right with me if it stayed fall all year long. That way, whenever you come visit, you could witness the breathtaking beauty as well!