The 2000's

Everyone seems to be doing a look back over the past 9 years. I've always been a sucker for peer pressure so here it goes :o) It amazes me how much has happened, changed, and begun anew in the past 9 years.

2000 I was graduating high school, starting at the community college for some core classes and trying to figure out what to do with myself in the semi-real world.

2001 I was leaving for school when a plane hit the first of the towers on 9/11. On the way to school I heard the other one had hit. At school there were tv's everywhere and we all huddled around them in between classes. We were right next to a major Air Force base and, I don't remember why, but mid-morning we were evacuated. There were enough "military brats" on campus that day to be freaked about what this meant for our families. We had no idea how much this would impact the next decade and beyond.

2002 I decided it was time to spread my wings, persay, and I moved to Missouri to attend William Jewell College. It was also the year that my now husband would graduate and head toward the same college. Our paths would not cross for some time but it's always interesting to me to look back and realize how much is going on that we don't know about and yet will impact our lives forever. I tried out for and got a lead in the play that first semester "Street Car Named Desire". I was so excited!

2003 I joined Alpha Delta Pi and gained a sisterhood I will always have and always cherish. Many of my closest friends today are from that sorority. It was also the semester a tornado would hit campus and finals were canceled for most of the students. YAY! That was a day I will not soon forget though. Watching a tornado touch down in town I felt like I was in the movie "Twister" which is not a movie you want to partake in. I was shaken quite a bit I'll admit. My dad flew out to drive back home with me and boy was I glad to see him! Living in CO I'd never experienced so much as a tornado watch muchless the real thing!

2004 I was entering my senior year and was given the responsibility and role of Formal Recruitment Chair for the sorority recruitment that fall. The girls did amazing things and we achieved our biggest class in the previous 7 years! My wonderful diamond and bridesmaid came from this class and now I have an awesome group of girls in my 'diamond family'. At the end of that year Jon and I would cross paths in a whole new way. A simple conversation in a common area on campus became a date to Starbucks and several late night walks around campus. Next thing we both knew we were having our last first date and last first kiss. It wasn't long after that we knew we would get married!

2005 I graduated from college! This was both exciting and scary as I didn't have any job prospects at that time. I went back to CO for a while for some friend's weddings and to have time with my parents. I moved back to MO permanently and stayed in my aunt and uncle's basement while I looked for a job. We never thought I'd be there for a year but I was. Job market was tough! That summer we got engaged and began looking toward a whole new life together.

2006 I got a full time job, we bought a house and got married - talk about big changes! After getting back from our honeymoon we settled in and realized wow, this whole marriage thing is way tougher than we thought LOL

2007 We got a puppy! I never thought I'd have one but we got a sweet lab we named Layla. We celebrated our one-year anniversary and slowly the steps of house-breaking our little addition and living through her teething process. Definitely not something we want to experience again! But she's worth it-can't imagine life without her now. I also started back to school for nursing at the end of this year making a new path for myself in life.

2008 Jon started the process of applying to the KC police academy. Little did we know this process would take more than a year and be a true test of our patience and faith. I was engrossed in classes and work every semester. The year went by fast although the days themselves were long.

2009 The year started fairly well but within a month of the new year I was laid off unexpectedly. It would take 8 months living on unemployment and countless hours applying for jobs for me to finally get one. During this time Jon went through the final stages of his application process and we would receive word he was accepted! Many weeks later we were told there was actually a start date (even more exciting!) and Sept 21st he embarked on his own new journey for both our lives. So far, neither of us have looked back.

As we end the year he is half way through his training and I'm enjoying my new job. I will start classes back up in 2010 and Jon will graduate and enter the streets as a police officer. Who knows what else the year might bring!

~Jess~