Lake, Friends and SeaDoos

Yes it's been a long time since I posted but honestly we haven't done much post-worthy haha However this weekend we finally got out and had some fun w/ some friends. One of our few couple friends who don't have kids :-p

Jon's parents have a boat up at Smithville lake. It's a sizeable boat with all sorts of amenities but yesterday we were more interested in the entertainment factor. Brandon, Kelly, Jon & I headed up after church, had lunch at the marina and hit the water. We were able to borrow a jet ski/seadoo thingy from a friend which was amazing. Jon drove the boat out while Brandon followed behind on the jet ski. We found a place in the cove to anchor down and spent the next couple hours taking turns on the jet ski and kicking back with cold beverages and enjoying the 80 degree weather - it was a beautiful day, perfect to be on the water! We didn't leave till around 6 and it's amazing how fast time goes when you're having fun with friends! But it's also amazing how tiring all that fun can be haha Jon and I got home, ordered some pizza and crashed on the couch but that part was fun too. Just to sit around and relax together. It's rare to spend a full day together and to spend it with good friends was even better! So thanks to his parents for letting us borrow the boat, Phil the-car-guy for the jet ski and Brandon & Kelly for coming along to make the day a party :o)

Pics of the day ~

4th of July

Jon was set to work on the 4th (boo) but got off a couple hours early (yay!) so we headed up to the lake in Smithville where his parents have a boat. We got there with Layla in tow and as soon as we got out of the car it started raining... It wasn't too terribly bad so we kept going. Before we made it out of the parking lot it was raining *hard*! So we're holding a beach towel over our heads while being drug by our 2 year old lab who is apparently oblivious to the downpour. We make it the loooong way to the dock and take cover under an overhang. Fortunately his parents and grandparents had saved a table at the dock restaurant under cover! Our manic puppy was SO excited with all those people and took her a good 30-45 minutes to calm down at all *sigh* After dinner we went over to the boat and hung out. It had stopped raining at least but was much cooler than anyone expected it to be! Ummm, MO in July?! Anyway, his parents made some ice cream, we popped open some wine (random, yes) and later made our way out to the lake to watch the pros shoot some fireworks! All in all it was a nice night (minus the rain) and it was definitely a plus to have Jon off work early to enjoy the day a bit more.

Tonight is the 4-year-anniversary of our engagement, craziness! Just 2 days away from our 3-year-wedding anniversary, also crazy. As Jon says, the days are slow but the years are fast! So true. So very true.

Classes & Such

We are officially both starting classes today! Jon is taking an online course, Intro to Criminal Justice, which should be interesting at least. I'm taking my LAST pre-req, YAY! Praying the prof is nice and the teaching style accommodates my learning style! If nothing else at least for now I'm able to hit up the tutors during the day if I have problems grasping certain things. There's a LOT to consume in 8 weeks!

God-willing I'll be starting a full-time program in July but there is a lot that has to happen between now and then. God brought me through to getting into this class I so desperately need so I have faith He will either get me in that program or open another door that I can't see right now. Meanwhile, I'm working my Arbonne business and am in qualification for District Manager which is exciting! If I can't get an outside job if I can bring $ in with this it would be fabulous!

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!

Vacation to CO, 2009

We got to go back to CO to see my family and a few friends for a few short days last week. We drove out and got there in time to see my parents for a late lunch then headed to the hotel. We laid pretty low that first night which was fun. The next day we hit the outlet stores in Castle Rock (there was a pair of shoes Jon could not find in his size in all of Colorado Springs lol). Yay Castle Rock had the shoes! We came back to the Springs and checked out the Ghost Town Mueseum then met my parents for dinner.


Dad and Jon went to Bible study and I got some mom and me time :o)

The next day was a full day - We headed up to Estes Park (this is turning into a tradition of sorts).



We had lunch, stopped at a store that had nothing but Nebraska Husker wear (Jon's a big fan) and replaced Jon's baseball hat and got me a fleece in support of 'his' team haha We had lunch and got some pies to take to a dinner that night. From Estes we headed back through the Springs to Pueblo to have dinner with my god-sister and her family. We hadn't been down to their house yet and with 4 kids it's hard for them to meet us in the Springs in the middle of the week. It was so great to see their home and hangout with the kiddos! The following day I got to see 2 of my best friends and their baby boys while Dad and Jon went to the shooting range and to see 'Wolverine' (yay male bonding!). Tara and I decided to culture her baby boy Ian (ok so he's 1-year-old now but still a baby right?) We headed to the Pioneer Museum and got some cute pics.

We capped off that night with a dinner out at Salt Grass with my parents which was really nice. I don't think we were able to spend that much time with my parents last year and we got some nice quality time in which was great.

We ended the week hanging out with my nephews and my brother and sister-in-law. Then it was time to pack up and drive straight through Kansas home.




We got home in time for Jon to have enough daylight to mow the lawn haha I went and picked up Layla from our pastor's house, ordered some pizza and we watched a movie - Nice end to a short vacation!

It's always hard to go back to CO because there is just never enough time to see everyone I want to see - I hope I can go back soon, even just for a couple of days, and see some more friends but that remains to be seen. Just know that if you're reading this and I didn't see you it's not because you weren't on my mind - I just couldn't get to everyone and see my family too! :0)

Bugs

I just have to say that I'm really glad my dog is here to kill bugs when Jon isn't. Yes I'm 'that' girl who hates to kill bugs, particularly when they can start flying away as I try to do so. However, if it flies my dog will hunt it and eat it - not only hilarious to watch but I'm certainly glad she does!

Complete Randomness *think think* *think think*

So I found this on a friend's blog and couldn't help but take the quiz myself...

What Internal Organ Are You?

You Are The Brain

You're the type of person who's always on, always churning. You are alert and quick to react. You like to stay busy. You are responsible but also demanding. You take up a lot of energy. You are someone of deep mystery. There's a lot below the surface that's hard to figure out.

Wow. The brain is kinda huge. Lotta responsibility... Good thing I work well under pressure! :0)

Tough Decisions

We all come to a crossroads in life when we have to make a tough decision. These are often decisions we don't want to make which I suppose is what makes them tough! This semester has not been very successful for me which is disheartening as it was to be my last semester of pre-reqs. So many things have gone wrong and there have been a lot of difficulties in a variety of areas. I have decided to withdraw from my two courses this term. It is mathematically impossible to get the grade I need to have with what is left in this term. Jon and I decided it is foolish to continue the rest of the semester with the stress level I've been carrying when I won't end up with the grade necessary. I will go today and officially withdraw at the school and pursue enrolling in courses for the summer term and getting in touch and following up with other programs.

All of this has been a slow learning process in accepting something other than what our plans are, trusting that there is a greater plan than our own and how important it is to get out of our own way so God's plan can take shape without our making things so much more difficult! It's still so hard for me to gauge the right road for either of us at this time. As our pastor stated a few weeks ago, however, there is a reason we are giving a lamp to light our path. We're only meant to see one step at a time. Our foolish human nature tries so hard to run through that path but all we end up doing is stumbling along and running into things that we could have otherwise avoided if we'd just been taking it one step at a time. The place I sometimes wish we were in life is exactly where many of my dear friends are, which I admit makes it a bit more difficult to still be here! I'm well aware that everything happens in its own time and God has a reason for not giving us what we want when we want it (usally because we're being foolish lol). If I'm not meant to start a program this year I have to accept that and trust there is a reason not yet seen.

Right now, today, I am going to use the extra time I will have not studying or going to class in the most productive ways I can (or at least I will make a valliant effort!) and perhaps get some projects accomplished here at home, provide my husband more home-cooked meals, and take the time to dig my heels in and launch my Arbonne business. Who knows what the future may hold? I want to make the absolute best of what we have been giving in this moment. Isn't that all any of us can do? Make every moment count and count our blessings in every moment.