I really need to keep up with this....

It seems like I get really good at blogging for a little bit, and then I drop off the face of the earth. Lots has happened since I wrote last (about this time last year actually). We bought a house, I am working as a 4th grade teacher, Corbin became a big brother to Ella, and Greg has been promoted to team leader at Target. Life is hard with two little babies, but it is also good.

I have created a new blog (which I am determined to keep up with) that follows us on our dating adventure. Check it out at http://ultimatedatingchallenge.blogspot.com/ . It will have a ton of fun dates as we get back into dating each other after kids.

I do have much more to write about, but it is getting late and it is a school night. So for now I will leave it at this.

I'm not as young as I used to be, I don't like staying up all hours of the night!

Oh my!! I am horrible at keeping up at this. I would like to say I am going to do better, but truth be told....I may not. Anyway. It's not any secret that we had our baby boy on August 7, 2012 (hey my favorite number is 7, I like this kid already!). He came into this world weighing 7lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long (though Greg and I were both so exhausted we could swear the doctor said 29 inches). Poor baby was sent to the NICU right after he was born, but here we are almost 8 months later and he is doing fantastic! We love being parents, but are not too thrilled about the lack of sleep. I have asked Corbin to drop his complaints in a comment box, but he doesn't seem to be getting the hint. Anyway, I am hoping the next few months he will realize that sleep brings about a happy family!

Agency: A Wonderful Gift, but Sometimes It Sucks

So, I have  been reflecting on a few things this Sunday afternoon/evening and I had my thoughts turn to free agency. Agency is a gift that we all have. It gives us as individuals the ability to make our own choices whether they are right or wrong. Along with those choices come consequences. Sometimes good, other times not, depending on the choice that was made. Looking at my own life I am grateful that I have agency and the ability to choose my path. There have been things I have done in my life that I do regret, but overall, I have had many learning experiences. So, why does it suck?? I don't think it sucks to have my own choices, but its when others are making choices you know are not so good. Now, I don't want to come off as some control freak, that is not what I am saying. I think that it is human nature to want to see the ones you love succeed. When we see those we love making choices that we know are not in harmony with a Christ like lifestyle it makes us (well at least me) want to jump in and say "No!! What are you doing??? Don't you see what a stupid choice this is? Don't you see how much these consequences are not only going to affect you, but will have a great affect on those around you as well?" At times I wish I could somehow force these people to do the right thing....and that is when I get the feeling of FREE AGENCY SUCKS! I know that I need to find a way to let go and just be a support system, someone who is there no matter what the outcome may be. Though I am having a hard time with that (I can be a grudge holder like no other), I am trying. The fact that I have this struggle reminds me that I am not perfect (not that I think I am by any means) and who am I to judge others. We are all imperfect people and have to authority to judge others for their decisions, actions, and choices. Our job is to love one another and be there for each other. Now, I need to work on taking my own advice and do just that.

Grocery Shopping at the Dollar Store...Thank goodness I got a JOB!!!

Alright, UPDATE!!!! I GOT A JOB!!!!! I was feeling so torn about what job to take, what would I enjoy most, what would work best for Greg and my daily life style, what should I do??? Well, I officially accpeted a job this morning at The Tot Spot in Ontario, NY!!!! I am going to be a Pre-K teacher!!! I am so excited!!! Thank goodness I got this job because for the first time Greg and I did our grocery shopping at the Dollar Store. You know your poor when you can't even afford Wal*Mart! Its going to be ok though. I have high hopes that once regular pay checks start coming in things will be alright.

One frustration we had today was with the bank!! We currently bank with Wells Fargo, and haven't had any complaints until now. One reason why we chose this bank was because of the multiple locations they have around the United States. We were confident there would be one here in New York. Well, we tried to Google the closest location and couldn't find one. I got the BRILLIANT idea of calling Wells Fargo to ask. APPARENTLY there isn't a branch within 100 MILES of where we live!!!! WHAT???? Needless to say, I am pretty angry about it!

Well, about to start another weekend! So ready to start school and work!! So tired of sitting around the apartment all day!!

Blue skies shinning on me, nothing but blue skies do I see....

I am determinded to keep this blog up to date!!! Yesterday and today were both great days, with a bit of a low point thrown in there.

Yesterday Greg was offered a JOB!!! He has been highered onto Barnes and Nobel, which is awesome!!! So, now he is working 2 jobs: Target and Barnes & Nobel. As stated from the last post "counting change to pay for toilet paper" we were really in need of this job!! I am so proud of him!!

Today, I had 2 job interviews. The first was at a pre school for a teaching position. It went VERY well. I was told they would call me back later this week, but I fee very confident about the answer. The second interview was at a dance studio. I know right, I don't dance so why in the world would i apply at a dance studio?!?!!?! Well, it was for a music instructor position for pre school aged kids!! Needless to say that one went EVEN BETTER then the first one. I walked out of there with a JOB!!!! So, down fall....this job wont begin until the END of SEPTEMBER. : ( and it is only 2-6 hours a week. So this is my plan....

1. Hopefully get the job at the YMCA, thus working a split shift (morning hours and afternoon hours) (40 hrs/week)
2. Working my afternoons at the dance studio (2-6 hrs/week)

My only fear is I get a call back from the pre school before I hear from the YMCA and I turn them down, and then hear from the YMCA and they decide to pass on me....hmm....

I feel like lately God has been working in mysterious ways. He has straped Greg and I down in a RoLLeR CoAsTeR called EmOtIoNaL said, sit back here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Moving across the country has been a new start for us, but I also feel as though it is throwing at us challenges that will help us grow closer as a couple. Our first year of marriage was so EASY....now comes the tough times, but you know what I have to say to those challenges...BRING IT ON!!!!

p.s. blue skies don't happen very often here...it rains a lot...but I'm totally ok with that!! : )

Nothings gonna stop us now!!!

   So, my last post "Decisions Decisions" talked a lot about the decision we were trying to make as far as moving to New York or not. Many of you already know, we took that step and we moved to Rochester, NY! So far things have been far from easy since arriving.
   I thought I had everything figured out from the cost of moving here, to finding a place to live, to Greg having his job here and waiting for him. I was not as accurate on my planning as I thought. With that being said, a lot of it was stuff that was unexpected...
1. When we got here to our new apartment it was a lot smaller than we had anticipated. It is only the 2 of us though so not a huge deal. One thing we were not expecting was the vast amount of water that was on the bedroom floor. WHAT??!!?!?! I tried to suck it up with the steam cleaner thinking the carpets were still just wet from being cleaned, but that didn't help at all. So, we called maintenance. Turns out Water from outside the building was leaking through the foundation and seeping into our apartment. : (  We were told to stay in another apartment for a couple of days while they dried out the floor and put in new carpet. After a couple of days when that ordeal was done we thougth all would be well from here...WRONG! Both the kitchen and bathroom sinks were leaking and there was mold growing in the bedroom from the moisture!! Long story short that was fixed and taken care of. Now hopfully nothing else will go wrong here (knock on wood).
2. After getting all of our stuff in the apartment we went to Target to get Greg's schedule as he was supposed to begin work Monday (today). To our suprise Target JUST made his transfer official and he wont be on the schedule for another 2 weeks!!! Luckily they told him he is going ot be on call for the next two weeks and he actually did work today! They have given him 32 hours this week and hopfully will have the same or more next week.
3. I have been franticlly looking for a job!! I feel like as of now (1 week after we've moved in) I have had a million and 1 interviews (ok, so its only been 3, and after tomorrow will be 5, but still). The first interview I did I was actually offered the job! It was at a little store in the mall called Vanity. Close to home and a job, I should jump at the opportunity right?!?! Well, they were only willing to give me 1 shift every other week AND I would have to wear their clothes everytime I worked, lets face it, they are kind of on the pricy side. So I turned it down. The other jobs are for somethings I would much rather do anyway, WORKING WITH KIDS!!! I have had one interview to be a preschool teacher at a daycare, as is another interview for another preschool tomorrow. I had an interview with the YMCA last week, and it actually sounds pretty promising!! Its for a site coordinator position. I would basiclly be in charge of setting up activities for kids to do when they are not in school. I wont really find anything out about that until next week. The last one is for a music intstructor position at a preschool!! I am actaully really excited about this interview!!! Wish me luck!!
4. One thing about moving here was how close we are to a temple!! The Palmyra, NY temple is only about 20 ish min away and I was so excited to be able to attend the temple more than once a month! We have run into some issues though. When it comes to temple clothes Greg and I usually rent as we can't afford to buy our own yet. This temple doesn't have a clothing distribution!! The next closest temple is in Canada and I don't have a passport. BUMMER!!!
5. Just in general $$ is tight. I never thought it would be easy but when your counting your change in order to buy toilet paper you know things are tight! We are staying positive and we know that once Greg starts getting hours and I get a job we will be ok. For the next couple of months we are watching our spending A LOT!!! I am happy to report we will be able to buy toilet paper and peanut butter tomorrow with our change!! : )
I hope to keep up with this a lot better, especially now that we live so far away from family and friends!! I am confident that in the next couple of months things will begin to look up! Until then please keep us in your prayers!!

Decisions Decisions!!

so, here we are ready to pick up and move to new york in about three months and wouldnt you know it, things are coming up that are making me question this decision. of course, greg being the wonderful husband he is, is supportive of what ever i decide. the question is, do i still go to the university of rochester, of which i have already registered for classes, or do i wait to see if i get accepted to two other schools....not to mention a possible job opportunity. maybe we should stay in colorado and i can teach and save up...but what about the funding i recieved for school. i could risk not being offered funding again....so i state, decisions decisions.