Sunday, August 29, 2010

A new chapter...

Well, I have officially finished one week of nursing school. A bizillion more to go. I have a myriad of emotions as Errik and I begin this new chapter. I am excited to finally begin what I have been waiting a long time to start. However, this week has been very overwhelming and slightly stressful, ok very stressful. Errik has been a huge help with doing more things around the house and encouraging me every single day that I can do this. Thats what I have to keep reminding myself...everyday. I can do this. This has probably been one of the hardest things I have had to do thus far. I am constantly trying to tell myself to enjoy the journey. On the flip side of that, I am so excited to begin this journey and cant wait to start working in the hospital!

The great thing is that for once Errik and I feel we are exactly where the Lord wants us. We have been surrounded by great friends, an awesome family and a wonderful church that has encouraged us in so many facets of life. For that, we are truly blessed. So cheers to beginning the next 2 years of our life and after that...who knows! The possibilities are endless...

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave but not our hearts.

Well, I am back from Chicago. Being in Chicago was amazing but going "home" is still such a strange oddity to me. This was the first trip that I really began to feel like Columbia is becoming our home. This summer I was really homesick. I mean REALLY homesick. I have never felt that way before and cant really pinpoint why. I do think that one of the hardest parts about being away is that we have 3 of the most adorable nieces with 2 more on the way! I wish I could be there to watch them grow up and hear all the funny things they say but I do know that Columbia is right where we need to be...for the time being at least.

Well, I was very blessed to have the opportunity to go back "home" and "recharge my batteries" as Errik put it. And I did just that. I was able to do almost all the things I wanted to do while I was home...visit with friends and family a lot, go downtown, eat at portillos, have chicago style pizza (VERY hard to find in the south...) and celebrate my sisters 30th birthday. I even was a full scale tourist in the city with a camera around my neck and all (yeah, im cool). We took the architectural tour down the chicago river, right through the heart of the city. I was speechless. Amazing, everyone should do it even if you have lived in chicago your whole life.

However, leaving "home" provided mixed emotions this time. I enjoyed every minute of being there and playing with my 2 1/2 yr old niece Olivia but after a week seemed ready to be back in real life. Back to the hot south where the air conditioning has been full blast since the beginning of June, where people talk funny, where sweet tea is offered at every meal and where my husband and Aspen are waiting for me. What I noticed was that home wasnt the sense of the geographical surroundings. It didnt matter where I was but who I was with. I am not only blessed with one home but two.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

This is my first post on Renee and I's blog. Hopefully I don't screw it up to badly. Renee is in Chicago with the fame this week so I've been a bachelor all week. I'm looking forward to her coming home. Also I start my new job at Ascension Hospice on Tuesday. I'm excited to actually be a social worker after six total years of college and four years of serving tables and who knows how many other odd jobs. It will certainly take some adjusting having a "big kid" job and a job which challenges you with strong emotion on a regular basis but I am up for that challenge. Thats all for now...tune in next time.