FINALLY!
I get to write something exciting happening in my life. People always ask you, hey, what's going on with you. You know what I say...NOTHING. I never really had anything fun to say. I didn't have a job that I really could progress in, no babies (see last post) and nothing really else to talk about.
When I told Jimmy, my mom, my aunt, they all had the same question...Is this really what you want? Answer: Sorta. What I wanted was a full time job that I could support Jimmy and I while he is still in school. What I wanted was to become a teacher. Using the alternative route here in Utah, but as you can guess, no luck. Between last year and this year, I applied to....about 70 jobs, had about 30-40 interviews and just no luck. It was exhausting, heartbreaking, difficult and depressing. It just took the joy out of me. I'm a pretty perky person and the last couple months, I just haven't been myself. It's really harder than I thought to go through so much disappointment.
With a new job in hand and a new commitment to life, I am ready for this next year. Jimmy and I have set some goals for us to work on separately, and some together. I can work 40 hours a week, save up money and we can get to the place where we want to be, somewhere in the west part of Washington. Washington is in our blood. It's where we want to be and where we want to grow old. Jimmy and I had this argument about moving back to like Sequim or PA or somewhere around there. I just don't know if I want to do that. Not that I don't love my family, but I have always pictured myself more independent. I never imagined myself being there. We will see. I'm excited to have my first big girl job. While my friends here in Utah have all pretty much moved on with kids and moving new places, we are still here, going to make the best of it. With my new job being about 10 mins away on the freeway, I thought that maybe we could find a place to live really close to it, and then I could walk and Jimmy could drive, but alas that did not happen. It's just not near anything and with the one car between us, we have to make do with what we have. I need to be more grateful for our apartment right now. Sometimes the people suck, but it's so close to UVU that's it's worth it for Jimmy. I get it, but maybe I just wanted to...try something else.
I wanted to talk about our trip home. We had a blast. It was fun to drive. After getting rid of the Jeep (Sorry Trista), we bought our first car last year. This summer when Danny came home from his mission was the first time that we got to drive it a long distance. It was a trooper! 36 MPG and just the right size for us. We stayed in Seattle the night that we got in and had adventures in Seattle the next day while we waited for Danny to come in. What a joyous occasion. Here is picture of Danny and my in laws. Then we spent the week hanging out with family. Jimmy and I took Joey and Danny to a fun day in Seattle where we wandered around. We even went on the Ferris Wheel! Then we got to take Joey to the temple for his mission. Great experience. I got to take through some of my ancestors as well. Sweet experience. He will do a great job in Ghana. His desire to go on a mission even through his trials is nothing sort of inspirational. 
Got to spend some time with my family too. I got to ride around with Dad and we had a picnic for Jimmy's and Dad's bday!! It was so good to see everyone. With the Halls we did the MUD RUN with the Tribe. It was a mess! But great fun. At the top you got to go down a huge slide where they squirted soap all over you. So fun! I'm glad we all did it!
My next thing is about marriage. I have only been married for 2 years almost, and I can't say that I know everything. I am a very observant person and after going through some of my own experiences and watching others, I have learned quite a bit.
- MARRIAGE IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOVE: I am a firm believer that love isn't enough. Just because you love each other, doesn't mean that the world is going to just "work out." You have to have plans, have some idea on how you are going to support each other. Jobs, money, bills, school, cars, accidents, kids, all these things you have to conquer together and have a plan before you jump into marriage. This is one reason that I don't believe in soul mates. I don't believe there is one person that is meant for you. I believe there is a type of person that can be with you and a type of person that works best with you. This is one reason that I didn't get married while I was in school. I don't think that I could have supported myself and another person. I know people do it, but I waited for my education to be done, so I could spend 110% on it.
- DATING/MARRIAGE DOESN'T EXCUSE PDA AND STUPID PICTURES: This is really started to bug me. For some reason PDA still bugs me. I'm married and it bugs me. I love my husband, but everyone else doesn't need to know that with my sloppy lips all over him. Pictures are ok, but make them meaningful. Pictures and videos are memories being captured. Make them ones you want to remember. Things you want your kids to see and admire you.
- THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU ARE MARRIED: I know most of you are probably like, duh, but honestly I didn't think about it that much. Example: Jimmy paid about 300 for rent and I paid like 250 and so when we got married I thought that's about how much we would pay. WRONG. Keep that in mind.
- IT'S OK TO HAVE NON-TRADITIONAL ROLES: Living in a very traditionalist place, it's strange to think that my life won't really be like that. I have a desire to be a mom, but I also believe that through my life I will take on non-traditional roles. Perhaps Jimmy will be the stay at home dad (which we have talk about before, because of what he wants to do), and perhaps I will be the working person. I have a desire to use my education in a great role. Another example is that I do the finances. Because of my math background, I can keep track of it better than Jimmy could. It's just my talent, numbers and such. Be open to it. Jimmy does the dishes, I do the laundry. Marriage isn't the wife cleans and the man works anymore. Times have changed and our perspective must adapt as well. Along with the changing of views, we also have to remember not to judge.If you stay at home with your kids and that's your job, that's great! Good for you! But I don't want people telling me that I am going to be a bad parents because of the way that I want to do things. I'm open to you, be open to me.
- MAKING FRIENDS IS HARD: I wish that I could say that I have made a whole bunch of married couple friends, but I haven't. Most have excluded me and Jimmy in their activities, which really does hurt. I had a pity party about it the other day, but with some help from my sister, I realized that I have to put in more effort and maybe at times I have to find just more joy in just being with Jimmy.
Also, on a depressing note my mom and dad had to put our dog Lil to sleep. She was very sick. After 15 years of having her at home, it will be weird to go home and not see her. Mom doesn't want another dog, but I think Dad is just going to bring one home without telling her. I remember when we brought her home. She will always be our little runt. I'm glad that she is in a better place. When I die, I know that she will be there waiting for us. She was part of my family and eternity will be immensely better with her around. 
That's all I can think of. Now to start my new job. I told my Grandpa that if I got a full time job that I would fly home for his 90th birthday. I think I'm going to get to do that. It's funny because I haven't even started this job and I'm already taking time off. HAHA. But he's a great man and has raised a great family! It would be my honor.
Thanks for listening!
