Burn the Saltines

I wish I could say I love being pregnant but I've been so sick I don't even know what to do with myself. It's kind of funny because my mom and my grandma didn't get sick so I was so sure I wasn't going to get sick then about a week and a half ago the fun started. I'm not puking, which sometimes I think might make me feel better but I'm glad I'm not all the same. My husband is so rad. On those days I burst into tears because I can hardly move I'm so sick and I still have drag myself to work and be friendly somehow he just holds me and tells me if a crack head can do this you definitely can. Good ol' Pete. He does make me laugh. He's not quite sure what to do with all the emotions poor guy!!! At work I start looking at all the children walking around and gurgling babies and I get so excited because we're going to have one of those precious little things. How cool is that?! I'll just be glad when the pukie feelings go away for good. I'm having a good start to my day today so far which is awesome. Maybe I'll clean. My house hasn't been touched in about two weeks. We'll see. I'm pretty excited because on Tuesday we get to go in for the first ultrasound. Baby's first picture. Neat!!!!! Then I'll get a face to the little creation turning my tummy upside down. Everybody keeps telling me to eat crackers but even the thought of crackers makes me want to lose it. I've never been so anti certain foods in my life and saltine crackers especially. Little Penelope June or Repeat or whoever this little one I'm growing is not having crackers aparently!!!! I wonder if that will be something this kid can't stand when it joins us in December. Anyway. I will definitely be excited to move past this part of the pregnancy but I wouldn't miss this experience for anything!

WE"RE PREGGO!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!

Wow!!!! So on Friday Pete and I found out we're going to have a baby! Crazy!! I'm still in shock. I'm so excited. Pete is too. He's so cute. The day after we found out he went and bought two books on pregnancy nutrition, a week to week view of what to expect, a pocketbook of do's and don'ts, two journals, one for my purse and one for my pocket when I don't have my purse to write down ideas or thoughts or whatever, and a photo album to document the progress. Did I mention my husband is awesome!!! We moved the cat box out of the room because I can't come into contact with that at all. Some of the girls at work got us a little cap and booties that look like a bear with ears (PRECIOUS) and one of the girls had a baby not too long ago so she gave me a bunch of maternity clothes. How rad is that. I guess we are off to a good start. I'm going to make an appointment today to see the doctor. Unfortunately our insurance didn't transfer over like it was supposed to after Pete got laid off but there is a ton of free agencies that will help us out at least during the beginning until we can get the insurance situation fixed. No matter if it's a boy or girl I have clothes lined up. Two of the girls at work offered me their baby clothes and one has a boy and the other has a girl. I'm so excited I don't even know what to do with myself. Well I have to go to work but I'll be back!!!

Many have been persecuted even tortured into death but still had faith. My trials may be small but all teh same trials. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me big and small. Even when the small seem to overtake me and become mountains rather than molehills. This is only temporary. I get to spend eternity with my heavenly father. This world I am not of. I have something far greater in store. I will not let this life get me down anymore. I will rejoice in my trials and take strength from my tribulations. I may not know what tomorrow brings but by faith I will stand strong in Christ and know he has a plan for my life. I am not alone.... I will feel every emotion good and bad but move through them rather than become engulfed in them. What Satan means for evil God will use for good. My heavenly father is bigger than any circumstance or depression I may feel. He is bigger and more powerful than those who mean harm against me of this world and beyond. He is my Daddy and I can just crawl up into his lap and sit in his warm embrace basking in his love and radiance. What a powerful wonderful God we serve!!!!

Droolin' and Dozin'

I just found an awesome cat picture and I'm in it. Sweet!!!!!!!!

Where have you been?

Wow. I guess it's been a while since I last posted something. Hmm... Where to start? Well I am officially a Big Brother Big Sisters of San Diego volunteer. That's pretty exciting. My little sister's name is Breana and she is 14 years old. We've hung out once so far and she seems like a sweet kid. She's super talkative and probably like your average 14 year old girl as far as likes and dislikes. I was a little nervous the first time we hung out but it went great!!!

What else is going on. Ooooh yeah... Pete and I went to talk to a realtor the other day to see about possibly buying a condo. Kind of rad!!! I feel so grown up. I guess we are kind fo adults now. We've been talking about doing this for a while now but our first attempt kind of failed as the market crashed. We tried to go through a man from Pete's church but unfortunately he ended up losing most of the properties he was trying to sell. He even lost his own home. I can't imagine for him having to start from scratch. Poor guy!!! I think he's doing better now. Anyway we kind of lost our oomph after that. Then the other day the idea came up again so first we went to the bank. They require at least 15% down which is way way out of our league. Afterwards we stopped by a realtors office down the street from us and she definitely lifted our spirits. She works with a mortgage broker who has access to some other programs for first time buyers that only require 3.5% down. How cool is that!!!!! Anyway, so we've looking at different condos around us and they are going anywhere from $65,000 to $90,000. Holy cow I think we might be able to afford one!!! It's a super long process but at least we are getting things rolling. We're still in the beginning stages. Our monthly payment for a two bedroom condo would be around $400-$500 a month. With HOA fees, home owners insurance, property taxes, etc. the whole thing would be pretty close to what we are paying now. That is soooooo cool!!!!! And we wouldn't be paying off someone elses mortgage every month. It would be our own. Just be praying for us that it all works out. I feel really good about.

School is going great. I got an 87 on my first history test. Yeah!!! I was so nervous I thought I was going to throw up walking to class that night. But I did it. I have another test on Wednesday that I am not quite as prepared for. I can't seem to get my brain into study mode this time. I'll sit down to study and wind up thinking about a billion other things. At least I have today and Wednesday off so I can really get down to business. The teacher is also offering extra credit after the test that will be 20 points. The tests are worth 100. It will definitely help. I'm going to do great. Positive thinking right?

Well I think that's all the big stuff right now. I miss you all!!!! I'll leave you with my favorite verse in the whole world. It helps me pretty regularly. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." For whatever reason I'm blanking out where it is in teh bible so I'll get back to you on that. Remember all things, not some things, not just the things we think we can. but all things!!!!

Memories

(The picture of the water and skyline is where we got married, the one of the room is the lodge we stayed at, and the other one was just cute from our honeymoon so I added it.)

I was looking through some old cds and low and behold I found one that had pictures from Pete and my honeymoon. It seems like just yesterday. I can't believe its already been almost three years. April 23 will be our third wedding anniversary. Crazy!!!! Time just flies. It's definitely been a great three years so far. I am so thankful to have been blessed with such an awesome marriage. Things with Pete and I aren't always perfect but pretty darn close. I love the fact that we can always talk things out. I think the best advice I ever got was don't go to bed angry. We don't argue much but when we have a disagreement as long as we can talk it out things are fine. I continue to fall in love more and more every day. I never thought I could love one person so much!!! So just in case anyone was wondering I LOVE PETE'S GUTS A LOT!!!!!!!!!! Looking at old pictures gets me all sentimental. I think I'll go watch our wedding video. Later!!!

All Is Well With My Soul

I have a history test on Wednesday and I'm a little bit nervous. There's a lot of information to remember and I procrastinated more than I should have. Not that long ago I had a month until the test and now it's a few days away. I guess I learned my lesson. I used to procrastinate in school when I was younger too but it didn't help the stress level any. So from now on I plan to study every week the information he gives us so I don't have to cram it in my brain in only a few days. Other than that things are looking up. It's been a rough couple of weeks mentally and emotionally for Pete and I because of him losing his job. I know we will be taken care of. My mom says I have the "peace that passes all understanding" which I agree with but I still have some trying moments and definitely so does Pete. I was reading in Genesis about Joseph and how he was sold into slavery by his brothers, ended up in prison for something he didn't do and finally ended up being Pharoah's main advisor and saves not only his family but all of Egypt from a famine. What an amazing story. I know we are not in those kind of dire circumstances but it was encouraging. Things don't always go the way you plan or want them to go. I think I may have a hard time with this because I like to be or think that I am in control of things but my life is way beyond me. It was planned out before I ever entered this world. You can't enjoy the good times without going through some struggles. If I would have had my way things might be different but I'm learning to look at each situation that happens and learn something from it. This experience has drawn Pete and I closer and has definitely strengthened my relationship with God. On a good note Pete was rehired at Starbucks yesterday as a barista. It gives him a lot more flexibility with school and less stress. If all goes well Pete will have his Associates Degree by next Christmas. How awesome would that be. Getting laid off really gave Pete the opportunity to finish a good chunk of his school. YEAH!!!!! I know I'm not the only one excited for this. We will see what happens. It's going to be a good year for us. I am thankful I have a job that can provide for my family. I'm thankful that Pete has a job that can provide for the family. I am thankful for my two beautiful kitties. I am thankful for my amazing husband. I am thankful for the love and support of our family on both sides. I am thankful we were able to secure a loan for a new car before everything happened with Starbucks. I am thankful that I get to wake up each morning and breathe, walk, talk, eat, and pretty much do everything I need to do without assistance. I am thankful to be alive today.

Economy Blues

So Pete's been laid off. It kind of sucks. I want to go punch Howard Shultz in the nose but it's not really his fault. This economy sucks. Pete's old boss said she would rehire him as a barista but now her district manager says maybe not. She's not my favorite person on the planet either right now. I'm kind of scared of what's going to happen but I'm also kind of calm about the whole thing. I know God is in control. If he provides for the little birds and squirrels and every other animal why would he not provide for his children whom he created with much love and care. We will be okay. I have panicky moments when I worry about it but then I know we will be taken care of. I'm praying Pete gets this job with the Border Patrol. I know some people are against this but I think it's the best thing right now. It will give him an in to the career he wants and also provide a better more stable income for us. I am so proud he's doing what he is. Pete is such an amazing man. When he gets knocked down he gets right back up and keeps fighting. If he did get this job he will have to go away for six months. That will definitely be a scarifice. I'll be moving back in with my parents while he's away if that's the case. The academy is in New Mexico. Only a couple hours away from my dad. I guess that would give me an excuse to go out there and visit a few times while he's gone. It's not for sure yet so we'll see. There's a lot up in the air right now but when is that not happening? I'm excited to see what God has planned for us.

I got an award whoooohooooo!!!!

Today was a good day. No particular reason it just was. I love those days. I got to lay in bed this morning and cuddle with my hubby. He made me breakfast and then I was off to work. Work flew by. I've been trying to organize everything because an inventory count is coming up and we have to count everything. Luckily for me I don't have to actually do it just help prepare for it. I also found out today at work that I got an award and will receive $100 Coach bucks which is basically money for me to spend at the store. I was kind of shocked I got it. I was number one in our district for conversion which is the percentage of people we convert in an hour to a sale. Each manager is in charge of the floor for an hour at a time and when we averaged everyone out for the month I won. Neat huh?! It was a good feeling because I was thinking today how not good I am at this whole Coach thing.

I'm really liking school so far. I've only had a couple of classes but it's so exciting. I can't believe I 'm actually in school. Crazy. I can't wait to be doing what I really want to do instead of what I have to do because I don't have an education. That's about all for now.

Oh my toe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So today I went in for my interview for Big Brother Big Sister. I rode the motorcycle up and back. It was a nice ride but a little bit windy. When I asked Pete if he would mind if I took the bike his hands started shaking. He is terrified of me being on that thing. I think he might kinda want to keep me around or something. NEAT!!!! Anyway the interview went well I think. It was almost like I was being interviewed to be a cop! They asked some pretty personal questions. I hope nothing in my past will interfere with this. I have been clean and sober for about four years now. It’s like I was talking about a previous life time with her. She asked about my childhood if I was abused in anyway and various other questions that I wouldn’t normally just strike up a conversation with a complete stranger about. Oh well I was completely honest about everything. I hope she chooses me for someone. I think that would be such a great experience. I guess we’ll see. I gave Pete my cold. What an awesome wifey I am!!! Poor guy!!! I’m just about done with mine thank goodness. I got over it a lot quicker than most people I’ve seen. That’s all I can think of to say right now. Peace!!!

Holy crap I'm going digital!!!!

Okay so I'm not really going digital. I don't even really know what that means. Pretty much I said I would never do one of these and here I am. It's taken me about 20-30 minutes now trying to figure out how to set up this whole thing. I'm technologically challenged. Good thing I have a super awesome husband who's always willing to help out even when I won't let him get in a word in edgewise. I sure love his guts!!! A lot!!! So anyway. I started school today. Kind of crazy. I never thought I would go back. I’m taking two classes, The Changing American Family and Early World History. Surprisingly I already have 24 credits. Who would have guessed I actually completed some college before and passed? Definitely not me. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least.
What else is going on? Oh yeah!!! I got my motorcycle license. I look like an old lady in my picture but oh well. It has an M1 on it. Pretty sweet if I do say so myself. The girls at work want me to show up in my riding gear. They don’t care about the bike just the jacket, boots and helmet. Crazy ladies!!! I went riding for the first time on the street the other day and when I got off my hands were shaking. It was so much fun though. I’m hooked. I even went on the freeway which I got in big trouble from my husband. I got the dad look of extreme disapproval. Our kids won’t stand a chance against that look. It'll melt them right down into their boots. Needless to say I won’t be getting on the freeway again anytime soon.
I was excited to hear about Melinda and Thomas’ news. A little shocked but I’m excited for them. What a blessing. I can’t wait until Pete and I are blessed with one of our own. Sometimes I wonder if it will ever happen but I know its all God’s timing and not our own. It will happen when the time is right.
So now that I’ve talked your ears off or burned holes in your eyes I’ll stop. Until next time…….