Road Trip!!!

So last week Efren and I had the awesome chance to take a little time off and go on a road trip. We stayed one night with Efren's cousin, Christian, in Salina, KS, and then drove on to Littleton, CO. One of my best friends in the world and her husband and sweet little boy live there. It was so much fun to see them and just hang out without anything major to do. It was a very different dynamic then what Alaina and I were used to. In college we were together all the time, lived together, worked together, everything. Now, throw in 2 husbands and a 2 year old. It was an interesting change and a good change of course, just different. We had both been around each other's husbands for short periods before but never for a whole week. That was fun to get to see the interaction and for all of us to hang out like we had talked about so many years ago, before Adam and Efren had even entered the picture. We shopped, hiked, slept, watched movies, laughed hysterically, played with toy trucks, cooked, road the Lightrail, ate, talked for hours, and laughed some more. It was a great trip! Thanks Adam and Alaina for letting us crash for a week! We love you! Here are a couple pics from the week!


Skywalker or monk?? Either way, CUTE!!

Natural amphitheater at Red Rocks!

The 4 of us on our hiking expedition!

Just Dance...but not Lady Gaga style

There are lots of things that really get my blood pumping. A few of those things are music, worship, and dance. I feel like these are such awesome forms of expression, especially when the three are combined. Over the last couple of years I have had a hard time finding my passion. Yeah, I'm a nurse, and I like to think I'm good at it, but it's not my passion in life. Recently, I have started realizing I have a huge passion for dance. Yeah, I've liked it pretty much my whole life, but it never was a passion like it has been in recent years. It touches me like few other things do. I love it...all kinds.
My mom put me in ballet and tap classes when I was young, but the tutus were way too girlie. I was always jealous of the outfits of the girls in jazz class. They were so much cooler. Now, looking back, I wish I would have stuck with it. I got into ballroom dancing a few years ago and absolutely loved it, but had to quit a few months later because it was outrageously expensive. I have wanted to go back since. Yesterday, as I was sleeping to prepare for tonight's shift, my sweet husband found several adds in the newspaper for the local dance studios, cut them out, and had them waiting for me when I woke up. I called them all looking for one that offers classes to those of us past our dancing "prime," aka over 18, and may have found a couple options. I'm hoping to get into a class or two for the fall and see what happens. I would love to find a place that I can worship through dance. It's kinda like "make a joyful noise to the Lord." Not necessarily a beautiful noise, but just a joyful one. I want to make a joyful dance move! Maybe it will be a beautiful one, that would be nice, but at least it will be joyful! Maybe this will be me in the future, who knows. Hey, one can dream, right? ;)

Awake

So it's 4:39 am and I'm wide awake. Actually I usually end up blogging (the very few times I have blogged) in the middle of the night because I am at work with a little bit of downtime, but this time I'm at home. Over the last few weeks I have had alot of trouble sleeping when it's dark outside. Maybe after a year of working nights my body is getting used to the schedule....which is good I guess, but makes for some very long nights when I'm off and there is no one awake to talk to me.

This has been a very different week for me, personally. I guess it all starts last November when my oldest brother and my sister-in-law moved to Huntington Beach, California.

That was big. Yeah he had lived in Fort Worth for a while by that time so I was used to not seeing him everyday, but at least at 3-4 hours away we could see them on a long weekend. That is not the case now. Fast forward 8 months and my parents moved to Alaska, followed by my sister this past thursday.

If someone would have told me a year ago that we would all be where we are today I would not have believed it. I am so happy for all of them and the places that God has pushed and pulled them, and I'm so excited for all the new and different things that they will each experience, but I have to be honest and say that I wish it were different. I know that is selfish but it's the truth. It may seem weird, but in my perfect world we would all live in the same neighborhood. Yes, it would be somewhere on the beach but where the cost of living was like Oklahoma. ;) Keep dreaming, right? I know. I dread the day when Tate graduates and moves too. I'm not sure what I'll do with myself. Maybe you'll have to commit me, or maybe I'll have to get pregnant to force my parents back down to the lower 48. Ha, that's terrible.....but don't think I won't do it! I know change is good, (not all change, but that's another topic) but I'm just not one that deals with it seemlessly, especially when it comes to my family. Being here without my safety net is something I will just have to get used to, but I don't know if I ever truly will. Praise the Lord for technology such as cell phones and skype, but even that is not the same as the craziness that is the 8 of us when we are all together. Maybe now I will cherish those moments even more.

I'm not trying to make this post a pity party, and I hope it doesn't sound that way. This has just been a major life change, and I couldn't help but write about it.

On a lighter note, Efren and I are leaving monday afternoon and heading to spend some time in Colorado with one of my best friends! I can't wait to get to hang out with her and her husband and sweet little boy. It will be awesome for them to be able to get to know Efren even more too. If you think about it, please pray for His protection as we drive. We are planning on leaving Monday around noon, or after I wake up since I'm working the night before. We are stopping in Salina,KS to spend the evening and night with Efren's cousin Christian, and then we will head to Littleton Tuesday morning. We will just spend the week hanging out, enjoying life and little Beckett then Sunday, we are making the looooong drive back since we both work on monday.

By the way, which flag is coolest??

It's Been A While...

Wow, It's been so long since I blogged! I'll try....key word, try, to be better at it.

Things have changed alot over the last few weeks. Efren and I are now living in my parents house and my parents are now living in Alaska. What a change. It's the house I have lived in on and off for the last 15 years, but somehow now it just feels different. I guess because I'm used to it being filled with the sounds of so many different people, the constant beeping of the doors opening and closing, and laughter that seems to rise as tall as the two story cielings. For the most part now the house is dark and way too warm due to our effort to decrease the electric bill. At least Reagan is occupying part of it, but soon she will be gone too. It's definitely going to take some getting used to for the two of us. Efren has taken on the responsibilities that come with being the man of the house. Changing filters, watering the grass, mowing the lawn, etc. It's very interesting when things start making funny noises because we have no idea how to fix them! Living in an apartment, something goes wrong, call the maintenance guy! Not so in the house. well, great practice for when we have our own!
Other news, Efren got a job! We had pretty much given up hope in the economy at this point and decided that for the next two years he could just focus on his masters and not worry about the job thing, but, like usual, the Lord had other plans and he got hired on to a company called RGIS. His title is "auditor" and he does inventory for stores around the OKC area. Yesterday they did Sears, for example. It's a part time position, but extremely flexible and will work wonderfully with his school schedule. The biggest thing is that in two years it will look great on his resume as experience in that field. Not that I really know what the industrial engineering field is, but that is what he says so that works for me! He has been enjoying it so far. Not the actual work part necessarily, but the chance to contribute and fill his days with something other than waiting for me to get home or wake up. Needless to say he is very excited for school to start. Yeah, he is one of those people. ;)
Nothing much new with me. Just working. The last couple of weeks I have been training a new nurse which has been an interesting experience. I have found that I do enjoy the teaching aspect, but it's hard for me not to take care of things myself instead of letting him do it, or to keep my mouth closed and let him figure it out on his own. Sometimes I'd rather just do it myself. I know, mom, you're shocked.
So that's us, I'll try to be a more faithful blogger. No promises! Mostly I feel like I just don't have anything cool to write about!

Well, we made it! We left our house in Edmond about 3:25 am on Tuesday morning and got to Caracas about 9:05 Tuesday night. It seemed like a long day, but it actually wasn't too bad. We flew to Dallas first which we all know takes longer to taxi to the runway than to actually fly to Dallas. We only had a bit in Dallas before we headed to Miami. For some reason when we checked in in OKC they had us in different rows on our flight from Dallas to Miami so we asked about it and easily they changed it. The plane had been changed and for some reason there was no row 19 so we got put together in row10. As we were boarding the plane headed for Miami Efren says, "I really wish I could sleep on planes but they are so uncomfortable."
"Iknow, me too." I chimed in. We get on the plane and see row 10...."definitely not our row 10," I said, "this is first class, there must be another row 10 in the back...keep walking." So we passed right by walking back to steerage where we always sit. Wait, 20, 21, 22..."Where is row 10?" We asked the flight attendant. "It's up there you missed it. That's still coach."
Wait, what?? Are you kidding me? We walked back up to row 10....O....My....goodness. Each seat was in it's own little box. Each seat had it's own tv, a real size pillow and a comforter! Each seat could lay down COMPLETELY flat!!! Efren and I could have fit in one seat! We couldn't believe what was happening. We started taking pictures. I'm sure people were thinking it was our first time on a plane! We kept looking around just waiting for the man in a suit with a briefcase to come tell us we were in his seat. As soon as the doors were closed and the plane was off the ground our seats were flat and we were already snoring. That was the best flight I have ever been on. I don't remember any of it. Thank you, Jesus, for that little suprising blessing!
The flight to Caracas we were back to what we know, little seats and no leg room. That's ok though. We are well rested. We can handle it now. Since then we have just been seeing family and gettin used to the weather. It's perfect.
Thank you to all who have been thinking of us and praying for our trip. I know it's gonna be a good one. Love you all.

One More Day

Only one more day of work until I'm off for....53.....days....wow. Doesn't that sound amazing? It does, but honestly it scares me a little bit. What if I forget how to be a nurse? Oh no.

Efren's grampa is pretty sick and since we didn't have any plans to go to Venezuela for a while we were worried we may not see him again. :( so, after much thought and prayer we decided this is the time we ought to go. I have a very flexible job and for some reason Efren doesn't have one yet. Efren starts his masters in August and after that, he won't have much vacation time. This seemed to be the only time we would ever be able to go for more than a week so we thought we might as well take advantage of that.

As for what we will be doing for 7 weeks, we aren't totally sure. I know Efren will be working at the store his parents own, and I will be working on my spanish skills. Possibly some trips to the beach and I know we will be spending alot of time with his family. Since hearing that we are coming, his grampa has felt better and been more active. I think it's one of those things. He has something to look forward to so his demeanor improves. Sweet grampa.

There are a few major things that I will be missing. My dear friend is getting married. Not only are we missing the wedding, but my brother and sister-in-law are coming home from California and we will miss seeing them too. Also, my sister has the starring role in this.....

Which we will miss too :(

It's definitely not ideal timing, but I am trying to remember that in all things God works for the good, so I am ok with it.....most days anyway.

Please pray for us while we are gone. Pray for Efren's grampa and his family. We will keep you all updated!!

100 for 2008

1. I got a new job at a new hospital.
2. I experienced my grampa get sicker and sicker and die at that hospital.
3. Helped a friend through a hard break-up.
4. Helped that friend move into my parents house.
5. Was in my brother's wedding.
6. Maintained a relationship on Skype.
7. Took a last minute trip to Venezuela.
8. Got proposed to!
9. Accepted the proposal!
10. Ziplined through the canopy of Venezuela.
11. Missed my flight in Puerto Rico.
12. Spent the night by myself in Miami.
13. Ran the 6 mile leg of the OKC Memorial Marathon.
14. Finished nursing school.
15. Graduated with my BSN.
16. Missed my pinning ceremony.
17. Sold stuff on Ebay.
18. Bought a wedding dress.
19. Went to Puerto Rico for the second time in 2 months.
20. Met up with my fiance in Puerto Rico.
21. Went on my 4th cruise.
22. Went to Barbados...
23. St. Kitts...
24. Antigua...
25. St. Thomas...
26. Dominica...
27. St. Lucia...for the first time.
28. Accepted a position at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital.
29. Had my 24th birthday.
30. Saw/loved Wicked.
31. Helped a dear friend through the shocking news of her pregnancy.
32. Passed the NCLEX.
33. Became an RN.
34. Got my own insurance.
35. Saw/ loved Spamalot.
36. Met awesome friends at OHH.
37. Became nocturnal.
38. Lived in the same city as my fiance for the first time.
39. Lived in the same house as my fiance.....with my parents.
40. Got a joint bank account.
41. Bought a car.
42. Got scammed by the car company.
43. Hung out in the VIP section of a club in Dallas.
44. Swam in a closed hotel pool.
45. Planned a wedding.
46. Attended a wedding shower....where everyone brought a gift for me.....overwhelming!
47. Saw, in person, the Texas Tech v. OU game.....
48. Went through pre-marital counseling.
49. Took birth control for the first time.
50. Filled out immigration papers.
51. Pushed the Code Blue button.
52. Welcomed Efren's family to Oklahoma.
53. Had a bachelorette party......;)
54. Saw Venezuelans dressed as cowboys.
55. Practiced for my wedding.
56. Fired a DJ two days before my wedding.
57. Hired another DJ two days before my wedding.
58. Promised myself to someone forever.
59. Danced with my dad at my wedding reception.
60. Spent the night with a boy.
61. Changed my last name after 24 years.
62. Went on a honeymoon.
63. Cried on my honeymoon.
64. Met up with Efren's parents on our honeymoon....
65. Learned to live with a boy.
66. Went to the driving range for the first time.
67. Became the "bread winner" of our little family.
68. Tried to play 9 holes of golf.
69. Went house hunting.
70. Played 2 holes of golf.
71. Got my husband addicted to 24.
72. Started attending my childhood church again.
73. Had a patient call the police on me.
74. Helped my brother and sister-in-law move to So Cal.
75. Had early Thanksgiving at a BBQ joint.
76. Voted...no comment.
77. Worked on Thanksgiving.
78. Gave my precious dog away.
79. Woke up crying because I gave my dog away.
80. Bid on something on Ebay that was ultimately sold for more than $2,000.
81. Started a blog.
82. Made an offer on some land.
83. Made a second offer on the same piece of land.
84. Decided that wasn't the land the Lord had for us!
85. Spent Christmas morning with my husband.
86. Opened gifts via web-cam with my brother and sister-in-law.
87. Packed for a week-long trip 10 min. before we had to leave to catch the plane.
88. Watched the movie Voces Inocentes.
89. Cried uncontrollably for 30 minutes after watching Voces Inocentes.
90. Acquired the taste for beer.
91. Learned of the scripture my dad had claimed over my life more than 20 years ago.
92. Spent the night in my parents closet with my friend and my sister.
93. Felt the impact of the failing economy first hand.
94. Helped my husband get a SS#!
95. Saved money for retirement.
96. Filled up our car for 35 dollars.
97. A few months later, filled up our car for 13 bucks.
98. Joined a small group of young married couples.
99. Learned more about God's love for me through the bond of marriage.
100. Celebrated the new 2009 at the hospital with coworkers, a bottle of sparkling grape juice, and Efren.