So the time has come that I need to go private with our blog. If you want to be added to the list, please email us at casperfamilyblog@gmail.com and I will email you back with the password. I am sorry it has to come to this, but I feel it is the best thing for our privacy and sanity. So, send in those emails and I will be going private in about a week or so.
Just as a warning, this is a long post with no pictures, read with caution!
So I figured, its been over a month and I should update the few people that read this blog as to what has been going on in our lives. Most excitingly is that I got a JOB!!!! WAHOOOOOOO!!! I am so happy. It is at a nursing home and I just love it. I started on Monday. My boss is incredibly laid back and understanding about everything, even me wanting to take 2 weeks for vacation in November, I will discuss this more a little bit later in the post. He is the administrator of the place and while he isn't in the social work world, he knows what I need to do and is very good at explaining it to me. I also have 2 consultants that work with me that are both social workers. They really know their stuff and are very helpful and I can call them whenever I don't understand things. Also, since where I work is a smaller facility, I am my own department chair. I can boss people around and stuff, its great, Just kidding. I do get my pretty picture up on the wall so, when people come in they can see my beaming face as a person that they can ask for help. But for now, I am just learning how everything works and getting to know the residents that live there. I will update you more as it goes along.
Next, Jon's birthday is on the 8th and he will be 27. We aren't doing anything too extravagant, but it should be fun. Also, since I got a job now, we are looking at moving. I am excited to have my own yard and not have to deal with a homeowners association. And now, to the part I am most excited for, our VACATION!!!
Jon's friend Steve is getting married tomorrow and they are moving to Scotland for Kristen, his wife, to go to grad school. So we figured, if we have a free place to stay in Europe, why not go. We plan on flying into Paris, staying in France for 5 or so days, then going to London for a couple days and then going up to see Steve and Kristen in Scotland. All total to be there for 2 weeks. I am so excited. I have wanted to go to Europe my whole life and now we are finally planning a trip there. I am also excited to use the French that I learned in high school and see how much of it I remember.
Ok, so that is most of our updates for now. I will keep everyone updated about the job and as plans come along for Europe.
Wow, so as I sit here, I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am now 26 years-old. I feels weird to be 26, because now I am closer to 30 than to 20. It also feels strange, because I still feel, well at least most days, that I am a 21 year-old newlywed. Yet, today marks 5 years ago that Jon proposed to me and I embarked on the best adventure of my life, with the greatest guy I have ever met. So enough of that stuff. I am now going to give you a list of 26 things that I am grateful for.
1. Jon
2. My House
3. My Parents
4. My Nieces and Nephews
5. My Doggies
6. Jon's Job
7. My Education and the awesome people I met up at Weber State
8. My Health
9. My Wonderfully A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Friends
10. Being Able to Laugh Everyday
11. The Gospel
12. My Temple Marriage
13. The Great Country That We Live in, and the Freedom that comes with it
14. Good Music
15. Scrapbooks
16. The Color Purple
17. My Mom's Macaroni and Cheese
18. The Ocean
19. Vacations, especially cruises
20. The Chance to be a Mother Someday, hopefully sooner rather than later
21. My Bicycle
22. Books
23. My Quilt that I got last year for my birthday
24. Pretty Flowers
25. The chance I had to meet Rosie O'Donnell (yes I like her, yes she was really nice, and no I am not weird for liking her)
26. Being able to live 26 amazing years so far, and all the cool experiences I have had so far and being able to look forward to many more to come
Well, I finally did it!! I FINALLY graduated from college. The ceremony took place on Friday May 1st. It was so much fun and everything I hoped it would be. I was so excited when I got my diploma cover that I started to hyperventilate. It was just such a good feeling to know what I had gone through over the past 7 years to get my diploma was now done and over with. I could have hugged anybody that walked in front of me at that point.
So, I am sitting here in the computer lab at Weber State. I am wondering where all the time went. I feel like I just started here yesterday. It was actually about 14 months ago that I started here. Looking at my classical sociological theory book, I wonder am I really about to give my last presentation ever at this college?? It all feels so strange. Almost like an out of body experience. These past 2 weeks have been crazy with school. I have had 4 presentations, 2 papers, an annotated bibliography, and a survey due. I have been one busy girl. But, you know the best part of it? After today, I am pretty much done with all I have to do for graduation. My application is submitted, accepted, my tests are done, my HUGE (114 page) paper is done, all my presentations are done and I am ready to get the heck outta here! So for me, May 1st can't get here soon enough.
I feel like am lying to somebody or something and they will find out and not give my my diploma. Yet, I know that I have done all the hard work and I have earned, it just feels strange. Jon and I have been planning my graduation party. So those of you that live around me, be excited, cause I am inviting everyone, and it's going to be a blast. Those of you that live far away, I wish you could come and I will be sad that you cannot share my celebration with me. I will be thinking about you though. On another note, next week is spring break. I am so ready!! I need a break and some sleep. My parents are coming from Denver to stay for a little while. I nervous, yet excited at the same time. I can't wait to show my mom the home I have made for Jon and I. I guess this ends my thoughts for now. Hope all of you are doing well. Those that won prized on my grab bag give away, be looking for them soon now that I don't have anymore school work to do, I can actually do fun things! Now if only May 1st was tomorrow and I would be one excited girl! Come on May 1st, I have been dreaming about you my whole life!!
I saw this over at Jessica's blog so I thought I would do it too. Here's the rules:
The first 5 people to comment on this post will receive something made by me. But there is a catch… Here are the rules:
1. It’s my choice what to make… and you won’t know what it will be until you get it!
2. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make, but I hope you do!
3. What I create will be just for you - completely original.
4. It will be done this year. (that’s what the rule says, but I’ll probably get it to you in a month or so)
5. Now for the catch. The catch is that you’re supposed to re-post this on your blog and offer the same giveaway to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog, but I understand if you can’t. It’s all about sharing the love! Be sure to come here and post a link. I WILL check your blog! *wink*
Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it, and link back to me. So….who will be the first 5 people?????
So some of you may have read the title and thought that I was pregnant, but nope I am not. We adopted a new puppy a few days ago. I go to pick her up this afternoon because they just spayed her this morning. She is a Chiuaua Pomeranian mix, or so they think. Basically, she is a 5 pound version of Wendy. White, fluffy and really small. As for names we are debating between Lucy (my pick) and Minnie (Jon's pick). Let me know what you think! Pictures to come soon, I promise.
On other news, Happy Brithday to my old roomie Jen, today she turns 25. Which means that Jon and I have now known each other for 5 years. The whole reason I was online the night I met Jon was so I could email Jen and we could IM about her birthday festivities. So yeah, 5 years, that seems like a long time. I guess time flies when you are having fun. I love you Jon and I can't wait till you get back from North Dakota on Friday so we can spend time together.
Well I have to run to class!!
So here is a bucket list of things to do before you die. I will bold the ones I have done. I challange all my friends to do this, it was pretty fun.
Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris-no but I will get there someday!
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child-nope but I want to do this as well
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Slept on an overnight train
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Fired a rifle, shotgun or pistol
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp-not yet, but this is definately high on my priority list
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published something
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Visited the White House
Had chickenpox
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Ocean
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Seen Mount Rushmore in person
Learned to play an instrument
Held a tarantula
Touched an iceberg
Changed a baby’s diaper
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
Had a food fight
Had a snowball fight
Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
Ridden a roller coaster
Visited all 50 states
Taken a road-trip
Milked a cow
Been in a movie
Crashed a party
Made cookies from scratch
Gotten a tattoo
Rafted the Snake River
Performed on stage
Been to Las Vegas
Eaten shark
Bought a house
Been in a combat zone
Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
Touched a stingray
Broken a bone
Ridden a horse
Eaten sushi
Had your picture in the newspaper
Gone back to school
Eaten fried green tomatoes
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Dyed your hair
Caused a car accident
Saved someone's life- thank you Cole for jumping in the deep end of the pool and allowing me this opportunity!
So as tomorrow is the first day of a new presidency I am filled with hope, concern, and a myriad of other feelings. I hope that a new president will help the American economy feel a little more at ease. I am concerned at the way it looks like our nation is headed. It makes me scared for my future, and my future children's' futures. Yet, as a look forward with faith and with an immense amount of prayer, I know that our nation will continue to be the amazing place that our forefathers wanted it to be.
I am concerned that I will not be able to find a job after I graduate. All the state jobs that I would want have a hiring freeze on. The budget for most health and human service jobs are being cut left and right. But, in spite of all this I have hope that after doing all that I can to better myself and my situation in life, that the Lord will bless me and my efforts. I feel for the next president of our great nation. He has an immensely hard job which I think nobody envies. I do not support all his ideas, but I don't hate him. I pray for him as I think all people should do, whether you agree with him or not.
So I am wishing, hoping and praying that our nation will continue to be the great nation it was founded to be!
'Cause he is sooo incredibly smart!!!
So a funny sorta scary thing happened to Jon and I last night. We went and had dinner with some friends of ours and had a great time with them. Then we got to the office I clean a bit later than usual, about 11:30. I was tired and we were both just ready to get the office clean so we could come home and go to bed. I started emptying the trash and Jon took on cleaning the bathrooms. Not much was said, we just went to getting the job done as quickly as possible.
Once we were both out in the lobby I asked him where the key was so we could let ourselves back into the offices. (It is secured from the visitors getting back to the offices for the safety of those that work there.) He turned to me and said, "I thought you had it, you were the one doing the trash." Then I told him, "You are always the one that has the key." Panic that we might be stuck here all night began to set in. We then thought to call my boss cause he has a key and could get us out, but I realized I didn't have my cell phone and I don't know his number. We thought of different ideas and surprisingly enough, we didn't even yell at each other this whole time, which is a big deal for us. We ALWAYS yell when we get mad at each other.
Anyways, then Jon remembered the door to the back part of the offices has a motion sensor and if he could get something in the door long enough to trip the sensor, then he could get back in and get the key and we could would be saved from having to spend the night there. So he found a piece of cardboard in the trash and went around to try to see if it would work. No luck it wasn't quite long enough. Then we found another piece of cardboard just long enough and BINGO he got in!!! Yay!!
After about 30 minutes of being upset about the possibility of having to sleep there, but because of my lovely husband we were able to get out. This made me extremely happy to get out, but also when I thought about being there alone late at night it made me kinda scared that it could be that easy to break into the office. The lessons Jon and I learned from this experience is to always make sure somebody has got the key and tell someone if you have taken it somewhere. Also, to always carry my cell phone at work. And lastly, to learn the number combination on the doors to make sure this doesn't happen again. As for me, I learned I married one really smart, ingenious dude that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! I love you Jon!!
