CNA...

On January 12th, the day after TJ and I arrived back to Florida I started a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. It was six weeks long, so I have just finished it. I am doing the Patient Care Technician (PCT) program though, so the next class will be advanced nursing program, which is six weeks, and then the last class will be EKG and Phlebotomy, the whole program is 18 weeks, I am 6 weeks down, 12 to go. My main purpose in doing this is to get some medical training, knowledge and experience to assist TJ and I on the mission field, so after I am done with this program, I hope to get a job somewhere to put this training into practice.
I have to be honest, I didn't really like the CNA class that much, because it was all about taking care of the elderly, and how to do it JUST RIGHT! :)... but it was humbling, we did have to do clinicals so we spent days in hospitals, long term living facilities, and rehab. But am trusting God that this is where He has me right now, and he knows how he is going to use it.

School is Monday through Thursday 8-2, so after that I drive about 2 minutes to work at a Christian DayCare and that is from 2-5:30, so it works out well, and also helps with some expenses.

Home

Sorry that I have not updated for so long... my life has been crazy. TJ and I had a really nice time with my family over Christmas break, it was refreshing, and gave me, personally a good little boost. It also game me a little more of a chance to say goodbye in a way to the place that has always been my home. Now my home is wherever TJ is, which isn't necessarily anywhere in particular, which is a reminder to me that my home is not here on earth, but in heaven with my heavenly father.

TJ and I had a little Christmas party at the Shropshire house where we had delicious BBQ, family fun, and gift opening. I got to meet more family of the Shropshires (Aut Mindy and Uncle Stan, and cousins). TJ and I left on Christmas Eve to go to California to spend time with family, and it has been great. They day TJ and I arrived my parents and us went to Sanfransisco touring the city, and eating at Gheridelli square. On the 27th we had Christmas with the entire family which was really special seeing as I didn't get to be here for Christmas last year, but I also missed the Farran's knowing that I was with them not to long ago... :)

Before TJ and I came to California, we made carmels, and brought them with us so everyone has been enjoying them.

We just celebrated New Years with a couple of friends and family. As I look back on this year, it has been a year of bran new things both TJ and I, we look forward to this year and what new things we will encounter.

Happy New Year!

Christmas time at our house

This year is mine and TJ's first Christmas together as a married couple. Last night we went driving around looking for a tree, come to find out everything closed the minute before we got there, but eventually we ended up buying one from Wallmart, we took it home, drank hot chocolate, and decorated the tree... it was a wonderful evening, and I can't help but look forward to the fun that TJ is going to continue to add to our family, and what a great fun father he's going to be... :)

Life

This is the discovery stage of TJ and my life, we are figuring out how to live life with another person who grew up in a different home than, we are learning to be selfless (although very hard), and make compromise when things don't go our way. I am missing my family, but enjoying every second I have to spend with my TJ. I also am getting to know the Shropshire family, and all their little kwirks. I am also in the nesting stage, and am trying to make our home look like a place we would live. So TJ and I are painting our room as you can see. I will take pictures of the end results, but so far it's just an olive green.
I am excited to be going home to California for Christmas, seeing how I wasn't there last year.
I am making new friends here, and am exited to have people who are willing to get to know me, and invest in me.
TJ and I are looking to get involved in our church here some way, so we will see how that plays out. RIght now I am setting up house, writing thank you notes, and cleaning. At the beginning of next year I will be starting an 18 week patient care technician program, so I'm pretty excited about that, and where it might lead me to work next. GOd is good and in control. I am proud to be HIS child.

On a boat and through the cities

TJ and I got to to on a cruise for a week stopping on various Islands and viewing the area.In Honduras we rode a scooter around the Island of Roatan, and played soccer with some Honduran kids while it was raining. Our day in Belize consisted of encouraging a homeless Belizian in His faith in God, and questioned him in what he was really doing with his life. In Cuzumel, Mexico we also got a scooter and rode it around the whole Island, we ate by the water , and swam in the clear blue water. We brought lots of fancy clothes and had fancy dinners on the ship almost every night... which was fun. The good and bad thing about the ship was that I could have soft serve chocolate ice cream whenever I wanted.
As far as right now, TJ and I are enjoying living in our house together,.. being married. I am getting acclimated to Florida and am pursuing a job as a receptionist for a couple doctors offices, and I am trying to get my CNA (certified nursing assistant).
I am enjoying having a little more time to spend with my Heavenly Father, I am working on bringing everything before Him, understanding that when I try to work everything out on my own, I just have a bad attitude. I really do need Jesus.
I put an update on our new house soon.

Road trip

TJ and I sadly left my home in California to go on our trip across the country back to Florida. We had an interesting. It started with crying my eyes out as we left my home then going to Las Vegas... the sin city. We didn't enjoy it very much. The next day I got sick and through up, by the end of the day we ended up right outside the Grand Canyon where we camped in 8 degree wheather, while being miserable and throwing up more, The next day we took a little trip to the Grand Canyon and on. We stood on Four corners, and stopped at the Colorado River. We drove rthrough the Rockys and stayed with some of TJ's really good family friends... (that was refreshing). The next day we ended up at my brother Del and his wife REL's house (at the MTC) in Missouri, where we also got to see a lot of real good friends. That was amazing. And the next two days were pretty much traving home to Florida. Now we have been trying to put things away, we are having fun making our home ours... :)