Christmas Eve - 2010

Jon, Kirsten, Brad and I are cooking all of the desserts for Christmas day. We have made a pare cobbler, fruit salad, chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies, lemon meringue pie. We also made up the chicken and dressing so all we have to do is bake it in the morning. It is really nice to have the kitchen full of family again. This has been an incredible year for Jon and I, especially compared to last year. Jon has a good job and I have been able to go back to school to get my certificate as an Medical Assistant. I am also continuing my education in the new year by taking a course called Health Care Administration. Once I finish the course, I will have a Degree which will better my chance of obtaining a higher paying and more stable career. Wish me luck! I have made some very good new friends this year and reconnected with some extremely great friends. God has blessed Jon and I so with such good friends. We love you all so much!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Surviving the girls' visit

Ok, Jon's daughters, Brittany 16 and Chelsea 14, came to visit us. Brittany could only stay for one week because of her school but Chelsea stayed for three weeks. Wow...it was quite an experience. They have been raised (if you can call it that) much different than Kirsten.

Don't get me wrong, we had lots of fun with them while they were here, but there was several serous conversations during their stay also. It also reminded Jon and I of just how precious our quiet house really is. lol

None of us had ever been to the Grand Canyon, so Jon and I decided that would be our family trip. The girls slept nearly the entire way there and it rained on us almost the entire way. But when we got there, the clouds parted and the skies cleared. It was truely beautiful. We were all glad that we had made the long drive.

Jon to be driving in that state of mind. But thank God, we made it home safely.

The drive home was hard because we were all worn out and tired. But also because the girls chose the ride home to talk with their dad and I about some very disturbing issues that had happened in their lives recently. We were proud that they felt safe and comfortable enough to discuss these issued with us, but Jon was driving. And that was not very safe for any of us, for

Jon took all of us to his work place for a personal tour. We were able to actually go down into the mine pit. It was exciting to see all of the big equipment up close. It was interesting, but very hot and the truck ride was very bumpy. The safety guy, Sam, gave Brittany, Chelsea and I each a piece of copper with the ASARCO name imprinted in it. I think Jon was more excited about that than either of us. lol

We took the girls ice skating one night and had a great time. Jon skated with them. I haven't ever ice-skated and it has been about 17 years since I have been on roller skates. There was no way they were going to get me out on ice. lol They did try, but it was never going to happen.

The rest of their visit was spent at home. Which was good because Jon really got to spend quality time with his girls. We all played board games, card games, checkers, watched movies and of course played on the computer. He has really missed them over the years. He has tired many times to get them but his ex-wife always came up with some reason why they could not visit. After spending time with them he could really see just how much they needed him in their lives, if only for structure and decipline.

All in all the visit with Brittany and Chelsea was a good experience. We love them very much and would love to have them again soon.

Starting Back Office classes

Well I have started my 13th week of MA classes. I received my score today on the final we took last Friday for my last 6 week class. Get ready, are you ready? I got 100%. Yea!!! I am so excited because on all of my other finals I missed 1 on each. This is the first one that I did not miss any. My average so far for all of the classes I have taken (and there have been 8) in the past 12 weeks is 99.5% . I am now in a class where we are doing vitals. You know taking blood pressures, temperatures, pulse rates, respiration rates, height and weight. I took vitals on 3 different patients today and only have 47 more to go before I finish classes and go out to my exturnship. That will be in 17 1/2 more weeks. Wow!!! I have to get on the ball and figure out what specialty office I want to work in, so I can try to find a place to be sponsored for my exturnship. My exturnship starts on November 22, 2010 and lasts for 5 weeks. Forty hours a week for 5 weeks, equaling 200 hours. Then I graduate and start too work (hopefully right away). I sure miss all of my friends in Safford. If any of you know of a medical facility that will be needing a Medical Assistant in January, let me know. Maybe it will pay well enough that Jon and I could move back. Of course Jon would have to get a job there too, but who knows, maybe Freeport will be needing Electricians by then. Prayers are welcome. God willing it will come to pass.

Our latest ordeal!!

Well as you may already know, Jon's car broke down on him on his way to work Sunday afternoon. He made it about 5 miles down the road and I got a call to come pick him up. Luckily for us, and by the grace of God, I have a friend who ownes a car hawling business. She came and picked up the car for us and took it to our house and backed it right into our garage. Thank you Kenda.

Normally Jon works day shift, but Sunday was his first day filling in for a guy that had just retired, until the position could be filled full time. So since he is, for now, working 2:30 to 10:30, once we got his car home he was able to take my car and go into work.

We went to several of those buy-here pay-here places in Mesa to see what we could possibly do about getting another vehicle. Much too our suprise we were financed for a 2005 Chrystler PT Cruiser. It is not exactly our dream car, but it is what we could afford.

The new car is above.

Thank you God for blessing us with your grace.

11 weeks in!

Well I haven't been on her in a while. I have been very busy with school. I have just finished my 11th week. YEA!! Next week is my last week in front office, then I am moving on to back office. Things have been quite interesting up to this point. I am once again certified in First Aid and CPR. The last time I was certified was when I was a Girl Scout Leader. Wow that has been some time ago. lol These classes are extremely excellerated. We have a test at least every other day and sometimes twice a day. I think that the cobwebs have been dusted off of my feable brain. lol Now if I can just get it to regergitate what it has absorbed. lol I wish I would have been able to stay in Safford so that I could have been around all of my good friends there. I miss you all so much, but I know God planned for me to be here right now and who knows, maybe Safford is in my future. I can always hope! :o)

First Day Down!!!

Well as you may know, I am going to medical school. Today was my first day and I MADE IT THROUGH!!! I have received a lot of information on the first day and feel quite overwhelmed. However, I am determined to hang in there and be the best Medical Assistant I can be. lol I am sure that I am going to need all of the good wishes and prayers that you all are willing to give. All are welcome. Well, I have to go so I can cook dinner and then get to studying and do my homework. That's right homework on the first day. And by the way, a test on Friday. Wow, they don't wast any time do they? Thank's for listening.

Our House!!

Ok...above are some pics of our house. The house is all white, which drives Jon and I crazy!! But we are trying to add color through decorations. And you all know Jon loves to decorate. :o) He has such a talent for arranging silks. We are far from finished decorating. We have to add things as our budget allows. Our living room is so bare. We don't have anything to put on the walls yet. But of course Jon's big TV is the focal point anyway. lol Steve and Sam were the first to see our house, but it was completely bare. At least until they brought us all of our furniture. Thanks you guys, you are the greatest.

Brian and Tessa came to visit us a couple of weeks ago and had dinner with us. We had a great time. Jon and Brian played PS3 and hung out while Tessa was at her parents house. Then Brian helped Jon and I in the kitchen prepairing dinner. We had lots of fun, it was great! We can't wait to entertain more of our friends. We realize we live so far away so anytime friends are comming to the Mesa area we hope to get a visit. We have a guest bedroom if you would like to stay overnight. We would love to have you. :o) Hope to see you soon.

Starting Over

OK...I know it has been quite a while since I have blogged. So I will try to catch up on what has gone on in our lives since my last blog, but also keeping it short.

Jon and I arrived back in Safford, AZ Nov. 1st 2009 (made possible by a great friend, Steve). We stayed with mom and dad for a couple of days.Then we rented a small apartment next door to my parents. We loved being close to my parents again. We were still not able to find work. I was at least able to draw unemployment. So after a couple of months, Jon was able to get an interview with a company called ASARCO. He got the job and started working in mid February 2010. We were so excited that at least one of us found work. However, the job was about 125 miles from Safford, so we had to move yet again. We stayed with my brother, Jerry, in Globe until we saved up enough money to lease a house. If it weren't for Jerry's generosity, Jon would not have been able to take the job because he would not have been able to travel back and forth from Safford. Thank you Jerry!!! So we found a house in Gold Canyon and we love it. It is just outside of the Phoenix Metro area. We live in the beautiful country, but are just 10 minutes away form a huge metropolise. We love it!!!

God Bless each and everyone who helped us along our journey of reaching our current location. If it weren't for each one of you we would not have made it through 2009 and early 2010. We love you all and God Bless.