Things that have had me laughing lately

Cali not wanting to walk through the sprinklers, but I make her anyway....
This kitty just chilling in the grass on one of our walks with Cali.... Cali chased it away though.

Cali ABSOLUTELY HATING bath time....

But she always feels good after :-]

And then sleeping with her bum haning off her bed....

Blaine :-] As always.... :-]

Blaine taking pictures of me while I'm laughing makes me laugh harder....

My Dad :-] He's hilarious without even trying to be :-]

He's finally retiring this summer.... I think he looks AMAZING!! Would you ever guess he's almost 66?

Laughter truly is the best medicine :-] Unless it makes your stomach hurt worse than it's already hurting :-]

Oh summer..

I have to admit, this summer is NOT off to a good start. I will give it some time to redeem itself. But we have had a few good highlights so far! We went to San Diego for our anniversary! We decided to take the scenic route and take the 74 Palms to Pines Hwy. For those who haven't driven it before, it is crazy! It is so windy the entire way up. Worse than the canyon going up to northern Arizona. We stopped part of the way up... this was the view.

Not to mention it was a touch windy.... wouldn't you agree?

Blaine drove... thank goodness.

The clouds were absolutely gorgeous on the way up.

Wouldn't you agree?

We stayed with my family for a night and got to see my cousins! It's sad when your yonger cousins are bigger than you... and can carry you around their drive way. Hmph..

And... we went to the San Diego Zoo! It's by far the coolest zoo I have ever been to. Maybe I'm biased because I've been going there since I was 3. Check out the shots we got...

Aww...

I love this picture. It turned out amazing.

Monkey see...

Mokey do...



Our new camera...

...is bomb!!

This little guy was crawling around on a tree and thought he was too cool not to get a pic of.

And this guy kept staring at us. Hungry maybe?

The zoo was amazing. Our hotel was pretty sweet... except for the vallet parking they forgot to tell us about. Yeah...

We also went to the San Diego temple! It was gorgeous inside. Too bad it was covered in scaffolding. It was still amazing.

We also went to the Scripps Aquarium at UCSD. It was way fun! Before moving to Arizona, my plan was to go UCSD and study Marine Biology... I guess you could say things changed a little.

We also went to the beach! How could you not when you're in San Diego?

Check out the new friends I made. Aren't they cute? They were waiting to come onto the beach, but there were too many people on the beach checking them out. Sorry guys.

The next weekend was John's 60th birthday party... we were the designated photographers. (I promise it's just a bad angle of my face, my chin looks huge).

The amazing woman who put together the fab party... my Mom :-]

I had fun taking pics of old folks and these...

That's been our summer so far. I'll spare you the not so good details. I do have one exciting thing to look forward to though... MY BROTHER IS COMING HOME IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS!! I CAN'T WAIT!! :-]

One year

A year and two days ago, this happened...

I can't believe how fast this year flew by... it doesn't seem real. It has definitely been the best and hardest year of my life. I'm sure Blaine would agree. We have learned some things the hard way and some things have come so easy to us. At least we have learned together. I couldn't have gone through any of our trials without him. We have been so blessed. I am so grateful to be married to my best friend forever! Sorry girls, I truly have the best husband ever. He treats me like a princess and is so thoughtful. He's always making me laugh and smile. He is more than willing to help anytime he can and never complains. But most important, he loves me! I couldn't be luckier! I love him more than words can say!!

Here's to infinity more anniversaries!!

Enduring.

This past week has been a very weird and extremely emotional one. A week ago I took my final. I studied nonstop the week prior with people in my class and by myself. You would probably think I'm crazy if I told you how much time I put into all of that studying. As I went to take my final, I felt prepared and ready. However, I wasn't ready for the shock that would come that afternoon. Even though I gave it my all and did my best, my best was not good enough. Like the 13 others in my class who did not pass with me, I now am trying to figure out what plan b is going to be. I'm hurt, I'm sad, I feel like someone very close to me has died.... it has been so hard. To watch all your friends in your class move to the next step, and you not move forward is one of the worst feelings. Even the director of nursing at CGC offered me little hope. I would have to say, this is the biggest obstacle I have ever faced. I wish it would just disappear.... nope, it's still there. After praying, recieving blessings, I thought, "You've got to be kidding me. God, why??? Did you not know how BAD I wanted this? Maybe I'm just really stupid and didn't read the entire text book word for word like I should have." I was angry, sad, and confused. "How could this happen to me??" It's hard to hear others tell me, "Well maybe this happened for a reason." I'm sure it has happened for a reason, maybe to make me a better nurse, maybe to make me realize nursing isn't for me, maybe to help someone.... I have no idea. But I do know, I did my best and that was all I could have done. I know God leads us where we need to be. I don't want to be here, but I know I'm supposed to be here. My brother sent me an amazing email the other day and said, "Just because you didn't pass doesn't mean that God wasn't answering your prayers. Maybe He was doing it in a way you didn't want, but He never ignores us.... God doesn't want you to fail, but things happen so He can help us see how great the good times are when we struggle through the hard times." I'm picking myself up again and trying to find the path I need to be on. My faith has been tested, but I'm relying on God to lead me where He wants me to be.

I am..

I am thrilled that block 2 is almost over... last clinical on Thursday!

I am really really wanting to finish paining and decorating my house... only a few more weeks.

I am frustrated that I haven't had much support during this difficult time in my life... you really have no idea.

I am watching my dog sunbathe. What?

I am laughing because I have everyone fooled by thinking I'm so "sweet and quiet." Really?

I am wishing I could be at Amoeba right now. Bliss.

I am excited for when my brother (other best friend) comes home in August... I CAN'T WAIT!

I am drinking a cherry diet coke. (Yeah, the pic isn't cherry, but it looks tight.)
I am hungry, but don't care to eat right now.

I am grateful for my heritage. My Mexican family and the gringos. Yep, my ancestors chased the Mormons out of the midwest. Does it bother me? No, because I am here.

I am soooo excited to go to Iron Maiden and Megadeth this summer.

I am listening to X. Probably my favorite punk band other than The Misfits.

I am happy to be married to my best friend forever... I love him more than words can say.
I am not sorry for expressing my feelings.

I am at peace.

This, this, and this.

4 more weeks of.......

Followed by 3 months of.......

Break.

I don't think spring break is good for me. I probably should be studying for my test next week and doing some assignments.... but I PROCRASTINATE LIKE MAD CRAZY!! I sit and daydream about our future family, fixing up our house, and doing all of the things I wish I could.... but all of that is on hold.... Grrrr.... Frustrated.

Nursing school is so much harder than I ever imagined. I wish I could fast forward to a year from now and JUST. BE. DONE.... or so I hope to be done. Sometimes I still wonder if it's for me.... It's so hard when both you and your spouse are in school and working. Studying and not spending much time together is THE PITS. I don't recommend it to anyone.

However, I am very grateful for a supportive husband and his love for me! Especially when I'm complaining about school.... which I think every nursing student would agree, YOU DO A LOT OF IT :-] I'll be so happy when Blaine is in school full time and really getting towards his goals. I feel guilty for setting him back in school, but it was something we knew would happen. I'll be even happier when he's done! That's still a ways away.

Patience is not a friend of mine, especially when things aren't going too well (in certain aspects of life). But it's something I have to live with. I know someday all of things will come and happen. For now, I'm trying to be optimistic.