Fall

Happy Fall! Well, I haven't posted since season before last. Yikers. Lots of things have happened. Let mebriefly summarize.

1. We went to California in May to visit Chris' grandmother and celebrate the life of his grandparents that are now with our Lord.
2. Chris went to Arkansas for a music festival.
3. Chris went to Vermont for a music festival.
4. I went on many three road trips to the mountains sans Chris but had a great time overall.
5. We went to Disney World - SOOO much more fun as an adult and with my best friend in the whole world.
6. Christ started his second year of grad school.
7. We bought an IMac (we found photobooth!).
8. I broke up with facebook, again. I believe I will be filing for complete divorce soon.

I must say that all is well. Earlier in the year I carried a lot of anxiety and frustration. I was beginning to feel like a hamster running in a wheel. My longing to want to plan our lives out years in advance finally faced a reality. My faithlessness in God and in Chris was growing like a weed. I will not say that I am completely cured of being human, but through daily prayers and constant reminders of God's love for me, I am able to see that life is not about the destination but the journey. I'm chilling out and enjoying each day for what it's worth. There is something about everyday, Monday thru Sunday, that I can specifically look forward to. I am begining to value these simple moments rather than thinking about what happens in a month, six months, a year, or 3 years from now. I am not in a competition and so when Chris gets a job, when we move, when we have child(ren), when we buy a house, when we settle down.... will happen when it happens.

Spring!

Happy ALMOST Easter! I love this time of year. Chris and I cracked out the gril and carried it into the backyard. We had Emeril's chicken apple sausage (a great buy from Sam's Club) with potato salad and and a nice cold Natty Light (Natural Light... we're saving money by purchasing cheaper beer). It was a nice time to get out doors. We met one of our next door neighbors and had the opportunity to observe some rather odd neighbors. We love people watching!

Cloe is settled into her new home. She's the best cat ever and we're so thankful our landlord agreed to her living her! She is a little quirky at times, but it keeps us entertained!

Chris purchased a new cello and case from a music shop in Boston. The cello was made by a gentleman in Maine and then sent to Boston to be varnished. We also purchased a new bow from a maker in Washington, D.C. Chris is happy as can be. It is a really fine instrument and we're praying it comes in handy for auditions in the upcoming years. His confidence in playing has drastically improved!

I'm still working in full-time pediatrics and PRN subacute care. I'm happy. I've been having an itch to return to school for a doctorate. I know that I am qualified and good at the work I do, but sometimes I feel like if I only knew more, then I could serve my clients better. I'm reading books and trying to stay on top of the game. I plan on taking some more continuing ed courses. I'm limited by money and time. Primary focus right now is to get Chris through school and in a career he enjoys!

We welcomed a new family member on March 9th! Mya Sofia Johnson is my new niece. Chris and I plan on visiting her and my sister-in-law/brother within the next month or so. Chris and I are coming out of the woods from upper respiratory infections/viral infections, so we decided to wait until we could promise we wouldn't spread germs! This is the first baby girl we've had in my immediate family. I'm so excited that the dynamics of holidays and get togethers are about to change.

That's about it for now!

Cloe

It's been a little while since our last post. I really don't think anyone reads this, but at least it is fun for Chris and I to look back and see the progress of our lives. Comment if you're out there :-)

We are adding a member to our family. Her name is Cloe. I was able to sweet talk our landlord into owning a small pet since Chris is going to be gone for most of the summer (anticipating music festivals). I have always wanted to adopt a pet since the ASPCA commercials started. You know, the ones that make you cry? Yeh. So I googled animal shelters in the area. We found the Young-Williams Animal Center. It is an amazing facility with the most caring staff. We filled out an extensive application and were approved to adopt Cloe, a 4 year old black and white cat. She was a stray when she was rescued. She is already declawed and fixed. She will stay at the center for the next few days while they update her shots and screen her for any complications. We did not have to pay a single cent for our dear Cloe either! An individual paid for her adoption (along with many other adult cats) in hopes to protect her from being put to sleep. We decided to pay it forward and donate in memory of Chris' cat Spartacus Gratton. Hehe. We've been prepping our home and have everything ready to go. At first, we were set on a kitten. After meeting Cloe and another adult cat named Bella, Chris made up his mind that kittens would go like hot cakes and it was more important to save one of these sweet adult cats. With a few more minutes of holding and getting to know Cloe, I couldn't have agreed more! We'll keep you posted on how the transition goes, and I'm sure pictures will soon follow.

We had a wonderful Christmas with family. We stayed with Chris' parents for a couple days and my parents for a couple days. We had a great opportunity to visit with my brother and his wife (soon to be parents of a baby girl). I was able to see one of my dearest friends from Washington state and eat at Groucho's at Five Points (oh the college memories). And I had an excellent time doing a little shopping therapy with my favorite mother-in-law. It was sad to leave, but Chris and I are the best of road trip buddies and enjoyed the mountain and snow filled ride home!

Otherwise, Chris starts school back on Wednesday. He's been a world of help here at home during his break. I started a PRN job on Fridays and absolutely love the patients! It is an inpatient rehab setting, mostly geriatrics. My Mon-Thurs full-time job is fabulous. I love my co-workers and love working with kids - which is no surprise.

We are well. We are embracing 2010 and all of it's hidden surprises.

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Hope all is well. Everything is going good here. We stayed in Knoxville since Chris had a ton of studying and practicing to do for upcoming exams and board. It actually worked out to both of our benefit. My immune system has been inundated by the kiddy krud; yeh, I've been told by colleagues that the first year of working in pediatrics = feeling the funk. It was nice to sleep in for the past 3 mornings. We were able to do some of our normal weekend traditions like making pancakes, Target runs, and cruising the area with no where to be.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with 2 cellists from Texas and 2 violinist from Brazil. We cooked up our very first 17 lb turkey, macaroni & cheese, pineapple cassserole, greenbean casserole, creamed sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and croissants. After dinner we wasted 2.5 hours of life by seeing the movie 2012 (I was out-voted by 4 guys... I guess I'll see Blindside on DVD). The graphics were amazing but the scenario was pretty far fetched!

Today, Chris and I picked out a beauty of a Christmas tree at Home Depot. I'll try and remember to post some pics later. The month of December will be rather busy. All in all Chris and I are happy to be together. It's great living with your best friend on a full-time basis :-)

On My Way!

Happy Friday to you all! It's the big day, my final day working at my job here in Columbia. I am driving up to Atlanta for a continuing ed compliments of my new job. I'll be getting my Physical Agents & Modality Certification. I was initially bummed because I felt like the process of my moving to Knoxville has been so drawn out, but I'm so thankful I'm not having to spend $600+ for this course.

All is well! Chris is really enjoying being in school again. He is doing SO well. I am incredibly proud of him if you haven't noticed. I have a full-time job secured (I'll start Monday) and a PRN job partially-secured, both in which I am thrilled over.

The holidays are on the verge. We're going to stay in Knoxville for Thanksgiving due to Chris' hectic study & practice schedule. I-40 is closed due to a rockslide and it looks like it will take several months to clean up. Thankfully this happened towards the end of our separation and I only had to do the detour once. We'll be heading home for Christmas and are really hoping to go snowboarding this winter. Chris has been itching to get on the slopes for the first time since we've been married!

That's it in a nutshell. We'll post sooner than later what with me actually living in our home!

One Month From Now... Part Dos

Well. It's been a while. I had the thought to check one of my best friend's blogs and she updated, so I thought - sheesh, why not do the same! I read my last post and was thinking -yikes- depressing!

One month from now... I will be 6 days away from being with Chris in Knoxville. I will have a job (I've had a few great offers and have 2 more interviews this week that I am absolutely thrilled about to say the least). I have torn up I-26 and I-40 to see Chris so many times I've lost count. Let me tell you the top 5 things I've learned about traveling long distances alone:

Numero Uno - Book on CD is a MUST. Cracker Barrell provides a cheap alternative. You can rent books on CD for $3.50 a week. You buy the whole book up front but then they return the amount minus the $3.50 weekly.

Numero Dos - I support Pilot gas stations for two reasons... 1.) cheap gas 2.) pepsi freeze icees

Numero Tres - I do not support Amoco gas stations for many reasons... dirty bathrooms, sketchy check-out clerks, high gas prices, snacks for purchase are all nearly expired, etc.

Numero Tres - When appropriate, travel in yoga pants/capris and t-shirt. I think myself everytime because I feel so relaxed and comfy. No silly jeans button poking into my tummy (maybe I should get the clue?) or tight clingy button up shirt causing sweaty pits.

Numero Quatro - Drive 5 mph over the speed limit. You won't get pulled and you can enjoy the scenery a little bit more then my accostomed 10 mph over the speed limit... bad, I know.

Numero Cinco - Do subscribe to satelite radio. There are some great old scary radio shows that have the corny organ that are really entertaining! Do not blindly scroll thru the channels because there are some naughty channels that I plan on writing a letter to Sirius about.

All is well. I have the sweetest and kindest friends I'm staying with right now. Chris is doing great in school. He is Sir Principal Cellist in a group of very kind musicians. We've had some great adventures... toured a really cool cave with a body of water the size of a football field, floated down a cold lazy river in the mountains, experienced Boomsday next to the Henley Street bridge on Labor Day.

I'll keep you posted. Hopefully more frequently. And maybe with pictures... whenever I find my camera. Grrrrrrr. That is the only thing we managed to misplace in the move. Otherwise, not a single damaged/lost item. Go figure, we haven't lost our minds yet either! Woo! Woo!

One Month From Now...

I have always had this habit of thinking "One month from now I will be __________." And today I entertained my little habit by filling in the blank.

One month from now.... Our new home will be in Knoxville, Chris will be starting graduate school, and I will still be in Columbia. *Big Sigh*

It never crossed my mind that I would feel so sad. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't get so bent out of shape. People go through far worse times of separation. War causing one of the greatest times of separations for couples and families. So, I've managed to start routines that keep me busy. I do Zumba classes Monday and Wednesday and home health steadily on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I plan on picking up more patients once Chris is gone. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy all of these things... I find myself just plain worn out!

I'm just going to have to retrain my habit to say "Four months from now I will be.... in Knoxville, living in a beautiful house with all of our things that make home feel like home, working a cool new job *crossing fingers*, and most importantly in the arms of my best friend in the whole wide world."

Sorry for the Debbie Downer moment. With all of that aside, here is what has been happening in a 5 point bullet format:

• We spent 4th of July weekend in Knoxville & NC - had fun with family & friends
• We spent this past weekend doing wedding festivities for Chris' brother & new sis in law
• Chris is teaching cello lessons & playing for the veterans at the VA nursing home
• We're packing boxes... and more boxes!
• We're doing great, loving life, and feeling incredibly blessed and thankful.