"We were just trying to help..."

Normally I don't get too worked up over things. I am just laid back and unless it relates to me directly or something I am very passionate about. Then, I grow an opinion, and a strong one at that. Currently there are two things bothering. However one of those things is a silly school thing just frustrates me. The other.. That church group that went over to "save" Haitian children. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that they suffered a horrible natural disaster, and they do need help. I know many people felt obligated/the need to go over and help. A local man went originally to help rebuild. He met with a church group. This group visited orphans, were given children who didn't have parents. Some of them had parents but the parents agreed for their children to go. (I wonder if they all agreed...) They were stopped at the border with a van full of children. Arrested. Yesterday the local man returned home. The leader of this group has been accused of trying to make a profit from all of this. However the mayor and city felt it appropriate to hold a welcome home party for him, not to mention he was on Oprah today.

Like I said, don't get me wrong about helping, but really taking children? Across the border to another country to "help" them. What really gets me is that everyone sees him as a hero for this. I mean let's look at this another way. When hurricane Katrina happened many went to New Orleans to help wherever needed. So let's say this church group came, picked up some orphans, talked some parents into giving up their children and took them to an "makeshift" orphanage. I might add said orphanage was an old hotel that hasn't been used for years. Do you think people would be rejoicing and holding them in a high regard for helping?

Maybe I am looking at this wrong but I feel that it was wrong for them to take the children in the first place, let alone across country borders... I am so tired of hearing about it, and how great this man is for going to help!!!

Hey Hey You You

Show us who you are! We wanna know who is out there!

We triple dog dare you....

Most of you got our christmas cards, or saw it on facebook or twitter. Yes I posted it and sent it... what can I say? I was a dork, and pretty excited about my cleverness!! So here's the pic...



This year brought many ups and downs for us and our family. On New Year's Eve I presented Kev with tickets so see his first NBA game! Which he had a blast going to Oklahoma with some friends to watch the game. In February we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary, and 6th year together. We just did the dinner and movie thing and enjoyed each others company. March brought a massive snowstorm, I even got to miss a day of school!! Also our friends welcomed their baby Maddox into the world, we just adore him, and his parents are great friends too, the best actually. So naturally we visit their house often! Then came April, not too much excitement there. I started my second rotation of clinicals, and started becoming antsy for the semester to be over, which brings us to May. This brings the 6 years... SIX YEARS!! since I'd had my valve replaced! Kev spent a few hours in Jail and made a life changing decision (not really in jail... he's no criminal). In June Kev quit working for Hill-Rom and went to school to become an EMT-B. (okay I admit it, I had my doubts, but really he kinda has a weak stomach... guess not while on the job) I worked and he went to school (talk about role reversal) Things went south for a little bit, a miscarriage and a death in the family consumed most of August. The upside of August was my birthday and a new car from the inlaws! Then I started back to school. Kevin went to work as a photographer while looking for an EMT job. In October I started clinicals, and my mom came out to visit for a week. It was quite a week but we all survived and it turned out more fun than any of us thought. In December Kevin found a job as an EMT! Granted it's out of town and he works a lot but he likes it a lot. I'm glad he found a job he likes. I finally made it past the half way mark of school, only two semesters left! TWO! This time next year I'll be a nurse!! In the meantime while I am on break my dad came to visit for a couple of weeks, so I'm taking off and letting Kevin hold down the fort in the way of working :) I've done my fair share before my dad got here so it's a trade off. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and since Kevin is working tomorrow so we exchanged gifts this evening. We all got things we asked for, and a few things we did not ask for but were happy to get!

We hope everyone has a great Christmas!

Yes, well you know

Life has been super busy lately!! Between job hunting on Kev's end and finishing my semester, not to mention trying to some face time with each, friends, and family we are a pair of busy people!!

Last week Kev went to Lubbock to check out a few possible jobs. Ended up talking to a guy at a transport service who let him do a ride along the next day and well the rest is history. That afternoon he offered Kev a job there with his choice of schedule since he will be traveling to and from work 1-2 hours. It looks like he'll just get his four days out of the way and then head home for 3 days. We can handle that for a year. Kev is very excited and starts his job tomorrow. He will be the ambulance driver as an EMT-B!

Tuesday this week marked the end of my semester. I ended up 4 B's and 1 A this semester. I really thought differently about one of the B's but what can ya do? Atleast I passed this semester, and am headed on to Level 3! Two semesters left. This semester was the most unorganized/hardest so far thanks to all of the things that happened before the semester began and shortly thereafter.

A couple of weekends ago we went downtown with our friend Chris to get some pictures taken and get a picture for our christmas cards! Which you'll have to see if you sent us your address, otherwise you might have to wait because you know we'll probably post it somewhere :) Here's one of our favorites:



The others are posted on facebook (atleast mine at the moment, but he's tagged so if your only friends with one of us...)

My stepdad is coming in on the 23rd to spend two weeks here with us, I'm very excited!

Recipes

I know it's been awhile... but have you heard how BUSY it is around here? If you haven't heard then well BUSY doesn't even begin to cover it! I've added to my list though. To make it worse though this time of year I get in this mood to want to try new recipes. Last year I made sweet potato rolls, cookies, homemade chicken and dumplings among other things. The first on my list this year... spaghetti squash! I'm also on the hunt for a good pumpkin cheesecake recipe. So the reason for this post? To ask you to give me your favorite recipes so I can try them and hopefully add them to my list. Thanks in advance!

Quick Update

Ok so I know I haven't been writing much but here goes nothing. So a week ago I was getting on facebook on my phone and checking through my comments and found something weird. This was not my facebook it was somebody else's. Now my phone automatically signs me in and its not an app or anything. I found it odd and actually thought maybe somebody else had my phone and logged in without me knowing when I was looking up who it was (David Smith) and that I really didn't know them or where they lived. I had a momentary thought should I miss with said profile or should I just log off and get on my own. Having the kid inside me I thought I should play a few pranks. Nothing bad mind you but some harmless pranks and see if anyone noticed. I did two updates both quotes from either a tv ad or a song. Wouldn't you believe no one noticed funny right? That guy got on a few times in between these times and didn't notice. But alas today I will sign out of said profile so that I can access my own during my trip to Cali. On a different note. Things are going well my next test is scheduled for next thursday I'm ready for it. I have a part time job at a photo studio. I'm learning the art of taking pictures. Its alot harder than just pushing a button but its a good unwinding type of job from the jobs that I usually have and if I get to stick with it, it would complement the EMT job nicely. Other than that nothing really goin on. I haven't even left the house and I'm already missing the wife. Till the next post. Oh and thanks Chris for the job much appreciated.

Rainbows and butterflies... uh NOT!!

Okay so yes I know, it's been forever, yet again. You see though we had a few bad days, weeks, month even. We however decided we did NOT want to focus solely on the bad because even though life isn't always all about rainbows and butterflies, let's face it no one wants to hear bad thing after bad thing. So instead of harping on that let's talk about a few other things and see where it takes us. Although I'm not promising it's all good because well I try not to lie.

A few weeks ago was my birthday, yes 27... I know okay :) The night before we had dinner at Arick and Amber's house they cooked for us! and then on the night of Some friends of ours had us over and cooked us a fantastic spaghetti (my request) dinner followed by strawberry shortcake. <3 A couple nights after my birthday we went to dinner with Kev's parents, for my birthday and to catch up some. After dinner Kev's parents presented me with keys to this:

That is an '02 oldsmobile intrigue. SERIOUSLY!! I have never been given anything like that well ever! I was completely speechless. I am loving it.

The very next day though we found out that Kev's Uncle Mike passed away unexpectedly which was very hard on the whole family and he will be going to California with his family later this month for the memorial service.

School started for the fall for me, I am currently taking L&D, Med Surg Level II, and Health Assessment. So far it is overwhelming but going alright. I am still trying to get all of my stuff straight and figure stuff out for the semester.

For now that's all!!