Masochism at its Best

After the dismal failure that Donna and SCC have  proven to be, I am sort of stuck.  I believed I was making the right choice by completing my DMS degree.  At this point I resent the whole thing quite a lot, but in the long run I think I will understand the purpose of the way it turned out.  Patience has never been a virtue of mine.  However, that does not undo my current dilemma.  I have a degree that is not really acceptable to most medical offices/hospitals.  It is true that most people in my program have employment through their clinical sites, but since Joe is here, and not in Moscow, this is where I will be.  It may work for some people, but I don't see the point in getting married to live apart.

That said, I can't just do nothing, I have to have a job.  I have done enough retail to know that if I did that for a career I would end up taking down a customer every once in a while.  Sooooo, back to school it is.  I was originally looking at Rad Tech, where I could cross train into the ultrasound department.  However the chance of me ending up in exactly the same position is higher if I take that route.

  I am 90% done with the requirements for nursing. I have enrolled in the final two classes I need to apply to the RN program at NIC.  Microbiology/ Bacteriology, and CNA.  I have ALL of the other extra coursework completed for the nursing degree.

All I have to take once I am in the program is 4 nursing classes - one each semester, with one optional summer class.  I can do that.  2 more years of school but very high employability and good income potential.  *sigh*  Tell me that it will be worth it.  All I need is a way to pay off the student debt I am racking up!  I will have three AAS degrees, I hope THAT will help me get a job!!!

Camping

It has taken me a while to get these pictures up, but I have to post them.  At the end of September Joe and I went camping with my parents for a few days.  Where else would we go but Priest Lake?  :)

We were only there for a few days, but we had a fun time.  Joe made me stay in the camp site one day while he went for a walk.  He was gone for about an hour, and then he came to get me and showed me this.  It says "I <3 CB."  That is nerd speak for I love Care Bear.  So now I have my tree and the family is complete.  :)  Thank you Joe.  I am lucky to have you.

This is the squirrel that watched him work.

Our trip to the viewing deck for lower Granite Falls.  Joe didn't want to come out on the deck very far.  Me without a shower or makeup for 2 days.

We have a little family tradition of having scones on the last day of camping.  Mmmmm, hot scones with melty butter and lots of honey.

For Christmas Joe and I are going to get ourselves some camping gear and call it good.  I love camping and can't wait to go again.  Once it gets warmer.

We Set a Date!!

After three years we have finally done it! We have set a date. We will be sealed on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 in the Spokane, Washington Temple. The time will be 11:00 AM. There will be pictures afterward. There will be a reception on Friday, August 13th in the early evening. I am not sure where yet - if we can find an outside venue then we will hold it there, and if not we will have it in the gym at my church building. (Hayden Lake Stake center) We will be sending out announcements as the time gets closer, but we wanted to let people know for planning purposes. If you can make it great, and if not - that is fine too. Everyone is busy and we understand that not everyone will be able to make it.

To avoid the "I told you so's" from Kristin and Melisa, we will just preempt all of that with a "Thank you" and a "Yes, you were right". :)

I love you Joseph

Ok, ok. Yes, we finally gave in and made it official. Melisa and my mom can finally gloat and we (I) will be busy for the next forever trying to get the details of the wedding/reception just perfect. Guys, don't read this post. Its very long and mushy. :)

First I have to say that I love Priest Lake. It is my favorite place on Earth and I have many many very happy memories there with my family. We used to go camping up there several times each summer. We always had the same camping spot (number 11) and when we were small we were often the only ones in the campground. My dad worked for the forest service so he knew all the nooks and crannies around the woods. He'd usually know where there were a few downed/dried up trees to get for firewood. We would take my grandpa's old aluminum fishing boat and take a few trips up to Upper Priest. There is a resort named Elkins that we could walk to along the shore line from Reeder Bay, and there is an art gallery called Entree that we would always visit too. I'm really not all that into artsy stuff, but most of the things there are carved wood and are really neat. All of my siblings have a tree up there with their names/spouse's name carved into it. We always make a trip to Granite Creek and the Falls and the Roosevlt Grove of Ancient Cedars. Besides being beautiful, its just a happy place for me.

So anyhow, Joe has heard for 2 1/2 years how much I love it up there. I told him about two weeks ago that I really wanted to go on a date and he suggested a picnic. I was naming places we could go and jokingly said we could go to Priest Lake. To my surprise, he was OK with that. We packed some cherry pie and chips and drinks and then picked up sandwiches on the way. We got there and walked around the campground and went down to the beach and walked up and down the shoreline a little bit. We found a picnic table and sat there and had our lunch, and then we went down to Elkins and I showed Joe the little store where we buy marshmallows and the arcade that used to have penny machines. It was really nice to be there again. :)

So after that we went back along the beach to the campground and took some more pictures and went back up into the woods to look for some of the trees I mentioned - the ones that my siblings carved. we were walking around in the trees when Joe said, and I quote, "Come here woman, I have something to say to you!" Lol, then he asked if I could help an old man up if he got down on one knee. He told me that he loves me and wants to spend his life with me and asked me to marry him, and I said that would make me very happy. He took out the ring and put it on my finger and then I helped the old man up. :)

After that we drove over to Granite Creek and hopped around the logs and boulders for a little while and then we headed home. He knew that everyone expected him to do it in Europe, but he said it seemed contrived and impersonal there. Priest Lake was the most perfect place he could have chosen. It is a place that I will always love and now I have one more reason to love it, and one more priceless memory.

Oh, and by the way, WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!!

I LOVE YOU JOE!!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy Birthday Joe!!!! Don't worry, 29 isn't all that old. In mormon time it is, like, great-great grandpa, but since you are so into family history that should make it a little better. :) I love you hon. I think you are amazing and I am proud of the things that you have done and are doing. You have accomplished more than many people will in their whole lives, and you are just getting started. You are a wonderful person, and I don't know what I would do without you.

Thank you for being the man that you are.