2012 preparations

CJ and AUD go to a New Years Day Party, 2011.

January 1st, 2011 CJ and I went to his Uncle Johns annual party. 

Sometimes the party is closer to Christmas, but this year it was on New Years Day. 

I love going to dinner parties, and his Uncle's dinner parties are always a good time.

John and Ixiim married in 2010 in Mexico and that was our first BIG vacation together.

This is our first picture of 2011 and like the previous years, it was the first of many to come.

Today I sat and thought about this past year. A time of reflection.

It has had it's highs and it's lows.

and when I say "highs" & "lows," I mean EXTREME "highs" and EXTREME "lows"

EXAMPLES:

highs: graduated and got my RN license, got engaged to the love of my life

lows: moved 300 miles away from my loved ones, my dad's health is declining

As much as I would rather have a year of "highs," I have learned a lot due to the "lows"

I've learned that when times are rough, you shouldn't have to go through it alone.

I've been blessed with loving family, friends, extended family, & an amazing fiance.

NOW, in preparation of the new year I have set ground rules for myself.

1. have a positive attitude every day (& be grateful for what I have, even if it's 300 miles away)

2. love like there is no tomorrow (this includes telling the people I love that I love them)

and 3. save money for my WEDDING!!!

Merry Christmas, Darling

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Merry Christmas, Darling by the carpenters is the song I dedicate to this Christmas season.

Here are the lyrics:

Greeting cards have all been sent the Christmas rush is through 

But I still have one wish to make A special one for you

Merry Christmas darling We're apart that's true 

But I can dream and in my dreams I'm Christmas-ing with you 

Holidays are joyful There's always something new 

But every day's a holiday When I'm near to you 

The lights on my tree I wish you could see I wish it every day 

Logs on the fire Fill me with desire 

To see you and to say That I wish you Merry Christmas Happy New Year, too 

I've just one wish On this Christmas Eve I wish I were with you 

Logs on the fire Fill me with desire 

To see you and to say That I wish you Merry Christmas Happy New Year, too 

I've just one wish On this Christmas Eve I wish I were with you 

exploring like Magellan

CJ and AUD explore Nevada, 2011.

On one of my days off, we decided to explore what the area had to offer.

We wanted to check out Walker Lake and CJ also really wanted to climb a mountain (preferably Mt Grant).

Us all decked out in hiking gear. We would be so cute as Columbia models.

A view of Walker Lake.

Dirt and dirt. Welcome to Nevada!

The mountain we chose to climb. Can you spot CJ?

CJ taking a picture of me while I was taking a picture of him!

Me taking a picture of CJ while he was taking a picture of me!

Look at him go!

...almost to the top!!

Alas! He finally reached the top!

Here are a few of the pictures CJ took when he got to the top of the mountain...

And it wouldn't be a proper blog if there wasn't a corny metaphor to life... 

Life is similar to climbing a mountain. 

You can either be scared or lazy & wait at the bottom of the mountain (like me on this day, unfortunately) or you can work hard to reach the top.

The best part is that when you reach the top, what you find is something that no one could have imagined and you realize that your climb was worth it.

have a holly jolly christmas!

CJ and AUD watch A Christmas Story in Woodland, CA, 2007.

CJ and I got an invitation from The Mears' (who were not yet "the Mears") to accompany them to watch A Christmas Story play in Woodland.

I've never watched the movie and I never knew the story, but I thought it was a funny play!

Not sure if the movie would be quite as funny. It always seems boring when it's on TV.

Afterwards we found a Charlie Brown tree & wanted to take a picture with it.

I'm not positive, but I think that this is our FIRST picture with a christmas tree!

oasis

CJ and AUD go to the "Oasis of Nevada," 2011.

Growing up in a place where your family, friends, and boyfriend live within 10-60 minutes away from you is a blessing. I know & appreciate that so much more now that I live 6ish hours away from anyone I hold dear to my heart.

Living in a city with a shopping mall, target, in-n-out, chik-fil-a, 24 hour fitness, AND a hospital is something that I will NEVER take for granted in my life ever again.

I now live in a city that's small enough to one day become a ghost town.

I miss my hometown.

Today CJ left to go home and it has been an extremely sad 24 hours.

The closest (larger) city to Hawthorne is a city called Fallon and it is an HOUR away.

A FULL hour when you go 10 over the limit. There's no way to get to it in less time unless you speed.

seriously. sucks.

It's called the "Oasis of Nevada."

I used to laugh about this... Now I agree with it.

I can finally say I'm "going into town" when I go to Fallon

We stopped to take pics because it was so funny

Look at this handsome guy. Is it sad that I miss him already?

Sitting on my new couch thinking about how lonely it feels to be one little person on one big couch and I am saddened knowing that I'm back to being alone in Nevada.

Hopefully when I go back to work tomorrow I'll get back into the flow of things and not think too much about how alone I am.

Moral of the blog: sacrifices aren't easy for a reason.

I'm being tested on whether I buckle or whether I persevere.

I will persevere.