Major Changes In My Life :-)

Hello All!

It has definitely been awhile since my last post... and I apologize for that. By, been awhile, I mean almost a year (wow I suck at this stuff). A lot has been going on in my life, mostly terrifying and exciting at the same time! So let's just start a month ago, or so.

Well, Ryan and I have moved again, this time to El Paso, TX... and let me tell you, it is SOOO much different than where we were! It's not different in a bad way at all, just in a... er... different way. The different cultures in the area amaze me almost daily, we have so many ethnicities. It is so awesome to see so many different people in the area working and playing together. :-) It is also different because we live in a city now! **YAY** :-D You have no idea how nice it is to be back among the masses. Before it took 30 minutes, by highway, to get to the nearest mall, and 20 minutes, by county road, to the nearest grocery store (if you don't count the commissary). Now it's only a rocks-throw away to get to whatever I want to do! Oh... AND we have mountains... how cool is that!? They always tell you that the military is what you make of it and whether you are excited or dreading the next place you live... it is all about your attitude... and you will be right. Well, I am determined to have a positive attitude, life is too precious not to!

Any who, there have been so many changes in my life! As most of you know, I graduated May 2011 with my bachelors in Music Education and Psychology. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful that I got to major in what I love and have even gotten to teach it, but it seems my life is actually taking on a new direction for now. Don't worry too much yet, I have not given up my music in any stretch of the imagination... I equate it to breathing, and you certainly can not live without breathing, right?! However, I have really been praying and thinking on it a lot lately and it seems God has been saying teaching in a school system is not what I am supposed to be doing with my gift... at least for now. So I am trying my darndest to follow what has been put in front of me. Is it scary? Oh my goodness, yes! But I am so ready to follow even if I am scared of what is being put in front of me.

So what am I doing? Well, here's the fun part. A few months ago I had been really trying to figure out why on earth I was able to finish my Psychology degree... by all measures, there should've been no way to pass it. I was not the picture of a student trying to really pursue it and it showed. My GPA in the the area was 0.5 below what I needed and I had 1 year to raise it AND to meet all the requirements of the degree. Well, by the grace of God I was able to by getting all A's and all 7 credits I needed were being offered. It really showed me that no matter what, if I put my mind to it, I can do anything... which up to that point I didn't (and still don't) believe sometimes. I had some roadblocks with some of my professors while going through college that really tore my confidence down, especially in the last year and a half of my degrees. They really had me believing I could not do it and I would not be good at it even if I tried. That being said, I had many more professors that did believe in me and helped me achieve my goals, but it is difficult when not everyone is rooting for you to succeed.

This last year I learned that being a teacher, especially a music teacher, was a very difficult way to go while also being a military wife. I got very lucky and got to teach in Alabama for a Boys & Girls club that I, not only, loved teaching at, but was teaching me as well. The kids showed me the love for music and how wonderful it feels to show off all the hard work. I just wish I would have had more time with them. I am so grateful that I got the chance to build up their program so that someone else might take over and help them succeed even more.

That being said, it was brought to my attention this year that I would be a good nurse. My first reaction was, "Yeah right? Me? I can't do science... at all!" Then I got to thinking about it... and researching it... and praying about it. I looked up all the places we were told we would move (El Paso was not even on the list) and none of them even had a nursing school within 3 hours, so I dismissed it. I also thought about the fact that I didn't want to go back to school for 6 more years and learned there is such a thing as an accelerated BSN, so I wouldn't have to. Then, the icing on the cake... we learned we were coming to El Paso, I looked up if there were any nursing schools close by, AND THERE WERE 3 IN THE CITY ALONE!! So I thought, "wow! Maybe I should really consider this." I strongly believe that if there are so many things leading you in a direction, you at least owe it to yourself to consider it. I'm still not sure if I can do the science, but, as I learned from my Psych degree, I can do anything I put my mind to, so I'm going to give it a try. I figure, I have to keep my loans in deferment anyway, so I mine-as-well try something new, different, and exciting to pass the time!

So this year, I will start pursing my future nursing degree. In a couple weeks I start volunteering at University Medical Center, in a month I will start school, and in a couple months I will start my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification. I am so excited for these changes in my life and it just feels like the right step to take. Not only will I continue to be able to help people, I will be able to transfer this job anywhere the military might take us.

So now you may be asking, where is the music in that? Well, it is not, but I am actively trying to find a church to join and sing in their praise and worship band. I actually went to one yesterday that is trying to build up their youth worship band and asked me if I would be interested in helping. :-) I have very fond memories of my days in my youth worship band at Community Covenant Church in KC... and it seems right. So, why not? Everything seems to be falling into place.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this novel about the changes that have been happening and I promise to update you all more often. I know there are a few of you who have heard this all before, but those of you that care and that I may not talk to often, this is for you. So until next time, I hope you find the joy in life as I am trying to do.

Love,

Nicole

Craziness With A Side Of Spastic

Hello all!

It has been a couple weeks, but it's definitely been craaaaaazy busy! We just changed our pool schedule since school is officially in session *as of yesterday* down here and that means I am working more (darn... who can really complain about more money!?). Maybe it's just me... but it seems like they go to school SUPER early! Speaking of school... I was in my car today driving to Enterprise and "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles came on and made me miss teaching. I have a feeling this year is going to be a bit difficult for me. I can't completely explain it, but my heart was aching. Every inch of me misses it... I miss the feeling of playing a REAL piano (a keyboard with weighted keys can only go so far), I miss the kids and their wacky personalities, I miss the ups and downs of rehearsal and hearing what beauty choral music can produce. I am not sure if there is even an adult choral program I can try and be apart of down here, but my passion is calling me! I also got signed up for my "college classes" to keep my loans in deferment *stupid loans*... I have decided on Calculus for Business majors (watered down and a nice ease back into math--if it happens to help me with real calculus, so be it ;-)) and intro to programing *when can computers not be handy?!*... so we will see how this goes. :-)

The days have been rather mundane lately, which is to be expected when you are in a routine... finding a job down here has been less than kind to me. I am lucky I have one right now, but I feel for the people that have and are still searching. There is a job fair on the 17th that I'm going to try my darndest to get to at least... I'm thinking printing 30-50 of my resume at our friendly neighborhood office should do the trick. ;-) Anywho, if you are the praying type... or if you at least meditate to a higher being... try and put a good word in for me... student loans are looming and I think we all know I will go crazy *no really, really crazy* if I have to sit around the house all day and play suzie-homemaker!

On to other news... I don't know how many of you know or don't know, but I'm going to put it out there non-the-less. I have been on Weight Watchers since spring break to try and learn how to eat right. I get all the time "Why are you on Weight Watchers?! You don't need to be" or nasty looks from overweight members because I "don't need it", but honestly, that is not what I need right now. I am having a hard time and I know I'm not overweight now, but I really don't want to get that way later in life either... so what I need from my friends and family is support. I had been doing really well until June, with all the change that hit me, I have been lapsing... and last week I about quit because I had been sticking to program and gained. I know *logically speaking* that it was probably because I started working out again... but emotionally... it was quite the blow. I know we all have times when we feel bad about ourselves and our weight *if you say you never have... I will call you a liar to your face--for real*, but it made an already fragile self-image break into a million pieces. I'm currently attempting to glue the pieces back together... and I think I can do it... I did lose this week. It's the small milestones, right? They do say Rome wasn't built in a day...

I guess another reason I started actually trying to eat right is for three reasons: One, looking kick-ass on Ryan and my wedding day... two, so when Ryan and I decide to have kids, I will be healthier and in the best shape to bear a child... and three, so that starting to run again will actually pay off, lolz. I really want to start training for a half-marathon *well... again*. For some reason a couple weeks ago I woke up and WANTED to run... it's been a long time since i've felt that way... so i'm going to run with it *literally*. Now just to figure out what half i'm training for. Hah!

Last, but surely not least, update on wedding stuff! Everything is still in the comatose stage of not much going on, but there are a couple things going on when I get to KC in two weeks. *can't believe it's so close o_O* First, I am setting up for a tasting for the Marriott with the parents and future in-laws... they tried telling me that four weeks before the wedding would be ideal because "it would be fresh in our minds", but who really wants the wedding food to be something you JUST had?! I just thought that was funny and wanted to share... I honestly see no issue with choosing it 5... by that time... 4 months ahead of time... then it can be a surprise! :-P The second thing I have going on is my Bridal Shower being put on by the lovely Jessica Lohmeyer, Victoria Roche, and Corrina Green... I can't believe how lucky I am to have such wonderful ladies in my life! They have totally been my rocks the past few months while adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. :-)

The rest of this month will go by in a whirlwind... so far my plans:

Aug 17: Job Fair
Aug 22: See Jen *:-P Mom...*
Aug 23: Go to KC
Aug 24: Jess' 21st Birthday
Aug 28: Bridal Shower
Aug 29: My and Nana's Birthday
Sept 3: Come home

Well... I know this blog was long and a bit spastic. *but if you are reading this... you know me... and duh* I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my life as of late... i'm sure i'll blog again in another few weeks, but for now, hugs all around!

Nicole <3

Start of a New Era

So, here we go. I started this blog for you, my fans... no not really *hah*, but for my family and friends at home that I so regularly tend to (unknowingly--mostly) leave out of the loop. Hopefully this will be a place where I can update you with what's going on in my life and the like.

As many of you know, I moved to Alabama two *count them TWO* months ago. It doesn't really seem like that long, but I can't believe it has been. At first, getting used to stuff down here was quite the adjustment... you can just ask my patient fiancee... he got the nice short end of the stick on this one. Let's just say... I didn't take it well *there... I said it*. Today, however, I realized that I'm actually starting to enjoy it down here. I have made friends and started to actually venture out on my own. At first I thought getting a job lined up was going to help in this area *boy was I wrong*... but it's been a nice, keep me busy, distraction.

Beyond the normal, work and taking one day at a time, I have continued on wedding stuff... even if I put it on hold for a month. I'm almost done putting together invitations *yay!*... which are GORGEOUS, I might add. Other than that... there isn't really much to do anymore... at least until I go home a bagillion times. I already have my first trip scheduled for *let the trumpets sound--duh-dudu-da!* August 23rd through September 3rd! I'm so SOOO excited to see everyone! I have missed you all so much! Then I should be making a trip home in October, beginning of December, then *of course*, the end of December for the Wedding! Saying all goes according to plans... that is. I think we are even driving... which means we get to do that fun 14 hour drive again! *goody*

Anywho, I think that is all to report for now, i'm sure the next will be quite riveting and more to the details *oh the details*... which you want to know more about then the vague overarching two month span of time I have lapsed, i'm sure. I will see you all so soon! Hugs and kisses! *yes for real... I miss you THAT much ;-)*