After much anticipation....the haircut!

The Sweet Boys in my life!

Just a few pictures of the boys I love....The first is my hunky cowboy husband. I love nothing more than watching him work around the ranch...I think his tractor is sexy!!!


We recently drove to Arizona and took the doggies. It was an adventure! Tazo loved sticking his head out the window and it didn't matter how hard the wind was blowing or how much his lips couldn't stay shut, he just wanted to smell all the scents he could come across...


Oscar loves to be in the warm sunshine but sometimes its a little hard on his eyes...

"No photos please!!!"

New year-New Life

So I realize I haven't posted in awhile and my friend just started a new blog and made me think I should be better about updating. Maybe that could be a new year's resolution! Ha!
I am sure you are all dying to see a picture of my new hair cut. I will post it I promise but my internet situation is tricky and I haven't had a chance to do it. Be patient!

I figured for those of you I don't talk to much I would give you an udate on our lives here in Colorado. I feel that so much has changed for us since moving here. Many of you know that we moved here for a job opportunity for Nathan. Many of you also know that it didn't work out nearly as well as we had hoped or were promised. But we've come to find that we are ok with that. The adventure has been worth it. Our perspectives on life are so different and we are so greatful for that. We are no longer bound by material things and we have rediscovered how much fun we can have together doing nothing!! (And I might add having nothing!!)

My job at the Children's Hospital is more than I could have hoped for. I have learned so much and grown as a nurse. I have had opportunities that I never thought possible. This has caused a little bit of frustration for Nathan as he is not sure what job would bring him joy the way my job brings me. So we prayed...and prayed....and talked and talked....and prayed some more. And as God has always done with us in the past the answer came in a moment we never expected. Now I know some of you must be thinking "is that guy ever gonna have a job he likes or sticks with?!?!?" Believe me I've asked the same questions, and so has he. It has been very difficult for him to feel like he is always "trying" some new job out only to discover that it isn't a good fit, or it is but the timing was off. Recently when we were spending some time just being together I asked him if there was something in his life that he does that he loves to do and would do every day even if it didn't pay him a dime. (See we've been talking about how money isn't nearly as important as happiness and fufillment and a job can't necessarily give you that anyway, but its better to love what you do every day then just go looking for a paycheck.) He said "working on the ranch, and working with the horses." Well wouldn't you know it but not a few days later the man who shoes the horses we live with was asking Bruce if he knew of a hardworking guy who would be interested in interviewing for an apprenticeship with his company, well Bruce gave him Nathan's name knowing he was so miserable at his job... and guess what??? Nathan got the job!!!! It is truly the first time he has felt like he was made for something. Its going to be hard work. See horseshoeing isn't something you learn over the weekend, infact its technically called being a Farrier but I didn't know if any of you would know what that was. Being a Farrier involves way more than just putting shoes on horses. Its a two year long apprenticeship that involves him learning not just about shoeing horses, but he has to be able to read x-rays, diagnose lameness, work right alongside the equine vets and so much more. He will be afforded the opportunity to go on trips for stock shows, seminars, conferences and etc. He is so excited. This opportunity is so much more than a job. This man will teach Nathan a lot and will provide him an opportunity for having his own farrier business in the future. It is an answer to prayers for sure!!
So thats the update on Nate, he starts this adventure on the 20th of January. We could not be more excited.
We have also been attending a new church that we love. Its not like traditional church by anymeans but we love it!!! Its called Addulum. The guy who leads it is named Hugh Halter. He wrote a book with another one of the leaders and its called "The Tangible Kingdom". It is right on track with how I have always thought church should be. Not pretentious, not a ritual, but a relationship. With God, with people. Its amazing.
So we look forward to this new year. The changes we will make and the growth we will experience.
We are very thankful that our journey led us here. We have grown together so much as a couple and though I miss my friends and family, I could not have asked for a more amazing man to share my life with. I was told by my dad how good this move would be for our marriage, but I could never know until I experienced it for myself. I know I always say it but I will really try to udpate more. We are possibly getting internet in the apartment soon so that will help. Pictures next post I promise!!
If you made it to the end congratulations!!!

Everybody Vote!!!

On my hair that is....lately I've been feeling really daring and I just cut my hair a little bit but wanted to cut it a lot. The picture below is the style I want. I never usually ask anyone, I usually just do it. I figure the worst that could happen would be that I don't like it and I will grow it out. So tell me what you think...though I'll probably do it anyway.

Adventures in nurseland

Tonight I had a first--I got stuck with a needle...not just any needle a freshly bloodied needle. I felt like an idiot. There are all kinds of gadgets these days that are a part of needles that are designed to protect healthcare workers from such needle sticks. However, if you do not engage the device...you are not actually safe from the shiny, menacing spear. So needless to say, I was stuck. My first thought was "don't bleed on the baby", my second thought was "oh sh@*!!!". See a needle stick in the hospital, dirty needle or not, requires at the very least a lengthy incident report. This report requires many pieces of information. Two such examples are explaining the "nature of the injury/incident" and most embarrassing--"contributing factors". How do I answer this...hmmm, #1 its night shift not always on my A game, #2 Carelessness-better not use this one or my job is at stake, #3 I've consumed two cups of coffee, four mini packs of gummi worms, three now and laters and a rockstar and a coke--therefore my hands could be shakey--also not a good one as I may seem unsafe at my job, #4 distraction. Ah thats the one. Next step as it was a dirty needle I now have to venture to the ED (emergency dept we don't call them ER's anymore). When I arrive the nurses say "eew-what's the baby got??" Thankfully I respond- "oh nothing, a blood clotting disorder and he was a premie, but overall healthy" then I think "Oh man, I don't really know the baby's family...sure they are from Nebraska and everyone knows no one in Nebraska has icky diseases *wink*, but seriously I don't know these parents. Then I start to get nervous. They hand me all of this paper work and information on the antiretroviral (anti AIDS/HIV) drugs I should probably start taking. *EEK!!* I decline the meds. I get some blood drawn by an EMT student who by the way was visibly shaking as he inserted the needle into my flesh. Now I sit here and think about the course of events. There is some info I'm given on how my risk is so little, though slightly higher then if blood had simply gotten on my skin or in my eye. I am not nervous or anything, but it makes me think. I take care of these innocent babies, but unfortunately their moms and dads aren't always so innocent. And even more unfortunately the babies sometimes suffer their parents circumstance. And bottom line---no matter how well dressed, good looking, wealthy, smart, put together a parent looks---they still could have AIDS, and I could still get it from a freakin accidental needle stick. Great. Why don't I get paid more again?!?!?

PS

Ok I didn't realize how long that was. Sorry. But now after writing something I'm passionate about I am far more awake!!