Happy Halloween!

I wanted to post pictures of the three Halloweens Cam and I have had together. We have thrown a Halloween Party each year and all have been fun. The first year we were together was when we were only dating and we had a singles ward party. Then the last two we were married of course and had our friends from the ward and school come to the party. It is just fun to do something festive for Halloween since we can't go trick or treating (Halloween discriminates against age).

We had been dating for only about two months. He was road kill and I was a cat.

First Halloween married! Captain America and his cheerleader.

Second Halloween married. Cruella Devil and a dalmation.

Bonsai Trees, Work, Board Exams, Church...the things of life.

SCHOOL IS OUT, WORK IS ON
So, school is out. I did well on my finals. I thought the pace of busy work would slow down once school ended, but it actually has not. Between my job at Parkland, and doing orientation for a new job I got at JPS hospital, I have been busy. I am glad to have these two jobs though, especially the JPS one because it is closer!!!! To get to Parkland, I take the train and it ends up being an hour and a half commute into Dallas. Whereas, I can just drive 20 minutes to JPS because it is here in Fort Worth. And the JPS job is working with mother and babies, which hopefully I will like.

LEISURE VS. WORKING
I thought I would be able to paint, sew, relax, work out, etc. However, there is still time in the summer left and the pace of things should slow down after the next two weeks. I will be working four 12-hour shifts between the two jobs within Mon-Fri next week and the week after. So I am trying to prepare myself for that. It should not be too bad, because I won't have to go into Dallas all four days.

CHURCH CALLINGS
My additional calling, on top of teaching 12 and 13 year olds Sunday school, is ward choir pianist. It is a challenge, as I do not have a piano at my apartment. I caught the free pianos on TCU campus whenever possible to practice, and use the stake center as well. O and also I use mom and dad's house when I go over there. Anyhow, though it is a challenge, I like it because it forces me to keep up my talents on the piano. I do enjoy playing the piano, always have :). I recorded a few songs of me playing around on the piano. I am playing an arrangement of "I stand All Amazed" with the ward singing along on Sunday upcoming.

CAMERON AND OUR LOANS
Cam is studying for his boards in June. He is nervous! But he will do just great, like he always does. Sometimes we wish we could have no loans in our life, but I figure it will keep us mindful of our finances and teach us to live frugally. It is pretty fun to learn about all the little things one can do to save money here and there. I pinned some tips on pinterest.

BIRTHDAY AND PLANTS
I bought Cameron a Ficus Ginseng bonsai tree for his birthday. It is cool looking. We treat out plants like our babies. Some people have dogs they treat as their children, we have plants.

PLAN AFTER GRADUATION
I will graduate from TCU on December 14, 2013. It will be a great day! I am so very blessed to have been given the opportunity to continue my education, as my patriarchal blessing said I would. Nursing is a great career and it has been fun learning about. I am excited to put it into practice. My two nursing assistant jobs will be great preparation I'm sure. The goal is to work right when I graduate and pay off my loans ASAP!!! 

TO DO OR NOT TO DO
I am glad I have things to do because I get bored easily. It is ironic, when I have a lot to do, I complain of having too much to do. But then, when I have nothing to do, I complain of not having something to do. So, I realize I need to be glad to have things to do. I once thought to myself, there more things you do the better, because we are here to do things! But of course, there is a benefit to having simplicity in life in order to focus on the most important things and have time for them.

DENTAL NEEDS
I need to get my wisdom teeth pulled soon. They started popping up about two or three years ago. I can add dental to my school insurance plan for 29$ a year and pay 120$ per tooth at a local surgeon. I was thinking of possibly waiting until I am a nurse and get different insurance, possibly better coverage. However, I figured, why wait to do something later, when you can do it now.

Update

    We went to Utah for Christmas and it was a blast. I love hanging out with Cameron's family. They are so nice and cheerful. We played games, made cookies, went to a Tai restaurante,Siam Orchid

(4410 South 900 East Salt Lake City, UT 84124) which was so so goood! The workers were all from Tailand, so we learned a few words in Tai. "Jack talk tai, Jack talk tai very good" (what movie is that from?). So, when we skyped with Cameron's brother, Landon, who is serving a mission in Tailand, we said our few Tai words to him and he understood them. It was fun to skype with Landon. He is a strong, funny, sweet guy. He wrote us great Christmas letters and he has a strong spirit. 

   I love how close Cameron's family is to one another. I especially enjoy watching their old home videos. They are so funny. 

We saw some movies. Especially liked Les Miserables. We sled a few times. We made a sweet jump that we made Cameron's parents go off-that was funny. They are such good sports. It was a pretty big jump! 

   Cameron and I also went skiing. He is such a good skier. I am so so, beginner. But he stayed with me on the easy tracks and helped me. I would have just rather watched him ski all day because he is so good. Christmas day was fun. It's especially fun to be around Cameron's niece, Kira. She says my name, but not Cameorn's. She said Cameorn's name only a few times, so she can say it she just teases him or something. We skyped with them from here in Texas and she said my name again. It is cute.

    So, we got a lot of great things for Christmas. Yesterday we used the mixer that Cameron's parents gave us and the BBQ that my parents gave us. YUMMM! I put together a little video of me making chocolate cake with the mixer for fun. I also really love the big book of pictures from our wedding that my mom and dad got us. It made me cry when I looked through it.

   Altogether, it was an amazing first Christmas together. I can't imagine where I'd be without Cameron. He makes my life so happy. ‎

Thanksgiving

Well I am finally done with the To Do list that ended after taking my quiz and listening to lecture. Before that was a presentation, before that another presentation, before that was making treats and cards for clinical instructor and nurses at Cook's Children. But now, I am done and clinicals for this semester are over. I loved this semester. As I came home, I realized I don't want anything to change; I love this semester, where I live, my ward, being married, living close to family, my job schedule, this time of year...and I could be ok if time just stops right now. Soon, I will only get more responsibilites, stresses and stuff. Not anything in particular I am thinking of, but I just know that as I grow older, it always gets more demanding. One day there will be children, more bills, ya know adult stuff. I just like going to school, working one day a week, and enjoying my time with Cameron. We are always together if not at school or work. Soon he will start his rotations, I will start working as a nurse, and we may not have as easy schedules. So, this Thanksgiving I am aware of how thankful I am for NOW. NOW is a good time. I love my life, I love all that I have, I love all my blessings.

DIY Christmas Tree

Source: sewfantastic.blogspot.com.au via Missy on Pinterest

I saw this on pinterest and thought, this is what we should do for our Christmas tree this year. The fake trees at the store are expensive and real trees, even more so. So this would be a perfect way to have a Christmas tree without the expenses! Hopefully I will be able to make it to look this good.

Home-Making

Someone at school mocked me because I was sewing an apron and she thought that was cliche (she is a feminist).  She thinks women should be out in the workforce, as if there is no room for both in my life. Well, I am in the workforce and the home, but the home is my sanctuary and my joy. I find pleasure in crafts. We have enough "strong" women who thrive in their careers, we increasingly need more women who make homes a better place for families to grow. Here are some of my fun crafts lately:

"Organize yourselves; prepare evey needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;" D&C 88:119

20 Reasons Why Marriage is Better than Being Single

Now that I am on the other side--I've joined the marriage club, I have my own thoughts about marriage and don't have to rely on others' views. Being married for about a little over three months now, I wanted to post my thoughts about marriage. It is not as bad as some people made it out to sound, but I guess it depends on the persons in the marriage right. I would have scary marriage dreams, I was even anti-marriage sometimes until of course I met the only one for me and couldn't resist marriage. To me, married life is so much better than single life for a list of reasons:

1. I always have someone who really cares
When I am feeling bad, when I have a story to tell, when I am really excited about something, Cameron is never more than a phone call away. And he truely cares, always.
2. I am never alone.
When I come home from a long day, I know Cameorn will be there and when I get ready for bed, I do it with my partner in life. Some people may not like having someone around all the time, but I love it. I grew up that way and it feels like home to have someone to get ready for bed with and wake up with.
3. I don't have to make meals for one.
At college this was just really lonely and it is so much better to make a meal for two. Cameron and I usually do this together and it is our time in a busy day to be together.
4. I don't have to worry so much.
When I was single I worried if I wsa going to have to settle for marraige, never get married, or not like marriage. Now that I did find the one I was looking for, I don't have to worry about that department in life.
5. My home is his home.
When Cameron and I were dating we had to coordinate who was going over to whose house and then I would have to bring all my stuff in bags over there and leave a 9pm and then drive home and get ready for bed all alone, awaiting his goodnight phone call :). Now, its easier because his home is my home.
6. Family wards
I thought I would have a hard time adjusting to the family wards after 5 years of singles wards, but absolutely not. I love love my ward and I love being a part of my own family and seeing other families. It's actually like real life. Singles ward isn't a real ward to me. And I love being able to have my calling of teaching 12 and 13 year olds! Good riddens to singles wards thank goodness.
7. Better friends
I never really had good singles ward friends in the Fort Worth singles ward (besides Jeanessa but hey she's family anyway!). I have the best friends now because they are not bitter, we all have our spouses, and for the most part have life figured out and know where our lives are going. Luckily Heavenly Father sent some great people to be here in our ward. Lilian Winters is my little buddy. Both our husbands are in med school, we all went to BYU and have similar personalities.
8. A helping hand
When I am running behind, he helps me get ready; when I need an editor, he reads my essays; two heads are better than one
9. No more being the 3rd or 5th wheel!
I had my share of that in single life. And now, I have my partner to snuggle with.
10. Home nesting
It is fun to decorate, bake, cook, and even sew. I sewed a reversible halloween/ thanksgiving table runner and am working on an apron.
11. Planning for the future.
It is so fun to plan for our future and talk about our kids and future home.
12. Teaching others
Now that I am married, I can teach the youth in my calling and tell them how important it is to get married in the temple!
13. Spiritual Progression
I feel that I can finally progress to a higher level spiritually because I am not worrying about dating and finding the right one. I can reach out to others now that I am at peace inside!
14. Better relationship with parents
Now, we hang out with my parents on double dates and I have more in common because I am married too. Its fun to see how happy they are for me.
15. He calms me down.
One night I was worried because I went to empty my bladder but nothing came out (I'm weird about this at night) and I was worried. I said, I feel like there's still water in me. He said, its probably just not to your bladder yet. Then I was like, O ok, and all was good and I could fall asleep. He reassures me when I worry too much about the small stuff.
16. Study buddy.
I talk my studies out with him to make sure I know what I'm talking about, and I ask him questions all the time and he can explain it to me real well.
17. Hugs everyday, kisses every day.
Hugging is great and relieves stress. And kissing is an expression of love. We do this everyday and I love how he looks into my eyes and loves me.
18. His family is my family
Cameron's family is so great and I love to ask him questions about his family. Last night we talked about his grandparents and its interesting to me that two families and two worlds come together in marriage. And marriage is what makes life go on...two people fall in love and have children and the cycle repeats.
19. I don't feel like a wondering snow flake. An analogy came to me last night about how singlehood is like a single snow flake, coming from a cloud and wondering in the wind until it finally lands in a blanket of snow and joins up with more snow. We leave families to be off on our own, wondering around trying to find our own spouse and make our own family until one day we finally land and join with another human being and join the lineage of families and make our own bundle and continue the cycle on.
20. Cameron is the one I can share everything with and he does not judge me; he knows me and brings out the best in me. He helps me reach my potential and he tells me I am an example to him, so it goes both ways. Waiting for the right one is the greatest feeling in the world and the best thing I ever did. I don't know why anyone would enter into marriage with just anybody.

 When I was about to get married I didn't know what to expect becasue people say things like, "the ol' ball and chain" and "no more freedom" and things like that. But then I knew marriage was a good thing, so there were mixed messages. People need to not make sarcastic remarks like that because then it makes single people think twice and that's not right. Marriage is much better than single life and now that I'm on the other side that is what I tell single people because I was single and elligible for marriage for 5 whole single years with no boyfriend and wondered how married life was. I know the curiosity and skepticism that some singles may have. Marriage being better than single life does not mean there are no more stuggles once you get married because that wouldn't be real life; but the point is, you always have someone by your side through your trials.  Your lows aren't as low and your highs are higher.
I love married life and am glad I had my single years to compare to. And thank you Cameron for being the one for me. I know I am lucky to have him as a husband.