So...I got a job!

I seriously have not had a free minute to blog in the last 3 weeks! Two days after my last post I had the opportunity to apply for a job. I immediately jumped at the chance and sent my resume over the next day. I received a call the following day to interview that Friday! Well, as luck would have it, I got the job and started the following Monday, December 8!! So you see, my schedule and lifestyle have been radically changed, for the good of course.

So what's the job you ask? Well, I am a loan processor for a company called Cology. We process student loans. I actually have a bit of experience in this field from an accumulated 7 or 8 months of working at Wachovia during various break in college. I was informed about the job from a previous connection at Wachovia. It just goes to show you how important connections really are!

This may confuse you since I got my degree in Exercise Science and and I was previously teaching group fitness classes. Well, sometimes things don't work out the way you think:) You see, with the way the economy is going, TruFitness unfortunately couldn't afford to add on additional fitness classes as they had hoped. So, through much payer and conversation with the group fitness manager, I decided that I needed to focus on other things, like bearing some of the financial responsibility to our family. Thankfully, we ended on great terms and there is always a possibility of teaching part time later on. The really cool thing is, now that we have doubled our income, I am able to pay for additional certifications and join a great gym to stay in shape! My hope is that by mid to end of next year, I will be teaching pilates and/or yoga.

The bottom line is, I am loving my new job and have been given a renewed sense of confidence. Trust me, Chris never pressured me to find another job or anything like that, but he is constantly reassuring me that I have abundant talents and would be a positive asset wherever I am. That is definitely helpful!!

I must say, the first week of working 8 to 5 with a 45 minute commute each way caused for a little grumpiness on my part, but I quickly came to appreciate carpooling with my husband and taking lunch together:) Maybe I forgot to mention that our offices are across the street from each other! How lucky is that?! Getting to spend that extra time together during the day has made up for not having dinner on the table when he gets home and my grocery/laundry Mondays:( The adjustment has been smooth and I have had to remind myself how incredibly lucky I am to have a great job in this tough economy, plus getting a paycheck before Christmas! May we always remember how great our God is and count the abundant ways He takes care of us!

Now that you are all caught up:

Merry Christmas!! I hope it was amazing and you were in the presence of those you love! Chris and I had the best day! We had such a special morning with each other in our own home:) Waking up next to my new husband made for a wonderful start to our day!! We shared the rest of the day with our families (thankfully, they are so close we didn't have to travel!) And since we both had Friday off, we stayed in our pj's and relaxed all day! Talk about a great weekend!

Wishing you a great year's end!

Love and peace,
Kate

Happy December!

What a whirlwind! Did we really just have Thanksgiving?

This past week was a thoroughly delightful one. And not because we went on some extravagant trip or because we got to go home for the holiday (so thankful those days are behind us!) but, simply because we spent so much time with our family, friends and each other.

Last Wednesday, Chris and I drove with his dad and step mom to Colfax, a town about 30 minutes north of us, to surprise his grandpa and his wife on their 25th anniversary! It ended up not being a surprise because his grandpa had been golfing in Napa and locked his keys in his car! This caused him to be about 3 hours late to dinner!! Sadly, he knew what was going on by the time he got there, but not to worry, we still enjoyed ourselves and had some great quality time with about 25 members of the family (some of who I have never met). Note my sarcasm when I say that I also enjoyed the family questioning us about kids! Chris dad is the first born and Chris is the first born grand child, so no surprise that he is expected to deliver the first born great grandson. In time my friends:)

Our eventful night was followed by an even more eventful morning were we had to be up at 6:30 for the 5k we participated in on Thanksgiving! Allow me to clarify. My mom and I participated in, Chris was our driver and photographer:) This will definitely become a tradition for us! There were over 30,000 participants, making it the largest Thanksgiving Day run nationwide!! It is such a great way to start off the day! The crisp air gave us the energy to go home and prepare dinner. We officially hosted our first Thanksgiving...Yay! The food was great, the company was amazing and I could not be more thankful to have our family so close. We are truly blessed! We ended our night at Chris' Pop's house for games and dessert. Who could ask for more?








I must tell you that Black Friday shopping is a long time tradition for my mom and me. We have always enjoyed the hustle and bustle, the fantastic deals, the Starbucks run and most of all the thrill of the Christmas season final being upon us! I think this was our best year, mostly because I haven't been home for Thanksgiving since my Freshman year and we have really missed doing it together. We were among the thousands of people (mostly woman) standing in line at Kohl's at 4am!! I should note that it was well worth it since I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping! Don't be jealous:)


Check us out at 4am!

Last but most certainly not least, we spent the weekend relaxing and decorating for Christmas. We put up our first Christmas tree (married that is)! I had a ball putting up all of my new decorations! When I say new I should clarify that they are new since coming from my mom's abundance of Christmas stuff:) She is so gracious and let me rummage through her things and take what I wanted. I guess when you have about 30 bins of decor, you won't miss one or two!


















We ended our weekend with couples night with some of our friends. What an awesome way to spend a weekend!

On a somewhat random note, I am so, so, so excited for my dear friend Stacey who got engaged on Thanksgiving! We were freshman roommates and again our junior year. Just for the record, I like to credit myself with Stacey and Darren meeting:) It's true! But anyway, I am truly happy for you guys and am sure you will make each other incredibly happy!! Congrats!

The countdown has begun...25 days 'til Christmas! Happy Monday:)