Recap 2011
Thank goodness for free wifi from the hockey rink! I figured I could bring my laptop and work on some wedding related things, but kind of got sidetracked. I'm inspired, by Matt's girl cousin out in KS who has a family blog, to restart this journal. So much time has passed, but with my family being clear across the state, I think it's a cool idea to start back up as I head into wifey-mode.
Let's see... so I'm sitting here watching Matt play hockey. Game 2 of 4 or so this week. It's so cool to watch him play. I know he appreciates it when I come, even if I don't watch all the time. We enjoy the car ride together, get to catch up on my one night off per week, and I usually get to see a lot of Matt's hockey buddies this way. And sometimes I even get a little skate in myself. I like the nights up at Cranberry the most cause I'm friends with the rink manager and if Matt plays in the last game of the night, I can skate until he Zamboni's the ice. Plus, I get free broken sticks for my stick bench that I will build once this wedding planning is over. Hockey is so liberating; the free, fluidness of the motion, the chill in the air, and the burning in my legs. Makes you really feel alive. I have some regret for not having a family that pushed athleticism growing up. I feel like I missed out on organized youth sports. Not sure if it's cause the male role in the family was usually at work earning a living for us or if, as a girl, we tended to immerse ourselves in academics and hanging out with our female friends.
It all really makes me think about having a family some day. I can't wait to be a wife, run a home, and raise a little brood of my own. I feel like my mom was such an awesome one that I can't wait to follow in her footsteps. I can't believe how quickly time flies. I seems just like yesterday that I was in college for the first time and then working my way through nursing school. Now I am in my second nursing position and three months away from getting married. I hope that I can model this journal off of the many good wife/mother blogs out there.
Wedding planning has been a roller coaster ride. I'd like to focus on the ups as I near the end of the ride. The whole experience has made me 1) realize who my close friends are 2) realize how important family and health is 3) how the little things just don't matter and 4) you can never start planning too early. I am most looking forward to the family and friend reunion portion of the weekend. Yes, I want my decorations and details to all come together to make a classy, beautiful "autumn love-bird; navy & ivory" masterpiece. However, all that matters, is that I can't wait to be surrounded by friends and family as I marry my best friend and person I have spent the last 7.92 years with and couldn't imagine living without. I think life must give us the tough, sad, hard times to show us what we have to work for in life. And whomever said, "money isn't everything," never planned a wedding or a marriage. :p
Work is okay. For all the discord in my last job, I can honestly say my last job was home. My coworkers were like family to me. I did almost all my clinical in that hospital. There's something about an inner city hospital. I miss the community and the patients; their inner city struggle. It's just not the same in my "hotel" hospital. Yes, I still love being in charge. The sense of organized chaos, the nerves of going into work each night, and the feeling of satisfaction in the morning. I'm still precepting. I really do enjoy the academic side of nursing. I just wish my finances would allow me to go back to school. Lately, I've been thinking of switching nursing roles completely. I can't be a good wife and a good mom someday doing this night shift stuff. Life just passes me by. I can barely plan a wedding on night shift. Thank goodness for the internet or I could have never pulled this off. It makes me jealous to see people who have these 9 to 5 jobs, Monday through Friday. I know there's something out there for me. Unfortunately, it usually involves a pay cut in the nursing field. There's also too many hospitals and too many nurses in this city. The supply and demand is completely off. And it's only going to get worse due to insurance/hospital competition currently taking place. Honestly, nursing isn't all what it's cracked up to be. I wouldn't let my future child become a nurse. Do something where you're valued and respected for your work and education and where the laws and employer policies are on your side. Sad case. Too bad I don't like public speaking or I could totally go into health care policy reform. I'll leave that to my sister. ;)
Which by the way, I continue to be so proud of. Her top secret mission is currently underway, I hear. So I am just waiting for my turn in line. Such an exciting process and time in her life. She truly is my maid of honor. :*
In closing, two things: this past year of engagement has been a whirlwind of emotion. I might not be the most religious person, but I'm definitely not the least spiritual person either. I think life's ups and downs bring you closer to your beliefs. There is definitely someone listening out there. Whatever your release may be: praying, hockey, volunteering, crafting... do it. Life's too tough to do it alone and keep everything inside. Get it out in whatever way you see fit. Even if it means blogging. :)
And for my bridal/wifey portion of this program: I'd like to pimp out some of my favorite links during the wedding planning process:
www.theknot.com
www.save-on-crafts.com
www.favorfavor.com
www.botanicalpaperworks.com
www.exclusivelyweddings.com
and my favorite
http://www.etsy.com/people/sy5temfire/favorites
Let's see... so I'm sitting here watching Matt play hockey. Game 2 of 4 or so this week. It's so cool to watch him play. I know he appreciates it when I come, even if I don't watch all the time. We enjoy the car ride together, get to catch up on my one night off per week, and I usually get to see a lot of Matt's hockey buddies this way. And sometimes I even get a little skate in myself. I like the nights up at Cranberry the most cause I'm friends with the rink manager and if Matt plays in the last game of the night, I can skate until he Zamboni's the ice. Plus, I get free broken sticks for my stick bench that I will build once this wedding planning is over. Hockey is so liberating; the free, fluidness of the motion, the chill in the air, and the burning in my legs. Makes you really feel alive. I have some regret for not having a family that pushed athleticism growing up. I feel like I missed out on organized youth sports. Not sure if it's cause the male role in the family was usually at work earning a living for us or if, as a girl, we tended to immerse ourselves in academics and hanging out with our female friends.
It all really makes me think about having a family some day. I can't wait to be a wife, run a home, and raise a little brood of my own. I feel like my mom was such an awesome one that I can't wait to follow in her footsteps. I can't believe how quickly time flies. I seems just like yesterday that I was in college for the first time and then working my way through nursing school. Now I am in my second nursing position and three months away from getting married. I hope that I can model this journal off of the many good wife/mother blogs out there.
Wedding planning has been a roller coaster ride. I'd like to focus on the ups as I near the end of the ride. The whole experience has made me 1) realize who my close friends are 2) realize how important family and health is 3) how the little things just don't matter and 4) you can never start planning too early. I am most looking forward to the family and friend reunion portion of the weekend. Yes, I want my decorations and details to all come together to make a classy, beautiful "autumn love-bird; navy & ivory" masterpiece. However, all that matters, is that I can't wait to be surrounded by friends and family as I marry my best friend and person I have spent the last 7.92 years with and couldn't imagine living without. I think life must give us the tough, sad, hard times to show us what we have to work for in life. And whomever said, "money isn't everything," never planned a wedding or a marriage. :p
Work is okay. For all the discord in my last job, I can honestly say my last job was home. My coworkers were like family to me. I did almost all my clinical in that hospital. There's something about an inner city hospital. I miss the community and the patients; their inner city struggle. It's just not the same in my "hotel" hospital. Yes, I still love being in charge. The sense of organized chaos, the nerves of going into work each night, and the feeling of satisfaction in the morning. I'm still precepting. I really do enjoy the academic side of nursing. I just wish my finances would allow me to go back to school. Lately, I've been thinking of switching nursing roles completely. I can't be a good wife and a good mom someday doing this night shift stuff. Life just passes me by. I can barely plan a wedding on night shift. Thank goodness for the internet or I could have never pulled this off. It makes me jealous to see people who have these 9 to 5 jobs, Monday through Friday. I know there's something out there for me. Unfortunately, it usually involves a pay cut in the nursing field. There's also too many hospitals and too many nurses in this city. The supply and demand is completely off. And it's only going to get worse due to insurance/hospital competition currently taking place. Honestly, nursing isn't all what it's cracked up to be. I wouldn't let my future child become a nurse. Do something where you're valued and respected for your work and education and where the laws and employer policies are on your side. Sad case. Too bad I don't like public speaking or I could totally go into health care policy reform. I'll leave that to my sister. ;)
Which by the way, I continue to be so proud of. Her top secret mission is currently underway, I hear. So I am just waiting for my turn in line. Such an exciting process and time in her life. She truly is my maid of honor. :*
In closing, two things: this past year of engagement has been a whirlwind of emotion. I might not be the most religious person, but I'm definitely not the least spiritual person either. I think life's ups and downs bring you closer to your beliefs. There is definitely someone listening out there. Whatever your release may be: praying, hockey, volunteering, crafting... do it. Life's too tough to do it alone and keep everything inside. Get it out in whatever way you see fit. Even if it means blogging. :)
And for my bridal/wifey portion of this program: I'd like to pimp out some of my favorite links during the wedding planning process:
www.theknot.com
www.save-on-crafts.com
www.favorfavor.com
www.botanicalpaperworks.com
www.exclusivelyweddings.com
and my favorite
http://www.etsy.com/people/sy5temfire/favorites