Summertime

Hi dear friends!

It is SUMMERTIME. Ah, what an interesting and full summer it has been!
It started off with Grant and I traveling to State College, PA to visit his niece, Kaylin. We had a great time playing with her and seeing the town. We enjoyed some wonderful homemade ice cream from a small shop down there. Good times.

In mid-June, we celebrated Grant's 29th Birthday. On his actual day, I took him to dinner at Founding Farmers in DC. We had a nice time. Afterwards, we went to a singer/songwriter thing where his roommate and future best man in our wedding, Ryan Walker was performing. Later that week, a group of friends met us at Dogfish Head Ale Restaurant, and we enJoyed a tasty meal and some great beer together.

Towards the end of month, things ramped up at my workplace, and it was Busy! Work is good. I'm enjoying it greatly. We hired a few new business development people - and they have made life at the office varied, fun, and full! I'm thankful for this job and where it will take me. I feel like I am growing a lot there. Life is good!

At the end of the month, I dog sat a cute little chihuaha and doxen mix dog named Lucky. We had lots of fun! I hung out with people from my church community a lot that weekend. It was good, and much needed. The last week of June was extremely full, but good.

The first week of July, Grant and I traveled back to Kansas. Good times were had with his family on the 4th. We did some wedding stuff the next few days and just hung out with my family. My adorable little nieces, Elaina and Izzy Rue were soo much fun to play with and just spend good, quality time with. I treasured that time! On Friday night of that week, my wonderful sister & brother-in-law hosted all of my mom's extended family and we had a big cookout. :) Grant was able to meet some of my cousins he'd never met before, and it was just a great time of catching up with family.

On Saturday, we worked on different centerpiece ideas for the reception, and came up with a few winners! We also celebrated my sister, Rachel's birthday and had a great time. Later that day, we drove back to Wichita and hopped on a plane back to DC. Even though it was a great trip, and quite productive, I was ready to return home.

Just yesterday, I moved - yet again! I'm now living in Alexandria for the next three months. I moved, unpacked, and Grant and I put together my new dresser from IKEA. :-) Yay! I'm pleased to live there, and excited to see what the rest of the summer holds! It's my last summer of singleness. I will be a married lady next year at this time. :)

enJoy the rest of your summer days. Take time to ReLax, breathe, and soak in the sun. Ponder. Smile. Be. Love.

Time Flies By...

Life changes quickly...

Hi dear friends,

It's been incredibly too long since my last post. Soo much has changed in the past year. It's hard to know where to start...

The handsome man in my life, Grant is now my fiancee'. He proposed to me at my favorite memorial in DC - the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and I said yes! We created the unique ring together, and I absolutely LOVE it. 

Here's  a picture for you...

What else?

I have a new job. Oh, me and jobs...in the summer of 2011 I switched from working as an Admin at a civil engineering firm to going door to door and selling Verizon Fios, with the promise of owning my own business. Oh, it was hard. I learned a lot, and met some interesting people, but 10 hour days, and not making much money just wasn't cutting it.

At the end of November, I hunted for a new job. I started doing temp Admin work in December and working as a waitress at the District of Pi Pizzeria in DC. I really enJoyed working at the pizza place. It was fun, and I skirted by on tips. 

Around Christmas time, Grant and I made the trek to Kansas in one of our dear friends' SUV and had a wonderful time with family. It was great to visit them as an engaged couple! The future is bright. We set a date for October 2012 back in Kansas. He booked our honeymoon, and we have a church and reception place set up. We'll have a reception back here in DC late October, but I'm glad we have time. We need it. To plan. To prepare. To talk about all those things...you know, like money, and kids, and how to deal with conflict. All those important topics. The past. Influences. Dreams. Fears. Goals. 

In February, I landed a great job for a company called Black & Veatch. I'm the Office Manager for this architectural and engineering firm. It's good - they have benefits! And it's located in Arlington. We love that part of Northern VA. I hope we can find an affordable place in that area. :)

Well, what else? I've moved out to Burke. It's a long story, but I'm here for now. I paint from time to time. And I miss my cute little nieces! They are growing up so fast. I feel like the last year has been full of changes, lessons to learn, maturity to build, and lots of planning. This year has been full of ups and downs. I find myself pondering more than I used to, and thinking a bit more before speaking. I'm in my mid-twenties now! Life is viewed through a different lense than before. And it's okay - it's just different.

So many of my friends are engaged and getting married! It must be that time in our lives. Moving on to the next step. We're growing up friends. Sometimes we have to look life in the face and run ahead full force, even though we're a bit scared. I'm excited for what the next months in 2012 hold. 

There you have it - a quick little update on life. I'd love to hear how you are doing...a phone call, old-fashioned letter, text message, email, facebook message. I'll take it however it comes. Stay in touch, dear friends.

Until next time...