TAKE ONE

For one of my Christmas gifts, Robbie bought me Photoshop Elements 7.0. Little did he know that the end result would be me spending more time behing this computer screen. I am usually very quick to explore and learn how to operate new software. Adobe has put a stop to that. Not only do I find it difficult, but it has almost discouraged me. I have researched the internet, searched on youtube, and spent quite some time trying to figure it out on my own. Girls, you can relate to this one. Do you know how you play video games? Don't you just frantically push all the buttons at once in hopes of doing something great? I tried that with this. It doesn't work. In pursuit, I finally ran across something tonight that has helped a little. As proof, I show you this:

BEFORE

AFTER

So I realize I'm not exactly good enough to get paid yet, but I'm working on it. The plan tomorrow is to walk around downtown St. Augustine to see what kind of project I can begin next.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

ONE YEAR AGO

December 16th, 2007:







One year later, we celebrated again.. but with a little less stress. Robbie treated me to a wonderful dinner at Mitchell's Fish Market, a place neither of us had been to before. We had an amazingly delicious dinner and enjoyed the simple company of each other. Following dinner, we headed back to our house in St. Augustine, where I was greeted with the following: a dim lit house, a bright, shiny Christmas tree, candles, chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzel rods, our last slice of wedding cake (which was still yummy and moist), champaign, our toasting glasses, rose pedals, and our wedding video being played on our TV.



And I, of course, was a ball of tears. I often think about our wedding day and would relive it, given the opportunity. I suppose watching the video is the most practical approach to doing so. :)



Thinking back on what we did and what I learned from being married..
1) Our honeymoon to the Western Carribean
2) Skiing in Gatlinburg
3) Our trip to Virginia and Washington, DC with Jayna and Silas
4) Taking a cruise to the Bahamas and CocoCay
5) Apparently taking a lot of vacations!
6) Tucking in the sheet at the end of the bed is not an option
7) The house is not comfortable at 78 degrees; 72 - 74 is now "comfortable"
8) Firefighters really are great husbands - they cook and they clean!
9) There is now a shopping budget
10) My closet space is no longer mine - it is ours
11) Sleeping close to one another is ok - as long as I start out on the edge and he gets the rest
12) Sports Center is getting way too much air time on our TV
13) Locking the doors or keeping the curtains shut when it's dark outside is not a priority (for one of us, anyway!)
14) He'll share almost anything with me, except his glass of milk - "There's something gross about sharing milk with another person," says Robbie.
15) Each day, I love him more and more!!

One year down, and many, many more to go! This next year is going to bring a lot to our plate. I have 3 semesters left, with at least 8 weeks spent out of Jacksonville on internship. As for Robbie, he begins paramedic school in January. His schedule will be chaotic and his professors/directors of the program have reiterated to him that he won't have much time for anything else. Soo, I pray that we are able to spend time with one another as husband and wife and don't become "roommates". With God as the head of our household, we both have faith that He will keep us strong. Come December '09, we will both be graduating (Robbie from medic school, and me from physical therapy school). What better way to spend our 2nd anniversary than the two of us almost beginning a new and different life together (and me with a salary - woohoo!) :)

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

... in our house that is. Robbie surprised me with a tree one day when I came home from work. He greeted me at the door, stopped me in my tracks, and then turned on the song "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." We went out that night, chose the best tree topper from our limited selection, and continued to decorate our tree with garnet and gold ornaments. Those colors may not shine on a football field, but they do make a Christmas tree sparkle.





It didn't take long for Robbie and I to begin our Christmas shopping. While he is almost completely done, I still have some brainstorming to do. This year, our goal is to purchase gifts that are practical, yet still enjoyable.. Sure, underwear is practical, but who really wants that for Christmas? This will be our second Christmas together as a married couple.. it's too soon to resort to that as a gift. So while the Holiday season is still early, we are going to enjoy our tree and the presents underneath it for as long as we can.