Today is going to be a great day......

Today John and I are going to get our pictures finally. I cannot wait to post them. The even better part...our photographer is so sweet. I am very excited to be in downtown Winter Park and enjoy just being with John seeing how the pictures turn out.

Homework is still difficult and finding the time to stay on top of it has been a proven task. I have to keep reminding myself this is all worth it in the end. It is all worth it in the end. Lots of reading, lots of writing, less sleep, more responsibility....it is all worth it in the end.

John is going to Indianapolis tomorrow. I am going to miss him more than anything. He will be gone until next Sunday to spend time with his dad and to help Vikki with day to day things she cannot do for him like lifting him and helping him move around as much as he can. I know this is going to be a hard trip for him since it is all going to be right in front of him and not from Florida. His dad is one of the strongest people I have ever met and I know and pray he will come out of this stronger and cancer free. Grandmother update: she is a fighter. A strong, persistent fighter. I wish I could just fly her here to stay with us....

I think this is it for now. Not too much...just wanted to update myself more than anyone about what my life is like at this point.

Holy procrastination station....

Welcome to my graduate degree. This is the end of the first week and I have decided to take two classes. WOW. I am glad I am getting two "easier" (I love how some define easy at this point in time) classes out of the way in the beginning, but what a way to get put right back into reality when it comes to course work....especially at the graduate level. I am not really procrastinating...just delaying the inevitable. I have one last paper to turn in for the week, so for the most part, I have really been on top of everything. Then I get to turn around and start on week two. :)

I got back from Minnesota this past weekend and it was really an amazing trip. I have been doing very well at work, but I think this trip just added to that feeling of accomplishment and need for refreshment. I knew what Rasmussen has always been about, but it was that much better to hear it again a year and a half later. The group was really great too and I loved how they asked me endless questions about what I know and how I run my business. Again, it was something I needed and I cannot wait to start the week with a fresh feeling.

The Dallas Cowboys lost. UGH! I am not the happiest camper, but I'll get over it. O well. There is always next year...

Alright, just a little break to catch up on my infamous blog. I cannot believe the next two years of my life will be dedicated to school once again....and I cannot believe when it is all said and done, I will have my MBA. I cannot wait.

The big game...

As I sit here waiting for the TX/AL game to begin, I realize I have not posted anything in a long time. Go Horns!!! :)

There is so much to share....so much to say. All in all, I am thankful for this new year and the friends we brought in the new year with. I welcome 2010 with open arms and positive thoughts.

Since I last posted, my grandmother went to the hospital. She had open heart surgery and my mom ran to Peru to be by her side. For weeks we were all on pins and needles here. Thankfully, she made it through her surgery and though in pain, she is fighting to stay in good spirits. Big John is fighting the good fight as well. Cancer has tried to win, but he keeps pushing just as hard back. We talk and think about him everyday and know he will be fine and strong for the future. Send your good thoughts and prayers to Lima and Indianapolis. Two beautiful spirits and people in my life need it the most right now.

2009 ended with a much needed vacation to Dallas. Though there was a huge delay in getting there thanks to a freak snow storm in Dallas, it was the best trip I have had in a long time. It was so great to see my family. I had not seen my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and neice in over a year. I could not stop hugging and loving on them. I love love love them so much! Look how big they have gotten.

2010 has started with a great move in my career. I am now under a new team and with a new title. I love my career and what it looks like for the future. I change people's lives...plain and simple....and am thankful I get the chance to do so. Next week I am going to MN to help with new hire training since being the number one representative in RCO. It is a big honor to be asked to do something like this. The only downfall...the temperature is going to be in the teens when I get there! HOLY COW! Do I even own winter clothes anymore?

That same week I am in MN, I start my MBA. My MBA. No matter how many times I say it, I still cannot believe it. I am going to start my master's at the age of 26 and I have never been more excited. Get ready Benedictine...here comes Cat. When it is all over, I will be sure to go to IL and walk across the stage. John is also looking into his own grad program at a local college and we will work diligently to get him into something he can be proud of too. Michelle is starting the week after I start and Mely is starting nursing school my same week too. All four of us will soon be in school and with no life! lol...worth every second of it.

The house hunt is still going...slowly but surely. We are getting all our ducks in a row and soon will find something we love. Also, I am setting up an appointment this week for pictures. Finally right? Since we had no pics for our engagement...we will finally have photos to send to our family.

So this is it...I am sure I will be doing a lot of postings here soon having to do with updates with family and school. Stay tuned.

Hello 2010...I am excited to see you.

Ending the year....

As this year comes to a close....I begin to look back at everything that has happened this year. More than anything I am thankful. I have made great strides in my career...as has John...and I begin to look forward at other opportunities that are coming my way with an open mind and an open soul. Thankfully I have someone by my side who feels the same way. Take things as they come and it will always benefit our little family. Not to mention, we are still on our hunt to find our first home. It will come soon and I cannot wait to be a homeowner.

This month in particular has been a blast. John has not just had a birthday day....but a birthday week. We have the great friends and I would not want to have spent it with anyone else. We have had dinners and get togethers all week and weekend. Today we spent the day at the spa to do some much needed R & R. Wednesday, thanks to Michelle and Mel, we get to go to a Magic game to see them take on Lebron and Shaq, aka John's favorite player of all time. Great seats too. He makes me so incredibly happy.

Today I contacted a photographer to take our photos too. I am so excited. I cannot wait to do those before the end of the year. She is incredibly talented and I found her through a friend who said she has a great spirit about her...and it really shows in her work.

Big John and Vikki came to visit last month and we had so much fun taking them to the beach. They could live at the beach or on the coast if you let them. :) Big John is doing so well after chemo...you would think he just shaved his head for the hell of it. He looks really great and it was so good to see the two of them.

In a month and a half...I get to see my beautiful family. I cannot wait to hug and laugh with them over Christmas. It will be over a year before I see them again in December. Again, I cannot wait.
So....P90X. Workout of a lifetime. Kicking my butt everyday to get in amazing shape. In the last leg of Phase 2....with Phase 3 quickly approaching, I am ready to take on another level. Yoga has taken more of a presence in my life. I like to go at least 2 times a week to add on to what I am doing with my home workout. It has really changed my life and has really added a sense of balance to my day to day "being".

For now...that is all. Centered, loved, in love and happy....that is me.

What this week was like....

I am sore...I think that can sum up my week. Even bending my fingers hurts. Michelle and I started P90X on Monday and we have made it through the first week of an intense workout routine. Basically, it is total muscle confusion and you workout everyday for an hour for 90 days. We are through week one and I am sore, but feeling so much better. I cannot wait to see my transformation after month one, two and three.

John and I have been enjoying a weekend together...he has two days off in a row and I am so happy to have spent it with him.

Still house hunting. We are so lucky to have found a great real estate agent. We are looking in Heathrow/Lake Mary and Longwood. We want to stay on the side of tow we are in now. We really love it over here. I cannot wait to have our own little casita. We hope to be settled in by February or March of next year.

Plans are in place to go to Dallas for Christmas and I cannot wait to see my family. It is a very short trip so it will be dedicated all to my family.

I have officially turned in my citizenship paperwork! I am so happy.

That is about it...just working and working out like crazy. I love the career path I have in front of me and I cannot wait what else I come across in the next few months.

The long weekend...

I am so glad this long weekend was full of relaxation and family time. Romo has been sick though and that has been tough. He has a vet appointment tomorrow and hopefully it isn't something too serious.

This morning John and I booked our flight to Dallas for Christmas! I am so freaking excited to see my family that weekend. I have not seen them in over a year...I cannot believe it has been that long.

The meeting with Kara went amazing! I am so excited to get back in to the swing of things with her and find our little casita. There are a few areas we have fallen in love with and I cannot wait to dig deeper.

I never knew how much work went in to changing my last name. It is really a long process but obviously worth it. All I have left to change is my driver's license and then my bank stuff...and that will be it! Thank goodness.

That is that...nothing really new to update. Going for a run tonight and I cannot wait to get ready for this next week.

Busy does not even begin to describe it...

This week seemed to drag on slower than the slow motion scenes in Baywatch. I could not believe how slow the week went by and how busy I seemed to be. Busy is always better than having nothing to do combined with a slow week. I am so thankful though. I have a great job, great friends from work and I love what I do. Also, I am going to be leading the team next week because Paul is taking a much deserved vacation. He is also part of the reason I love going to work everyday.

I am really excited because I am meeting with Kara, our realtor, next week to go over more details of the house search. As you know, we are putting it on a tiny hold for right now...but it is a good thing. We are getting all of our ducks in a row and we are looking in nicer areas. We want a great neighborhood and a yard for the pups. Somewhere great to start our little family one day.

My brother celebrated his 29th birthday on the 6th, my father in law celebrated his on the 19th and my sister in law celebrated her 24th the 9th. Crazy how time flies. We miss our families so much and we cannot wait to see them during the holidays this year. An update on John: he is currently going through his second round of chemo and he said he is holding up. He is in good spirits and I try to call him weekly. Good news is that he is still planning to come see us in October. We cannot wait to see him and Vikki very soon!

We are still missing Cocoa here but we know she is in good hands with Connie and Sue. I cannot wait to get our little girl back and I know Romo misses his girlfriend.

As for this weekend...it is Labor Day. Finally, a couple of days off and with John to enjoy them with me. We are thinking about going to Miami Beach this weekend to enjoy the sand and the people. I cannot wait for the weekend. :)