Summertime!

I haven't posted anything in months!! I'm not too good with keeping up with this blog. :)

Thought I'd give everyone a little update on our wonderful life. After almost 8 months of job searching, I FINALLY got an amazing offer in my field. I am working at a school for autistic children and I absolutely adore it! I started on Monday, June 21st. It is such a rewarding, yet challenging job. I am thrilled to have this experience. I am going to head back to school for my Masters at our next unit and feel like the references I will get through this job will be unbelievable! It is so amazing to have a job that I love that allows me to use my hard earned degree!!!

Ryan just got underway a few days ago. As usual, the first few days are really hard for me. Ruger has been depressed, haha. But I am getting into the groove and am thankful that I started my new job the day after he left. It's always good to keep busy and I know the next few months will fly by! They finally got their boat back from the dry docks- although it doesn't run any better than it did a year ago. They did make it look pretty- which doesn't make sense to me. But so much in the military makes no sense to me. :)

Ryan and I are officially homeowners!!! This is such an exciting investment opportunity for us- we are thrilled. We purchased a home in Merritt Island. We have a family that rents it out- they are amazing tenants!! We are totally blessed.

Life is simple, fulfilling, and great!

Orders, orders...

We finally heard... it is official, we will be in Miami until 2010.  

We have mixed feelings about it. Neither of us are overly fond of Miami- but we have been guaranteed our top pick in 2010. So I hope it will be worth it.

I'm a slacker.

I have been slacking a bit with this whole blog thing. So I figure I'll update those who actually read this on our little life in So.FL. :)

I have been tutoring since I moved down here and realized that it was just not enough to keep me busy and occupied, especially while Ryan is underway. After a month of job searching I finally got a second job. It is not exactly what I was hoping for- but at this time you have to take what you can get and a job is a job. I am working the front desk at an Aveda Salon/School. It is fun, but somewhat boring and isn't challenging enough for me. But, like I said- a job is a job and it occupies my time. Plus it is very easy. Much easier than teaching- I leave work and am done for the day. No homework. :)

Ryan is still underway but will be back in the U.S. of A. in a few days. He has to head straight up to Baltimore for a few weeks to work on the, forever in dry docks, VALIANT. Then he'll be here for awhile!

We have yet to get orders- no idea what is going on with that. But I am slightly suspicious that they might be ignoring our offer to extend in Sunny Miami and that we may end up getting orders to who knows where. Such is the military life...

Our pup is getting HUGE. He is 6 months old now and weighs a whopping 52 lbs. Ridiculous. But he is so sweet!!! 

Ryan and I are planning a few trips in the next several months. In April we are going up to Alabama with my parents to meet up with all my Cousins, Aunts and Uncles. We are making the trip to surprise my grandma on her 80th birthday! We are very excited... and this will mean so much to her. It should be a great time. We are also trying to plan snowboarding trip. Neither of us have been in YEARS and after watching snowboarding on FUSE a few too many times, we decided it is time for a trip. Haven't decided when or where yet... but we are excited.

I am enjoying married life more and more... I am really blessed to have a husband like Ryan. He really is so amazing. We have both realized in the last few months that what we have is so rare and amazing... we are truly blessed. 

I guess that's the latest... Stay tuned. :)

Miss him.

Ryan has been gone for almost 2 weeks. This is our first patrol married... and also was is the shortest patrol. 32 days instead of 60. Up until this point I have always been so strong and am, in general, an extremely independent person. When he left... I said my goodbyes, e-mailed, and started my countdown. This patrol came after spending over 3 months together- straight. That is the longest we have been around each other consecutively since he has been in the Coast Guard. Every single second of everyday was amazing. Neither of us have ever been so happy. This patrol was a rude awakening. 

I am just... lonely. I have had nothing but negative experiences with girls down here so I have become a recluse. It is strange how  quickly you appreciate what you have or had... I miss my friends, my family... and, most of all, my husband.

Only 26 days left and I feel like it is never ending.

In Closing...

2008 has come and gone SO quickly! This year brought so many changes, happiness and excitement. To sum it up- this was the best year of my life- and I am sure there will be many more just as great or better in the years to come!Here is a quick photo summary of the last few months:

Of course- our wedding. Best day of our lives.

Mexico for our honeymoon. It was absolutely an amazing trip!! I wish we could go back.

We moved into our new apartment and are really happy with it, the area, and our awesome neighbors!

Annnd we got our newest addition Ruger. He could be the cutest and possibly the most spoiled puppy ever. But we love him and are so glad we have him! He's precious! :)

It really is amazing how much has changed in the last 2 years. I was able to go to lunch with one of my great friends from college. We lived together 2 years ago and we were discussing the different paths our lives have taken us. She lived in Bolivia for 6 months, got into graduate school in Seattle and has been there now for a year and a half. Dawn went from working for MTV to living on a deserted tropical island as a dive instructor. I finished school, moved home, got engaged, married and moved to Miami. 

It is so crazy how exciting life is. I look forward to Ryan and I's journey and adventure together!

To 2009!!! May it be better than '08. :)