When it feels like rain...

When it feels like rain… you are definitely not in New Mexico! It has rained once, maybe twice all summer. Oh rain. I miss you so! Oddly enough, I miss the snow even. BUT… last winter was amazing. The warmth of the NM summer sun. The chilly days which only required a sweater. Sigh.

Who talks about the weather in a blog post? :P

We have been back in NM for over a year now, as you can tell by the last time I posted, this blog is seriously neglected. I won't say that I am going to keep it up, but it is a place I know some people come to see how we are doing so it lives on! New Mexico, I love it here… sorta. My family makes this place wonderful, I love many things about this place because I grew up here. The dry desert, the cactus, the yucca, the rolling tumble weeds, the pulsing heat, I love it. I could do with some more moisture though. Dang it. Utah. I miss Utah. We went back for a visit to our family that lives there and it was so nice to be back. I can't say that it felt like home. It just felt so familiar and nice. All the things we love could be there. I really just don't see us ending up back in Utah though. We just don't have as many opportunities there. It would take Aaron getting into school there for us to have a good reason to go back. Otherwise, it will just have to be the feeling we go off of but frankly, I just want to settle down, have a nice home, and a few more children.

Grad school. It's definitely been the hardest thing I have ever-ever had to do. I know being a stay at home mom is hard. It's a trying experience, but getting my masters has been harder than I imagined it would be. It takes a lot out of me mentally and emotionally. I don't get to spend very much time with Aaron and Sam most days of the week. Aaron has just been a life saver throughout this process. He has been completely there for me and has been the best Dad taking care of our little boy when I can't. I couldn't possibly thank him enough because first of all he works and supports our family, but second he comes home after a long day at work and some nights takes care of Sam all by himself. What a support and example he has shown me. I know that quite possibly in a year (or less) from now Aaron will be the one who is going to school and as time consuming I feel my program is, I know he is going to need to constantly be studying because he has so much in such a short amount of time. I am going to be in his position as a worker and a solo parent. I hate grad school, I hate how it stresses me and takes me from my loved ones even when I am with them, I'm still thinking of all the things I have to do for school. On the other hand, I love it so much. I began the program last year with hardly any residual applicable knowledge from my undergrad, and I have learned so much more and have grown so much more as a person. Just from this experience alone, I know that I am capable of doing hard things. I am a strong person and I have the will to do well, and I am going to. Alas, in one year, I will be finished and I will be well on my way to becoming a certified SLP.

Aaron has submitted his overall application to PA school, he is now working on all of the supplemental applications that most of the schools require. He has been so diligent about it. I am very proud of him. I have no doubt that Aaron deserves to have the opportunity to go to school now and fulfill his dream of becoming a PA. He is one of the most dedicated and prepared applicants. I just hope the schools can see that and that they will give him a chance. If PA school does not work out for Aaron, I know that we are going to be fine, and we will just move forward. BUT, if he does get in… fireworks, parades, and sangria for everyone :). Not really, we will be elated. He deserves it.

Life has been good. It is in fast forward which is a good and bad feeling. I can't want to be done with school here and move on, on the other hand, I love taking things slow and watching my baby boy grow into a little boy every day, I don't want our lives to pass us by too fast during all of this schooling.

Some fun things we have done/are doing:

Went to see Tim McGraw in concert in UT

Got our first brand new car

We are training to run in either a half marathon or at least the 5k on Labor day.

Good times-

Aaron was recently released as a ward mission leader and is now serving in the young men's presidency.

I'm on break from school for a few weeks, and I am trying my hardest to be a lazy as possible so that I can actually feel like working hard again.

Well, that's the update… I hope life is treating all y'all well! Till next time… :)