Ducks in a Row

Well, they're not all lined up, but they are certainly getting there. Our summer plans were the first to get in line with our trip to Hawaii and China, so we at least knew where we would be during the summer and when we would be there. There was still that big missing duck of where we would be coming back to stay after our adventurous summer. Well, last night that duck got in line! We got word from Stanford that Jon got accepted to the History program there, with a pretty decent financial aid package. So, we're headed to Palo Alto, which, for those of you who don't know your California geography (like me, before all of this!), is about 40 miles south of San Francisco. We're very excited to finally have a destination, and especially one as great as Stanford.
Basically, now, the only duck still left is me finding an internship. There are some good leads which I'm crossing my fingers about, but nothing for sure yet. I guess I'll have to continue to be patient a little longer. I think that's okay, though, because it is finally starting to feel like our patience is beginning to pay off.

Adventures!!

Okay, I realize on a daily basis that I lead a quite un-adventurous life. My brother once even told me that he couldn't lead an "Amish existence" like Jon and I do. (Prior to that I didn't know that not having a TV and being economically frugal were qualifications for being Amish!) However, I'm excited to be able to say that we are breaking out of our boring lives this summer. We decided that before moving to a new place to settle down into several more years of graduate work for Jon, we needed to have a final fling this summer. So, we are taking a trip to China for 5 weeks, with a week-long stopover in Hawaii along the way. We bought the plane tickets today (which almost gave me a panic attack as I heard the total being charged!), and I am getting more and more excited!!!!!!!! (is that enough exclamations?!!!!)
Anyway, I just had to share that. It's nice at least to have some plans coming together as we continue to wait for final plans on our move, Jon's school, my internship, where we'll live, etc. etc. etc. Patience, I know, patience.
p.s. If anyone has any good advice/recommendations/stories about travel in China, let me know so we can take advantage of our time there.

The amazing women I know

I got back yesterday from a wonderful trip to meet my new baby nephew, and I've been reflecting ever since on the amazing women that I am blessed to know. I got to drive out with my little sister, who amazes me more and more as she grows up with what a good person and friend she is to everyone she knows. While there, I got to have several long chats with my sister-in-law, who I would love to be just like someday. And of course you can't get together with your siblings and not take a few moments to realize how great your mom is. I just came away from the weekend feeling so blessed to have such good examples (including these and many many more) of womanhood in my life that help me to deal with the tough/confusing/overwhelming/crazy times, and encourage me to become just a little better along the way.

Ahhh shucks!

Wow! I feel so loved that at least two people have been faithful enough to actually keep checking in on my blog even though I am a slacker-blogger. To receive two whole comments within only a few days of posting my once-every-six-months blog post -- again, WOW! You've made my day, no, make that my week!
So, now, I'm feeling totally motivated to be a better blogger. But, my question is for all you experts out there -- how do I get all the cool pics and graphics that you all put on your blogs? Do you just link them up from the internet or what? Please tell me, what is the secret to blogging?

Slacking (sort of)

Okay, so I'm sure no one even looks at my blog because I am such a slacker at posting! Sorry about that -- but in my defense, it's not like I am really a slacker, I do have papers to write, work to do, reading, etc. etc. etc. AND we don't have the internet at home (unless our neighbors haven't yet secured their wireless :$) However, I realize that everyone else whose blogs I read also have busy lives, and so that is really no excuse. So, it's a quiet morning at work, and so here I am putting something on my blog.
The latest news in our lives is:
1. We bought a new car last week! Yay!! The Jetta was really starting to scare me on the long drive to Greeley, and so we decided we'd saved enough to upgrade. I'll post pictures sometime (though bear with me, because I have a paper due on Wednesday, so it may not happen before then -- okay, it probably won't happen before then!). It's a cute cute silver Honda Accord, with a little more "growing space" in the back seat than the Jetta had (no, that is not an announcement of anything!). However, buying the new car does also mean that I'm now ready for my spring break trip with my little sister Kaitlyn to go visit my next bit of news...
2. We have a new nephew! My brother and sister-in-law had a new little baby on February 12 (Abe Lincoln's birthday, much to Jon's delight). Once we got the news, I knew I had to find a way to go visit the little guy, named Caden James Averett.
3. Next (and back to the theme of #1), we sold the old car! Also exciting, because I really didn't want to be paying gas, insurance, repairs, or anything on that car now that we have a new one. The great part of the Selling the Jetta story is that I finally got around to posting it on Craigs List at about 3:00 on Saturday, by 5:00 someone had called about it, and by 7:30 it had sold! Wow! I was all geared up for the long car-selling ordeal, but it was a piece of cake!
3. This one is kind of un-news, I guess, but we are still waiting to hear where we will be moving to next fall. We have started to hear back from PhD programs, but not yet anything that says "You will coming to study with us!" I will surely be announcing when that happens, though!
4. Finally, I'm excited to announce that spring is finally on its way because I am back to wearing sandals on a semi-regular basis (you know how March is -- you may wake up to sun or snow, you never know). I have to brave some cold-toe-mornings, but I love having free feet again! :)

Okay, that's all for now... must get back to work.

Surviving

Well, we're now about 4 weeks into the semester, and I'm surviving! I'm actually really enjoying the classes I'm in this semester -- they are really challenging me to learn some fun new things.

I'm taking three classes -- first is a counseling practicum, in which I get to work with real clients doing real-life counseling. It's kind of intimidating what with the two-way mirrors and video cameras, but after doing 4 weeks of role plays with my classmates and making up all sorts of ridiculous issues to pretend to work on, I'm over the intimidation and ready to move on to a real person. So, this Wednesday I get my chance and I get to start working with an 11-year-old boy -- it should be exciting! My second class is personality assessment -- I get to figure out what kinds of psychological disorders people have. Not exactly, but kind of. Once again, as with my assessment class last year, being a Mormon and having access to loads of children to practice on is coming in handy (for me and my classmates!). Thirdly is an evidence-based interventions practicum. This is one that I'm really getting excited about. I get to go into a preschool and help them implement interventions for some of their students with behavioral struggles. I know, doesn't that just sound thrilling. Okay, well, it does to me and that's what matters! :)

I'm also surviving my 4-day-a-week drive to Greeley lately quite well because I took up listening to the Stephenie Meyer series (for those of you who don't know, it's this sappy, shallow, yet totally engrossing series about vampires). It's crazy how much difference having a good book to look forward to changes my whole outlook about commuting. I actually can't wait for the weekends to be over some weeks (not many, but some).

This is basically what my drive to Greeley looks like (the whole way!) -->

Other than that, I have to announce that I did get to fulfill one of my hiking dreams a couple of weeks ago! We hiked up to and over the Continental Divide. The peak was just under 13,000 ft -- so I haven't yet met my 14-er goal, but it was still exciting -- I'll post pictures soon.

Jon

Okay, I realized when I went back and looked at that last post that if I'm going to name my blog after me and my husband, I should probably tell you more about what's going on with him, too -- sorry, love, I didn't mean to neglect you!
So, yes, Jon also is going back to school this week -- his last year at CU. This year, he is (fanfare: da da dada) the lead graduate TA for the Chinese department, and he got the wish of his heart -- he gets to TA for the East Asian Civilization course instead of Chinese 1010. That means that he gets to teach about his real love (history) rather than just the language that allows him to access his real interest. He is also continuing to study Japanese -- he will now be in third year. From what I can tell, he's becoming quite proficient (though I wouldn't say my opinion counts for much there). At the very least, I know I'm certainly learning a whole lot of Japanese (i.e. "yes," "no," and "I see" ... very useful phrases). He is taking a class on Shamanism. And in his spare time he's choosing a topic for his thesis, writing his thesis, and applying to doctoral programs. (in other words, that means that we're not sure when, if ever, we get to see each other for the next three months!)
But, really, amidst all that he undertakes, I must say that he continues to be the most wonderfully doting husband that a girl could ask for -- I'm not sure how he manages it, but he does!