What have we been up to lately?

In my blogging absence, this is what we have been up to!

1.  Both of us have been working like crazy people!  Rhett's job is jam packed with things that need to get done.  As for my job, people haven't stopped getting cancer, so I've been super busy as well!  We are enjoying it all for the most part, and are just happy to be employed!

2.  Meeting new neighbors at block parties and game nights!

3.  Fighting off killer bees...well not killer, but they sure were scary!

4.  Spending Memorial Day with our wonderful friends in Albuquerque.  I didn't take any pictures (sad sad day), but some of our sweet friends did!  We definitely miss everyone there, and we didn't want to leave, but it was great to spend time with them!

5.  Eating way to much of this!  Be still my heart!  This stuff is INCREDIBLE!

6.  Painting!  We are on a mission to get our house painted this summer!  It makes sense since Arizona summers are unbearable, and why would we want to get out of the house when it's 115 degrees outside? Not me!

There's much more, but then I wouldn't have any blog material!  So that's all for now!  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Before I was a Lawrence....

I was just another girl, living life and blogging on different sites.

So I thought it would be fun for you guys to look into my past....

The past meaning Xanga and LiveJournal of course!

I left the old blogs on sad notes. I was struggling with my move to New Mexico, but rereading those posts remind me that this difficult transition in Arizona will also pass.

However hidden in those blogs are some wonderful memories. The beginning of my relationship with Rhett, the absolute stress of nursing school, attempting to have a social life, and heinous amounts of annoying quizzes.

Read if you like, and get ready for the mother of all posts....either tomorrow or wednesday!

thoughts on jobs

Hello again everyone....it's me Kelley....the long lost author of this silly blog.

After reading many comments from my last post, I felt some clarifications were in order!

1. I am still employed as a school nurse.

2. I am not sure if it's my forever job.

3. I am soooo blessed to have a job.

4. I am really quite homesick (for both Albuquerque and my family)

Let me explain the job interview.

I was contacted in June (while still in NM) about a job with the pediatric bone marrow transplant clinic at University Medical Center here in Tucson. I interviewed for it, it seemed right along the lines of what I was currently doing at my Albuquerque job, and they really wanted to hire me. Fast forward 2 months. They were still trying to hire me, but budget cuts and lack of funding prevented it. So that meant no job, but I was able to get a job as a school nurse. Fast forward another 2 months, and I get a call that there is another position the manager of "clinic that could not hire me" recommended me for. I interviewed and am not selected "because of my lack of management experience."

At this point I don't know what I really want. I have been happy at my job this week, and I pray that it will stay that way.

Regardless of what happens, I had great advice from a former coworker and amazing friend, Cyndi. She left me a comment that completely changed my attitude about the whole situation. It said,

"You are so precious. The job will come just as the proposal, Rhett's job, sale of old house, purchase of new beautiful house and all the other blessings God's given you. I love you and miss you my sister in Christ."

God has provided for me every step of the way. It took me almost a year to really learn to love Albuquerque, and it may take me just as long in Tucson, maybe longer. He provided an amazing job that I loved and more importantly brought wonderful people into my life. He hasn't brought me out to the desert to wither up and die, He will provide everything I need, but I have to be willing to give that control over to Him.

Who knows what will happen, but anytime I want to complain, or start feeling sorry for myself, I will give those concerns over to the Lord, and relinquish my control on the situation. I mean seriously, I haven't made my situation better when I try to fix it myself, so why do I keep trying to do it?

Thank you Cyndi, for giving me such attitude changing advice!

the closing of one door..

I'm sitting on my couch...watching three men packing up our lives and get ready to ship it off to our new destination, to our future. I have a whole range of emotions going through my mind: happiness, sadness, uncertainty, and some reassurance. It has been a difficult few weeks. Many ups and downs, but we have made it through all of that! I am more than ready to be living with my husband again, and playing with my silly dog!

I know I have been a little absent from the blogging world, but after this next week I promise to be more on top of it! I will begin my last week of work on monday. I think I have decided that I will not wear mascara, so that I hopefully won't be all scary eyed when the flood gates open constantly!

So I guess I am asking for prayers for the next week or so. Specifically for our travels, my job prospects, saying goodbye to the amazing people we have met, for our ABQ house to close on time and without anymore complications, and for a positive attitude. We have so much to look forward to, but unfortunately it means leaving people and a place we love behind!

"What did Max do" Wednesday

Max is such a silly dog.

I took him to get a haircut last week, and when Rhett and I went to pick him up, he looked great!  There was the handsome dog that we know he is, and in typical groomer fashion, he was sporting a bandana!  Not a typical bandana...

THIS bandana....

He's showing his gay pride!

(This past weekend was Gay Pride weekend in Albuquerque, I didn't realize this until after he had the bandana on!)

However...the story continues.  

I wake up the next day (saturday), and notice that the bandana is missing.  Rhett stumbles out of bed and I ask where the bandana is?  This is the conversation that was had.

Me:  "Where's the bandana?" ----(Max has chewed them off of himself at times)

Rhett:  "I threw it away."

Me: "Why...it was so cute!"

Rhett:  "because our dog isn't gay!"

Me:  "How do you know?"

Rhett:  "because I know!  He likes the bitches!"

HILARIOUS!

I never know what is gonna come out of his mouth!

So apparently...Max likes the "bitches!"

one year ago...

My boyfriend told me that I had to wake up at the BUTT-CRACK of dawn, and get ready.  I did as I was told and got up, dressed, and dusted the sleep out of my eyes.  

Rhett then drove to a breakfast place that serves some good pies, pulled into the parking lot, and we waited.  

And waited.

(where we waited)

Then we finally saw some signs of life with other people, so we started getting out of the car, and then suddenly I hear Rhett start groaning. 

I turned around and saw him struggling to get to his knees and that's when he said the 5 words that stole my heart....

"So....you wanna get married?"

And of course I said YES!   I mean I had seriously waited long enough!  But it was well worth the wait, because then he revealed the other part of the surprise...

A hot air balloon ride!

So on 6/7/08, at around 5:30 in the morning, I became engaged to the most amazing man!  

I love you Rhett, It's been one heck of a year, and we have only grown stronger through it all!  

I can't wait for the many more to come!

a face punch of humility

NOTE:  This is long.  It may not make sense.  And I'm ok with that, because really, I don't make sense.  Now on to the post....

***********************************

When Rhett and I first got married, I was so excited to start our life together.  I felt like we had it together.  Marriage, college degrees, our own home, 2 jobs, a dog, great friends, awesome families, and a sense of comfort.  Then...

BAM

I got punched in the face with my friend Humility.

Rhett lost his job and spent the next 4 months trying to get one, and he was finally successful BUT it was in...

Tucson

So not only would Rhett have a new job, but we would be completely uprooting everything we knew to move to a bigger city further away from our families.

So remember that list at the beginning of the list?  See what was lost...

marriage

college degrees

2 1 jobs

home

dog

friends (we have great friends, but none fo them will be in Tucson)

family (we still have family but they will be far far away)

comfort

Ok now back to the story.

So now Rhett found a job in the far away desert of Tucson, we found an apartment to stay in until the new house will be ready, and the company that Rhett works for gave us a nice moving package that helped us get through this whole move thing.  So let's tally everything up again...

marriage

college degrees

2 jobs again

2 homes + apartment

dog

friends 

family 

comfort

Then...

BAM

I get another punch in the face from Humility

I can't find a job in Tucson; no one is hiring pediatric nurses.  Our house isn't selling.  Our home was broken into.  Life is just kinda crappy.  

I won't bore you with that list again, but just mark out job, add a marked out security, and add a large side of STRESS.

(At this time I've kind of lost the original point to this, so I apologize, but I'm about to make a huge shift in subject, well kind of).

Why do I tell you all this?  Because I know that this is a really stupid story, but I feel like I had too much Pride and Self-Assurance.  I (now) feel that everything that has happened, good and bad, stems from this.  I feel that if Rhett and I were spending more time in the Lord, we may have been bettered prepared for everything that happened.  I feel like it is God's plan for us to be in Tucson.  That we have served our purpose in Albuquerque, and He has incredible opportunities awaiting us in Arizona.  I feel like we (by we I mean more myself than Rhett, but since we are married I'm trying to include him) tried to control the situation and make life how we wanted it, not how God planned it.  So then things changed, and taught us things about each other, as well as ourselves.

Did anyone else notice how I didn't include God in any of the lists?  I realized it too after I finished writing the last one.  God should be at the beginning of all our lists.  Even before your spouse and family.  And He hasn't been for us, for me.  I don't view of any of the things that have happened to us as punishment from God.  I believe that God = Love, I believe in free will, but I also believe that we will ultimately be held accountable for all our decisions, good and bad.  I see all these events as Him reminding us that He is the Ultimate Planner, Boss, Decision Maker, and Assurance.  A much as I try to have control, it's futile.  

*************************

Ok so that's all I've got.  I have no idea if this makes sense, and it doesn't really matter.   While writing this, I feel like a lot of my issues seem a little more bearable.  I no longer feel like I want a pity party thrown in my honor.  

Thank you God for my wake up call (or as I lovingly like to refer to it, my punch in the face).

Oh what fun!

So I really don't have anything exciting to post about, so I totally understand if you stop reading about

here....

BUT if you continue on I want to give you all a heads up that I will be hosting a giveaway on my 100th post!  Now I apologize because it won't be the most fabulous giveaway ever (I don't get these google ads, after having it on my page for like 6 months I've earned a whopping total of $1.21), but I have decided to follow a New Mexican theme, in honor of my remaining few weeks here.  SO get pumped...only 7 more posts until the giveaway!

AND in other news, I want to introduce you all to a fabulous new blogger!  McBee from McBee's World is a super awesome chick!  She is what I like to think of as a much cooler Martha Stewart!  Her blog is full of tips, recipes, and generally hilarious and thought provoking stories!  So run, don't walk over here!

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone!

and now he leaves me....

This morning was incredibly painful.  He's gone.  Off to the location of our future.  Our southwestern neighbor.  

We have done the long distance thing so many times before.  We have said "see you soon," more times than I care to think about.  Our first year of dating I was in Abilene, he was in Socorro.  Our second year, I was in Albuquerque, he was still in Socorro.  Our third year, I was in Albuquerque, he was in Albuquerque, but also traveling with work.  Now our first year of marriage will be partially apart.  It's a choice we made, so I could take advantage of my retirement, take some real time to search for a job, spend some real time with my amazing friends I've made in Albuquerque, and try to sell our house.

My heart is aching.

Through all of this I realize what amazing people I have met during my almost 3 years here.   They have all pledged to take care of me while he's gone.  It brings tears to my eyes to think of how I will be leaving these amazing people in less than 2 months.  Life was never meant to be easy.  I think one of the hardest parts of today was realizing that my future in Albuquerque is coming to an end.  Watching that stuffed-to-the-gills Camry drive off with the man I love caused me to stop being in denial about the future.  Albuquerque will not be our home come July.  But we have been blessed beyond measure during our time here and with our future.   

Thank you God for bring us through our "winter."  

EDIT...

Please keep Rhett in your prayers.  While I'm blessed to have so many people here to support me during this time, he is totally alone in Tucson.  Prayers for him to remain safe and meet some people that will make this transition time less difficult!  

Technology rocks! (this time in a really good way!)

In case you all aren't aware my husband starts work on April 20th....in Tucson.  

I will stay in Albuquerque for about another 2 months (off and on) to secure my retirement vesting, work on selling the house, and find a job before I also move to Tucson.

So we will be experiencing the long distance thing ONCE AGAIN in our relationship.  (ok ok I can't complain much, I chose this route, I could just as easily go off to Tucson with him, but I have my reasons for not going quite yet)

Anyways we discovered (ok well I heard of it from my coworker Cyndi, but I didn't understand what it was), Skype.

(image copyrighted by Skype)

Oh my gosh this thing is awesome.  You can video chat with anyone (for free) who has an account.  I'm pumped (I know that you can already do this through AIM and probably Google chat, but this is flipping awesome!).  So download it here, and then become my buddy and let's chat!  Can't wait to chat!

A New Mexico Wonder

New Mexico is SO beautiful.  Most people may only think of desert (I did when I first moved here), but there is so much more. If you are in Albuquerque there are the Sandia Mountains.  You have White Sands at the Southern end of the state.  You have great skiing in the more northern regions.  It truly is a beautiful place. 

This past week my cousin Jake and his girlfriend Jess visited us for their Spring Break.  We got to eat some delicious food and see some incredible stuff.  One of the things I have wanted to do for a while was visit Tent Rocks.  For those who do not know what that is....here are some picture....

When I see natural wonders like these, I think to myself, "How can people not believe in God. How else are all the wonders in this world created?" It was such a beautiful place and a great "little" hike. We left realizing how ridiculously out of shape we are!

How to make.....

Red Chile!

After moving to New Mexico almost 3 years ago, I discovered a hidden secret of the Land of Enchantment...Chile. Now I don't mean the Texas Chili with ground beef, but the green and red chile that makes New Mexican food delicious! I will seriously miss it when/if we ever have to leave!

For the past 2 years, I was without a clue on how to make the red chile sauce...but one of my awesome coworkers gave me a tutorial, so now I am a red chile making machine (and it's pretty good if I do say so myself!). With the red chile sauce you can use it over eggs, burritos, to make carne adovada, enchiladas, etc. So without further ado, here is 1st food tutorial....."How to Make Red Chile"

1st. Purchase the preferred heat level of Red Chile pods

(note: Although I love spicy foods, but husband would prefer maybe a medium spice level because "I'm getting tired of putting the toilet paper in the freezer." This is the man I do love!

2. De seed and de stem the chile pods (with gloves or your hands may have a burning sensation for several hours after). Place the pods in a colander.

3. After you have de seeded and de stemmed all of the pods, place in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Shake the excess water off.

4. Put the pods in a big pot (like one you would use to boil pasta in), fill with water and let soak several hours.



5. After several hours have past, place several of the chile pods (around 1/3 to 1/2 of the total amount) along with a little of the soaking water into a blender. Blend on highest speed for at least 3 minutes (the longer the better, and I don't mean like 10 minutes of blending).





6. Pass the blender contents through a strainer into a large bowl. With a spoon or spatula, help to push the pod mixture through the strainer. Put the left over "pulp" back into the blender with more of the pods along with more soak water. Repeat the blending and straining step until all the pods and been blended. Blend the remaining pulp with some soak water and a few cloves of garlic. Blend until the garlic is good and incorporated about 2 minutes, and add to strained pod mixture.




7. Throw out the remaining soak water and put all the pod mixture into the pot. Heat until warmed through, salt to taste, and serve over/with preferred food (I can give you suggestions if you would like).

I'm not the best photographer, but this is some good stuff!

Here are some important tips to know before you make red chile:
1. Red Chile stains easily...so wear old clothes or an apron in case you get messy. Also if your counter top could stain make sure to work on a covered surface...note my green mat in the pictures.
2. Red Chile freezes well, so divvy up the portions and freeze in Ziploc baggies.
3. Be careful when touching eyes....avoid the unnecessary pain.
4. If you can't find red chile pods in stores you can order them online...bueno or albuquerque tortilla co. are good brands!
5. If you have questions make sure to email me....I sometimes forget things!

Good Luck and have fun!

It's snowing...

on my head...

I love Albuquerque, but it is so dang dry....until today I have only noticed my hands looking like they are caked in flour and my face being so dry it hurts. But as I was looking in the mirror, I realized that the dry weather has now struck my head....

I'm pretty sure I looked like this when I found it...



today is a sad day....but moisture will overcome!