Happy Valentine's Day!!

Tim and I had a great Valentine's Day together. We celebrated it on Saturday evening because on Sunday we usually don't feel like going out anywhere. We are usually together, but it is just hanging at home. We went out to dinner at Gianni's in Deer Park which we love. They have fantastic Italian food and it has a great atmosphere. Tim goes there often for lunch with some of his co-workers because one of the owners used to work with him. The portions are huge so we had leftovers to bring home for the next day which I love because then it means I don't have to cook something. After dinner we were going to go see a movie, but it got too late and we ended up missing all of the movie times, so we just went home. We got each other small gifts which isn't something we usually do for Valentine's Day, but we did this year. I got Tim an easel and some oil paints for his art. Two Christmas' ago I got him some canvas and paints and wanted to get him the easel, but they were out of the one that I wanted to get. So, I told him that I would get it for him when they got more in and it was just one of those things that I never followed through with. But it wasn't a big deal to Tim because there were several other gifts that he got that Christmas. He seemed to like his gift and I got him one of those musical cards. It was perfect because it played "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You" which is our song.

Tim likes to be a little bit of a jokester when it comes to giving gifts. For example he is the person who wraps one tiny little package in like one very large box or you have to open ten boxes before finally getting to your gift. Well, this gift was no different. He handed me a card and a medium size wrapped package. I read the card and it was really sweet. Then I opened the package and it was peanut M & M's and I thought what the heck is this. There has to be more. I smiled and laughed and he joked with me and asked how I liked my gift and I was like no, where is my real gift. So, then he finally takes a small box out of his pocket which was the real gift. I opened it and it was a very pretty heart shaped necklace. It was very sweet. The first gift that Tim ever gave me which was our first Christmas together which was a huge Teddy Bear which I still have with a gold heart shaped necklace around the bears neck.

Valentine's Day has always been very special to us because it marks the anniversary of the day Tim asked me to marry him. It was eleven years ago that we got engaged and I remember it like it was yesterday. We were still in College at the time and I had no clue that he was going to ask me on that day. I thought it was just going to be a regular Valentine's Day. Don't get me wrong we had talked about getting married someday, but we were in College we didn't have any money. So, the day we got engaged, we started the day with a beautiful walk along the beach. It was one of those abnormally warm February days. Then we had an indoor picnic to candelight. Then he put on music and spread rose petals all over the room and we exchanged gifts. I actually have no memory of what I got him on that day. He was sort of a jokester that day too with the gifts. I was struggling with my weight as I always have. Although I was much skinnier then than I am now. Well, I told him not to get me any chocolates because if he gave them to me of course I was going to eat them. So, he gave me a wrapped gift, medium size package and inside was a candy box (one of those heart shaped ones). When I saw it I remember being so angry and irritated with him for getting me candy when I told him not to. He kept encouraging me to open the box. I did and to my surprise there was no candy in the box. It was a bunch of those chocolate paper wrappers. He grabbed something out of there and put it in his hand. I still had no idea what was going on. He told me to read this card. I did and it said all of these wonderful things in it and then it said to flip it over to the back and it said "Will you marry me?" I was so in shock my mouth dropped to the floor. Tim actually took a picture of my face when I read it. Then he took the ring out of the little candy wrapper paper and asked me to marry him again. I said, "Yes" of course. We were so happy. I wanted to call everyone and tell them, but all of my friends already knew that we were getting engaged because Tim told them that he was going to ask me. It is one of the best memories. And I am so happy that I said yes. I love you so much honey!! I love you more and more as each year goes by. I wish for many many more years of happiness together.

PS I would post some old pictures from our engagement day, but our scanner, printer, fax machine is broken and none of those pictures are on my computer.

Oh and guess what else my wonderful husband did. He had flowers sent to me today. Here is a picture.



Here are a few other pictures from our night out. We had our waitress take one of us together but accidentily deleted it.





I hope everyone else had a good Valentine's Day!! I wish you all Love. All we need is Love and everything else will fall into place.

Full Circle

For those of you who do not know, I moved into a new position at my job in January and so far I am loving it. With my new job came my very own office which I have never had before, but I have dreamed of for so many years. I have enjoyed decorating it and making it my own space. I am much more productive in my own office than before when I was sharing with all of my SASS girls. However, having my own office is bittersweet because I miss all my SASS girls. I don't get to see them and socialize with them as much as I used to. I feel very disconnected from them now that I don't see them everyday. I miss all of you girls. Even though, I miss my SASS girls, I am very happy to be in my new job. It has been a very long journey, but it was all worth it.

Here is a picture of my SASS girls that my good friend, Anneliese took at a recent party.


It all started back in High School when I took a psychology class that I just loved. I also have a lot of family who have emotional challenges that intrigue me. I began taking psychology classes in College and declared my major in psychology. My professors LFC had mostly research backgrounds which I was absolutely positive that I did NOT want to be a researcher. I hated research and statistics with the passion. We had a class and a lab that went on for hours every Wednesday afternoon. I knew I wanted to work with actual people and help them. I was very fortunate that my school had an internship program, so my junior year I interned at a crisis line/talk line/help line. My senior year I completed another internship working with victims of sexual assault. At that time, I really wanted to be a doctor and get my PsyD in Psychology, so I applied to graduate programs, but did not get into any of them. Probably due to my having a little too much fun my sophomore year in college. I was devastated at the time that I did not get in. But looking back it all happened for a reason. I was not ready to go into a graduate program at that point in my life.

Then I had to figure out plan B. Get a job and make some money. I got a job in a residential facility working evenings and weekends with adolescents. I enjoyed the clients but the job was really stressful. Two years later, I changed jobs to have some more time with my hubby and worked in Foster Care and Adoptions as a caseworker. I enjoyed this work too, but it was not right for me. I wanted to be doing therapy with clients. So, I decided to apply to schools to get my masters degree. I got into two schools Argosy and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I was ecstatic. I chose The Chicago School because of their reputation and the fact that I could take classes close to my home. I worked during the daytime and went to school in the evenings. I loved all of my classes in graduate school. My professors were all working in the field doing therapy with clients. It was a fantastic experience. My last year in school, I had the best internship ever. I counseled children, adolescents, and adults and got to do all different kinds of therapy. I loved it and knew that it was the best fit for me.

After I graduated, it took me awhile to find a job. I first worked at a hospital in the inpatient psych ward part-time. I did not really like this job, but I needed the money to pay those hefty student loans and I was helping people. I liked helping people, but the treatment in this job was too short-term. Clients were only there for 5-7 days. After a few months of working there, I got offered a job to work in the SASS program. I learned so much while in the SASS program. Now, I actually enjoy doing crisis work now which is something I never thought that I would say. I am also very confident in my abilities to do crisis work and therapy. I got my clinical counselor licensure almost a year ago. I love working with children, adolescents, and families. I feel very blessed to be in a job that I love and work with people that are not only my co-workers, but my close friends.

It was a long journey finding a job I love with fabulous co-workers. During my journey, there were times when I thought I would never reach my goal. No matter how long it took or difficult it was at times, I wouldn't change a thing. Each experience made me the person who I am today. Accomplishing this goal, gives me renewed hope that I will be able to accomplish other goals that I have been working on for awhile. Everything happens for a reason and I truly believe that.

Mady's 1st Birthday

My BFF Carissa's daughter, Mady turned 1 on January 5th. We went to her house and celebrated with some other friends and Carissa's sister, Magdalena. Here are some pictures from that day.

Tori

Mady's Birthday Cupcakes

Tori and her dad, Tim

Magdalena and Mady

Carissa and Jonathan (he fell asleep while Carissa was holding him) so cute!!

Carissa helping Mady eat her Dora cupcakes!!




Dawn and Timmy

Mady opening her presents with Timmy and Christopher helping her




Christopher eating his cupcakes




Carissa, Dawn, and I went to High School together. Our friend Barb was supposed to come but her kids were sick, so she couldn't make it. Dawn's kids are Tori and Timmy and she has another one on the way. She is due in July. Carissa's only child is Mady. And Magdalena, Carissa's sister has Christopher and Jonathan. We had a good time hanging out and I think the kids had a blast too!!

New Years Pics

Here are some of the pictures from New Years Eve. Even though it wasn't the greatest night of my life. It was spend with good company.

End of the year/Start of A new Decade

Hello all! I am a little behind on updating my blog, but it has been busy the last couple of weeks. Our new years was quite interesting. We spent it was some great people. However, the event we went to itself was not so fabulous. We decided to go out at the last minute and I did not really feel like going out because of some things that happened before new years.

My BFF, Carissa who I went to school with since the sixth grade and have been friends with ever since. We were like sisters growing up. We were always together and spent the night at each others houses all the time. We walked to school together. She came on our family vacations. Her family was like my family and in some ways still is. Well, you see her brother, Eric died earlier that week on December 29th 2009 of liver failure. This was a shock to everyone and very disheartening because he was so young. He was only 25 years old. The wake for Eric was on New Years Day and the Funeral was the day after.

Knowing that all of that was coming, I did not feel much like going out to a new years eve party. But we went out anyways and it wasn't that great. However, Eric passing really made me put things into perspective. You see I had been feeling sorry for myself for several reasons. Asking god why he has not given me a baby that I want so very badly. Instead I should be thanking god for giving me such wonderful blessing everyday. I am very fortunate. I have a wonderful husband who treats me with respect and loves me for who I am. My family and I are healthy. My husband and I both have jobs that we like and a beautiful home. I have incredible friends. And so many other blessings that I need to be reminded of because I do easily forget.

It has been very difficult for Carissa and her family losing Eric. But as we reflect back on Eric's life, he definitely knew how to enjoy life. Eric was always happy with a big smile on his face. He loved everyone and made sure that you knew how much you loved him. He made sure that he was able to experience everything in life even if his mom told him no. He didn't let the little things in life bother him. He was and is a true role model on how to live life to the fullest. I need to take some lessons from him and enjoy all of the blessing that god has given me.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Tim and I had a good Christmas together. It started on Wednesday which was Christmas EVE EVE. I made lots of christmas cookies and listened to christmas music. Tim watched me make the cookies and ate some. Simba ate some crumbs that were dropped on the floor. In the middle of baking my special double chocolate chip cookies, my mixer broke, so I had to go out and by a new one. It was snowing and raining and really icy out, but I made it back in one peice and finished the cookies.






On Christms Eve, I made a few more batches of cookies and wrapped all the presents. Then we all got ready to head down to the southside to see my family. We dropped Simba off at my mom's house and we headed over to my cousins' house to see my dad and his side of the family. It was good to see everyone. I only took a few pictures there.




After the party, I went to my mom's and spent the night there. I did not want to deal with driving back in the morning. The weather wasn't that great and why drive an hour back home just to turn around and come back in the morning. However, my husband decided that he wanted to go home and sleep there. So, he drove home and slept there and then turned around and drove back to the same place twelve hours later. I tried to convince him to stay, but he is very stubborn. And when he has his mind set on doing something, there is no talking him out of it. I guess that is why we argue because we are both stubborn and want to have it our way.

Anyways, I stayed up late with my mom and Simba watching TV. We were still awake when my brother came home from work (he works in a bar and he closed up) so it was like 2:30am when he came home. He and his girlfriend exchanged gifts. My little brother is growing up. This is the first girlfriend who he has introduced to the family and the longest relationship he has ever had. And he bought her some really nice christmas gifts. He gave her a Coach purse, coach change purse, and a movado watch. This is a big thing for him because he usually doesn't get anyone any gifts because he never saves his money to buy any gifts. What can I say, Candace is a good influence on him.

Christmas Day we all slept in late. My mom cooked a lovely dinner. She made Turkey breast, roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, stuffing, salad, rolls, and christmas cookies for dessert. I was quite lazy all day and just laid around on the couch watching TV. Me, Tim, my mom, my brother, and Simba had dinner and then opened christmas presents. Simba got to eat his very own plate of christmas dinner. The most excited one of all to open presents was Simba. He has gotten christmas presents every year since he was a puppy. I wrap them all up in wrapping paper and he opens them all by himself. He loves it and is so happy. We usually by him "babies" which are just stuffed animals. And he gets some pig ears which are his favorite. Simba usually only gets his babies once a year because he carries them around for awhile, but eventually they are all ripped up and the stuffing is all over the living room. At Christmas time, he has so many he usually doesn't know which one to play with. However, any treats or pig ears he gets he eats right away. Simba also likes to rip up all the wrapping paper that ends up on the floor from all of our presents. He only gets to do this once a year, so I let him have his fun. Here are some fun pictures of him on Christmas.

CAN WE OPEN PRESENTS PLEASE?


LOOK AT ALL OF THESE FUN PRESENTS




I FOUND A PIG EAR











Simba had so much fun that he had paper stuck to his butt and tape on his nose. It was so cute.



He wore himself out with all the eating, opening presents, ripping up wrapping paper. Slept most of the way home.

The day after Christmas we woke up to a beautiful snow storm. I was really happy to see the snow. After having an ice and rain storm on Christmas eve and Christmas, I really wanted some snow. And since we did not have anywhere that we had to go, it was perfect. We stayed home all day and watched the snow, watched movies, had some hot chocolate, and enjoyed the tree. Simba did go outside quite a few times to play in the snow, but I did not go out there with him. Normally, I do not like snow, but around christmas it is always welcome. Some pictures from the backyard.