Updates on Life

Sometimes I don't think the things going on in our lives are blog worthy or that most anyone would ever care. But maybe this is more for me than anyone else. So here's what has been going on in our lives lately, for anyone who should want to know. I graduated from grad school (YAY!) Maybe I'll get some of those pictures up :) We painted the outside of the house, of which I did post a picture. I then started a teaching assistant position with the University of Toledo grading for two online nutrition courses. Now I have just started back for the Spring semester.

Between August and October I was looking and applying for jobs while studying to take my RD exam (the exam for Registered Dietitians). I finally took it the end of October and passed :) The next week I got three interviews, took two of them and got a job!

We also went to my brothers wedding the end of October, I started my job (more about that later) the 1st of November, then we went mid November to Charleston, SC for my cousin's wedding (which was beautiful). We decided to stay home for Thanksgiving, which I do have to say was nice. It was sad not being with family but we had a great family in Christ to spend it with. During November, our best friends moved to Minnesota, but for a good reason, a job promotion! But still, a little sad.

Now we're knee deep in the renovations to our only full sized bathroom. We've been using the gym for a shower for the past two weeks which has been different. It's such a blessing that we have the ability to shower somewhere else but you have no idea how much you will miss being able to walk down the hall to the bathroom. - Update...the bathroom is now done! Pictures to come.

So for my job, in case anyone is still reading. :) I'm working part time as a registered dietitian at St Vincent Mercy Medical center in downtown Toledo and so far I love it! I think the people you work with make all the difference. I know I've only been there a couple of months but I really do enjoy going to work. Not liking my job was one of my fears before I started work. And, I must admit, even though I wish I could be full time some point soon, I really do enjoy having 2-3 days a week to get things done around the house and to get some of my grading done. St V's is a part of a Catholic healthcare group that is ranked #3 in the nation and they seem like a great company to work for. This is their mission statement:

Mercy extends the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of our communities, with an emphasis on the poor and under served.

They also focus on providing care for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, and this is the second largest hospital in the Toledo area! I had been praying about where I would eventually work and to see God's plan unfold had been wonderful. I feel like I am exactly where he wants me to be and that I am in His will for my life. Praise the Lord!

Here are a few pictures for the past couple of months:

Graduation from BGSU

Katie and Ross's Wedding in August

Lindsay and Todd's Wedding in Charleston, SC

The BIG House

This weekend Forrest and I got to visit The BIG House and I must say it was impressive. Never have I seen 109,901 people all in one place. Even though Michigan didn't win it was still fun to see the Maize Out. Here are some pictures from the game.

The parachuter brought down the game ball.

Walter and Terry

Forrest's Birthday :)

Today is my best friend and partner in life's 28th birthday. I feel so privileged to have been apart of his last 7 birthdays and can't wait for many many more! I praise the Lord everyday for our marriage and the blessings he has given us. So, happy birthday honey! I love you :)

Painting the House

Right now our current project is painting the outside of the house. We aren't done yet but did the front first so that it kinda looks like we're done . :)

Before:

After:

I haven't finished.

The light is taking a little longer than planned to finish. Something about crown moulding and angles that are not fun to cut, according to my husband :) But for now, here's a picture of what it looks like.

Much better already than before.

Latest Project

Trying to go from this:

To this using only materials I already have. Finished product to follow :)

Wow, it's been awhile. I thought while I was lounging around the house I'd stop by and post something, that is if anyone still reads this blog since it's been four months since my last post! We haven't been too fantastically busy lately. And there is pretty much nothing too interesting to post about. However, we did put in a patio last month so I'll post a picture or two to show off our hard work. The house projects have slowed down a lot as we only have the bathroom and kitchen to finish. We did get new appliances in April, which was pretty exciting. For now we're just enjoying the summer weather and Forrest is staying busy with work. He was gone today on a walleye fishing tournament with work today and I'm staying pretty busy working 40hrs/week for free. I am looking forward to spending those 40hrs/week earning a paycheck soon! I wish I had some big exciting news to share but for now we're just enjoying the lack of drama and unnecessary excitement in our lives! Below are some before and after patio pictures.

What we've been up to lately...

Forrest has been working hard as always and is currently on a ski trip in Michigan with some of the men he works with. I have been working on my masters and since January have been in rotations to become eligible to sit for the RD exam. I started in long term care and have just finished a food service management rotation with a public school system. Soon I will be working in a dialysis center and then on to the University of Toledo Medical Center for acute care. I finish the first week of August and will graduate August 7th. I am really looking forward to finishing school and can't wait to start looking for jobs!

Our Brand New Half Bath

We finally finished our half bath today! It still needs a mirror and a few decor items but overall, it's done! Below are some pictures of the completed project and some more before pictures.

Before

After

More Bathroom Pictures

Here are the latest pictures from tonight's work on the bathroom.

Half bath sink
Ceiling & exhaust fan. It just needs a coat of white paint
New door frame Forrest created to match the old one.
Space where the toilet will fit against the wall and under cabinet lighting, only there is no cabinet.
Lighting in unfinished shelves
Right corner

Happy New Year & New Projects

It has been way too long since I last updated. Since Halloween, we have been back to NC for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. We returned back to Ohio on December 30th and have been working on another house project. I am really excited about this one. We are working on our half bath right now. We weren't planning on starting this project yet but while Forrest was reconnecting electricity back to the half bath and stairway (the lights haven't worked for awhile since we are redoing all of the electrical wires) we decided to just go ahead and work on the half bath. It is a small space....a really small space. It isn't even 4' x 4'! Having a space this size really creates a lot of challenges but it's been fun trying to create a space that seems larger than it actually is. Below are some pictures of what we started with and some of the room in progress. We are no where near completion but it has come a long way in the short week we've been working. We have ordered a recieved a space saving wall mount sink and a Kohler toilet that is the smallest from front to back on the market. Forrest even removed the studs on the wall to make a space for the toilet to sit back in for more room.

After we removed the false ceiling, we realized why there was a false ceiling in the first place. The exhaust fan that was once used over the stove runs through the half bath.

We found a cubby hold to the left of the fireplace and are now adding built in shelves for storage.
Drywall removed. We are also moving the toilet to the right wall and the sink on the front wall where the toilet was.

Future installments include wainscoting below the chair rail, under cabinet lighting in the built-in shelves and above the toilet, can lighting in the ceiling, and a large mirror. More pictures to come.