JOBS:
Skip and I have been very blessed when it has come to finding work. The day after we got home from our honeymoon Skip had an interview with an oral surgeon for the position of surgical assistant. Skip is an incredibly hard worker, and very personable, but even I was amazed to find out that he got hired on the spot at this interview (keep in mind that he had no previous medical experience). We continued to see blessings when he discovered how much he truly loved this job and decided this is the field he wants to make a career out of, something that he had not been able to pin point till this job. Being a surgical assistant for an oral surgeon has taught him so much, and they even paid for him to get IV certified! Fast forward a year (present day), and this job has recently helped him get a position volunteering for Vincent De Paul pediatric dental clinic. It can be really hard to find a place that will take you on and give you the experience, especially here in AZ where dentistry is so heavily populated and everyone wants the experience. Not only is this dental office giving him great hands on experience, but Skip couldn’t have asked for nicer people to work with. Skip even told me the other day that the dentist asked him if he wanted to play some basketball at the YMCA after doing some volunteer work. As for me I graduated this past May at ASU with Bachelors in Psychology. I was unsure of what type of job I should get. After applying for a few places like private schools, advising at UofP, etc. an opportunity arose to be a nanny for a cute little baby boy. I thought it might be a temporary job for the summer until I found something else, but I realize that I love watching this baby boy and haven’t worried about looking for other work since.
HEALTH:
The morning
of our first date Skip ran his first Triathlon (that’s why he was in town for
the date in the first place). In our
first year of marriage he has since completed four more Triathlons. He also hopes to accomplish a half iron man
in the next year. I am so happy that he
has found a hobby that he loves and enjoys, and also happy that I have been able
to watch and support all of his races since we have been married. While I have not quite caught the enthusiasm
for Tri’s that Skip has we have been able to run one or two 5k’s together in
our first year and I hope that we continue to enjoy running these races
throughout our marriage. Also an
important note, right before Skip and I got engaged I was training with a
friend for a half marathon. About the time
that I had conditioned myself up to eight or nine miles I injured my foot and had
to stop the training. I am so grateful
that since getting back into running I have not had any injuries and hope to
slowly get the mileage back that I once had.
HOME:
Skip and I
have been very fortunate in our housing arrangements. When Skip and I were engaged our original
marriage date was set for November, but soon after Skip told me he wanted to
move up the date to August, before school started. One of my biggest concerns I had was where we
would live. How would we so quickly find
an affordable and nice place to live?
One of Skip’s brothers told us that a neighbor of his was going to rent
out an apartment that’s attached to the side of their house. We weren’t very confident we would get it
because he warned us that it would go fast.
When we were engaged we tried to go the temple as much as possible to
help us feel peace in what we should do.
On one particular Thursday when we came out of the temple Skip noticed
that he had missed two phone calls. One
was about the apartment we got, and the other was about getting a job (another
concern of mine was that he didn’t have work in Mesa yet). I was amazed that everything I was concerned
about, everything holding me back from moving up the wedding was answered in an
instant. Skip immediately looked at me
and said you know revelation doesn’t come any clearer than that right? This place has been perfect for us — it’s
affordable, it's in a great neighborhood, and it's close to family on both sides.
I don’t know what we have done to be so fortunate
in our first year of marriage, but I am so thankful for how everything has
worked out. Looking back it is truly
amazing to see all of the blessings in our life, more blessings than I would possibly
be able to sum up. I never want to
forget how often the hand of the Lord has helped us this past year. I’m so grateful for answers to prayers, and
help from loving family and ward members.
