A Defining Moment

About a month ago I received my degree in the mail. When I opened it I just sat down and stared at it for a minute. I remembered thinking to myself, "Is this it? Is this what defines you?" It made me proud but angry at the same time because yes, this is what society says makes you better than others and more worthy to have a better job than others. At that moment, the past two years of my life just kind of flashed before my eyes and I was remembering all the hard work and sacrifice that my family and I had gone through including all the bullshit, and all I had to show for it was a stupid piece of paper that says yes you are worthy of doing your job? I didn't seem to feel satisfied. I busted my ass for two years! I was pretty much gone from my family every night, I worked for free at hospitals for 6 months, I studied every weekend, I barely saw my husband and kids and I was the one in the beginning convincing them that this would make our life better in the long run? After about a year into it, it didn't seem very convincing anymore. I saw my life changing before my eyes and in my heart I wasn't happy. I was falling apart. But I had invested so much into this already that there was no turning back now. I had to suck it up and keep moving forward. So I guess you could imagine how I felt when I received my piece of paper in the mail, the paper that was suppose to make all of this worth it. In fact it just didn't seem worth it at all. I felt that the past 2 years of my life was done in vein. My mind completely changed on Monday 11/16/08. I got the call I had been envisioning exactly 2 years ago in my head. I was offered a job at Banner Desert Medical Center working in the pediatrics department! I was so happy I cried because I knew what a blessing it was for me to be able to have that job. At that moment I knew exactly what all my hard work and sacrifice was for. To be able to have the opportunity to contribute to my community in a noble way, to be able to say to my kids, "You can do anything if you work hard and believe in yourself." And to be able to help give that financial support that only my husband has provided all these years for us and being able to say to him, "Go ahead and take the day off tomorrow since you drank like a fish watching your football game tonight." That makes it worth it lol. In the end, I believe that only we can truly define ourselves. Although society does want that "piece of paper".....anyone can get that "piece of paper." Its how you live your life once you get it that really counts.

Isabella

Little Miss Izzy....wow what can I say except for that she rules our world lol! Isabella just turned 4 in July and started pre-school at the Academy of Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic Church this fall. It has been I believe, life changing for her. She is learning how to share and get along with other children without mommy or daddy around. She learned how to ride her bike this summer with no training wheels, how to tie her shoes, and how to do the worm and the robot thanks to the show Randy Jacksons "Americas Best Dance Crew" on MTV. She keeps us laughing non stop. She will be starting dance class after the holidays so we will see how that goes. She definitely has some moves no doubt lol!

Savannah

Savannah is 7 1/2 and in 2nd grade now! She is doing so well in school and we are so proud of her. I am not one to brag about my kids but this will be the one time and that's it :) She makes straight A's and is above average in her reading, math, and her writing skills are above and beyond her level and all the grades around her. Her goal is to be class president when she hits 5th grade. She is not in Jr. High or High school yet so I'm gonna brag while I can. She has been in dance since she was 3 but we took a break this year because she wants to try out sports and see how she likes that. Savannah has been learning more about her faith too. She has been taking religious education classes which she loves to prepare her for making her first communion and confirmation next year. We are so proud of her.

Life in General

Our life has been crazy busy but a blessing all in one. I finally finished school in July and it has been the most life changing years I have ever had. Although I believe it has made me a stronger person, I am sooooo glad it's over!!! I passed all my boards and I am officially a Registered Respiratory Therapist now thank God. For now, I have just been enjoying my time with my family being a mom and a wife. Its funny how you can take for grantid all the little simple things in life that are truly the only things that make you happy. Tyson is still working for Crescent Crown delivering the beer(thank God for the beer guys) and trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Once I get settled into my career then it will be his turn to venture off and do something that he has always wanted to do. He has been the foundation of this family and financial supporter, and if it weren't for him, I would have never been able to finish school and have the luxury of staying home with my little girls all these years. That is something I appreciate and will never forget.