home is where your heart is...your heart is where your husband is

So this week was my first week at the new job. So far, I love it! Or I guess, I can't say that I love the job; I like the job, but love the opportunities it opens up for Michael and I. I can't wait until I learn everything I need to in order to really get started on my own, separate from my trainer. Nothing is ever too enjoyable when you don't know what you're doing. Every morning when I get up, I think of how much sooner we'll be able to pay off Michael's school loans, build a home together, and all the places we'll be able to travel together, if I do well. It's pure motivation to put forth my best everyday. I'm just so tired of Michael and I having to constantly remind eachother that our current misery will pay off years down the road. I want so badly to be able to afford Michael some great adventure during one of his school breaks. He's honestly just so so deserving. With that, I suit up and head to work.

Though I've learned so much in my first week at my new job, the thing that sticks out most in my mind is simply how incredibly blessed I am. Everyday I meet with seniors. Some of them extremely obese and unable to even really get up off the chair, spending all day watching TV, being reminded of life with only the tiny bit of sunshine that makes it's way through the snowey weather and into the window. Others that I've seen aren't immobile, but they have no money. They're living in run down wooden-frame houses, off the tiny amount that the government gives them and can barely afford day-to-day expenses, much less anything fun. I can't really imagine being in that situation. When I think of retirement, I imagine ample time to enjoy all the things about life that we won't have time to do with jobs and kids. Life surely isn't everything I would hope it to be, while here in Iowa. It's cold and lonely, and I sometimes I feel like I'm never going to feel the sun on my skin again. Still, I have my health, my family, my husband, money in the bank, and hopefully a bright future ahead. My new job has reminded me of this everyday. My goal is to never become numb to those around me who are so much less fortunate.

Aside from work, this week hasn't been bad. Aaron, my awesome trainer, is eager to show me more of the area and has been really helpful in suggesting some cool local spots to try. Since there's honestly nothing to actually do here, he told me about two of his fav. restaraunts, Tasty Tacos and Zombie Burger. Tasty Tacos mainly only has puffy tacos and isn't really anything extraordinary, compared to the food they have in TX (though it is good), but it's really unique for the area, so it's become kind of a local legend. Now Zombie Burger, on the other hand, is awesome! It has Zombies set up inside, creepy candles on all the tables, and the menu is on the back of an old-fashioned newspaper article of a zombie envasion...very unique. The food is even better! My burger had fried macaroni patties instead of the actual bun, with macaroni oozing out of the middle, grilled onions, ranch, and several other yummies. I figured Michael would get his typical burger, plain and dry, but this time he actually stepped out of his box. I was so proud haha! His had fried pickles, chicken-fried bacon, "cheese curds" (aka: fried balls of motzerella), and normal burger toppings. They both probably had more calories than I would have normally consumed in a 3-day period, but it was worth it! We'll definitely be going back!

Other than that, things have been pretty much the same as always. Michael has gotten into poker, since playing on his phone, so he ordered himself a nice poker set and an electronic card-shuffler with his Christmas money. It came in yesterday and he was so psyched. He has so little excitement from day to day, the look on his face made me feel like it was Christmas. He's just so sweet :) Can't wait till he can take a break from studying and we can play together!

I got really homesick on Texas Independence Day, after seeing everyone's Texas pride displayed all over facebook, and wished I could be back to the great state. I continue to miss all of our amazing family and friends, but I try to remind myself to just focus on being thankful to even have such wonderful people in the my life to miss. During times like this, there's only one way to take life- day to day.