Oy vey!

Our lives have been a ridiculous roller coaster of stress the last six months. Working on getting the house sold, finding an apartment, finding Ben a job, and financial planning is enough to drive a person mad. I think that the month between the end of work and beginning of law school will be a much needed break to relax and rein in my anxiety. 

Throughout this process we have hit bump after bump. The theme to the past 6 months has been "whatever can go wrong, will." Everyone keeps telling me that it will all work out in the end. Well, yeah, but they aren't the ones who have to sacrifice their bank accounts in the meantime. Oy vey.

Despite how it may sound, Ben and I have both remained positive and are taking everything in stride. There have been a couple glimmers of relief in the past week or so, and if those would just pan out we would be able to breathe easy for a while. Fingers crossed!

As I reflect on the past few months and what is in the very near future, I am reminded how blessed I am to be married to a man as wonderful as Ben. He has been nothing but supportive of my decision to go to law school. He has agreed to quit his job, move to another state, and support us financially as I pursue my degree. He does not do this begrudgingly or expect "repayment". His love and support still amazes me. 

Of course, I have offered a form of "repayment". If/when Ben decides to pursue his Ph.D., I will offer him the same deal he is offering me. He just has to wait a few years. In anticipation of his future endeavors, he is using this time to discover ways in which he can gain experience a knowledge that will benefit him in the long run. 

We have less than a month until we can move into our apartment in St. Paul. We have a lot to do between now and then. We are looking forward to this next chapter!

2 weeks - 1 post

It has been a couple weeks since my last post.  Since the 28th, we have had many things happen.  Some happy, like Ben completing his master's program, and some not so happy, like our transmission going out of our car. (Is that proper use of punctuation and sentence structure?  I don't care.  I'm too tired.)

As I mentioned, Ben has successfully completed his masters program and received an A on his final project or paper or presentation or whatever.  SO proud of him!!  To celebrate, we went for supper at R.G. Books in Cedar Rapids.  Ben ordered a 12 oz. steak and it was huge.  He was very excited.  He grudgingly allowed me a bite and it was delicious.  Otherwise, he ate the entire thing.  I was impressed. . . 

Continuing with education, my wonderful mother has completed her first year of college!! It is amazing to see how much she has grown and the confidence she has gained from this experience.  It is also amazing how quickly that year went by!  I always tells her to enjoy her time as a college student, because as soon as you are at a job 40 hours a week you really envy the freedom of the student life.  I would LOVE to go to the gym in the middle of the day for a couple hours, or sleep in until 8 a.m. and study with a cup of coffee.  Ben agrees, so I know I'm not alone in that thought.

And again with education: I am officially signed up for summer and fall classes at the University of Iowa!!!!  I have wanted to be able to say I have a bachelor's in something (anything!) as well as to be able to say that I'm a true Hawkeye and Iowa Alumni.  Insha'Allah, that will be a reality in the spring of 2016.  I'm excited and nervous for classes to start.  I keep having these dreams that I have skipped class the entire semester and am down to finals week and if I don't pass the class then I don't graduate.  I'm nervous to fail. 

Even when we have crazy schedules, we always try and fit in a "family dinner" at least one night a week.  Since it is finally warming up, we are breaking in the grill!  We had everyone over this week to make kabobs and socialize.  I also like to use the time for some baby lovins from my sweet Goddaughter:

Sweet nugget! :)

Aren't they precious?!

 Switching gears to Mother's Day, I was able to celebrate with my mother in Cedar Rapids.  She came up on Saturday and stayed through mid-day on Sunday.  We did a bit of light shopping and then went for a 5 mile ish bike ride.  Ben and I then took mom out to the Lincoln Wine Bar which is my absolute favorite place.  Ma has been wanting to try it and they had a cellist playing so we decided to go.  It was crowded, but comfortable and we enjoyed delicious food and quality music.  After supper, we went to a local ice cream place for some soft-serve and ended the night with a movie. 

On Sunday, we had a leisurely morning and ma went with me to grab some groceries. She had marinated salmon and brought it up, so we fixed that, asparagus and rice for lunch.  Absolutely amazing! Ben and I will be making that same dish in the near future.

I am so blessed to have such a truly wonderful mother.  I love her so much and always get a little down whenever she leaves or we have to leave her.  There really is never enough time.  

On a final note, I leave you with this picture of Ben.  We took a car full of large objects to the dump during city dump day and Ben had to practically sit on the steering wheel.  Not safe, really, but makes for a funny picture. :)

Surprise piano!

I play piano.  I have wanted a piano since moving out of my parents' house and leaving behind the green beast upright that weighs a bazillion pounds.  Well, on Saturday, April 26, 2014, I came home to a piano in my living room!

Piano as I found it when I came home!

My darling husband surprised me with this beauty out of the blue! He coordinated with our friends so that he could (1) get the piano to our house; (2) get me out of the house; and (3) have help in getting the piano up our hill and through the front door.  Well, he succeeded on all fronts.  I had NO idea that this is what he was doing!  

Earlier in the week Ben mentioned doing lunch and beers with a couple of our guy friends at a nearby bar he had been wanting to try.  I thought that sounded great and I would either chill at home or see what Johnna was up to.  Johnna beat me to the punch by asking if I would want to run errands with her and Maelynn. 

Saturday I showered and headed out with Johnna.  Ben was getting ready to leave at the same time, too, and when he forgot the address to the house so he could pick up the piano, he was sure I thought something was going on.  I didn't think anything of it.

When we were getting close to the house after our errands, Johnna had me call Ben to see if he'd help carry in the bags.  Danny and him were sitting out on the patio waiting for our return.  They helped us carry in the bags and when I walked in I did a double take and exclaimed "WHOA!".  My initial thought was, "Who are we storing this for?".  

What surprised me almost as much as the piano, was that Ben kept it a secret! He did say something midweek about how now that he has his guitar, we need to get me a musical instrument.  He also had told me that on Saturday he would have a surprise for me, but I had completely forgotten.  He received the piano from a student's parent.  They asked him if he knew anyone who wanted a piano and he said that he would take it.  He explained that I have played for years and have wanted one for a very long time.  The piano was in her family for three generations, but her sons didn't want it so they were looking to get rid of it.  Now it is ours.  :)

Doesn't this just make you want to snuggle up with a book and tea? 

Now we have the piano set up in our entertaining area and it has made the room that much more cozy.  I love it!  I especially love my romantic husband who so thoughtfully orchestrated all of this!

My happy place! 

RULES: 

1.  NO pounding on the keys.

2.  NO food or drink to be set on the piano. Anywhere.

3.  NO chop sticks. 

4.  NO making fun of my doily.

:)

This week at the CR Jackson household . . . 2.0

This has been a fairly productive week for us.  We filed our taxes, I finished my FAFSA, we cleaned, spent much needed time with friends, and I gave the dog a bath. It seems a bit more impressive in my head than written out. . . 

Last Sunday I was getting a bit of cabin fever and was able to convince Ben to do a mini-date of browsing at the used book store and grabbing a coffee.  We found a book on growing a small garden that we purchased because we plan to do a raised garden of sorts in our backyard (and hopefully lots of canning!!!! With the help of my mother-in-law hopefully!).  Ben also found a book of ideas on how to integrate technology in the elementary music classroom which is something he is very interested in.  I struggled to find something that I found interesting, so as we on our way up to the register to pay, I grabbed the book Half the Sky: How to Change the World, and it has turned out to be AWESOME.  It is truly heartbreaking, but also inspiring.  I highly recommend picking it up!  Not pictured is my oober awesome Sound of Music record that I picked up! 

^^ This little tooty has been enjoying the spring weather.  He knocks on the door alllllll the time so he can go out and tree squirrels, bask in the sunlight, and do whatever it is that doggies do.  He has also enjoyed more frequent walks since it is not below zero and grody out.  

Since it is changing seasons and we are emerging from hibernation, Ben and I are putting our heads together on how to decorate our home/clean it up/improve it.  We are going to paint our living room/dining nook/entry way (all one area) and have narrowed it down to our paint choices.  We are also going to paint our bedroom so it no longer looks like a tampon box.  We also are going to remove the bajillion cans of paint we inherited with the house, along with the crappy, smelly, broken furniture the previous owner left behind.  We want to get our garage cleaned out and made into a nice and organized space.  We are going to organize our downstairs pantry (once all the paint cans are removed).  We are going to go through the spare bedroom closet and get rid of things we no longer need.  We are having a yard sale at some point in Hamilton with Ma.  So excited to continue de-fluffing our junk.

I often find myself daydreaming about where we were a year ago.  Mostly because I miss the people we met in Dubai and the bond we shared with them.  On our way home from Dubai, I was sobbing in the airport and when Ben asked why, I told him it was because I was really going to miss my dear friend, Soha.  I still shed a tear every once in a while for those I miss.  Naomi, Casey, and David -- Ben and I both want you to move in next door to us, please.  We miss our nights of conversation and cards!  :)  

Anyway, in looking back at pictures on Facebook from this time of year in 2013, these are a few of my favorite pictures:

Naomi and I showed up to work wearing the same outfit.
We did not plan it. :)

Wonderful people

<3

I miss sharing shisha. . . 

SKY DIVING! Most awesome experience EVER!

I don't think he is having any fun.

I would love a pet camel!

I think one day Ben and I will again be abroad.  It may be Dubai again, it may be somewhere completely different.  Until then, we have wonderful memories with amazing people from our time in the desert.

Smarts 2.0

You know what is completely refreshing and thrilling?  KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP!  It only took me 26 years to figure out, but I got it!  As mentioned here, I have officially applied to the University of Iowa to complete my bachelor's, and then, inshallah, be on my way to law school!  Thankfully, Iowa has an online program for those of us who have 60+ credits (I currently have 91) where you can complete a BLS and focus on whatever courses will benefit you most.  I emailed Iowa's School of Law to confirm that that degree would be accepted (I don't want to pay for something that will get me nowhere) and yay, it would! I will hopefully be starting classes in May. Fingers crossed it will take two years or less to complete the BLS.  

Ben is almost finished with his masters and starting to think more seriously about how to go about getting his Ph.D.  He is exploring his options a bit and trying to figure out the best path for him.  This is a new area for both of us, so any advice is happily accepted.  Before we start towards our higher degrees we plan to meet with a financial adviser and figure out things in that department or at least get an idea of what to expect.  Our biggest worries aren't necessarily about getting into the higher ed. programs, but about surviving financially during and after earning our degrees.  Kind of a scary thing.

I'm so excited for our future!  Ben knows what he wants to do and is figuring out how to accomplish it, I have finally figured out my calling, and we are slowly, but surely, working towards our goals.  I find it laughable that a year ago I thought I might want to be a librarian.  Or a teacher.  What the heck was I thinking? HA.  SO not for me.  I enjoy working in the legal field and I want to learn more.  Ben enjoys having in depth conversations with other educators about different teaching styles and what works best in the classroom and wants to eventually be a professor.

  Basically, we both like using our brains to the max.  

We're excited.  We have the motivation.  We have the support.

New Year. New Goals.

I hate New Year resolutions.  They tend to be something we are passionate about for a week or two, maybe even a month, and then they fall by the wayside.  I am, however, a fan of goals.  Is there a difference?  Yes, in my opinion.  A resolution often times seems to be something that we expect instant gratification from (at least that's how I see it).  A goal requires work, determination and change.

In our first house as a married coupe.
Xmas 2013

That being said, I have a few goals for the year 2014.

1.  I have truly failed at maintaining this blog since our return from Dubai.  I want to remedy that.  My goal is to eventually be back to posting at least once a week.  There is no reason this goal cannot be met considering at some point during my weekends you can find my butt parked on the couch catching up on Grey's or watching some other movie/show that is taking away precious minutes of my life that I will never get back.  (Grey's is so worth it, though.)

2.  Ben and I have both agree to do the 52 week challenge this year.  This is where you have a money pot that you add to each week of the 52 week year.  Week 1 - you add $1.  Week 2 - $2.  Week 30 - $30.  So long as we remember to put the amount in each week, this is a completely reasonable goal and an easy and great way to save money.  Hawaii 2015 here we come!

3.  True to many peoples' New Year resolutions, I have a 'lose weight' want.  But this is a goal, remember?  Not a resolution.  My goal is to become more active, fit and healthy.  Since our return from Dubai we have struggled to find the room in our finances to cover the cost of the gym.  We have decided that this is something important to our health and happiness and a gym membership is a must.  We tried a couple gyms, made a decision and went with it.  Now we need to work on making going to the gym a habit as well as something we look forward to.  I'm excited to get back into shape, feel fit and sexy, and to be able to wear alllllllll of my jeans again!  

4.  As new home owners, Ben and I have man projects we want to complete.  A few that I would like to accomplish this year are as follows:

Organize the garage

Organize our storage closets

Organize our pantry

Paint our bedroom(s)

Print, frame, and hang wedding and engagement photos

Frame and hang prints/pictures we have purchased in our travels

New couch, area rug and TV stand for the living room

I'm sure the list could go on if I sat and thought about it, but these are where I would like to start.  I was able to pick up a few frames from Michael's during their 50% off frames sale AND I had an additional 15% off coupon, so I'm well on the way to completing that goal!

$180 worth of frames for $70!!!! O YEAH!

5.  As I have discussed before, I have only completed an AA, not a BA.  I won't be able to accomplish the goal of obtaining a BA this year, but I could at least start the process.  Not only would having my bachelor's make me a more desirable hire, but it will make me feel more accomplished.

6.  Since we are living back in the States, and in Iowa for that matter, you have to be willing to seek out new adventures.  They don't just plop down at your feel like they do if you are abroad.  Therefore, it is my goal to explore our State and country more, look for new adventures in the familiar.

Those are a few of the goals that I (we) have for the year.  We have also made a few goals between us as a couple that we will be working to accomplish.  All of our goals are attainable. All of our goals will help to make us happier, healthier and more rounded.

 It should be a wonderful year!

New Beginnings!

It is that time of year again!  School is starting and Hawkeye football is about to begin!  This is my favorite time of year!  I love the colors of fall, the warm smells, the cozy clothes and the fun filled activities. 

Something else exciting is happening now as well.  Monday was my mom's first day of college!!  After 35 years of working at Methode she is starting down a new path. It has been a big and scary transition for her, but now that everything is set and classes have started her confidence has grown and it is wonderful to see her excited about school! I am incredibly proud of her for her bravery in starting a new chapter in her life.

Ben and I have started a new chapter in our lives as well.  We have purchased our first home together and are settling into life in Cedar Rapids.  Ben started work last week and today has his first day with students! I'm looking forward to going to future performances and supporting him in his career.  I am currently still on the job hunt and actually have an interview this week! I have been enjoying the life of a Holly Housewife, but am SO ready to have a job and contribute to our income. Fingers crossed the interview goes well!!

(Pictures to follow when my computer stops being an idiot.)

Our Lives in Photographs: Ben, Grover & Me

I discovered this picture of my handsome hubs on my camera and thought it was excellent!  This was right after we went Skydiving.  O how I wish we could go again!

The precious poopy!

My first ever knit project!!!  It is a baby blanket for one of my bff's.  Now I just need to add a border to bring it all together.  I'm quite proud of it!  AND it is soooo comfy and soft.  Cotton, not wool.

Is it a bird, plane or Superman?

WE WENT SKYDIVING!!!

April 3, 2013
Skydive Dubai, U.A.E.

O. My. Gosh. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! Anytime I talk about it or think about it I can't stop smiling! This was the big event we had planned for our spring break stay-cation.  It was also something we had been wanting to do for quite a while.  After arriving at Skydive Dubai and getting checked in, we met with our perspective people who we would strap our lives to.  As it turned out, both of our guys learned how to skydive in the military and loved it so much that they continued it as a career.  Talk about an amazing job!  How could that EVER get boring?!

Ben and Joe before boarding the plane.

Ed and me inside Skydive Dubai getting suited up!

To our surprise, we didn't have a mini-session of how not to die or anything like that.  We were merely given simple instructions on body placement and a walk-through of how things would work once we hurled our bodies out of the plane.  Once we were suited up and given instructions, we piled onto a golf cart and went to catch our plane!  

All set and ready to dive!

Once we boarded the plane it seemed as though it took forever to get to where we could finally jump! I was shockingly not nervous, scared or anxious at all.  I was completely excited and grinning from ear-to-ear.  Ben can tell you that he was a little nervous, but as soon as you jumped out of the plane all of that went away.  

Getting ready to board the plane!

Getting ready to board the plane!

Joe & Ben

Ed & me

Our guys had different approaches to how we were to jump out of the plane.  Ben was more forward, facing out, knees together, feet on the ground.  I was facing more sideways and had my legs together, back and bent.  All of my weight was on Ed.  I'm sure that all has something to do with the fact that Ben is a tree, but it was one thing I did find interesting about our jumps.

Our photographers went out before us and grabbed on to the plane so they could catch our reaction as we were going.  I cannot speak for Ben, but as soon as we jumped out of the plane I was laughing and yelling and loving every bit of the experience!  

What hit me right away was the pressure of the air as we were falling and the distinctive taste of salt water.  It makes sense since we were jumping over the sea, but I was not expecting that. It burned your sinuses a smidge, but wasn't uncomfortable or anything. Ben has commented that he noticed how loud it was right away.  You are falling and have the air rushing around you and you couldn't hear anything.  Even your own voice.  I could vaguely hear myself yelling, but barely.

My experience:

Ben's experience:

Ben's fave because you can see the curvature of the Earth as well as what remains of the World Islands.

It is interesting to hear what Ben and I both have to say about our time spent hovering above the earth.  He took in his surroundings and made observations about what was going on below him.  I was all like, "I'M FLYYYYYYYYINGGGGGGGG!  WOOOOOOO!" and noticed almost none of the things he did.  I guess that is fairly typical.  He is more analytical in his thinking and taking in of things than I am.  I am more like skipping through Candy Land.  

I desperately want to go again before we leave Dubai.  Hopefully with a bit of luck and good fortune (literally, fortune), we can make the jump one more time before heading back to the States.  If all else fails, we plan to make the jump again when we go to Hawaii in 2015!  Better get ready for some heavy peer pressuring to go with us, family!

Below are our videos!!!!  I cannot watch them without smiling and giggling like a fool!

See Ben's here.  For some reason Blogger/YouTube will not let me pull up Ben's video to post as it did mine.

 

[Audio may not be working on the videos.  YouTube has claimed copyright issues with the songs Skydive Dubai used to make everything schnazzy.  I am not pleased.  Therefore, when I get a chance, I will try and upload these directly to Blogger!  OR you'll just have to make it a point to come to our casa when we are back and watch the DVDs with us!]

I already look forward to when we can go again!!!!!!!

P.s.  The nerdy Hawkeye fan in me made sure to get in the next set of photographs. I spelled out I-O-W-A with my hands which is part of a cheer.  :)