Promises

Last night I fell asleep with a lot of God's promises running thru my head- including "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26 This was one of those that I forgot I knew and it's amazing how things like that come when I need them. I woke up reminded that today is a new day. And it was.
P.S. I'm officially CPR and first aid certified. I can't believe I didn't do that before now.

heavy

ok sorry to get serious, but here goes. This is a weird time in my life. I've never been in a place where I love my job so much and I love my classes so much (that's pretty much all I do now), but I'm sad a lot. I don't know why really, I could name a few small things, but really not enough to justify all this crying. and I am not a crier.
Let's take today for example. It was a great day. I spent until noon getting CPR certified, ate lunch, and then took 3 of my students on a field trip to Costco where we bought breakfast food and candy. They go every week to learn how to shop and stay on a budget- they also earn money throughout the year (about $5/week) to spend on something at the store. After work, I picked up a check from the financial aid office and bought my textbooks (not something I usually do, but I figured I'd need them for grad school). On the way home the tears came and kept coming for a long time. No one around to hang out with, so what did I do? I went shopping. I actually needed a few things so I google mapped TJMaxx (my favorite store in the world) and went to the one in Littleton, because there's a Marshall's nearby that I never found. On the way home I promise I followed my directions, but google maps must have been mixed up b/c it said to get on HWY 6 West. By the time I got past Red Rocks and almost to Boulder I realized I was going the wrong way. It was raining and hard to see so I called Kevin and he got me going in the right direction. I had driven 20 miles in the wrong direction. I didn't really mind b/c I didn't have anywhere to be, but of course, the tiniest thing made the tears come- for 40 miles back home. It's starting to get a little annoying. I mean really, I don't have much to be sad about. Maybe it just takes time. we'll see how it goes. I have lots to be excited about.
Tomorrow I'm getting first aid certified. That can't be bad. And I have a date...

WHAT?!?

So I was walking thru the mail room the other day when I heard this older lady tell 2 boys (grandsons?) to go hang out in the weight room. What? A weight room? I must have misunderstood. Well yesterday I got curious and looked on the fire escape map by the front door of the building. There definitely is a weight room right behind the elevators... I had just never been back there. So I went to check it out. It's not too bad. A few cardio machines, a weight bench, some exercise balls and a tv. And this tiny sign caught my eye, Steam Room-> Sweet. a steam room. I think it's out of order right now, but it will work soon. and I am excited!

I'm in my 3rd day of training at work and it's not too bad. I finished orientation and started "Therapeutic Crisis Intervention" today- it's 3 days long, but tomorrow we go over restraints, so I'm at least not sitting at a conference table for 8 hours. Next week I get to do 4 other training programs and then I'm in the classroom full time. I'm excited. The staff in my room are great and there are 6 of us for 8 students. So it'll be a while before I really get to hang out with the students, but the training is making me feel a little more confident.

Rain

The loudest thunder ever comes out of nowhere here. And it is NOT supposed to rain today. Not that I care too much, I'm about to take a nap. I need to run a few errands. Problem is, I don't know where anything is and it's Sunday, so the places I need to go are probably closed anyway. I'll go tomorrow. I owe a few people gifts and they'll be a few days later now.

I start my new job tomorrow. At 8. I was gonna ride the bus, but I'd have to leave at 7 and leave my job an hour early on the days I have class to get there on time. The bus just may not work out for me. I really need to find the dollar lot at school- but I think I have to cross the interstate on foot to get to campus from there. Kidding about the interstate, but it is REALLY far away, so far that I haven't even seen it yet. My school is in the middle of the city and parking is OUTRAGEOUS! UGA folks, I don't even want to hear it. You can't imagine how bad it is here. They pretty much just tell you to figure out how to ride the bus which would be great if I didn't get off work at 4 and have classes that start at 4. Maybe I'll ride the bus to my Saturday classes.

Craig and I went to church this morning. It's less than a year old and meets in an art gallery. The gallery is getting too small so they're gonna start meeting at the History Museum in 3 weeks. I liked it. I think Craig did too. we met a few people and I got hooked up with a women's Bible study if I decide to go. During the meet the people around you part, 2 of the 3 women around me were named Amy too. weird.

The Wig Party

Friday was FUN! Some of Kevin's friends planned a wig party. Everyone put on their wigs and went downtown. I had a Barbie Princess wig and definitely realized that blond is not a good look for me. What was I ever thinking? Here are some pictures...
I finally got my room put together today too! So here are some pictures of my new clean room and my car (b/c I finally took them).
And here's the car...
I also went to new student orientation today. totally useless. I did get a cookie though.

Back to School!

Tomorrow is my first day at a new school... again and hopefully for the last time in my life. I have statistics tomorrow evening for 3 hours! The nice name for this class is Research and Measurement, but come on, we all know what it is. And the best part about this class is that classes don't actually start at my school for 11 more days, but statistics meets 3 times before actual classes start! And anyone who knows me, knows that this class and I probably will not get along. The benefit to it starting a week and a half early is that it is totally over by the end of September!

Also, Craig started his new job at the brewpub yesterday. He mostly cleans the brewing equipment, but he also learned how to make root beer and the special chili beer that they have. So far though, there have been a few benefits. Yesterday his boss gave him tickets to the Rockies game, so we went again last night. This time with a bunch of friends. And today, they gave him a free almost full keg, just b/c someone took it off the tap line too soon and they were gonna have to throw it away. AND it fits perfectly in the kegerator.

I got officially hired today by two, that's right two people. I'm going to start my real job as a teacher's assistant at a school for kids with behavioral disorders on the 20th. I'll be working in the higher functioning older adolescents classroom. Really I think most of them are between 13-19 years old. I observed in there last week and some of them definitely look older than me. Should be fun! I started working for Kevin today too. He hired me as his secretary- mostly to do his expense reports and stuff b/c he travels a lot. It's not a lot of work, but I'm at his house a lot, and have time to do it, so it makes sense.

Fun Things In Denver!

It's officially been one week since I moved to Colorado. I've never lived in a big city before, but one thing I'm learning is that there is ALWAYS something to do. Friday night, I had my first Red Rocks experience. Kevin planned this for us a long time ago, so around 4 Kevin, Craig, Arlena, and I drove up to Red Rocks to see Ryan Adams, but a few other bands were playing first. We totally missed the first one b/c we were in the parking lot playing cornhole- Arlena and I won BOTH games against the boys. We must be good.
We got the hear the old 97's, Lucinda Williams, and Ryan Adams- all of them were so good and Red Rocks is amazing! Here are some pictures for those of you who haven't been.
Anyway, those are just a few and they hardly do it justice. Today Craig and I met up with one of my mom's high school friends for lunch and she gave us tickets to the Rockies game. They were her company's tickets and she wasn't sure how good they were, but we didn't have anything else to do so we went. Turned out that the tickets were for row 11 right behind home plate! And the Rockies won!
I also got to pick up my new car today! I just bought a 2002 volvo s60. It's nice AND it's All wheel drive so I won't get stuck in the snow! I'll post a picture later.

Ice Cream Man

My new apartment is right on the park which is amazing because it's the perfect place to run! So I just went on my first run as a resident of colorado and my lungs aren't too happy with me. The air is really thin! But I'll get used to it. I also sweat more here than I ever did in Georgia and it's WAY less humid and hot... weird. Anyway, I just got home and guess what I'm doing? I'm sitting in my room listening to the Ice cream truck go by DYING to run outside and chase him down. Beside the fact that I can barely move because I'm so tired, Ice cream is not what I need right now. Maybe lunch and a shower first.

PLUS I'm going to see Ryan Adams tonight at Red Rocks with a bunch of people. It's supposed to rain, but hopefully it won't and if it does, it'll have to be fun anyway!

ROAD TRIP!

This past week I took the road trip of my life. I moved to Denver! Craig and I (plus some helpers) packed all of our stuff in Athens into a 16" Penske truck and left last wednesday. We drove to Baton Rouge to stay with Craig's brother Chris and sister-in-law Cassie. We ate some good cajun food and then went to watch Chris do the 9:00 sportscast! Thursday morning we all left Baton Rouge- Craig and I in the Penske and Chris and Cassie in thier car to drive to Texas for their mom's wedding! We got to San Antonio around 8 and loaded even more furniture into the truck b/c craig's mom is moving to chicago so she gave most of her stuff away.
Friday we met up with Craig's brothers and stayed at their uncle's house in Austin. Paul and Jen have a 2 year old who is so cool! Here's Logan and Craig growling at each other...
That afternoon, we went to the biggest liquor store I've ever seen and bought the beer for the reception- all microbrewed. The rehearsal was pretty funny to watch. Cyndy has 3 sons- Chris, Kevin, and Craig- they were her "bridesmaids." Steve has 3 kids also. Anyway, his kids act totally normal, but Craig and brothers were causing as much mayhem as possible. The best part about the wedding was that it was in the high school that Cyndy and Steve both went to!
Here's the angry face at the rehearsal. We ate dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant and then went out in Austin for the night. Here's Craig and I at the actual wedding...
Sunday, we drove to Arlington to put, that's right, even more stuff in the truck. I honestly don't know how it even fit. we made it to Amarillo. I don't know how you can drive for 2 days and still be in texas, but we were. Finally on Monday, we made it to Denver! Here's me driving thru New Mexico. My life is still in boxes, but I did get a job today! I'm gonna be a Teacher's Assistant at a school for kids with behavioral disorders. I start on the 20th! AND I got a Colorado Driver's License today!