Catching Back Up!

Wow.. Has it really been since AUGUST since I blogged last?! That seems like forever ago, but at the same time it feels like the past 3 1/2 months have FLOWN past me. So much has happened in the past months..

First,

I FINALLY GRADUATED!

I don't think I can express how extremely happy I am at this very moment. Anyone who has been keeping up with me over the past two years knows just how anxious I have been for this day to arrive. Sometimes, it feels like the years slowly passed by; other times, it feels like I was just a nervous newlywed entering orientation for Semester 1. From urinary catheters to IV catheters, from dressing changes to open heart surgeries, from reading every book in semester 1 to barely reading our notes in semester 4, from nursing homes to emergency rooms, we finally finished! I am so extremely happy and proud for our class! Also, I graduated cum laude (not that it's a huge deal, but I was happy to see my hard work pay off and feel accomplished for the hour I had my cap and gown on). As happy as I am to have graduated and have my BSN, I still have one big monster ahead of me... NCLEX. Those dreaded five letters make all of the difference in my career. I should take this horrific test sometime in January and then begin work (oh yeah, pray I find a job!). Am I sad that I won't start working immediately? Not. One. Bit. I plan to enjoy my last "break" before venturing into the work force. Also, I must say that Matthew is EXTREMELY happy that I have graduated. He has his wife back now! I am so very thankful to have Matthew as my husband. He has been the best companion I could have asked for to stand by me these past crazy two years. I love him so much (cheesy, I know). So with no more studying, projects, clinicals, etc., we can finally feel married again! Second honeymoon, please??? :)

Secondly, we are in the process of looking for our first home to purchase. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Heed this warning: IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. We have been looking since September and I have now lost count on the number of houses we have looked at. We have such a wonderful realtor (if you're reading this Stephanie, you rock!) who has been SO patient with us. Because of Matt's position at the church (which we are both loving more than we could have dreamed), we want to stay close to the Byram area. With that being said, finding what we want/need in a house and in the right location has not been the easiest thing. So, if you know of a house that's NOT listed online (AKA-- for sale by owner).. PLEASE let me know. If you know of any houses coming for sale soon, PLEASE let me know. We are so ready to have our own house and start this new chapter in our lives.

Now that I have graduated, the same question that was asked immediately after the wedding is coming to surface again. "When are y'all gonna have kids?!". I think everyone knows how I feel about that question. And many of y'all (whether you ask it or not) probably wonder the same thing. SOOOOO, here's what I can tell you. We are not "planning" a family right now, BUT we are one step closer today than we were yesterday and we will be one step closer tomorrow than we are today. Ha :)

Lastly, I am SO looking forward to this weekend. Tomorrow, we will go to Matt's parents and have a HUGE Gates' Family Christmas. The Gates' family is SO big and I absolutely love it! We are having a huge Christmas pajama and karaoke party! Too fun! Sunday, we will celebrate our nephew, Hayes, first birthday.. I can't believe he's already one! Then Monday... we celebrate our SECOND, yes.. SECOND, wedding anniversary! I cannot believe it's already been two years since we said "I do". I am so excited about all to come in our future!

Well, I think that about catches everyone up to date with the Gates!

Xoxo