Dear Future Job

Dear future job,

I don't know who you are yet, but it feels like I've been waiting for you my entire life. I just finished the craziest 18 months trying to get ready for you and I know I still have so much to learn. Now it's like I'm signed up on every ed site trying to find you, my perfect job. The question is - where are you?

The hardest part about this process is that we can't really date. Doesn't that sound crazy? Basically, I need to find you and commit to you without getting to know your friends, family, and coworkers first...you know, all the people I'll be around.  I have no idea how you run your house but for what you tell me. I have no idea whether the pledge of loyalty I'll make to you will be returned to me in the years to come. How will we know we're meant to be without some time first? Well that's just how it works (or so I've been told). It'll be like love at first sight...that always works out, right?

Future job, I know that we are both going through weird times right now. You are having budgeting problems, and are currently in an educational atmosphere that seems to be headed towards a steep cliff of doom (cough DeVos cough). But I'm still here patiently waiting for you. I want you so badly, and it makes me really sad to think that there are others who have you and don't appreciate you for all the good that you are, and for all the good that you do every day. I feel like I'm in a state of flux in many parts of my life. It'd be great to settle down with a nice job. I have so much to give you.

I truly believe that if you and I work together, we could have something amazing. If we were on a reality dating show you'd hear me tell you, while seated next to an outdoor fire pit, that I was here for the right reasons. I'm meant to be with you. My heart is open. All I ask for in return is a little emotional support for someone new in the game, for honesty, and for a little allowance every now and then (once a month is fine!).

I don't want to force you into anything you're not ready for. In fact, in a perfect world we would take some time to find out if we're right for each other before making commitments and signing crazy love contracts. I know I'll end up with the job that's right for me, but the outlook is daunting. It seems like all the respectable, nice jobs have been swooped up already by those with more experience. Even though I seem new, I actually have a lot more to offer if given room to grow. I refuse to settle.

So I'll be here waiting for you - the right one for me. I hope you're somewhere waiting for me too.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Martinsen

A day-to-day update

What a life we lead! We love you, Cora.

So how's school going?

SCHOOL IS GREAT

I have so much free time, it's crazy! Am I even in school?
I don't need to stay home every day to do homework. Cora loves staying inside all day.
I have plenty of time on the weekends when Kirk's home.
I get to go observe classrooms and learn a lot!
My brain isn't jammed tight with information.
There aren't too many requirements for moving through the program, and I can totally manage all of the concurrent state testing I have to do.
I'm getting plenty of sleep. (But for real, I am. I can't not sleep.)

I'm actually killing it, guys. It's been a great experience so far, but also the hardest. I'm just trying to jump through the hoops so I can start this next phase of life.  And this is literally all of the time I have to update. BAI

One Year Old Babe

Cliche alert - I can't believe how fast time flies. My little precious is 1. During the photo shoot I did to commemorate this milestone, I think I was able to get a picture of her expressing her personality perfectly.

Cora is just the sweetest little pie you've ever seen.

She is inquisitive and loves to know about all of the outside adventures.
Note hand full of dirt.

She is so silly and knows it.

She is full of joy.

She watches everything. Quite the observer.

She has a wonderful disposition and makes everyone around her smile.


We love her so much. Every day we cherish the time we have to help her grow up....she's changing before our eyes. I can't describe the joy I've felt in being her mom. The world is a much friendlier place with her around, and her smile lifts up my soul. I am so thankful for this little turkey babe.

Happy birthday!

7 and 8 and 9 months

This summer has been so busy that I haven't had a spare moment to blog. We've either had a constant stream of visitors (who are more than welcome!) or we've been off on adventures of our own. From May we've had a grandma ML visit for my 29th birthday, the Smathers family visit for memorial day, a trip to the Bay Area for my immediate family reunion, my sister Katie visiting, grandma ML and Andrew visiting again for 4th of July, Henry family reunion in Salt Lake, then ten days in Washington state, a river weekend in Yuma, AZ, a mini cousin reunion in Vegas last weekend!! In the meantime, I was accepted into my Master's program at Point Loma and started at the end of August. Our family is still currently transitioning into me being a full time wife/mom/student with a house that's permanently a mess and a baby that's nonstop to-die-for cute and also terrible. I can already feel like I'm getting into the swing of things in my classes so I'm able to manage my time better. School is great and my program will be a fantastic start to my teaching career. I'm so thankful I'm at this point in my life!

So since I've been such a slacker, here are my favorite moments over the past few months with our darling babe front and center.