A Decade in Review

I saw this on a friends blog and I thought it would be fun. Here I go...

2000- I moved up to Rexburg Idaho, to start my second semester of College at Ricks College. I met Justin and we began dating exclusively that Spring. That summer Justin moved to Montana and worked on Guest Ranch and I moved to San Diego to live with my Dad and work. We decided to date other people, but we still talked daily. I enjoyed dating that summer, but realized just how much I really liked Justin. That fall we both moved back to Idaho and continued dating. In December Justin proposed. The following day I visited my mother and brother in Alaska for Christmas.

2001- I took 15 credits, worked and planned a wedding that spring. It was a stressful time. We were married May 1st, graduated Ricks College and moved to Idaho Falls for the summer. Justin worked building grain bins and I as an assistant. In June I broke my nose. Later that summer I had surgery to correct it so I could breath correctly. In August we moved to Logan, Utah where Justin had an academic full ride scholarship. We lived in a trailer house outside of town. Justin worked to pay off our rent and I worked at a resturaunt preparing food in the morning, school in the afternoon and at World Savings Bank in the evenings.

2002- I quite the resturaunt job. We worked hard, went to school and ate Top Raumen for dinner most nights. We were so grateful for the many people who blessed our lives. Justin was shocked when they asked him to be the YM President, he was only a couple years older then the Priests. That summer I continued to work and go to school. Justin took a break from school and did some research for a Microbiology professor studying ladybugs and still working to pay for the trailor house rental. Justin was suppose to study for the DAT (dental admissions test), but didn't. Later that summer Justin took the DAT and didn't do as well as he liked. He decided to apply to dental school anyway and started studying for the DAT. As fall started Justin began school again and he studied for the DAT, retook the test and did MUCH MUCH better! He went to an interview in Virginia, Pittsburgh and Oregon. The day before winter break began Justin found out he was accepted to OHSU, we were ecsatic! We celebrated with a candy bar!

2003- We both continued working and going to school. I began my practicum working with a school counselor at a High School. That spring we found out I was pregnant with Keanna. We moved to North Powder Oregon for the summer Justin worked for his Dad on the Ranch and I worked at Subway. I finished up my last class online and graduated with my BS from Utah State. That fall we moved to Portland, Oregon so Justin could start dental school. Keanna was born that October! We enjoyed the holidays with family.

2004- I began cleaning my friend's house for a little extra cash. Justin continued going to school. We realized we were accumulating more debt then we were comfortable with and decided to join the Army and let them pay for Dental School. Justin had that summer off, so we spent a lot of time in Eastern Oregon so Justin could work for his Dad and earn a little money. We took a wonderful vacation to Lake Powell and we were grateful for the kindness that others offered so we could do this. Tha fall we moved back to Oregon I began Nannying a family of 3, Justin started school, and was asked to be the YM President again. Justin worked very, very hard staying up late working at the lab. We were happy when he was able to get 5 hours of sleep. I was asked to be the Enrichment Counselor and I was scared to death.

2005- I continued to nanny bringing Keanna with me. Justin continued with school . It was a crazy time for our family. Justin worked long nights on his lab work, looking for perfection. That summer Justin had his white coat ceremony and began working on REAL people! We had a small break that summer and we took a vacation to San Diego. We found out we were pregnant with our 2nd daughter, Ayla! I quit my nannying job and began managing our apartment complex. That fall Justin worked on real patients.

2006- I continued to be a Mom and work and Justin continued to go to school. In April our little Ayla was born. As we continued with our lives we realized our problems were not that big as we found out our niece was in need of a heart transplant. That summer was spent in heartfelt prayers for our 7 year old niece. Through a miracle she received a heart transplant in August and a month or so later I went and visited in Palo Alto California. That fall Justin continued to go to school and I managed apartments and was a mother. That summer we went to San Diego for Christmas.

2007- More of the same work and school. That spring I started getting the wheels turning to transition into the Army. Justin graduated Dental School in June, the day after that went to Texas for Officer Basic Training. He came home a week later to complete boards, then left immediately to finish training. While he was gone for 6 weeks I packed up our house to be sent to Germany, visited family in Seattle, North Powder and San Diego. After 6 weeks we were together again and then flew to Germany. We lived in a motel room for 50 days and then FINALLY moved into a house. Justin was officially a dentist and began seeing real patients! Keanna began preschool at a German Kindergarten.We traveled to Garmisch, Dresden, Rothenburg and Strousburg France.

2008- We began a New Year with fireworks and enjoyed life without the stressors of school. We traveled to Berlin, Rhine Valley, Prague, Salzburg, and the Italian Dolomites. We started to become friends with our German neighbors and we were really enjoying our family. Ayla had her adenoids removed in May. That summer we found out I was pregnant with our 3rd girl!! That fall Keanna started Kindergarten at the American School! Justin's parents and Sister visited us that fall and we traveled to many of the sites around our home. We traveled to Rome just before Christmas.

2009- In Feb I gave birth to our lovely daughter Lyndi. Keanna and Ayla continued to grow and mature. My Dad, Tami and Grandma Meier visited us in April and we blessed Lyndi. We visited some of the sites around our house. In June we took a cruise with our family and visited Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. Later to Switzerland. Lyndi and I took a trip back to the states for a Family Reunion. Keanna started first grade. Jason and Stacy visited us that fall we traveled Northern Italy. We decided upon a Dental Practice and put $ down on it to save it for us for 2010.

That took a long time... no spell or grammer check. Sorry it's time for bed.