Welcome 2009!

Happy New Years!

It is crazy to think that 2008 is already over, but I am excited to see what 2009 brings! Here are some highlights of 2008:

- Mike and I enjoyed our 1-year anniversary
- After a LONG three years, Mike and I completed graduate school at Regent…yahoo!
- Bye-bye flat strip malls of Virginia Beach and hello quaint town of Charlottesville.
- Mike and I scored jobs as children and family therapists, working our way to VA license
- Dave and Jess became Mr. & Mrs. Felts
- Kim visits C’ville
- I visit my family (a couple times )

This past year has defiantly been a year of transition and growth. Graduating, moving and finding jobs have brought many ups and downs. The biggest learning experience of 2008 was and still is my job. I work as an in-home therapist and I am challenged weekly! Working with so many confused, disturbed, hurt, broken & helpless people can become a toll on my own abilities….there is a constant need of self-evaluation to keep the right perspective, attitude and determination to fulfill my goal of becoming a seasoned child and family counselor with my Virginia LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). I know I am in the right place for this time in my life, but I’m also excited to see what 2009 brings!

What’s ahead in 2009:

- Ben and Amanda’s wedding in Mexico
- A visit to see Kim in the deserts of AZ..I have never been there.
- A visit to see Mugga at Humboldt University…hello the famous Redwood Forest!
- Missy’s Dylan will arrive in late March….can’t wait to meet him.
- Hopefully my family will visit us in C’ville (hint J ).

Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas 2008!

It is not officially Christmas until you have watched It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and Elf. I am proud to say I have watched all three and Christmas has come and gone. Another successful Christmas (honestly, can Christmas ever be unsuccessful )?

Mike and I visited my family in snowy Rochester over Christmas week. Christmas has a whole new dynamic since the nieces and nephews have grown…no more babies. Mattie surprised me the most! She had a Hannah Montana Christmas…ha, I was thinking she might like Dora the Explorer still, oh boy was I wrong! She has matured into a beautiful young lady! I still remember taking her everywhere with me…the grocery store, to get her first pumpkin, ah I can go on and on...

Morgan is a hoot! She loves being a mommy to her dolls and her cousin Jake. She also LOVES talking on the phone (she is the only family member that calls me almost every week). Did I mention she loves to sing? She’s the little diva of the family…all girl!


Jake is also getting so big. He loves Thomas the Train and Veggie Tales. Oh and yes, diving off any furniture into a pile of comfortable pillows. My favorite was falling onto a pile of pillows so he can roll over my back…yes we bonded :)

As you can see, I am an obsessive, but very proud Aunt, what can I say, I LOVE my nieces and nephew!

To say the least, I really enjoyed visiting with my family…It is always great getting all of us together. I am especially glad that Mugga made it this year…it would not have been the same without her!



After spending a week in the Roc, we traveled back to VA to visit with Mike’s family. I was able to meet more of Mike’s cousins I have never met before (including his cousin’s little one with the fabulous name, Caroline). I was also introduced to Bananagrams, a game similar to scrabble. We had a great relaxing end to our Christmas vacation with Mike’s family :)

On a side note, Mike is very excited his brother, Jesse was accepted into Grove City (where Mike went to undergraduate school). He is already talking about visiting his stomping ground and showing me where all the magic happened. He has some great memories…and crazy stories!

I guess that is it for now, but stay tuned for more to come in 2009 :)