The Teeth of Tots

For anyone who is gloriously ignorant of my profession, I am a DENTAL ASSISTANT!

Sometimes informally known as the tooth fairy or the girl who helps the dentist torture you slowly and painfully all while reminding you that all that blood is because of your lack of flossing.

Okay....so that last part was a lie, but I know far too many people who honestly think that both the Dr. and I get paid to do those things. Lies, lies, lies.

Anyway, I worked as a barista for a few weeks but found that I have no passion for that area anymore. I want to work with children, I want to help people and work in health to make a difference. 

I no longer work in the coffee industry and I am currently in the waiting process to find out if I got a job at a pediatric dentist office in the area as a full time assistant. I interviewed on thursday and I absolutely loved it. It is exactly what I am looking for and hopefully should receive a phone call either tomorrow or tuesday.

I need prayer and support in this new endeavor. I cannot wait to hear back but I am fearful as well.

All I know is that I must trust the sovereignty of the Lord in all areas of my life. 

No matter how hard that is.

And this handsome devil is Dexter. A cadaver head for x-rays. 

Barnyard Babies

The hens have landed!!! Our dreams of a farm are gradually coming true in the form of 6 small fluffy poultry, 4 cheepers and 2 quackers.  Or if you want a more formal introduction, we would like to formally introduce......

Miss Jemimah and Gertrude Puddle Ducks 

(Khaki Campbells)

and....

Penelope, Henrietta, Cornelia and Beatrice Chicken! 

(1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Plymouth Barred, 1 White Leghorn and 1 Araucana)

If you do not know that much about poultry, each of these particular breeds are great egg layers. Yes, even the ducks. 

We chose an array of hens because we like colorful eggs and we like organic eggs laid by birds that run around our own backyard, eat what we give them and are happy in all sense of the word. 

I will not get in to the evils of the commercial chicken industry because it personally makes my heart ache. But we are so happy to have expanded the family with our new little babies. 

Currently they live in a large storage tub in our office with their very own heat lamp! 

Everyday I play with them and let them eat out of my hand so they learn to trust me, that I am a safe place and they do not need to stress out when I am around.

We are letting our dogs get used to them as well though I think the temptation of those sweet fluffy creatures can seem too much. But we are learning self control and I let them smell the chickens and let them walk around and on the dogs while I hold them in a laying position and pet and keep them calm. 

I would rather not have a massacre of feathers in my backyard one day so hopefully we can at least get them to ignore the birds if anything.

Well I have not individual pictures of each one but here are a few to enjoy! Welcome to the family sweet girls!

A sad update: One of our sweet hens unexpectedly became quite sick and died within the span of a few hours. I did what I could to make her comfortable and help heal here but sadly, their is a high mortality rate for baby chicks. Their immune systems are weak and they can become sick and die quickly. I have decided that little chicks name was Cornelia and we shall bury her in our backyard with a tiny funeral. I have a soft spot for animals and it pains me when something bad happens to them. But in this case, it was the circle of life and now her sweet chicken soul is pecking away in heaven. 

Middle School to Marriage

I like to say that I have one best friend. I have had many whom I have used the word for before but there is only one which actually fits the true meaning. And this morning, she called me bright and early to share some of the most joyous news, SHE's ENGAGED!!!!

VICTORIA SUTTON IS ENGAGED TO CAMERON LILLIBRIDGE!

But here is a little of our history.

She and I met when I was 12 years old and she was 11 in 6th grade at Gateway Middle School in Everett, Washington.

We were both little smarty pants and placed in Mrs. Lombardi's honors block class. We were placed at group table with one another and it's all history from there.

She would hang out at our house all the time and we would eat top ramen with chopsticks and do whatever it was 12 year olds did. But we always did our homework because that is how we were.

My parents became surrogate parents to her since her mom worked a lot and she was frequently home alone. They have loved her like a daughter in every possible way.

Our status as classmates only last one year as she transferred to another middle school in the area for 7th grade. We never went to school together after that. But it didn't matter, because she was my best friend and we were always going to love one another.

We kept on with that promise and even though some years were closer than others, we always knew that we understood the other. We knew we would be there and that we would be loyal.

Here we are, almost 12 years later, and we are still best friends.

We attended each others graduation ceremonies, she was the first person I called about my engagement and stood beside me as one of my maid of honors on my wedding day to the man I loved.

And now it's her turn! She fell in love in high school, meeting a charming young man I wasn't sure I liked too much at first. But now, I wouldn't have her with anyone else. He is great!

I wasn't there so I cannot tell you much about how the proposal went down. Only that it happened on a rock cliff at sunrise in Arizona and she was so happy.

We screamed together on the phone as she told me her joyous news that we have waited for. Now the wedding planning begins and as her Maid of Honor, there is a lot of work to be done.

Victoria Mae Kim Sutton,
       You are the dearest to me that anyone could be. We have been through so much together and never once has our commitment and love for one another wavered. You are a gracious and loving companion. You shine with the Love of God and went out into the world by yourself to preach that love, I could never be so brave. I am thankful for you and for Cameron. You have both been such a blessing into Justin and I's lives. We can only hope to always be the same for you. I am so happy for you and this amazing journey in life, the parts we make together and make apart. My heart swells for love for you and I pray only joy and happiness in every step. Because before we know it, we will have babies together, and grow old together and someday we will sit on one of our porches, sipping lemonade and rock away in rocking chairs watching our grandchildren play together. I love you so much as a sister and friend. Congratulations Tori and Cam!

Love is Patient

I had a blog several years ago and sometimes I will go back and reread my thoughts and feelings at that time. I just happened to read the post below which I had originally wrote in March of 2010. It may not seem special but since I look back on it now, the Lord answered my prayer almost to my exact desires. I met Justin officially on June 28th of 2010. But we had actually met once before, less than 2 weeks before I wrote this post. We started dating for the purpose of marriage in July of that year. It amazes me to think that I had been so right to say that I might have met him already and I didn't even know it. I am so thankful for the husband I have, he is everything and more than I ever could have desired and I am so thankful for my man. And I am thankful for the hopes of a girl that wanted to find love.

March 29, 2010

DO NOT SEEK LOVE BEFORE IT SO DESIRES

Recently I have found myself trying to live by this advice.
Solomon you truly were a wise one.
I find it difficult most of the time. Confusing at best. What really is seeking love?
If I am attracted to someone I have still made a vow to not pursue any sort of relationship beyond friendship.
what point is there in dating if I am not ready to marry.
I know I am not but sometimes I think I could handle it.
I am not so naive that I expect Prince Charming to ride up on a white stallion and sweep me off my feet to a life filled with champagne, roses and a perfectly cleaned house.
I dont want perfect. I want imperfect.
I want a man of God. I want an honest, just and loving authority. I want a kind, passionate and thoughtful husband. I want a guiding, gentle and carefree father. I want a protector. A keeper and a partner.
I want someone who has learned from mistakes and made stronger because of them.
Someone to walk this road of life side by side with. to hold my hand. to lead with truth and purpose. not to drag me behind.
I dont want perfect. No Prince Charming.
I want a man, humble and imperfect, my Adam, my Abraham, my Isaac, my Boaz and my Jacob. Let me be your Eve, your Sarah, your Rebekah, your Ruth and your Rachel.

I am a foolish girl hoping for love to find me. I am done looking. It hasnt desired to be revealed yet. And I must be content with that.
For all I know I may have met him already :) Lord, give me patience. Open my eyes as YOUR will be done, not mine.

February

It is a long and terrible thing to be lonely. It is especially terrible to be lonely far away from your family and without an outlet for your time. But things are changing for us. We have had a few big changes:

1) We recently found ourselves with a beautiful 1909 Cable-Nelson Upright Grande piano. It came to us free in a roundabout way from a dear friend of ours who moved to the same city around the same time as Justin and I. I took piano lessons as a child. It was a few years, though I am unsure as to what age or how many years I actually played. But I love the piano. I love piano music. I love the way the ivory keys feel under my finger tips. I love the smell of old strings and smooth wood. I love the intensity or the gentleness or the joyfulness that can be expressed from this one instrument. It utterly amazes me the feeling of my wrists and my fingers dancing across the keys to a song I finally memorized. 

I ordered some piano books and a few technique books in order to get back up to my former level. Reading notes has had to be the most difficult part. I have to recount every note and correspond it to the letter and then the key in my head. Hopefully I will eventually be back to skimming lines easily like I do with a good novel.

I feel so blessed that our friend, Kevin, helped to bring this piano into our lives as it has been a longstanding dream of mine to own one so that I can reteach myself and eventually give our children lessons in our home. One day, my babies will play with me and fill our home with music.


2) Valentine's Day! The history of this lovely holiday is fairly vague and many are unsure how it came to have anything to do with love. But I like it just the same since it gives an excuse to be extra nice to my husband and him to me.  It started off fairly rocky since Justin had a work meeting which last much longer than anticipated, therefore my home made buffet breakfast was a little colder and harder than it was intended. But the love was there and that is what matters, right? Flowers and movies and a homemade gift from a pinterest idea made a simple and sweet Valentines Day.

The DIY gift is 3 different cutouts of road maps that center around the 3 pivotal places where our relationship had taken huge turns. He thought it was pretty sweet and it will help to make sure we remember these special places and those special times associated with it. It took about 10 dollars and an hour to make since I couldn't find a road map and had to edit and print all the maps out, which took WAY more time than it should have. But I think it turned out alright :)

We did end the evening with a little more flare, visiting one of the upscale restaurants in CDA located on the seventh floor of their famous lakeside resort. The menu, and their PRICES reflected it. Beverly's however, blew me away with their romantic atmosphere, complete with lake view tables for two and a musician playing acoustic love songs. We shared a generous portion of calamari and asian slaw (which I will order WHERE EVER and WHENEVER it is on an appetizer menu), a lobster bisque and shrimp skewers with prime rib and horseradish. We basically ate ourselves silly in the summary of things. But hey, it only comes once a year right!?

NOTE: My handsome and amazing father never FAILS to send my sister, me and my mother bouquets for every Valentine's Day which is thoughtful and loving of him in more ways than the obvious. The less obvious is the fact that he remembers to do this while he is hundreds of miles away in the middle of the ocean catching fish on a commercial fishing vessel. I love him and thank him for always being the first man in my life and to teach me how a true man treats a lady. Love you Daddy.

3) We are officially a married couple in our own right, at least in our own way, because we are now the proud and glorious new owners of a KING sized bed. Isn't it just beautiful? Brings a tear to our eyes.

My darling hubby and I enjoy our marital bed. We have deep conversations there, we snuggle and relax there and we sleep each night with our two babies. However, we don't like a cramped bed. We felt squished in a queen, especially since it was dipping in the middle, causing us to roll into one another each night. But now, NOW, we are spread out and comfortable and it is fabulous. The next step is getting a bedroom set that we both like. An impossible task it seems. But we shall see. For now we are enjoying a different type of freedom. 

and last but not least.....


4) Employment has been found for this stay-at-home mom of two dogs. It is not a dental office, though one day I hope to find my niche in a pediatric office I love with a doctor I respect. But as of now, I am now exercising my barista skills this weekend at a new, busy stand in the area near our house. It is called Daybreak Coffee Co. and they make an amazing Kokomo mocha which is my new obsession. It is probably not good for you but I get it nonfat, so it should help a little. Either way, I am excited to start bringing in some cash flow as well as breaking up my days a little in between Justin's off time. Anything helps.

So that is a little slice of our modern day life. Until the next big event, its time for snuggles, tea and puppy love with these two heart breakers.

Hermit.

I have developed a new appreciation for people who live on their own. In their own houses, by themselves.

How the freaking heck do they do it!?

I have a four bedroom home I share with two dogs, both of which easily fit in my lap at the same time. It's a house meant for a family, not just me.

I love my husband, more than anything in the world. And I appreciate him for the sacrifices he is making now to make our dreams a reality.

For anyone unfamiliar with our situation, I will brief it out for you. Justin took a job with Timberline Drilling Company based out of Coeur d'Alene. However, it is a company that works wherever someone hires them. And in this case, that hire would be in a tiny little town in Nevada called Elko. Google map it, or wikipedia it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elko,_Nevada

Its a population of 18,000 people who generally come from Basque. That would be in Europe, thank you very much.

I have never been there so I cannot describe it, and I probably will never visit it. But from what my darling husband has said, it's not amazingly interesting.

Anywho, he is on a super fun schedule of 2 weeks working straight and 1 week home. So I am on my own 3 out of the 4 weeks in every month.

I never really imagined my marriage to be like this. I don't think anyone truly does. But it takes a lot more strength than most people have. But they always say you do what you have to do.

And for now I have to do this.

I have filled my days with Pinterest, the Kroc center (like the YMCA) and praying for a job opening at the dental office I want to work at.

I met the doctor and staff yesterday and it seemed to go well but now I just want a call in to show my skills and hopefully earn a seat amongst his staff. Cross your fingers.

I'll need it.

Home Sweet Home

"Home is where I'm with you."

I've been terrible at updating recently, what with packing and moving across the state. But now we are finally settled in our new house in our new city with our boxes unpacked. 

I am an absolute stickler for refusing to live out of a box, a suitcase or anything meant to temporarily store and move my belongings. I could be in a hotel for 3 days and I have to unpack and hang all of my clothes or else I go a little bit psycho. Not even joking.

Anyway, it feels like its fifty degrees below zero and covered in snow. I am spending my days alone as hubby is working away in Nevada so it is just me and the girls for the past few weeks. 

We are hoping to go home sometime next week to pick up the rest of our stuff and I want to hopefully start passing out resumes to dental offices in the area soon. 

It has been a lot in a short amount of time and we are more than exhausted, but we thank Heavenly Father each day for the blessings he has bestowed on us.