So I have been in Canada for 80 days. It hardly seems possible. While I feel like it has been years since I saw my family last, it feels very short in others ways. I adore seeing my husband daily. That sentence sounds odd to most, but anybody who has endured long distance will understand and echo similar feelings about their sweetheart. I had lots of people tell me that I would really struggle when Sebastian and I got to this living together business. I knew it was going to be difficult because we are both older, intelligent, and have a stubborn streak. We have had our moments when I thought to myself, "Where did my husband go because this guy isn't acting like him at all." I am sure he has had the same moments. Canadian Thanksgiving (I am going to share this fight because it was humorous and well, I am going to embarrass myself so don't laugh too hard) I was making the "feast". I was in the kitchen and decided that I needed to sit down because my leg was aching. Now, keep in mind my husband's bachelorhood until very recently when I arrived. We have old plastic lawn chairs in our kitchen instead of a proper table and chair set. I sat down in Sebastian's chair when all of a sudden it breaks and I am thrown to the floor. No fat person ever wants this to happen and I was mortified. Sebastian runs up, and I thought to myself, "Oh he is so worried about me" but instead he rushed to inspect the chair and figure out why it broke. I am still sitting on the floor and he is mourning the loss of his 15 year old lawn chair that had doubled as a part of a dining room set. It was a moment where I wondered who this guy was parading as my husband. The irony that he was more concerned about the $10 chair did not escape me and I pointed it out, perhaps in a raised tone. Looking back, I think I will never forget that Ham dinner and Sebastian worrying about a chair. It is funny what is important to us at times. I know we are growing together, as married people do. And I feel blessed I have had this time with him.
On the job front, I was offered a job September 1st and I accepted. Unfortunately I have been waiting for licensing since that time. I have done a few trainings and I am headed to Fargo for a week of training this week. Hopefully, I will start meeting my clients in December and really get rolling. I have to take a National Board Certification test for my licensing. It is a daunting task as this test covers all the knowledge presented to me in Graduate School. I have been studying and hope I am ready when I get the big OK to take this test (hopefully coming very soon). I am impressed thus far with my new employer. They are invested in the betterment of their personnel and give each new hire Stephen R Covey's book and another book about personal development and a personal mission statement. These are then discussed in our yearly review. I respect that they want me to be successful, nit just somebody who completes the work competently. The other thing that has been nice is how they handled my Safety training this past week in Grand Forks. They offered to get me a hotel for the night before so that I would not have to be on the road at 5 AM to be in attendance. When I finally do get working, Sebastian and I have decided that I will find an apartment in or near Devil's Lake and stay there during the week, On the weekend I will come home to Winnipeg to spend time with Sebastian. There are benefits with this plan. For one, we don't have to mess with Visas and such, for now. We obviously don't wish for this to be our permanent standing. We have reason to believe that something even more wonderful may be brewing for us in the future. Time will tell. For now,I am excited to finally be at the point where I have a job that is appropriate for my level of education and that will stretch me as a person.
Coming to Winnipeg, I knew I was suppose to take a role in my new ward. I have already spoke in church, have been called as a Relief Society teacher, and will play a part in our Super Saturday. I am really happy to be in the service of my new ward and I am excited to grow in this capacity. Relief Society teacher is a bit scary for me because it was always the more experienced mothers of the ward who taught Relief Society in my wards in Utah. I guess I am older then I would like to claim, but I am not a mother and well, quite frankly I spent a good number of years ditching Relief Society. I guess that will not be a habit I will develop in my new ward ;) I hope that I will be able to give the lessons and help somebody look at things in a different way, or learn something new. I know it will be a matter of many prayers.
There are a few things we wish for in our future and pray our Heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers. We always pray to remain cancer free. I will have another set of MRI's in a few weeks (I get to come home for Thanksgiving). We also ever pray that we might be blessed with children. We have only been married 2 years and just been together in the same household for 80 days, but we feel our age creeping on us and know there are health obstacles. But we are ever hopeful that we will be able to take on the very sacred role of Mother and Father. I know that I have been blessed beyond measure this past while. Heavenly Father has worked miraculous wonders and miracles in my life and I am thankful he is mindful of me and my desires.
