Like a book.

I haven't updated in a while, because I haven't had time.... so here it is.

We're all moved into the house. We've layed hardwood floors, and repainted all but one room. We've done landscaping, bought furniture and done a little bit of decorating. We graduated. I actually finished my Master's Degree at Campbell University, and Charles has his Docotorate. We went to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Roatan Island. We came home and Charles got me a puppy for my birthday (she's a coton and cavalier king charles spaniel mix), we named her Trixie.

Trixie is the coolest dog ever. She's SMART, and has a fantastic little personality. She can sit, stay, come, give high five, shake your hand, dance, lay and we're working on roll over and speak. We do everything we said we wouldn't. She sleeps in the bed with us, and we feed her table food - she doesn't beg though. She loves everybody, and loves to be petted by anyone that will touch her.

Charles took all his boards, and passed them with flying colors. He's a pharmacist now, and even better... he got promoted before his first day of work. He's actually the Pharmacist in Charge - a pharmacy manager.

My biggest concern for this upcoming year was a job, and I feel like things worked out well for me. I will still be working at Campbell next year, and have overcome the feeling that it somehow makes me a loser to keep doing the same job next year. I like what I do, and I like the people I work with.... why not keep doing it? My expectations of myself were too high, and I guess I thought I should be CEO of Wal-Mart of provost of a university by the time I finished my Master's degree.

However, along with keeping my job comes a daunting commute. Charles suggested that I start listening to audio books to help pass the time. I dismissed it as a "dork notion" at first, but have really come to love the quiet time that I spend in the car, and I enjoy listening to books. (Plus, I don't go over on the cell phone minutes, hahaha)

So far I've listened to At First Sight, The Choice, Tuesdays With Morrie, Three Weeks With My Brother (which is my fav.), and now I'm listening to The Rescue.

This summer, I have found a lot of insight into where my life is right now. This struck me as particularly profound yesterday.

It's a quote from The Rescue:

"Distance can ruin even the best of intentions. People come, people go- they'll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in your favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past."

This has been a real theme in our lives for the past 6 months. We live in a new city now, and the only people we really know here are Norma and Cristina. All of our friends live in other places, and I find it hard sometimes to bridge the gap between the past, the present, and the distance. There are some people who I hold very near and dear to my heart, but just can't seem to find the time to spend with them. It's a sad reality of life. I'm growing up now. Summers of carefree adventures, and random trips out of the country are becoming fewer and more distanced in time. While I know that I will always be me, I also know that life changes.

Hopefully, I can find the inner gumption to begin blogging again. I had lost it for a while, and I honestly miss writing. Katie and Charles have both been prodding me lately... so maybe the lull will recede I'll get my voice back.