New Year, New Me...hopefully

Well it’s 2013 a month into 2013… so it’s time to kick my butt into gear and accomplish some things. As cliché as it is, I’m going to get some new years resolutions going. Well, more like new years goals to me. I like to stick with some easy ones at first but decided to put a little more effort this year.

Goal One: No Soda

I figured this was a simple goal to accomplish since I never was a big soda drinker. But, when we go out or travel I always find myself going for the soda. We don’t buy it for the house, so it’s not that I’m an “addict”. But, when I travel I find myself always reaching for soda vs. water. So, my goal is to hit a six-month of no soda and then re evaluate my goal for a year.

Goal Two: Improve Health

I know a big new years resolution is to lose weight. I don’t want to lose weight, but I want to get healthy. I love biking at the gym, so my goal is to be able to bike 30 miles a week by Easter, and then readjust my goal. I’d also love to be able to feel comfortable in a swimsuit. I’m not referring to having a rocking abs or anything, but just comfortable. I’d love not to have constant bloating from an unhealthy diet. So, I’m going to be working on a healthy eating habits, sleeping habits, working out and even doing more yoga.

Goal Three: Scheduling

I find myself going out my day in a smoother manner when I have a schedule to keep. I’m going to make a strict daily schedule to keep for a few weeks until I get into the swing of things. When I’m left up to my own devices, I find myself doing things like reading two books a day, all day, because I don’t have anything “important” going on that day. So, that’s another thing I want to work on.

Goal Four: Relationships

I want to work on the relationships in my life… not only my marriage, but also my relationships with my friends and family as well. I want to work on having strong relationships to the people who really matter, rather than only put in the minimum effort to have a lot of random people in my life.

Goat Five: The Big Man

I really need to start having more one on one time with God. I say my prayers, but I would love to do a daily devotional and really work on my relationship rather than religion.

Goal Six: Be Studious

I am a junior in college and I’d be lying if I said I was trying my hardest up until now. I did enough to have a decent GPA, but upon looking into graduate programs I realized that I needed to get my butt into gear. Let’s just say I may be even worse at posting to my blow now that my first classes after winter break start Monday.

Goal Seven: Organized
My house is a disaster zone. After Matthew got home, I realized that I really needed to be more organized. I am really putting that near the top of my list because an organized life is a happy life!

Goal Eight: Literature

I read a lot of “junk food” when it comes to books. My goal is to really put a dint in my books to read list. I want to finish 20 books off of THIS list this year. I love to read so I am really excited to tackle this goal!

Goal Nine: Blogging
I always have the greatest intentions of blogging more, even if it's not about a particular even or project. But, with the big move to Louisiana slowly approaching I am trying to make more of an effort. Most people who read my blog are friends and family so it's a way to keep everyone updated. Plus, it's almost therapeutic. So, pending my school schedule I will try to blog more.

Basically, I just want to start trying harder and being better. Until now I think I’ve been doing “just enough” in all aspects of my life. I want to start going above and beyond. So there you have it, my goals. Let’s hope I can really accomplish some things and kick butt!

Ch Ch Ch Channnging

So, basically, I suck at this whole blogging thing. I really do have good intentions, but I never seem to get around to actually posting to it.

Basically, this is me ^^^^

But the good news is, part of my new years goals is to hop on this blogging train and stay on for a least a few stops this time.  I could try playing catch up with some of the events I should have shared right away, like Christmas and such. But, sadly you may never get to hear about all those fun things. If I get around to it, that's great. If I don't get around to it...well I warned you. I do promise that I'll try to post at least once a week. Hopefully more than that if I get around do it! We have a lot of changes happening in the next few months and I can't wait to share them all with you! Spoiler Alert: just to clarify it now, these changes do no include a baby! Being that Matthew and I are entering our second year of marriage, that is normally a go to conclusion when we mention changes in our life. Believe me when I say that when the time comes, you'll get the full on announcement with no subtle hints!

But I have a few projects in the works, along with the possibility of documenting my journey to a fit and clean life! So please be patient with me and I hope I can start doing a better of a job! Until next time...

India: The Preparations

Disclaimer: this will be the start of a series of ridiculously long post. A ton of images along with a long explanation of my trip! 

I decided to document my experience in India in a series of posts as my "4 year anniversary" hit this year. Here goes the first one.

First off, those who know me already know, those who don't..well here you go. Karen Fact 1: I went to India when I was 16. Yep, this country right here..

Karen Fact 2: Apart from marrying Matthew, it was hands down the most amazing experience of my life.  
Karen Fact 3: I will  go back. 

It all started with a conversation with my Uncle Jack. He and my Aunt Valerie started their own church years ago called Elijah's Fire International Church. You can read about their church here. I can honestly remember it like it was yesterday. We were eating dinner at a local restaurant in my home town called La Palma. A few other member of my family were there too, but that detail seems a little fuzzy. But, he started talking about his most recent trip to India. He goes with my aunt and a few other member of their church every year. The year I went was their 13th year going. How amazing is that!? I was 15  at the time. I decided right then and there that I was going to go with his church to India the following year. Then the fun stuff began...

There were a lot of details that went into preparing for my trip. I had to : raise the money, get my shots, a visa, get a passport and deal with my school about taking a few weeks of absence. That was the hardest part. It was a three week trip, but even after many discussions between my Aunt Val, my mother, and the school...they only let me have two weeks of absence. Bummer right? We were determined to make it work though.

My process to get my passport was a lot easier than what I anticipated. I got a picture taken at Walgreens, filled out the forms by myself, had my parents sign the forms, took it to the court house and they notarized it and mailed it out...along with a nice check of course. Less than a month later, I got it in the mail.

July 2008; Just received my passport in the mail

After I got my passport back, I had to mail it off in order to get my visa so I'd have permission to travel into India. The paperwork for my visa was a little more complicated but my Aunt Val helped me fill out what I had questions on. I filled out the forms, had my mother sign them, set them up to mail priority along with my passport and yet another check. Then, the Indian Consulate sent me back a page to fill my passport up! 

Saving and earning the money for India was a challenge. Thankfully, I was blessed in that area. I received an overwhelming amount of donations and support. At least 1/3 of my trip was paid for entirely out of donations. It was an amazing feeling. Teachers, friends, family, customers at my work, and even total strangers donated to my trip. Roughly, my trip ended up being around $2500. For a 16 year old working a minimum wage job, which I might add was before federal minimum was $7.25, it might as well have been a million dollars. I literally saved every single pay check from May 2008 until January 2009. Well, besides the month of July. I took a paycheck with my on a family vacation to New York. 

The next part of the journey was getting my shots. At the time, I cursed my mom for not keeping me up to date on my shots. On top of the shots I actually needed for India's requirements, I needed to be up to date on all of my other shots as well. I had to get a pretty good amount of shots. I remember cursing my mom for not keeping them up to date. From what I remember, I had to get the following shots; typhoid, yellow fever, hep b, meningococcal conjugate, tdap, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Plus, I had to get a few of those in a series.  I also had take malaria pills a few weeks before I left, while I was in India, and a few weeks after I returned.  Needless to say, I was determined not to get sick.

I hate shots, and pardon my ugly hair at the time

My family was extremely supportive. That Christmas was amazing. My family bought me loads of stuff for my trip. My sister and brother-in-law bought me the cutest luggage set and passport holder. It was perfect. My parents bought me things like an outlet converter and digital camera. Both were extremely useful during my trip. Even my grandma and other sister bought me a sketchbook and new drawing pencils. I was really into drawing back then. I sketched in my sketch book a lot. I was amazing, everyone came together to help me. Eventually, it was time to head out. First leg of the journey, Chicago. 

Homecoming..for real this time.

Disclaimer:There are lots and lots of photos in this one! 

Well, as you know from my previous post....Matthew is finally home! The road to homecoming has been a long and trying one. I don't know how I would have gotten here without the love, support and prayers from everyone. I had the greatest support system. Now, onto homecoming!

We got official word on December 3rd that the 24th MEU was "heading west". That basically meant that they were coming home..but incase something changed they didn't want to get our hopes high. But man, were my hopes high. Official freak out mode went into full swing. Why was I freaking out? Oh because my final exams were Friday the 14th and Matthew was due back the 16th. And on top of that, my mac died. Literally. You can read more about that here. But, I finished all of my finals on time. To this day, I cannot even tell you anything that was on my statistics final. How I managed to get a B in the class, I will never know. It was a God thing for sure. But, Friday was full of celebration. I finished my classes, my good friend finished her first semester of hard core paramedic program with flying colors, and we were celebrating our "last" girls night before the guys got home. Needless to say, we busted out champagne. Then Saturday, the fun stuff happened. First, I ran errands and to get "Matthew's" groceries at the commissary. It consisted of things I haven't bought this entire deployment for myself.

Then, I had to hang up homecoming signs. I hung up the first one at my house. You may recognize it from when it was hung up on my wall.

Then a few of my girlfriend and I went to hang our banners up on the fences surrounding Camp Lejeune. Here is me putting up my banner...

It was so much fun. After all the banners were hung, I had to get in gear to clean the house. Now onto Sunday....
Matthew was due back in the late morning. So around 11am, my sister and I got to base. She was awesome enough to take our homecoming picures. You may recognize her here from her own homecoming celebration. Anyway, we had a lot of time to kill so we took a lot of random pictures. Especially of my handsome nephew, Parker.

Here is the sign I made a while back..

In true marine corps fashion...they were late. But, I have never been so excited in my life than the moment I saw him walking around the corner. I was so excited that I forgot my sign and that my sister was supposed to take pictures.

 

Parker was so excited that his uncle matt was finally home. Oh, and please excuse Matthew's hair cut, they made him do it and they ended up messing it up. Anyway..."Uncle Matt" gave Parker a prize. His latest obsession has been wanting two cars. not one, not three but just two cars. He was such a happy camper. Parker wasn't the only one excited pup when we got home.


So there you have it, our homecoming. There are many posts to follow since Matthew has been home, we just wanted some time together. So, until next time!

Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble & never stop praying-Romans 12:12