I'm Back!

Holy goodness it has been forever since I have blogged.  Life has been too crazy and I haven't had a free minute to sit down and vent.  So much has happened since August.  I am on campus right now and I do have some homework to do so I will just update ya'll on the major happenings.  

1.  I am graduating from the University of Iowa in 4 weeks.  Thank the Lord because Iam so sick of this place.

2.  Tyler and I have now been together for 3 years and we are getting ready to sign a new lease at an apartment in Schaumburg, IL.

3.  I haven't found a job or an internship for after graduation yet but not for the lack of trying.

4. I no longer work for Veridian.  I have been with McGregor's Furniture since January and it pays the bills.

5. Ralphie is living with us in Iowa City full-time and we are loving having him :)

6. My papa, my grandpa who had been the topic of many of my summer posts, passed away the morning after Christmas.  My family was devastated.  We miss him desperately but are learning to cope and rebuilding our lives.

7.  Lastly, I have been drowning in homework.

Other than that I can't complain.

Until next time,

Jenna

Updates :)

        Holy crap it has been forever since I have blogged.  I have been so busy with last minute trips home, the state fair, getting ready for school, working and a baby shower!  I have finally had a couple of extra minutes to breathe.

I don't have a lot of time tonight since I just finished homework and I still need to eat dinner and clean my apartment.  So I will give y'all a brief overview of whats going on until I can sit down and do a full post.

1.  My aunt Meg had her baby shower this last weekend.  My grandma and I traveled to Chicago to help my aunt and her hubby celebrate their baby boy Henry and to deliver his cradle that my Grandpa hand-made and the bedding my Grandma sewed.  It was a really fun time :)

2.  I started my senior year of college yesterday! (wow...)  and I couldn't be happier with my classes, professors, etc. so far!!  

3.  Tyler and I are doing well.  Finally completely settled into our apartment and working on establishing our school routine.  Overall we are enjoying our little place and each other :)

4.  Ralph is coming to stay with Ty and I in a couple weeks when my mom goes to Mexico with her BFF.  Hopefully him and Lois will get along okay so that Ralph can come live here permanently.  My fingers are crossed!

5.  I have been in my own drawer at Veridian for a week now.  I have balanced my drawer perfectly every day and I really enjoying getting to know my co-workers!  The ladies at my branch are too fun :)

6.  Tyler and I have been thinking about our plans for this coming summer since we will be graduating in the spring.  (still cant believe it).  So far we are thinking that we are going to move to Louisville, Kentucky.  Tyler and I have been doing lots of research and we both really like it.  Hopefully we can save up and take a trip down during spring break in March to check it out.

7.  My papa started his next round of Chemo today.  He is feeling okay but the best.  He is eating alright but has been very tired and has had severe nausea.  Everyone please keep him in your prayers.  We are all fighting for him <3

8.  I love life and I honestly could not be happier right now...  well I take that back I would love a little extra cash but hell I can't complain.  I have thee best boyfriend and mother in the whole world and everything seems to be falling into place.  

Love, Jenna Rose   :)

Veridian :)

So I had my 3rd day of training at Veridian Credit Union today.  I haven't even officially started my actual job yet and I am already in love.  I absolutely love my job.  The people I've met so far are great and I am learning so much and it is such a great organization/company. This is the best training I have ever had.  It is more than just job training.  We talk about leadership and making changes and all kinds of really useful stuff.  What I learn in training will stay with me everywhere I go.  

One thing I really enjoy about it is that they encourage everyone to say everything they need to say about work to one another before they go home.  So when you are at work you focus on work and when you are at home you focus on your family and friends.  I love it!  It is so refreshing to have a job that I actually love and that I am interested in and that is important.  

I am so happy with life :)

What's New :)

So it was a super fun weekend in Chicago.  Tyler, Keith and I helped Ty's mom move some stuff into her new place and we went out to our favorite sushi place before seeing the Dark Knight Rises on Friday night at the coolest movie theater ever (Muvico in Rosemont).  We spent some quality time with Ty's mom Michelle, his future step dad Sal, his brother Alex and his Sister Rachel and her new boyfriend Cody.  We went to Six Flags: Great America on Saturday.




We rode most of our favorite roller coasters besides the awful heat and extremely long lines.  We rode the brand new one called X Flight it was super fun. 








 Saturday night we went out for dinner at Sal's families pizza place.  We had to get up at 4:30 this morning so that we could be downtown by 6:00 for Chicago Rock N' Roll half-marathon that Keith was in.  







We rode the train downtown, saw Keith off and then waited outside Starbucks for 15 minutes until they opened.  We had a cup of coffee and met Keith at his 6th mile. 


 We walked around for a bit and then went to see him cross the finish line.  Tyler and I saw a runner carrying her friend on her back after she hurt her leg.  The medics tried to take her friend off her and pull her aside but her friend wanted to carry her across the finish line.  This was all happening while the chorus of Stronger by Kelly Clarkson was playing.  It was a very movie like moment.  Afterwards we got some breakfast we were going to head over to the after race celebration where Cobra Starship was going to preform but we were all kinda pooped so we headed home for a nap.  We had a family dinner at Chili's before heading out of town.  





We made it back in really good time with no bad weather or any other issues which is always nice.  It certainly feels good to be home and it will feel even better to sleep in my own bed tonight.  I have to work all week 10-5 so that's a bummer but I've got to pay the bills.  Alex decided to come back and stay with us for a week or two so that will be fun as well.  I start my training at Veridian this coming week so I am super pumped for that.  The training is in Cedar Rapids so that's kind of inconvenient  but it will be worth it.   My papa and grandma are coming to visit this weekend before my papa starts another round of chemo.  I hope I am able to spend some time with them.  Not much else is going on.  It has been a busy busy weekend, I am ready to relax and head back to school here in a month!  Time for bed.



JennaBoBenna :)

cool finds.

I don't really have much to say today.  Everything is going okay.  Tyler, our friend Keith and I  will be heading to Chicago this weekend.  Keith is running a half-marathon in the city.  Cobra StarShip is the after run band.  Tyler and I really like them so we are pretty excited about that.

I am going to post a couple of cool things I came across today.  I hope you enjoy :)

I found all of these creations on Pinterest.  I have not made any of them and I do not take credit for them in anyway shape or form.  If you want to see the full recipes look in my likes and pin boards on my Pinterest page.

Cucumber & Cottage Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes

 Turkey Lettuce Cups ^           Avacado & Fried Egg Breakfast Pizza ^  

                     

 Mozzarella, Spinach & Tomato Pastry Bites

 Fruit Sherbet in Lemon Bowls

The YourEcards are hilarious! I just really like the other quote.  

Sorry about the weird formatting.  I am still learning and experimenting and the computer is temperamental.  

JennaBoBenna :)

Life.

You really never know what life is going to throw at you.  Everyone always says when it rains it pours.  What sucks is that I have never heard a positive version of that saying.  You never hear anyone say oh yeah one good thing happened to me then a ton of things did right after.  

I am back home and back to work after my trip to Michigan.  I am still really shaken up and thrown off by the whole thing.  I am so lucky to have the support that I do.  I thank all my friends and family for that everyday.  It was so good to spend time with my grandma and to walk into the hospital Thursday morning and see my papa's bright and shining face drinking his coffee and reading the paper.  He went home today from the hospital and he is starting to feel much better.  His oncologist is still out of town so we won't know the plan until he gets back.  I can sleep a little bit easier tonight knowing that my papa is in his own home and that he is comfortable.  It was really hard to leave him but I know that he is in good hands.  My grandma loves him more than anything and she is so wonderful.  His doctors are amazing as well.  And of course God is with him every second through this storm.

On a lighter note I just got a new job.  I am beginning work at Veridian Credit Union as a teller in Iowa City in a couple of weeks.  I am pretty excited about it too!  It was hard to be excited at first but now that everything is sinking in and getting back to normal I can be happy for myself.  It is going to pay me really well and it is super close to school and my apartment. 

I am really excited for school too.  I met with my academic adviser on Friday and everything is going as planned.  I will be graduating in May.  I seriously cannot believe I am at this stage in my life.  I always wanted to be here when I was younger and now its happening and I don't know what to expect.  There are so many things going on in my head and I have so many options who knows what will happen come June of next year.  All I know is that I will be celebrating my mom's 50th birthday and 21st birthday surrounded by our favorite people somewhere warm and tropical!  We are thinking Turks and Caicos!  Has anyone been there?  I would love to hear about it!

Your continued thoughts and prayers are much appreciated :)

JennaBoBenna :) 

Papa Bear :)

Well today is July 10th.  I haven't posted in awhile for a number of reasons.  I have been sick, working and out of town.  I am writing today from the waiting room at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  My mom, aunt and I made the trip here yesterday.  My papa was supposed to have surgery to remove his esophageal cancer.  We just got called back to chat with the doctor about an hour ago.  The cancer has spread to his colon, pancreas, and liver.  It is a hard day for my family.  My papa is our rock.  He is strong and smart and brave and he is one of the best men I know.  As I look back today at pictures and thinking about different memories; it is hard to fight back the tears.  This outcome was not when any of us had expected.  (He mowed the lawn yesterday!)  We will continue to fight with him and for him and we won't give up.  We know he won't give up either.  He has taught me so many things in my life:  If you want it.. go get it AND if there is a will there is a way :)

Love you Papa <3

I know you will be there for my graduation and my wedding! I am counting on it!

JennaBoBenna :)