Second Annual Christmas Newsletter

A YEAR FULL OF BIG MOVES

(from Lincoln, NE to Des Moines, IA)

By the time Christmas of 2011 rolled around, I had just started my new job as a reporter for WHO-TV in Des Moines. I packed my bags and left my husband of only two months all in the name of following my dreams. Ryan continued working in Lincoln until he found a job in Des Moines. In March, Ryan got the news we were praying for. He was hired as the Director of Sales at the Hyatt Place in downtown Des Moines. For the past year, Ryan has thrived in his position and has even grown to appreciate all that Des Moines has to offer. We rented an apartment just blocks from downtown and have enjoyed the perks of being so close to shops, restaurants, and entertainment. As for me, I truly love what I do. Although I love to communicate, it’s been the people I’ve met and the stories I’ve been able to tell that have really made my job rewarding.

THE AMERICAN DREAM

(Finding a House to Call our Home)

When the time came to start looking for a house, Ryan and I did our research. We looked into what city we wanted to live in, who had the best school districts and the least amount of crime.  When we narrowed down our list we contacted a realtor and began the hunt. As we looked at house after house, we would find things we liked in almost every house, however we both knew it wasn’t “the one.” One day we looked at a lovely home in Ankeny, that’s about 25 minutes North of downtown Des Moines. When we walked in we both knew we had found a contender. It had nearly everything we were looking for!  It was a two story home with an absolutely amazing finished basement. It also offered three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. When we decided it was for us, we made the call and got the process started. I knew the negotiations would be tough but I was going crazy. Ryan stayed strong and made sure we stayed at our budget all without compromising what we wanted. After what seemed like a long couple of days, we got word the home was ours! For Ryan and I that moment was amazing, we toasted with a glass of wine to a future in a home we would have so many memories in. We make the big move to Ankeny on January 18^th and couldn’t be more excited!

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

(In our Free Time)

Ryan continues to be a passionate football fan! He has enjoyed cheering on the Chicago Bears and the Huskers. Go Big Red! I got involved volunteering at the Veterans Museum, and help interview Veterans about their experience in the service. I also have enjoyed cooking and attempting several craft projects. Together, Ryan and I have enjoyed checking out different restaurants in town, hanging out with our family and friends and staying in and watching the latest movie. We also spent a great deal of the year training for the Des Moines half marathon. It was a goal of mine to complete one, and although Ryan had already ran two in the past, I dragged him along too. The training wasn’t easy but it was fun for us to check out new trails around Des Moines and try and stay in shape! On race day my dear sister, Ashley ran the entire race with me, helping me cross the finish line eight seconds under my goal! Ryan also finished at his goal of two hours. We also celebrated our one year anniversary on October 15^th. We went out for a nice dinner and came home to enjoy a piece of our wedding cake we had saved. Then we reminisced by watching our wedding video, looked through photos and read through the advice and well wishes left by our guests. In all, Ryan and I both agree we have had an amazing year! We both feel truly blessed, and thank all our family and friends for being so supportive over this past year. 2013 will bring more memories and we can’t wait to start making them! May you all have a blessed 2013 full of lots of love, laughter and happiness!

"Oh The Places You'll Go"



 After graduating high school I got the classic Dr. Seuss book, "Oh The Places You'll Go" and although it's a great book, I never really took the meaning to heart until recently.
Most of us aspire to go to college, graduate, land a good job, find  a great relationship, settle down the whole 9 yards.
I always knew I wanted to be a reporter with a top goal reporting the news in my own hometown. 
That dream came close to ending when I left KLKN in Lincoln after my contract ended.  I put 4 years of blood, sweat, and tears into that job. I thought making more money was important, so I took a job in marketing.  It was a GREAT job don't get me wrong, but I felt like something was missing.
Shortly after Ryan and I said "I Do" I got a call there was an opening in Des Moines at the same station I interned at in college.
I knew this was a crossroads---stay with a job with great hours, benefits, great people and a steady income or leave everything for a dream I once had.
After talking to my very supportive husband we decided to uproot our lives in Lincoln and pack up and head East to lovely Des Moines.
Since starting the job at Channel 13-I realize that I'm in the career that I once said I would always achieve and living in a city I LOVE.

It would seem like everything was lining up, except Ryan still didn't have a job.  So as newlyweds-he lived in our home in Lincoln, and I moved in with good old Mom & Dad.  It had been almost 2 months when Ryan got the call he had been waiting for.  The Hyatt Place http://www.desmoines.place.hyatt.com/ offered him the Director of Sales position which is what he wanted!

Just this past weekend I found an apartment for us to move into.  We're going to live in a nice 2 bedroom apartment near both of our jobs and our church. 

The funny thing is I didn't realize how well everything had fallen into place until we picked a day we were moving. In this economy 2 months could have turned into 12 months and although I thought the weeks we spent apart sucked, it could have been a lot worse.

So I come back to that Dr. Seuss book, and can finally look back on my life, accomplishments and future ahead and agree, "we all will go places" and if you're lucky enough it will all happen the way it's meant to be.

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

When you get married most people move in together, settle down, start using the great wedding gifts you got and start a new chapter.  My husband and I are taking a different path.  A month or so after we said, "I DO" I took a new job as a reporter for the NBC station in Des Moines.  I missed my days in television and when I got the call a job was open-I jumped at the chance to get back into the "biz." However, I needed to start right away and although I wanted Ryan to make this journey to Des Moines with me, we had to think smart and have him stay working in Lincoln until a new opportunity opened up for him in Des Moines.  So with my car packed to the brim, I made the trip to Des Moines and moved into the old parents house! I know, living with your parents and you haven't even been hitched for 3 months is a stretch. Ryan said the other day that we've kind of gone in reverse-living separate, calling throughout the day, and facebook messages seem like were back to when we first started dating.
I'm left to "living the dream" at the rents with no cable and some pics of my Nebraska living hubby.

I love this one sequence from our wedding!
I wanted to get the "nice" photo cutting the cake and move on but Ryan had another idea.

He is always making me laugh and I can't help but smile when I see these photos.

Although he promised he wouldn't smash cake in my face that is exactly what he did then proceeded to lick it off me in front of everyone!

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I miss him so much, but am hoping this journey we're on will end up being a good story to tell the little ones someday. The saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" comes to mind and I couldn't agree more.  With distance comes a true appreciation for what you have and what you're missing.  I miss my husband and can't wait until we can start a new-new chapter together in Des Moines--fingers crossed that will be sooner rather than later.