This Is Getting A Little Ridiculous...

Long time no see! Totally my fault, I know. As you can probably imagine, a lot has happened since my last post. Like, a lot. I think I was probably working at Starbucks, and giddy over some boy ;) Well, it's definitely time for an update:

Let's go with the job sitch first: I quit Starbucks. And not a minute too soon. I ended up working at a small, local artisan coffee roastery and espresso bar, and after a month got promoted to manager. That was fun for a while, but I just left, on good terms of course. Why? Because I was offered a full time EMT job! And I absolutely love it! I've been working here for about two months, and couldn't be happier. My company has two sides: operations and events. On the operations side, we do critical care transports. Basically we do inter-facility transportation of critically ill patients. I actually like this more than I expected, because we get to see the same patients multiple times throughout their recovery, and I enjoy getting to help my patients become healthy again. On the events side, we have contracts with four local raceways (car and motorcycle races), several MMA promoters, and two triathlon organizations (this definitely comes in handy ;D ) I love all of my coworkers, and my boss is fantastic. Everyone has been super encouraging and supportive, and dedicated to my success. It's been a great experience, and I can see myself with this company for a long time.

Now for the boyfriend sitch: We are beyond happy! We'll be celebrating our one year anniversary this month. He is everything I dreamed of and so many things I didn't know I wanted or needed. He calms me down, shows me how to be patient and spontaneous, and loves me despite my crazy. (And let's be honest, I come with a lot of crazy) He is one of the most disciplined, motivated and dedicated people I've ever met. And he's an incredibly hard worker. He loves me well and is extremely supportive and encouraging. We have plans to fly to Louisiana/ Dallas (depending on where Mom and Dad are then) so he can meet the rest of the family. I'm so excited about our future together. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on this.

I'll just leave it at this for now. Picture time!

Whoa Nelly!

I cannot believe it has been 5 months since I last posted. So much has happened! I'll try to keep it short... ish...

Obviously I am not in California. I pulled my resume from consideration. Denver is my home now, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. (Clarification: I don't plan on leaving. But as always, God may have other plans...)

I started working at Starbucks at the end of April, and I kind of love it. I'm getting to have constant interaction with lots of different types of people and I enjoy the community.

I finished my EMT class and I am state and nationally certified! Woot! I am now Emily Atwood, NREMT-B. The class was awesome, I learned a lot and met some really cool people. I am now in the IV approval course, learning how to start IVs and basic phlebotomy skills. We have to practice on each other, so naturally I look like a heroin addict... Cool.

I am currently applying for EMT jobs. I'll keep you updated.

The Birdhouse has two new birds! Kelsie and Ashley are pretty much awesome and I'm really excited to share this home with them.

Also, as most of you know, my grandfather passed away this summer. He was such an amazing man and I miss him. He lived a great life and was such a fantastic leader for our family. He always supported me and encouraged me. I love him very much and I miss him terribly.

Now for the good stuff. There's a boy :)

Daniel is just fantastic. He is sweet and caring and nurturing and incredibly attractive of course. He's a triathlete and is training for his first Iron Man next summer. He plays the guitar, and if he thinks you aren't listening, he might even sing, and he's quite good. He simply amazes me and I find something new about him everyday that I just love. He is super supportive and keeps me calm. Of course he has his quirks, including his love of NASCAR, which I am choosing to overlook ;) Things are going very well, but because this plastered all over the internet, I'm going to be discreet about it. But just know, it's going VERY well ;)

There were lots of smiley faces in that paragraph. Is it weird if I make myself sick because we're so cute? Yep.

Okay, I think those are the big ticket items. Sorry it's been so long. Now for pictures!

Decisions, Decisions

Well I have some new updates for you all!

So the second "interview" in California went really well! They asked me to come stand in on an autopsy, essentially to make sure I won't puke all over the place. I was informed I wouldn't be touching anything, just observing.  I met with the forensic assistant supervisor before we got started, and filled her in on my background and experience. Then we went in for the morning briefing to see what cases were on the agenda for the day. She gave me a short tour, then introduced me to the autopsy tech I'd be shadowing that day. She advised him I was allowed to do whatever I wanted. So, he threw me right in. I used the bone saw to help remove the skull cap. I used garden shears to clip the ribs to remove the rib cage. Obviously, if you know anything at all about me, you know that no puking was involved, and I jumped at the chance to do anything. They kept me around longer than originally planned because they had more they wanted to show me. They all seemed to be quite impressed with me (shocker, I know)

I was advised by the supervisor that going into this portion of the interview, I was tied with two others for top applicant. They have three positions open. She told me that she hopes I'll join their family, and they look forward to working with me. It doesn't get much more promising than that!

Now for the not so fun parts: I've done some research and number crunching. I know what the pay scale is for this job, and I know what kind of expenses I'm going to be expecting. Basically, they'll need to pay me at the top end of the pay scale for me to be able to have any sort of life. Also, they're looking at putting me on the graveyard shift: 8 hour overnight shift, five days a week. I could be on that shift for a few years before moving to a shift where I actually assist with the autopsies. Graves just does the body intake (putting the body in the system when it arrives and moving it to the cooler). So needless to say, I'm still unsure as to whether this would be the best move. 

At least I have three months to think about it, since my background check will take that long to be completed... I also have to make one more trip out there to meet with a background investigator. And provide a lot of obscure paperwork along with a 16 page personal statement form.

In the meantime, I still plan on going to EMT school this summer, so I'll be getting the ball rolling on that application process as well. I also interviewed to be a barista at Starbucks to make a little extra dough. I should hear back from them tomorrow.

The past few days in particular have been quite exhausting and stressful. I'm simply tired of being in this situation. Funds are starting to dwindle, along with my patience and my enthusiasm. I just get worn out thinking about the idea of having to start my life completely over somewhere new: trying to make new friends and find a new community, especially when I could be stuck on night shift. I'm ready to be settled.

I'll finish with lyrics from a song by Ingrid Michaelson (Be OK):

I just want to know today, know today, know today
I just want to know something today
I just want to know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be okay.

Okay I think that's enough. As always,

Let the adventure continue

The Update You've Been Waiting For...

Hello all!

I have some updates on the job situation!

So, I got an e-mail from Seattle. They moved the top four applicants on to the next round of interviews (phone interview). According to my score from the first interview, I ranked fifth. When I found that out, I just smiled. They said they were very impressed with me and wished me the best in my job search. That's all I can ask for. This door has been very clearly closed, and I'm definitely okay with that.

As for California, they asked me to come back next week for the next round: an autopsy viewing. Obviously this is not going to be an issue, since I was sewing up the bodies when I left my last job. After that it's background checks and then the selection. I am in fact attending the next step in the process. I feel that God is asking me to step out in faith and trust His plan.

However, a major consideration going into this is salary. I performed a cost of living analysis comparing Denver and Santa Ana. The compensation in Santa Ana to make up for the cost of living difference is 9.3%. So for the exact same job (which is not the case) I would get paid 9.3% more in Cali than I did in Denver to make up for the difference in the cost of living. However, the cost of living in the OC is 30% more than it is in Denver...

In dollar amounts? I would get paid $4,000 more a year, but in order to maintain my standard of living, I would need to make $14,000 more a year, roughly. What's even worse, is that the pay range for the job I'm applying for is significantly less than the job I had here, so I'm in danger of actually making less money there, potentially $12,000 less a year. Obviously pay is negotiable, but the high end of the pay range for this new job is still $10,000 less than what I would need to make to maintain my standard of living...

So there's that...

Well, obviously I'll let you know how things go. Still working on a few other options. And of course...

Let the adventure continue!

The Honest Truth

"The Lord has promised good to me
His Word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures"

You want the honest truth?

I know the above to be true. I'm having a hard time truly believing it.

Yes I'm bored not having a job. Yes I'm broke not having a job. But mostly, I miss my job. I miss feeling like I'm fulfilling my purpose. I miss being out in the field, using my brain, and helping families. I miss being amazed by the human body. I miss being challenged by new cases. I miss learning.

I know the Lord has an amazing plan for my life, and that it's perfect. It's for my good and for His glory. But it's hard to believe that it could include a job OTHER than my dream job, and at the same time it's hard to believe (the way it looks right now) that it COULD include my dream job. Standing where I'm standing, I don't see how this could work out. For a while I could see how I could have my dream job in my dream city, but doors keep closing.

I just don't see it. I don't. And that frustrates me. I just don't understand how I could be given such a strong passion and not be given the chance to fulfill it.

But even when I don't see it, I have to believe that God knows and wants what is best for me. Why? Because that's all I have right now. And that is enough. It has to be.

And that is the honest truth.

Let the adventure continue.

West Coast Interview Tour, Part Dos

Whew!

So I finally made it to Santa Ana about 5 hours later than expected. I walk over to baggage claim, with a sad, rather defeated look on my face, and see Mom walking towards me. I perk up a little, give her a hug, and when I look up my sister is standing there! I perk up significantly more because this is quite a surprise. We don't get to see each other much, and it's hard to plan reunions. So we grab all my stuff and head over to an awesome little bar restaurant in Santa Ana called Lola Gaspar. It has the same type of vibe at Lola (my favorite restaurant here in Denver) but a little more laid back. Delicious Mexican inspired cuisine. Then we go back to the hotel to catch up and get to bed early.

The next morning is my interview. This one is for a pathology tech (assist with the autopsies) with the Orange County Coroner. The interview was really easy, and the questions were more about communication and bringing a positive attitude to the office (sound familiar?) But this interview lasted 25 minutes, max. Mom and Taylor went thrift shopping while I was there, and got a bunch of cute stuff. After the interview, we headed for L.A. Lunch was at a vegan restaurant called Mohawk Bend. I know, but it was really good! And they had non-vegan options, too We went to Hollywood and walked around for a bit, checked out the Walk of Stars and went to the Chinese Theatre. The touristy vibe got on our nerves pretty quick, so we got a picture of the Hollywood sign and decided to go to Santa Monica (obviously a great idea). We walked around the Third Street Promenade and went to dinner at Monsoon Cafe (a favorite from vacations past...) They were having a comedy show, so we watched that. 8 performers, and only three were really awful. We had a great time but got back to the hotel room late.

Friday morning we woke up not so early and went to Disneyland! We met up with an old friend from Louisiana who lives in California now and had lunch with her. We started off in California Adventure which was really fun! The Radiator Springs Carsland ride was awesome, as was the California Screamin and of course, Soarin Over California is a favorite. In Disneyland, I loved the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Indiana Jones ride, and the Haunted Mansion is a classic. We wore ourselves out (and our feet, of course) but had a blast! It's always good to be a kid again.

The flight back was uneventful, thank goodness.

As far as the interviews go, I should know something by the end of next week. Obviously I'll keep you guys updated.

I was talking to Mom and Taylor at one point on the trip, and told them that if I could simply combine the close downtown feel of Seattle where everyone walks or rides their bike everywhere and is super friendly, and the beautiful weather and laid back vibe of Santa Ana, that would be the perfect place for me to live. Mom laughed and told me that sounded familiar.

Denver really is the perfect place for me...

Let the Adventure Continue!

West Coast Interview Tour! (Pt. 1)

So Seattle and I have a love-hate relationship.

The first day in Seattle was great! Everyone I met was extremely friendly, and my hotel was amazing. I mean, a complementary wine hour for hotel guests? Right up my alley! I checked in, freshened up, then went to Pike's Place market. So cool! I got lunch at an Indian food stand (delicious) then watched them throw fish at the fish market. Obviously I went to the original Starbucks and got a drink (kept it simple this time) and picked up a few other goodies. That night I went back to the hotel  to attend the wine hour and met this guy named Chad Marteney (pronounced Martini). He's from Charlotte, NC and loves Jesus. I very much enjoyed talking to him.

Tuesday wasn't quite as awesome. Went to the Space Needle to have lunch. Lunch was delicious, but I could not handle the rotating floor, so I had to take it to go. The observation deck was beautiful, however! Went back to the hotel after lunch to get ready for the interview. I got a tour of the facility once I arrived at the ME's office, and i think the interview went really well! I feel like I was able to touch on specific topics that only someone in my field would be aware of (dealing with families, particular unique situations, etc.) The entire experience lasted about two hours. And then I got caught in the rain. Got back to the hotel just in time to make it to wine hour and talk with Chad again.

This morning I got to the airport in plenty of time to grab breakfast before boarding my plane out of Seattle. Already worried about a mere 30 minute layover in San Fran before heading to Santa Ana, I got even more nervous when our plane out was delayed an hour. I got to the gate for my last flight just in time to see them take off. Customer service was a disaster, but I finally got my flight rescheduled (which is now delayed another hour, allowing me to type this out). But, of course, I used my time wisely and got lunch and a pedicure :)

So now for the good stuff: Like I said, I really think my interview went well! I was able to talk about my experiences, what I've learned during my time off, and why this is my chosen profession. I did get stuck on a question about "policies I followed but didn't agree with", but only because we didn't actually have any established policies the entire time I worked in Colorado. My first answer wasn't exactly what they were looking for, but my second one seemed to satisfy them. As well as the interview went, though, I never got a sense that this office is where I'm supposed to be. I never got overly excited or nervous. It just didn't seem right. And that's okay.

The second night I spoke to Chad, he shared some quite insightful thoughts. He told me that I should follow my heart, because if Jesus really does live in me, He's guiding it anyway. He also said that if I truly knew who walks beside me, I would never fear. That one really hit home. He also challenged me to write down everything that I really want out of life, and at the very bottom of my list to write "It is written." He advised that God will give me the true desires of my heart, because He's the one that gave me those desires. I just have to trust in His timing. Finally, Chad told me that we are all put on this earth to do good to other people, in whatever capacity that may be, and that if we have done that, we have accomplished our purpose.

Well that's all for part one. Hopefully I'll make it to Santa Ana at some point in the near future, and part two will commence.

As always,
Let the adventure continue!

More Updates! (West Coast Job Interview Tour)

I received a call today from Greg with the King County Medical Examiner's Office (KCMEO).

He was calling, concerned, that I hadn't responded to his email to reserve an interview time for the Investigator I position.

We eventually figured out that he had my email address wrong, and he quickly corrected that. He stayed on the phone to make sure I received the email with the remaining interview times. While we waited, he advised the following:

"A little bit about the process so far: we had 210 applicants for this job. We had an outside panel review the applications, and they narrowed it down to 56. We then had a panel of employees review and rank the applications, and they narrowed it down to 16. You are in the top 16. Also, I just want you to know, that we were very impressed with your application, and you were actually ranked 6th of all the applicants. We would love for you to come to Seattle to interview with us if you're still interested..."

Well when you put it like that...

So, I will be flying from Denver to Seattle on March 11, then straight to Santa Ana on the 13th, then back to Denver on the 16th.

I'm working on a couple of other things on the Denver front, but nothing to concrete yet. Of course, I'll keep you guys updated.

Let the adventure continue!

The Godliest Man I Know

I am incredibly blessed to have been raised by the godliest man I know.

He loves his children more than anything, and would do anything in the world for them.

He never lets me settle for less than what I deserve.

No matter how many times I disappoint him, he'll never love me any less.

But when I do disappoint him, he disciplines me. Not out of anger, but out of love.

He always provides for his family and works hard to be able to do so.

He is generous. So much so that he sacrificially gave to my church here in Denver, because he knows how much it means to me, and believes in its mission to bring Christ's love to the city of Denver.

He cares for those less fortunate than himself and provides for them when he can.

He is a faithful, strong leader.

He has always supported me and allowed me to make my own choices.

He embodies the characteristics I hope to one day find in a husband.

And finally, he never gives up on me. 

I will never be able to thank him enough for all he has done for me.

I love you Dad.

Finally Some Updates! Sort Of...

Well, I finally have some updates!

I have officially moved into The Birdhouse with Melanie, Erin, Charlotte and Courtney. The move went very smoothly, and I had a ton of people come help. It was great! And not nearly as stressful as I expected. It was actually quite refreshing. So glad it's over.

I am incredibly thankful for the generosity of my new roommates. They have been so gracious and hospitable. I love them all so much and could never thank them enough for everything they are doing for me. I hope they know how much of a blessing they are in my life.

Also, I have an interview! I'll be traveling to Santa Ana, California (Orange County, what what?!?!) on March 14 to interview for a pathology technician job (assisting with the autopsies). Mom is going with me and we're making a mini vacation out of it. I'm really excited to go to the beach! Although it will probably still be chilly...

I also got emails this morning from Sacramento County, California and Dallas, Texas advising me that I am qualified for the positions (Forensic Technician and Crime Scene Analyst, respectively). They'll be passing on my information to the next step.

This is all great, but I still really want to stay in Denver. Still trying to figure out what that looks like. I'll probably be widening my search to hospitals, etc for more ideas.

A classic song I'm really loving right now...

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year

but..

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too..."

Obviously I'll keep you guys updated.

Let The Adventure Continue!

I'm On Special Assignment

It has now been 3 months since I lost my job.

My friend Brianne asked me yesterday how the job search was going. I have absolutely no updates, so I told her that God has me on special assignment right now. Lightheartedly I added that I hope He fires me soon and gives me a job that pays.

But in all honesty, I have really enjoyed being "on special assignment"these past few months. Do I wish I would get a paying job so I could be stable and find a more permanent place to live? Absolutely. But I have had so many unique opportunities lately that I would never have had if I had a job, especially my last one. If I could just get paid to do what I'm doing, that would be awesome.

But alas, that is not the case.

I've been thinking a lot about the Roots Campaign at church: putting down roots in the city of Denver and committing long term to helping the church grow and love the city. Nothing would make me happier than to make that commitment. But I just don't know what God has in store for me. I really hope He wants me to stay here, but I just don't know yet. And that can be frustrating. I'm such a planner, and I just don't have a plan.

I leave on Wednesday to go home to LA for my grandpa's birthday. I'm excited to go home, but I'm afraid that as soon as I have a second to sit down and breathe, everything will hit me like a ton of bricks... again. I've been so busy trying to find somewhere to crash, get things clean and packed, running errands and getting everything organized.

I'm just ready to be stable again. But I have to be patient. God's got a plan, and it's significantly better than mine.

And of course
Let the adventure continue!

Patience Has Never Been One Of My Strong Points...

I've never really been a patient person before.

I make plans for a reason. So I know what's going to happen and when. So I can be properly prepared. I've tried to learn flexibility, and I have gotten better at it when it comes to situations that are not particularly important.

But this is a bit of a different story.

I've been unemployed for two and a half months at this point, and I'm starting to get anxious. Impatient, even. And that's frustrating. What's even more frustrating, however, is that through my impatience I'm demonstrating a lack of faith in God's perfect plan for my life. This entire situation is happening for a reason and I know it's for my good and for God's glory.

But it's so difficult to see in the midst of it. I know it to be true in my head, but I'm struggling to believe it to be true in my heart.

There are just so many things running through my mind, but mainly: What am I even doing with my life? I've worked so hard my entire life, and I feel like I have nothing to show for it.

For my GOOD and for His GLORY.

For MY good and for HIS glory.

For my good AND for His glory.

As always...

Let the adventure continue!

I Can't Believe Another Year is Over

New Year's Eve/Day has always been a therapeutic time for me.

It's a time for me to reflect over the last year and realize that ahead of me is a brand new year with new adventures, opportunities, and the chance to be better.

I feel, though, that each year I need a new start even more. It seems that each year becomes more difficult and complicated, and at the end of each year I can't wait to put it behind me and start over.

2012 included the realization that my job situation was not as it should be, which eventually was "taken care of".

My grandfather became extremely sick and was put in the hospital and wasn't expected to live. He is still kicking it today!

I moved in with a fantastic new roommate in April and we live in a lovely house!

I started co-parenting the most adorable Husky (ish) puppy you have ever met!

My mom was found to have pre-cancerous cells in her breast tissue.

I was in a relationship that taught me a lot, made me grow up and forced me to seriously evaluate myself as a person. No regrets there! Not to mention we had a blast and I got to experience so many new things! (camping, San Diego, etc.)

I was able to build relationships that have become irreplaceable and more important and influential than I could ever have imagine them to be with amazing, Godly women.

And through it all the Lord has been more than faithful and amazingly gracious and merciful with me.

But I am ready for a new start. New experiences. A New Year.

Let the adventure continue!

His Grace and Mercy Abound

At this point all I can do is laugh and thank the Lord for his grace and mercy in my life.

Due to... circumstances... my roommate is now also looking for a new job. She is also leaving a less than ideal situation, so for that I am excited. However, she is seriously looking outside of the Denver area, and is thinking about moving home. If nothing has resolved by February, the house will go up for sale. I'll be losing an awesome roommate, a great house, and the most precious dog you've ever seen.

AKA I will soon be homeless and jobless. 

Okay that sounds a little dramatic... but could potentially be true.

So what have I been doing with my time? Well that's the great part! I have had so many opportunities to help out other people, and I love it! I've driven to the airport 10 times to pick up/drop people off, babysat for a couple of different friends, cared for a friend who was in the hospital, helped plan a baby shower, started teaching myself how to cook and have started working on projects for the church. It has reminded me that there is more to life than a job. I spent all my time and energy on my job, and neglected what was really important: my relationship with the Lord and my relationship with others. I am working on fixing that now, but it is definitely a work in progress.

This Christmas break has been therapeutic. Being at home with my family, having someone else to take care of me (my mom, of course), and reconnecting with lots of "long lost friends" has been so refreshing and encouraging. 

When I get back to Denver it will be time to get the ball rolling. Honestly, a lot of elements in my life are uncertain, and it's mildly stressful, but He is faithful and will provide. 

More than ever...

Let the Adventure Continue!

Whelp...

This is definitely not a post I ever thought I would write.

As of two weeks ago I am no longer employed.

I know. I heard your gasp all the way from here.

I didn't talk about it much on here, but the work environment was quite hostile. Because of management issues, I wasn't able to trust my coworkers with anything. They had all turned on each other and begun to turn each other (and me) in for things we did "incorrectly" or "not to their standards". They thought that because we were all technically "equal" that this would cause them to be looked upon in a better light. It almost made you feel better if someone else was getting into trouble because that meant the spotlight was off of you. I did not participate in this, but was a victim of it. I went into work every day sick to my stomach worried about what I could possibly have done wrong or what I was going to get called into the office for. I loved scene responses, examining the bodies, dealing with law enforcement and families. I loved my job, but I hated going to work. It was not a healthy environment.

But I was never going to quit. I was never going to give up what I had worked more than 15 years for.

So God was gracious enough to take it away from me.

I'm sure it's not surprising that I had found my identity in my work. This is who I've been for as long as I can remember. It's even how other people identify me. I'm quite sure that the first thing most of you think about when you hear my name is my job. If you went up to someone who has met me and said "hey, do you know that Emily girl?" they may look at you confused. However if you clarified with "you know, the death investigator" they would probably instantly become less confused.

So the Lord is showing me that I have found my identity in the wrong place. First and foremost I am a daughter of the Most High God, and I had forgotten that this is the only thing that matters. He can take everything away from me in the matter of a single conversation, but He will always be mine. I will never be taken out of his hand, and he will ALWAYS be faithful, even when it seems like everything is falling apart. And it does feel that way, in a sense.

Now I am not telling you that I'm completely fine, I've learned my lesson, and I'm totally over it. That would be a lie. I know these things to be true in my head, but the conversion to believing them in my heart is definitely taking time. I still feel lost at times. I have no idea what to do with my life right now. I'm trying to take some time to rest and rejuvenate, but my Type A personality is making that difficult. I want to be in control and have a plan, but I'm not and I don't. But He is and He does.

I'm taking time off until after Christmas, which I'll be going home for. I'm continuing yoga, learning how to cook, and focusing on the relationships that suffered during my awful work schedule. Some days are better than others, but I'm excited for what the Lord has in store for me.

So more than ever:

Let the adventure continue!

Some of my favorite family pics...

The Season Isn't The Only Thing That's Changing...

It's only been a few months since my last update! Progress!

Speaking of progress...

Work has been improving? (Yes the question mark was intentional.) I don't think my coworkers dislike me quite as much anymore. I just don't fit in with them. Not that I particularly want to, but it makes for a difficult work environment, and makes it that much more difficult to minister to them.

Also, I have this sinking feeling that something big is coming (in reference to work). The four counties that surround the one I work in have had major catastrophes in the last couple of weeks. It's only a matter of time. *shudder* Praying that we'll be prepared.

Things with the "friend boy" didn't work out. I was upset at first. It didn't exactly go down the way I would have liked, but I'm at peace with it now. I have had time to think about it. It happened, I learned from it, and it's over. And that's okay. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was a great relationship and I'll always have fond memories. And I'm a better person because of it.

I'm ready for November 7. The political stuff is driving me crazy. *End of rant*

Oh my gosh. I started doing yoga. Game changer. I practice three times a week at the studio in my neighborhood. It's pretty much amazing.

I joined a new city group at church. I am now the coordinator of the Cole City Group. It has been such a blessing that I never quite expected. Such great counsel and encouragement. And new friends :)

Pippin is getting so big! He's adorable.

Mumford and Sons was so amazing. Like, so amazing. And mom got to come with me! We had a blast with Melanie. And the new album is so good. Like, so good.

The Halloween Party was a success!

And fall is beautiful here! But it's almost over... :(

And we took family pictures last time we were home! Parky also took his senior pictures. He got a few in his firefighter uniform. Oh my goodness he is so grown up and I am so incredibly proud of him!

And my sister is so pretty. She's such a strong, confident person. I'm secretly jealous...

Well I think that's all for now. Follow me on instagram and twitter (emilyannloves). I'll try to update more frequently :)

PS The Lord is faithful always. Not only when things go your way, but especially when they don't.

Wow, I Suck At This...

Okay, so it's been 10.5 months since I last posted.

I know. I suck at this. But it started getting to the point where there was soooo much to write about, that it got overwhelming, so I just decided not to.

I'll try to sum up work this way: when I try to type the word "decided", my fingers automatically type the word "decedent" instead. 

Work has been crazy, stressful, exhausting, fascinating and full of growth. Lots of growth. 

Growth. Growth. Growth. And growth hurts. A lot, sometimes, but it's always for the best. 

And yes, there is a new "friend boy" in the picture, but for right now we're just getting to know each other better. But boy do we have a blast together. I'm a huge fan :) (Check out my facebook. You'll probably figure it out pretty quick...)

Oh my goodness gracious alive. The Summit Denver is absolutely amazing. So many great friends, such good counsel and such support. I couldn't do this without them. Every single one of them. 

I went to California for the first time for my birthday! Oh my gosh, I loved it so much. The weather was perfect. It's possible living in San Diego or Santa Monica could be in my future, but not the near future. 

I've been rafting, tent camping, four wheeler riding up and down a mountain, and hiking at 12,000 ft. Never thought I would, but I loved it!

And I got a new bicycle! She's an Electra, and her name is Carmen. Haha. 

Also, I moved into a house with Sarah! And we have a Husky puppy named Pippin! He's adorable.

And I went to see Foster the People with Melanie! Mumford and Sons is coming up next month!

Well, I think that's all I have for now. If you want more pictures, follow me on instagram: emilyannloves. I'm really going to try to update this more often. We'll see how that goes. Until next time...

Let the adventure continue!

I'm Sorry, And You Are?

I'm sorry, and you are?
Oh! My social life!
I hardly recognized you! So good to see you again. It's been far too long.

Yep you guessed it! I'm back on day shift. 6am-4pm. MTW and every other Sat. Sun. And yes, that does mean I have a four day weekend every other weekend. And that's this weekend. And yes, I'm stoked.

I absolutely LOVE day shift. Tons of people at the office, lots of paperwork, follow up with doctors and families, and plenty of cases. Wow that sounded like sarcasm. It really wasn't. I really do love all of those things. Still not sarcasm. Just take my word on that, okay?

It had been so nice to see live people again. I can hear you laughing, but seriously. I feel like a human being again, not a vampire. It's baffling how much difference a few hours can make.

Changing gears, I wish I could express to you how absolutely mind-blowing it is to think that I have found something as amazing as The Summit Denver. Obviously it was completely God's blessing, and it just amazes me every time I think about it. To the point of tears. They are my family. They keep me in line. They care for me when I can't care for myself. And they encourage me to protect and advance the mission. Not to mention they're all just super cool people.

I know you guys are waiting for me to post about my cases. I've had a couple of interesting ones, including a homicide. But it is definitely still an open case because we can't find the guy who did it. We know who he is, but that's about it. Let's just say I'm now besties with the Mexican Consulate and watching kids attack a pinata with a metal bat makes me cringe. And I know I promised a story about the case that really got to me, but because I'm aware of who reads my blog, you'll just have to ask me about it in person.

Okay, I think I'm going to close with my most recent favorite lyrics by one of my favorite bands:
"And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears,
And love will not break your heart but dismiss your fears."
-Mumford and Sons

Let the adventure continue!

I Fail At Blogging...

So it's been pretty much forever since my last blog. Almost two months. And a lot can happen in two months. And it has...

So we had three month evaluations at work. They went well for the most part, but my bosses recognized that I wasn't exactly comfortable going out on scenes. (Honestly, I was terrified. The idea of someone depending on me to make huge decisions got to me. I still feel like I should be in high school.) Anyway, so one of the senior investigators has been following me the last two months "just to help build my confidence". Yeah, something like that. Really all I needed was the fact that my bosses could see the lack of confidence I knew I felt. Once I knew they could see through me, I stepped up my game. And things have been fantastic ever since. In other work news, I have been working the most horrendous shift imaginable: M-F, 7pm to 4am. So basically I get home around 5, sleep until 4 because my body is confused and needs more sleep, get up, shower, eat and go back to work. All of that equals exactly zero social life. But not to fear! I switch back to days in one week, and I could not possibly be more excited!

There was one span of about ten days were I had a scene call everyday. And none of them were anything typical. But because they are open cases I can't share much about them on here. I'll just give you a few teasers: CO (not Colorado), carving knives, youtube videos, gloves that weren't quite long enough, more than one ravine, cornfield, beetles, bathtub, and still undetermined. So far since I've started working, I have had 153 cases and 23 scene calls.

At church lately we've been going through the books of 1 and 2 Timothy. This is some counter-cultural stuff, y'all. This last week we talked about the exclusivity of Christianity. It was heavy, and Bryan got really fired up, which was awesome and quite appropriate. One thing that struck me is his island analogy. In school one of his professors talked about the island of salvation. Each religion has it's own way to help you swim to the island. They each have some process you can go through or list of rules to try and keep that will get you to the island. The thing about Christianity is that there is no way for you to get yourself to the island because you are dead. The only way to get to the island of salvation is for Christ to pick you up, throw you over his shoulder, and carry you the entire way, then resuscitate you once you get there, bringing your dead body back to life. That is the beautiful part. You cannot save yourself, plain and simple. But God desires for all men to be saved, which is why Christ died on the cross: so he could carry us to salvation. The most important part about this is that Christ picking you up is the ONLY way to get to the island. All the other ways will fall short, leaving you to drown in the shark infested waters. Once we acknowledge this and believe it in our hearts, we must respond with a fiery passion to see our unbelieving friends come to Christ. If we acknowledge that Christ is the only way, we must then acknowledge that all those who don't know Him will not find salvation and will not go to heaven.

The Summit Denver family has taught me so much since my move to Colorado. I could never thank the Lord enough for their encouragement and support and love.

I think that's enough for now. Hopefully I'll update again soon. I finally had that one case that got to me emotionally, so be looking for a post about it soon.

Let the adventure continue!

Where To Start...

So much has happened since the last time I blogged.  I'll try to highlight the main parts...

Ummm... okay where to start...

Work has been pretty boring up until this week. In three days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) I put in 12 hours of overtime. Monday we had a staff meeting and staff pictures. We even took the picture with the US flag on one side and the Colorado flag on the other side, looking just past the camera with our head tilted and our chin up. Imagine it. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah that picture. Tuesday I got a case right around 2pm and didn't get back to the office until 4 and still had 5 reports to put in the computer. Got home about 8pm that night. But Wednesday, that was the icing on the cake. As I'm walking out the door at the end of my shift at 4pm, I get a case. But not just any case. I got a plane crash. Granted it was a single occupant plane that could probably fit inside my living room, but it still took me 5 hours, so Wednesday was a 15 hour day. I was definitely useless on my day off on Thursday. Friday I started my new shift: 7pm-4am. Yep, the exact opposite of what I've been working. And that's Monday through Friday for the rest of the month.

This past weekend I went home. It was great seeing all of my family and friends. mani/pedi, lots of good food, tea on Friday with my loves, sitting out by the pool. It was a good weekend. There were a couple of parts that weren't exactly ideal, but a lot of maturity and growth resulted. Sometimes growing up sucks, but it's necessary to move forward.

It was good to get back to my Denver family this weekend. I needed their encouragement and hugs after the week I had, and they never fail to deliver! Lately we've been going through a series called "Movement" at church that has been looking through the cities of Acts and the radical movement of Christianity through them, then connecting them with Denver. One thing that I took away from our discussion on Athens (Acts 17: 16-34) tonight was this: Medicine, science and technology have changed over the last 2,000 years. We're believe we're more "enlightened" than our parents were, and they think the same about their parents because these ideas are constantly evolving and changing. The Gospel has not changed in 2,000 years. Today, just like 2,000 years ago, the Gospel answers all of the questions of the most intelligent minds that ever lived. We as Christians can rest in and be confident in the consistency of the Gospel.

Watching the fireworks on the Bryant's roof tonight with the church reminded me that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. It almost brought me to tears. I am so very blessed.

I think that's enough for now.

Let the adventure continue!