Kaua'i Hawai'i

Chris & I took a trip to Kaua'i Hawaii for our 2nd anniversary and to celebrate my auto settlement and starting my new company. The 1st thing they said to us when we arrived on the island was "Romance is MANDATORY". And it was! It was romantic, beautiful, peaceful, relaxing, and all-around amazing.

We hiked 8 miles round trip to the most amazing 300 foot waterfall, sailed around the Napali Coast, snorkled, attended a luau, and flew over the island in a door-less helicopter. We didn't hang out on the beach as much as I thought we would, so my tan is lacking...but everything we did do was perfect! We found rare sea shells to make me a necklace or bracelet.

I've tried to attach a video of the fire dancer at the luau, but it doesn't seem to want to upload. Sorry. The video wouldn't do it justice anyway. We had a front row seat. I was sitting there minding my own business when one of the dancers pulled me out to hula with him. After a few minutes of embarrassment he let me sit down. Not 15 seconds later, another dancer came and pulled me out to hula with him. Seriously! Twice in one night. Someone else should've had a turn, don't you think!?

I suggested we stay and live on the island, forget the real world! Chris thought I was crazy. Too bad!

I'd attach a video of the helicopter ride, but our video camara froze up on us just as we boarded. Ya, you guessed it, we didn't get a single video of the helicopter flight! Just pictures. Sad!

I hope we get to go again!

Ending & Beginning

Mediation is over! We settled! It was a very hard day, but I got enough to pay off my student loan. 8 1/2 years I've been battling this auto insurance crap. Whew, I feel like I've gotten a new start on life. Now Chris & I can think about having a baby...

I'm planning on renting an office space from my chiropractor, in Orem, for my private practice. I'm hoping to start in early June, if everything goes as planned. 309 N. State St. I'm excited! I still have to order business cards, get a phone line, follow-up on an Orem business license, get billing software, finish my website, and a few other things. There's so much to do to prepare for the start of a new business. I might need a vacation!

I'm excited Chris and I can finally rely on one income, allowing me to try this new business adventure. I'm happy to be closing a rough chapter of my life, but a strange part of me hates to see it close. I feel guilty. No, that's not the right word. Scared? I want to move on, but at the same time hate to let go. Does that make ANY sense? I don't think so either! Maybe I fear losing part of my identity? I just don't want to ever forget Steven and I don't want others to either. As nice as it is to not have to worry quite so much about my medical expenses, it doesn't really make it all go away, or even make it better. You know, I'd give up millions of dollars to be the person I was before my car accident. I'd love to get my brain, my memory, my back, my shoulder, my ribs, and my life back. I miss me. Sorry to have rambled for so long, I've just got a lot on my mind. Very few people get it. I'm hoping the computer does. ;)

Maybe Chris and I will take a little vacation for our 2 year anniversary, coming up on June 2nd.

1st Year Down, On to #2

Chris & I recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary. We went camping in Hyrum, UT on the 2nd and then stayed at the Anniversary Inn in Logan, UT the following night. We had a blast. The weather was perfect. Shortly after camping the rain started coming down. We're lucky we picked the night we did!

On the 1st of June my sister & her husband, Lisa & Matt, blessed their baby, Natalie. She also won a local city's 0-3 month old girl photo contest. I got to escort her through the parade. It was fun! I hope my babies are as cute.

Shortly after our anniversary we returned home to find my scores on the National Counselor's Exam (NCE), I took on April 12, 2008. I was terrified to open it, as the test & all the study materials had cost me a small fortune, in addition to the fact that the test just SUCKS! But, I am happy to announce I passed it. In fact, I did better than passing, I kicked this tests trash! I'm on my way to getting my Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure! This test qualifies me to be a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) to add to my Certified Professional Counselor (CPC) license. A lot of stupid letters if you ask me, but hopefully they each come with pay raises.

Chris continues to do well in his work with Novell. He covers the state of Illinois. He flew out to Chicago for a week last month. He received very positive feedback from companies he visited while there. He's quite persuasive, intelligent, & competent in his field. I'm proud of him. He's also loving taking care of our lawn and garden. We have one of the best yards in the neighborhood. Our aspens are taking root and the landscaping looks very nice. He's also enjoying riding the bike he bought last year now that the weather has improved. He also gets out golfing whenever he can. He loves to head to Victor, Idaho with his brother and dad for a friendly game or two of golf.

I'm currently working for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) called Blomquist Hale Consulting Group, Inc. For those of you that don't know what an EAP is (the vast majority, I'm sure) we provide short-term counseling services to the employees of companies that contract with us. I get to see kids, teens, adults, couples, etc. I love it. It is exhausting though. I work 4 10-hour days, seeing 7-8 clients per day. I'm hoping to get my LPC soon, enabling me to open a private practice. That way I can hopefully see some Deaf clients, work less grueling hours, and possibly even make more $. We'll see...

I graduated from Gallaudet University in May 2007. Chris & his parents went out to DC with me. It was great to see everyone & FINALLY be done with school! The DC sites were beautiful as ever. I sure wish Utah vegetation grew like it does out there!

Chris & I have each gotten running shoes and are starting to run together. Chris bought me a pair for my birthday in April. I'd like to start doing a few 5Ks. Hopefully we'll get a couple in together this summer. If only they weren't always at 7:00 in the morning! I'd prefer something around 9:00 or, even 10:00.

I'm sure that's about enough for my very 1st post on this our new Francom Fam Blog.