Thank you 2016 for another great year!!!!

Well, we have welcomed 2017 with open arms and open minds.  As alway, there is so much unknown  and excitement with the start for each new day.  While listening to the radio on my way to work the other day, the dj mentioned how he just celebrated his 30 year wedding anniversary.  He explained how over the past 30 years he has continually learned new things about his wife and is continually seeing change through the phases of their lives together.  It is such an amazing concept to think about how through the phases of our lives we are continually changing from one year to the next.  I hear so many times that people grow apart, or get bored with their significant other, but if you truely take the time to listen and learn about your significant other, there is nothing like the conversations, love, and closeness that can be formed over the years and throughout the phases of life.


2016 was a fun year that both Jessica and I embarked in new positions within our career.  For Jessica, she is still working hard as dietitian and exploring her passion for diabetes education.  It has been intriguing to watch her grow as a dietitian and find her niche and passion within the broad spectrum of dietetics.  I cannot be more proud and excited for Jessica as she builds her reputation within her current position.  Everyday she comes home and is full of stories of people who's lives she has positively impacted.  There are also cases where the education side of her job is not the easiest, as diet is a controversial and emotional topic that for many is a difficult subject.

My career has seen a stark change and transition over the past year as I transitioned out of the health and wellness field.  As many of you know, I have been a massage therapist and yoga instructor for over 8 years, as well as a student for much of that time.  After graduating undergrad, I transitioned straight into grad school working towards my MBA.  January 2016 I began working for Wells Fargo, and my work experience has been an interesting roller coaster ever since.  It has definitely been a great experience and has opened my eyes to the many ways I can use my passion to help people through the world of finance.  I love helping people navigate through the different options they have, and educating them as they move forward with their new purchase.  When dealing with people finances, it is not always a happy and joyous conversation.  I have been called names I did not know existed, listened to people cry, heard sad stories, and at times lost compassion for people.  Through it all though I want more and more to be able to educate people as they make financial decisions.

Our crazy fur baby Athena has really enjoyed being a part of our lives, and we have learned so much from having her as a part of our family.  Her care free enjoyment of life and never-ending expression of love for us has provided us with unlimited smiles, laughs, and snuggles.  She has such a personality, keeps us active, and shows us how much we can love and spoil one of Gods creations.

 
Having fun with family has been a big part of the past year.  We have intentionally simplified the amount of people we have hung out with and made plans around family and close friends that have been around over the years.  It was nothing negative about the many great people that have been apart of our lives over the years, but we have really felt the pull to grow extremely close with our amazing families that God has blessed us with.

From trips to Simply Natural Creamery, to Olivera Street Tacoria, many of our adventures and family time consists of great food and amazing time with family.

From east to west, north and south, we have been in NC, NJ, and CA to visit family.   

We have welcomed a new niece and little fur baby

into the family last year, and with each change and addition, more joy and happiness grows within our lives.  Love for nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, fur babies, and each other has grown shifted and changed in the most amazing ways with the intentional time we have spent with family.

With the passing of each day, week, month, and year, time continues to move along as our lives grow closer together.  The life long journey of our lives together has seen many adventures and each one is more exciting than the next.  The opportunity to continually learn new things about my amazing wife, and make it a point to always be intrigued by her life, thoughts, feelings, opinions, is what motivates me to see what change lies ahead as we pass through phases of life together.

As an ECU alumni, Jessica  experienced many football games.  I had never been to a game until last year when we were able to share that experience together.

The past year has also brought the best neighbors we have ever had.  It has been so much fun being able to share life with this great couple.  Who would have thought we would have found our town home because of a Jersey Strong bumper sticker, because only cool neighbors are from Jersey (=.  Well one is from Jersey and the other from Gods country as they call it, but we love them both the same.  We tore down the fence between our yards and our dogs let themselves into each others houses.  Oh and this is Athena's boy friend Otis, she loves having him right next-door.

Overall last year has been one of balance and learning how to just be.  Through reflection and searching we have realized the importance of making time for the things that really matter.  Life so easily can become overwhelmingly over complicated, when realistically there is no need to complicate the beauty in the simplistic life God has made available to us all.