40 Facts About Charles

Meet Charles!

1. OriPei (half pug, half sharpei)

2. Five years young

3. Loves mom and dad (but loves mom more, let's be honest)

4. Sleeps 22 out of 24 hours a day

5. Vicious guard dog (until someone actually walks in then hides behind anyone and anything)

6. 49er fan

7. Only tolerates 73-77 degree weather (anything above or below is traumatizing)

8. Snores. Loud. Extremely loud

9. Extremely treat motivated

10. Loves long car rides with all windows down

11. Has taken 6 plane rides (and hated every single one)

12. Hates bath time (except during the face massage, that part is ok)

13. Prefers only the stems of broccoli, not the head

14. Occasionally wears shades

15. Loves to chase squirrels, bunnies, birds, flies, cats, and other dogs (but just to play)

16. Will sleep with anyone who will let him

17. Stubborn. Did I mention he was stubborn?? 

18. Has 18 babies (squeak toys) and the collection is growing

19. Falls off the bed while sleeping at least once a week

20. Has 2 sweaters in varying colors

21. Likes to sit shotgun and run the show

22. Plays tag with dad everynight and gets highly offended if he is caught

23. Sleeps on clean laundry every chance he gets

24. Loves his fans (anyone on the street that stops to pet him)

25. Gets jealous when he is not the center of attention

26. Prefers that you not pet his face wrinkles (he spends a lot of time on them)

27. Has been to 9 states

28. Thinks that 3 walks a day is a good comprimise

29. He is adopted

30. Enjoys the occasional beer

31. Weighs 23 lbs (give or take, depending on the day)

32. Prefers to sit on your lap

33. Thinks he is the boss of the entire family (he is right)

34. Sneezes everytime mom or dad say "no" to something

35. Wakes up every morning at around 10:15

36. Will find anything to prop his head on

37. Hates fireworks

38. Sneaks onto the couch every second he can 

39. Has a dog bed fit for a king he has used 10 times

40. Can't wait to meet his sister Petunia (our soon to be micro mini pig) 

Reflecting on Indiana

When Nic proposed to me and we started planning our life together moving was not in the cards; especially to Indiana
 (I would have laughed in your face and then quickly got angry had someone told me that).
As usual, God has very different plans than we do.
I began applying to nursing schools in other states half serious, half not. However, things quickly changed when I got an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Valparaiso University.
We had quite a few months to try and let the fact that we were moving 2200 miles away from all of our comforts. To the Midwest. In a town we knew NOTHING about.
We got married June 9, 2012 in what I call the best day EVER (probably bias).

 Had an amazing honeymoon and then multiple other adventures to distract us.
Then it came; d-day (moving day). I balled my eyes out.
After three days of driving with my mom; the boys moving the truck we arrived. 

It was better than I had expected and as we started unpacking, things got more emotional and more real. Family left and there Nic and I were; young, married, and starting a whirlwind adventure.
It took Nic almost 5 months to find a job. If I could have any young married couple go through a struggle and see how they came out the other side, it would be that.
We fought and made up. Fought and made up. Fought and made up.
Nic landed a job at Veolia Environmental. It had not one thing to do with his degree that he had worked so hard for; but it was a job right?
Months began to pass; school was going great. I was maintaing honors and gaining hands on experience that I had been wishing for since I was a child.
Nic was doing great at work, moving up and gaining recognition.
Fast foreword...
November 2013. Winter began. 

No one told us that this winter would be the worst and most horrible winter they have had since 1974. (They probably wish they would have known that information also)
I have never been so angry and cold in my life.
We were snowed in countless day.
Have you ever tried to take a dog potty in -20 degree weather. It doesn’t go well. 

Nic and I were back in the position of asking WHY we had moved here. Maybe this was not where we were supposed to be. Nor was it a place we wanted to be.
We wished for 40 degree days, as that was starting to feel warm to us. (How embarrassing to say that as a born and raised Californian)
It was during this winter that I was able to see life in a different way.
Nic and I had nothing but each other.
I then realized, this was the perfect journey. Newly married and having to rely solely on each other. No family. No friends, Just us.
As we are starting to pack and counting down the days till we can be back in the sunshine state; I realize how thankful I am for the journey we have had these past two years.
Although, very easily the hardest two years of my life; they are also the best.
Nic and I have been able to see a different part of the Country that we probably wouldn’t ever had.
We have made countless friends.
Fulfilled dreams.
And gained a lifetime of memories.
Indiana you became something we will never forget.