Lifestyle Changes and Other Things

Well, it’s been a couple weeks since I wrote an actual update. Josh has now been working for the Air Force for two weeks, and it has been quite a lifestyle change! For a few months we could sleep in (I don’t have class until at least 10), Josh would play basketball everyday and we would hang out all the time. Now we’re up at 5:30 or earlier and when I come home for lunch and Josh isn’t here. When Josh gets home he’s usually pretty tired, so instead of staying up, we usually try to get to bed early. After a couple days of our new routine, I told Josh, “Those first three months of our marriage…our lives will never be like that again until we are retired.” Haha, and it’s true! We will never have that much free time again, really.

I also found out that I need to do an additional semester. When I found out about it, I was pretty upset because before school started I was tossed about between various departments and everyone thought I would be set to graduate on time – or at least they told me so. But now, that is not the case. I was never told that I need thirty credits of upper level courses from UND, nor was I told that I needed to take UND’s Essential Studies courses, which is their equivalent of general education. I believe that other courses I have taken easily fulfill the majority of the requirements, but no one is really taking a close look at my transcript or course descriptions and telling me what I actually need to take. On the whole, I am extremely disappointed in the way UND is approaching my transfer issues. No one seems to have the authority to override the system and officially say what my previous courses count for. Every department leader, advisor and dean seems to pass off the baton to someone else who can’t take care of my problem, and it’s incredibly frustrating. At my previous small, liberal arts schools I felt like I could easily find a point of contact that had authority to perform the task that I needed them to. Now I’m in the middle of some dysfunctional bureaucratic chain.

For funsies though, we went to the Newman Center’s Fall Fest out in Minnesota. A young woman from the Newman Center, asked her family to host the party and they graciously had all of us out to their beautiful home in the country. We had apple cider, a huge bonfire, made s’mores and some people carved pumpkins. It was alot of fun!

Every week Josh helps out with the Saint Michael’s youth group, and sometimes I tag along if I’m feeling up to it and I don’t have too much homework. Last night I went for their Junior high night. We had pizza, then had Adoration and played games. The kids were pretty great and I enjoyed getting to know them. I’m looking forward to spending time with them throughout the year and helping out when and where I can.

I made some homemade chicken noodle soup this weekend! Here’s the recipe from my mom:

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 lb boneless skinless chicken brests cut into cubes
5 cups of water (I use chicken stock…. it’s in the can section next to the chicken broth)
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp chicken bouillon granules
1 bay leaf
1 12oz package of Reames frozen Homestyle Egg Noodles (I just used normal egg noodles, couldn’t find this brand or type in our grocery store)
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup choped onion

*In a large pot, add chicken, water (or stock), parsely, thyme, pepper, boullion, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
*Add noodles, carrots, celery, and onion. Return to a boil.  Reduce heat and cover.  Simmer 20-30 minutes or until done.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Well. That’s pretty much it for us. I’ll write again soon! Love you!