2010

This year, our first full year as a married couple, was wonderful (and just plain FULL)!  After this overview, I'll be adding a few additional posts (with pictures!) to highlight some of our activities over the past year.

We:

• Bought our first home, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in the country with a couple of acres of land.  We've invested lots of time and energy in fixing up the house.  Our projects have included: changing out locks, sanding floors, adding laminate flooring, lots of painting and caulking, repairing a roof leak (the biggest challenge so far), conquering floors bowed with age, replacing bathroom counter tops and sinks, adding trim (including crown molding in every room), and more.
• Traveled together on several business trips for Jake's job, visiting places like Cincinnati, OH; Lima, OH; Knoxville, TN; and St. Louis, MO.
• Made friends with a couple our age (surprisingly, a huge achievement and a major answer to prayer)!  Steve began working with Jake over the summer.  We got to know him and Lindsey through lunch dates.  Now, we try to get together once a week.  After we meet our husbands for lunch, I go over to Lindsey's house, where we spend hours chatting and catching up on the latest episodes of crazy television shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians.  
• Searched for a church and finally found one that is right for us.  (We hope to join later this month.)
• Enjoyed several visits with Jake's parents, at their home and ours.

Jake:

• Was commissioned as an officer in the Navy Reserve.  He has been actively working towards this goal for many years (since high school).  While Jake accomplished a lot this year, this is probably the achievement that means the most to him.
• Made progress on a number of projects at work.  He never stops learning and doing!
• Traveled to Belgium on a week-long business trip.  (This was his first time overseas.)  He brought me back TONS of chocolate and some Coke Light (Belgium's version of Diet Coke).  He obviously knows the way to my heart!
• Got the ball rolling on prosthetics partnerships he hopes will be used to help further God's kingdom and aid people in need of quality, low-cost prosthetics.

Jennifer:

• Completed two education classes at a local college while working part-time as a library assistant.  
• Attended graduation ceremonies.
• Experienced a change of plans.  Originally, I had planned to start grad school in the fall.  After a series of talks and some major decision-making, Jake and I decided that it would be best for me to put grad school on hold for a bit.  
• Began working as a freelance writer and editor, resigning from my position at the library.
• Took delight in making our house a home by painting rooms and adding furniture, fabrics, paintings, candles, decorations, organizational tools, and more.
• Adjusted to a new climate, complete with occasional snow!