Homesickness of Sorts

Some days have been harder than others out here.
Not so much in terms of adjusting to Oklahoma...but adjusting to the fact that my friends and family aren't here with me.
I know I'm not by myself out here, and that Chris and his family will help me out however I can, but it doesn't change the fact that sometimes I just want to sit down with MY mom and talk. It doesn't change the fact that sometimes I want to go grab lunch with MY little sister.
I love Chris' family and I'm very thankful that they are helping out as much as they are, but they're still not MY family.

When I first moved out to Oklahoma, I thought I was going to attend OU in the fall of 2012. Well things have happened, and research has been done, and it looks like I have a few more (cheaper) options that I need to explore before I make my decision. Now, I know I'm an adult now and I have been for a while now, but while discussing college, money, and where I'm going to get a job at...I found myself wishing I could talk to MY mom about it all. Jeanette has said that she will happily go with Chris and me to visit the colleges so that I can make my final decision, and I'm very thankful for that because I think she is a very smart woman (and has put three children through college already)...but a part of me still wanted Mommy.

I guess it's because I spent 20 years with my mom. I wanted to move out when I was 18, but financial reasons kept me at home. I moved straight from my mom's house to Oklahoma. There was no gradual moving away by moving to an apartment with a roomie in a nearby town...I picked up and left straight from home. It was hard, and though I don't regret it...I miss my family.
I miss knowing that I could walk in to Mom's room, plop down at the foot of her bed, pet Leia and talk to my mom if I needed to...or ask her questions about what I should do and just ask her opinion and advice.
I miss being able to pop in to Kendra's room, play with Baylee and watch my sister practice her dance moves for class and for ECDC tryouts.
I miss going over to my best friend's house for a Zumba workout, followed by a delicious meal.
I miss the security of home.

But this is a new chapter in my life, and I know that it isn't going to get any easier any time soon, even with the support of Chris and his wonderful family.

My first few steps in Okieland.

So here it goes...my first informative blog!

As you may or may not know, I'm currently living with Chris and his family. I've got a nice sized air mattress in Jeanette's sewing room in the back of the house that I'm using as my bedroom since his mom and step-dad were nice enough to let me stay with them until September when Chris and I get our own apartment somewhere after the wedding.

Chris is still working at the Riverwind Casino in Norman, the only difference being that he's moved to outside security instead of being inside. Eventually he'll get to ride a bike outside, but until he goes through some in depth police bike training, he's stuck walking and occasionally riding in the truck. Apparently the training will give him some kind of certification, because it's police bicycle training that will teach him to jump up on curbs and tackle people on his bike. He's pretty excited about that, but not so thrilled with the heat.
And let me tell you...neither am I!
It's been in the upper 90's to the mid to low 100's with a good amount of humidity to add to it. Since I've lived in San Diego my whole life, I am not enjoying the heat here. I figure though, if I can tolerate the heat then I should be good. Cold weather doesn't bother me nearly like heat does, and if I had to pick between freezing cold weather with wind chill or hot weather with humidity I'd most definitely pick the cold.

Anyhow, so that's my living arrangement. As far as my job situation goes...I'm still unemployed. Unfortunately, Chris and I don't know where exactly we're going to be moving to, and where we live is going to play a huge part in where I get a job at.
Originally, I was going to sign up for OU next fall, but there may be better colleges out there for me to get my bachelors degree at, so we need to do some homework before I make my final choice.
On Chris' next few days off (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) we're going to go to a few of the colleges around here to do some research and find out where I want to go so I can start looking for a job.

Still have a lot to get done...from wedding planning to college planning...job hunting to bill paying.
All steps I need to take in my journey through this new chapter in my life.

Setting up my roots

I've started countless blogs, but never really kept up with them.
This one, however, is more important to me, because I want to use this one to keep my family and friends back in California updated on what's been going on in my life.

I suppose the best place to start, is in the beginning.

About four years ago I met Chris, thanks to a friend of mine. Little did I know, he was to become my best friend, my boyfriend, and my husband in the years to come. The only problem was...I was in California and he was in Oklahoma.
Now here I am, sitting with Chris cuddled against my side on his couch, in his living room, with my laptop typing away while listening to "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" at 11:30 at night.
In September, Chris flew out to California and surprised me, not only just by visiting, but by dropping down to one knee and asking for my hand in marriage. Obviously, I said yes, and after I graduated from Cuyamaca College with my Associates, Chris and I drove from California out to Oklahoma.
Now as I mentioned, here I am at his mom's house waiting for September to come back around so we can get married (September 17th, 2011).
Now obviously I've cut out a lot, but seeing as this blog is meant to keep my friends and family informed on what's happening with me, you all know the story and don't need the details.

So I hope you'll all follow me in my journey through my new life in Oklahoma.
I love you all, and I thank you for making me the young woman I have grown to be.
You have all played a part in my life, and have all shaped who I am, and I thank you all for it.
I miss every single one of you and hope to see you all for my wedding.