Just a quick catch up...

We have not ceased to exist. We are still here, still in Burnsville, still working at T-Mobile.

Jake has a new job though, which has been a huge relief for me to have a little extra cash flow coming in! That's my Jake: always helping the family. He's a Research Assistant in the Entomology department at the U of M. Bugs are his patients for now, and I think both parties have developed quite a fondness for each other. He sends me pictures occasionally of the little guys.

Jake had a STELLAR semester at school this spring, made the dean's list again, and was able to achieve his rather lofty goal in his chemistry class. I am so proud of him and his amazing work at school. Med school applications are coming up next summer, and we have started to prepare and select some schools to apply to (I know I shouldn't end this with a preposition, but I'm tired and I hate to sound pretentious by saying "at which to apply."). The odds are stacked against us for sure: for every spot available at medical schools across the country, there are 13 highly qualified applicants jumping through hoops to get it. So Jake has to be better than...a lot of people. The pressure is definitely on, but everything has worked out so wonderfully for us in the past that I know whatever happens will be perfect for us.

I have decided to attend law school this fall. I just can't get enough school. I have decided that when I'm done I am going to get a special frame and mat made for my collection of diplomas (although I never got my high school one. Some people told me I had to go pick it up, others told me it would be mailed to me...either way, I don't have it). I am doing a part-time program at Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul. They gave me a nice little scholarship and I decided I should take them up on it.

Jake and I also started meeting with a financial advisor and have been very impressed with her. She is incredibly kind and genuine, and has given us a lot of knowledge about finance and general financial well-being. Even though we don't have much (read, any) money to play with, we are starting to be smarter about our savings and are working toward building a 3-6 month bucket should anything happen. It's nice to know that it's not just the Church telling us to do these things, but that experts in their field also suggest many of the same things. When many sources tell you to plan ahead, you should probably plan ahead.

I have also accepted my mom's creativity challenge and have started a second blog that is only for that. Many of you have probably seen my mom's blog and her new one, her Happy Thoughts blog, and I have joined in the fun along with an aunt and a cousin. Hopefully more people join in and start flexing their creative muscles...everyone has them you know. If you are interested, you can check mine out at www.haikerbole.blogspot.com.

We're still doing great, and hope everyone else is doing the same!