Graduation 2013

Kyle did it!

He graduated on Saturday with a Master in Counseling degree. 

He has worked so hard the last two years, and I am extremely proud of him. 

All that being said, let's get to the pictures! We had an extremely busy week. Thursday Kyle's parents arrived in town, and we all went to Kyle's hooding ceremony. They had a nice dinner and program for the class of 2013 (M.Couns graduates and PhD candidates). So it was just the 21 or so students in Kyle's program that we have both (but especially he) been able to get to know over the past two years.

Kyle and our good friend, Sherri.

Kyle's Marriage and Family emphasis buddies.
Bob, Nicole, Kim, Sherri and Rosemary.

Saturday was Commencement. 

Since Kyle was getting his Master degree, he was one of the first to walk, so we left right after that. We didn't feel like hanging around waiting for the rest of the students to walk :)

Handsome man in his "regalia".

K with my sister.

K with my sister and mom.

The siblings in my family :)

Our family!

You see the two identical buildings in the background? The one on the left is Garrison Hall. The counseling department is located on the 7th floor, and that's where Kyle spent the majority of his time.

Go Bengals! :)

 After graduation we went and had a BBQ at the park. It was so nice outside, and we just enjoyed being together.

Kyle's adviser, Dr. K, stopped by and we snapped a picture.

 We're grateful to our families who have been supporting us in our adventure up here at Idaho State.

It's been a crazy couple of years, and we have loved it!

Now on to the next adventure!

Remember

President Kimball said remember is likely the most important word in the dictionary. I agree.

Friday I interviewed at BYU for the Counseling Psychology PhD program. Saturday they let me know that I am an alternate and I get to wait and see how the people they offered spots to respond. Bummer. I really wanted to get into the program and maybe if a miracle happens I still will, but I'm not counting on it.

BYU has the biggest counseling center of any university in the US and the Counseling Psychology program provides a lot of opportunities to get experience there. I really want to work at a university counseling center, but maybe it is not meant to be. Apparently lowly counselors with just a Master's degree are not good enough for university counseling centers. At least there aren't as many options for me now as there would be if I got a PhD in Psych. Maybe that will change someday. Until then I guess I'll figure something else out even if it involves medicaid (Yuck).

I've been told "no" quite a few times now. It gets old. My career plans certainly haven't turned out the way I have envisioned them. I'm still not really sure how we ended up moving to Pocatello and going to ISU. I never would have predicted that but I wouldn't change it either. I've learned a lot.

I've learned that everybody gets their fair share of trials, but some people get way more than their fair share. LIFE IS NOT FAIR. Some people get it relatively easy and then there are people like Job. Personally I think I'll keep the trials I have. I could certainly have it worse and I know an awful lot of people that do.

I just wish I learned from my trials so I didn't have to keep having more. Many of my trials are self inflicted and some of them are just straight up imagined. Things are rarely as bad as we think. No one is picking on me even if it feels like it sometimes. That's where the remembering comes in.

I try really hard to be quick to observe (If you are not familiar with Elder Bednar's talk about it you should make yourself familiar) but unfortunately I'm no Mormon (the person not the nickname for my religion). I'm a slow learner and I forget things quickly. The good news is that I know it and I'm working on it. Two years ago after I finished my Bachelors I worked swing shifts, graveyards, and weekends for $9 an hour. I had a horrible job and few options. I'm in a lot better place now so I should be grateful right? Even if the options I have left after getting told no aren't exactly what I want.

So my invitation for you is to remember. Remember what really matters. Remember Him. I'll be working on it.

Death (kind of a dreary title, sorry)

I really enjoy couples counseling. It's a lot of fun. Lots of energy in the room. Sometimes positive, sometimes negative. This last month, I was able to counsel a couple who were separated and trying to get back together. They were late to one of their appointments so when I called to find out what was happening the wife informed me her husband had died of a heart attack the Saturday before. It was kind of a shock to say the least. I had heard him telling her how much he loved her and how badly he wanted to make things right just a few days before and now he is gone. Now our counseling will just be individual and focused on grief but I'm grateful I got to be their marriage counselor and I know she is very grateful he was able to express some of those things before he passed on. Hopefully I can be a decent counselor and help her through this rough time.

This past couple weeks of dealing with this client's death has made me reflect on an experience I had as a missionary. When I was still with my trainer in the mission field we had only one progressing investigator named Miguel Barrios. He was an 18 year old kid with a lot of energy. He wanted to get baptized and maybe be a missionary. On Christmas Eve we went to his family's house (His mom was a member and was inactive, the rest were not members), and we taught them about the word of wisdom, which meant no alcohol on Christmas eve. Most people in Paraguay make this fruit salad stuff laced with alcohol for Christmas and really get wasted, so he wasn't too happy about it. Anyhow the last thing I remember us saying to him before he angrily took off to his friend's place for a party was "don't drink!"

Christmas was a Sunday that year and when we showed up at church his neighbor told us Miguel had been killed. I'm not going to lie, it kind of ruined Christmas that year. We went to visit his family as soon as church ended and  they told us that he and some friends were breaking into a car or something stupid (they were drunk) and he had been shot by the police. I'll always remember sitting there with his family and trying to help them feel better. Eventually after I left the area they were all baptized. I remember being at the stake conference when Miguel's dad was sustained to be a member of the Melchizedek priesthood. They were so happy and happy to tell me about how their lives were changed.

Anyhow the point of the two stories is that you never know when it's going to be your time or someone you love's time to die. So say what you need to say!!! (i hate John Mayer but you get the idea).

Good luck in all of your relationships and don't forget to live in the moment. You can't change the past and you can't see into the future, just be where you are!

Thanks to all of you who make mine and Britt's lives better. We are grateful for you! I love my life and my wife :)

A Birthday, Graduate School, and a Job!

Alrighty, I have quite a bit of information to get out onto this little blog of mine. Let's first start with Kyle starting graduate school. Here he is looking quite handsome on his way to his first class. 

He's liking school so far, and I love that is taking classes similar to the ones I took for my major (such as a Human Development theories class, and a Family Processes class). It's fun to know what he's learning and be able to talk to him about it.

Second, I got a job! I'm a Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) worker at Access Point Family Services. I'm waiting for my background check to come through in order to start working with the kids, but I've been training and stuff. I was offered the job last Monday and am really excited to start. I'll be working with kids 3-17 who mostly have rough backgrounds and need help in a variety of areas (social cues, personal hygiene, anger management, obedience, etc).  A lot of the kids are dual diagnosed, and I'm excited to put my major to good use and to help them if only in a small way. Obviously I won't be writing a lot about it on my blog, mainly because of confidentiality agreements, but I'll let you know how it goes. I am SO SO SO nervous to start, but also excited. I'll be working about 40 hours a week, sometimes less depending on kids' schedules. I'll be working in the school, in the home, and in the community with the kids. (Funny sidenote, I got a call today offering me the Behavior Tech job at the alternative high school that I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago.... Nice to know that people want me to work for them!)

Another update - my birthday was on Sunday! I turned 22. (I know, I know, I'm such a baby.) Our celebrations kind of started on Friday night, because we were able to see Cory, Janae, baby Kynzlie and the rest of the Boyce family since they were up here for a wedding. K and I went over to Cory's grandparents' house and hung out for a few hours. We love them! Saturday Kyle and I drove to Idaho Falls and went to a session in the Idaho Falls Temple. It's really pretty inside, and we love being in the Temple. Afterwards we went out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse, yum! We came home and watched Batman Begins (a birthday present from Kyle). Sunday, K gave me my card and an iTunes giftcard, and made me french toast for breakfast. After church we went to our neighbors/landlords for a  barbecue. It was really great to get to know them and their family better, as well as meet some more of the  neighbors. As an end to the birthday celebration, yesterday I went shopping at Downeast Outfitters and got some cute clothes! A pair of jeans, two shirts, two pretty tanks (to put under cardigans) and a headband for $54! I love me some good deals, and some new clothes :)

We're having a good time getting to know the town of Pocatello, and are enjoying it so far! The weirdest thing is getting used to all the one way streets that are around. But the people here are friendly, and we like our ward. Our apartment is almost all the way put together (the second bedroom needs some work) and soon I will take pictures and give you a  photo tour on the blog of our new home.

Our Newest News

Kyle got into graduate school! 

He got into the Master of Counseling program at Idaho State University.

So, in August we'll be moving up to Pocatello!

We're really excited about knowing what our next step in life is.

It's a two year program, so we'll be there at least that long.

I'm hoping for a two bedroom apartment, with a washer and a dryer.

I'm also hoping that I can find an awesome job with benefits!

Even if the position isn't directly in my field of study, as long as I enjoy it, that'll be great.

Go vote for me!

So it's my Tuesday night grave yard shift. I need to do something to pass the time (Don't worry Britt those graduate schools and independent study classes aren't going anywhere) so I wrote my audition to be a JazzBot blogger. Its pretty awesome. I mean who wouldn't want my mad writing skills and insane sports knowledge? So go read my blog and vote!

http://www.utahjazz360.com/kylelovesjazz/lets-get-this-season-started/

Anywho if I win I get to write blogs twice a week for utahjazz.com and supposedly they give you some free tickets and Jazz gear and if you get assigned you get to interview players. Basically that would be wicked awesome so you should help a brother out (I know I'm not black but I can play basketball like I am)! Thank you!

Life is good even though BYU football is bad. Basketball starts in two weeks so at least we will see some high scores from somebody cause the football team sure can't score!

So I'm thinking I'll apply to BYU, USU, UNLV, Purdue and maybe CSU. Any other suggestions?? I'd be a good marriage and family therapist right?? I think USU is my first choice but I really wish it wasn't in Logan. You know, its just a bit far from everything and kind of cold....

Well I think I'll be on to Netflix now. Only 4 more hours to go.

My New Job

I got a job with Heritage Youth Services. I work at a residential treatment center for youth who are sex offenders. Right now we only have seven boys but the house has room for up to 12. They can be handful but they are typical teenagers trying to figure out who they are. I really like working with them and they like to have someone who enjoys playing sports with them.

I don't get paid a lot, I work some crazy shifts, and I don't have benefits but I am just happy to have a job and do something that will help prepare me for graduate school. I filled out so many applications and I was so tired of looking for a job. I interviewed for the job and we went to the temple that night the next morning I woke up to my phone ringing with my boss offering me the job. I was so excited and it has been great so far.

Now I can focus on taking a couple independent study classes for graduate school prerequisites and other things I have been waiting to do. It is so stressful to not have a job and I am grateful for Britt putting up with me being so bored and moody. Now I just get tired from working but that is a good feeling. 56 hours was a lot last week, but I learned some great things in training and I am very excited for my first paycheck this week!

Catch Up!

Well, now that I have caught up with all our honeymoon posts and pictures, I can catch up with what has been going on since we've been home.

I've been working full time at BYU Independent Study (the Testing Department, if you didn' t know). Monday-Friday, 8-5. It's tough. I really hate getting up early, haha. But it's a good habit for me to get into, plus I'll have to do it through at least December. Yuck.
I start summer classes in 3 1/2 weeks, and I'm actually pretty excited. I'm SO close to being done. Yes, I graduate next April, and it is pretty far away, but when I think about how many classes/credits I have left, I know that I really am close.
Gotta keep keepin' on.

Kyle's currently the stay-at-home husband, and he's ready to be over that spot in his life. He's searching for jobs that will give him good experience in his major/graduate school choice. So that's coming along. He recently decided he thinks he actually wants to go to graduate school in Marriage and Family Therapy, not Organizational Psych like he originally thought. BYU has a good Master's program, so there might be a chance we stay in Utah... so we'll see!

Last weekend, we went to the temple. It was my first time in the Provo Temple, and it was really great. I saw my friend Camille in the dressing room, which was really fun. We also spent quality time at Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Target, returning gifts, and using gift cards. We have pretty much everything we need now! there are just a few remaining things that we'll get soon.
I love our comforter! I had a hard time picking one out before the wedding, and I'm glad no one bought either of the ones we registered for. We picked it up on Saturday, and it was a really good deal! $80 for the sheets, pillowcases, shams, bedskirt and comforter, as well as two decorative pillows! It looks like this, and our blue and white sheets that we picked out and received for our wedding go great with it!


We also spent Sunday afternoon with Nathan's family. Alan also came over, and we chatted and ate dinner. Then, it was time for LOST! The finale! I really liked it. Yeah, it may not have answered a ton of questions, but sometimes I think that it's best to leave some questions unanswered instead of trying to answer them and making even more of a confusing mess. And I loved seeing all the characters together again. *tear*
You can go here to see Sarah's thoughts, and I pretty much echo her in every way.
And I just want you all to know that Hurley is my favorite character.

Oh, Sunday we also went to our married ward for the first time. Everyone seems really friendly. The downside? Church is 2:30-5:30. What?!! Who just makes church that late? But an upside is that we have church in an actual church building, in a real chapel. I haven't had that in over 3 years. Also, the very first talk was straight from the Proclamation, about multiplying and replenishing the earth. Kyle and I both thought that was pretty funny.

Well, I think that's about it. We're still working on getting all of our stuff put away from the move. Once our apartment is clean, and cute looking, I'll take and post pictures.

Oh, and here are just a few pictures that haven't been posted. A couple from Kyle's graduation, and then a few that my lovely little sister took last week. The other one is a rainbow ended over the stadium. Kyle had to stop and take a picture, you know it's going to be a good season when the pot of gold is in the stadium! :)

Life is good :)

The countdown is slowly getting smaller!
We're at 2 months and a little under a week.
67 days!

Wedding plans are coming along smoothly.
And I have mapped out every weekend until our wedding with things we need to have accomplished, haha.
The main things we have left are picking out flowers, sending out invites, and finalizing cake plans. But then there is also picking out tuxes, picking out ties, picking out bridesmaids dresses, buying frames, getting photos developed, taking bridals, signing a contract to an apartment, ordering food, buying plates,napkins,cups,etc, getting our marriage license.... There is just so much to do.
But, in the end, it will be worth it :)
And it is also super manageable.

Oh, by the way, we heard back from University of Memphis. Kyle didn't get accepted, but we weren't too upset. Kyle said he would probably pick the Master's program at Tulsa over the PhD at Memphis anyway.

We've found where we want to live during the summer, but we still need to sign a contract and give them a deposit.

Alan and Jess got engaged last week, and they're getting married June 10th! So that is really fun, that the two youngest Hanson boys are getting married within a month of each other.

I think that's about it with us. We're both keeping plenty busy with school and work, and spending time together :)

Good News!!

So, on Tuesday, Kyle got his first acceptance letter to a graduate school! Ok, well, technically it was an email informing him that his acceptance letter is on it's way. The school is the Univeristy of Tulsa. Kyle applied for the PhD program, and while they didn't accept him into that, they did accept him into their Masters program. It feels great knowing that although this is isn't exactly what he was looking for, at least we now know we have one option! Not to say he won't make it into the other schools he applied to...
Just as a reminder, the three other schools we're waiting on are Univeristy of Houston, University of Missouri-St Louis, and University of Memphis. We'll keep you posted!
Wedding plans are also coming along nicely... We're both just so sick of being engaged though. We can't wait till we are finally married! 2 months, 3 weeks and 2 days!
I've found an apartment for the summer that I think I want to live in... We'll have to go by and talk with the owners and look at it, but we both think that it is a pretty good deal. It's $500/month, with a washer/dryer, two bedrooms, free internet and cable, and it's on 6th North and 6th East. The complex is generally for single women, but they rent out to marrieds in the spring and summer, which is perfect for us. So, we'll see!