Catch up!

I'm sitting here at my desk, completely unfocused on the things I should be focused on. It's been so long since I've written, I just haven't made the time for it, yet I've missed it so much. So, I figured today would be a great day to get back into it! We're finally over the dreadful Minnesota winter! Spring has sprung and I am so happy about that! If I had to look at one more pile of brown snow I think I would have gone over the edge! I can say one thing for certain, I miss Nevada and I have every intention on moving back to that region sooner rather than later!

Things are going well. I have a great job and I KNOW that I am blessed to have it! They are really good to me and in turn I work very hard for them *minus this time that I'm taking to write this* I have been "promoted" from Administrative Coordinator to Property Manager/Accounts Receivable. I enjoy it and it's a really great feeling to be working and contributing!

Things with Mark and me are really great. As I'm writing this we only have 45 days until our wedding! The planning is going really well and I'm so excited about it :) I think it's going to be absolutely beautiful, but it's going to be so much fun too! I'm so ready to be Mrs. Cate! I love him so much and let me tell you, that was put to the test last week in a major way! Here we were, week 4 of Rene leaving us alone completely! We had the kids still but she didn't have any communication with Mark, it was refreshing! Then, 2 Sundays ago she must have taken a lot of happy pills because she was over the top nice to him for no reason. I warned him that this was just another game, but the sweet trusting man that he is just didn't agree. So he played nice too! We argued about it for 4 days! Now, when I say argue, I don't mean yelling, screaming, calling names, throwing things etc. No, that was my past marriage, not this relationship with Mark. Nope, we argue by me giving Mark the silent treatment for a while or visa versa and then we just sit and hash it out. Then on Wednesday I looked at him and said "I actually don't know why I am even upset about this! I just need to let her run her nice course, because we both know it will be over in 2 weeks and it will go back to the way it was" And when I say she plays the nice game, I mean inviting Mark over for dinner "with the kids" but it never ends up that way...she always has something for him to do or fix or....or....or. Well, don't worry, he didn't go! So by Thursday night the nice game was over. Why? Because Mark wouldn't do something that she wanted...so to quote En Vogue it was "back to life, back to reality" Thank GOODNESS! I can handle her so much better when she is acting a fool! By Friday we just looked at each other, laughed and talked about how great it is that we have the kind of relationship that can handle that. Even though we were arguing all week, we weren't angry with each other. And we came thru it just fine. It was a great feeling. We now have a great schedule set up that she has agreed upon. It allows for us to have some time on our off time (weekends) without the kids.

So, now it's back to wedding planning! I get my ring today and I am SO excited! This man is my hero, I am so happy to be spending the rest of my life with him. I went to his moms grave side on Sunday. I sat there on the grass and talked to her. She adopted Mark when he was only a few days old. Then she convinced her husband (Mark's adopted father) to move from Arizona to Minnesota. So I sat there and thanked her for wanting him, thanked her for bringing him to Minnesota when he was a little boy and thanked her for raising such a wonderful man. See, if she hadn't wanted him, Mark and I would not have met each other. It's pretty amazing. Next I need to make a trip to Arizona (which I know I won't have to twist Mark's arm too hard for that!) so I can go to his birth mom's grave. I need to thank her too.

I'm pretty sure I'll post again within the next week. Bill's one year mark is approaching and I am starting to get very emotional about it. So I'm sure I'll be writing!