Reflection

I have been thinking about the past 10 years and WOW alot of things have happened. The thought of turning 30 was depressing for me I hated the thought of not being 20 something anymore. However, now that I am 40 the past 10 years have been the most happier times. Here is a quick overview:

1999:

Dave and I celebrate being together for 3 years we bought and sold our first home. We buy our second home at 24 Ryehill Street, Carlton Hill, Dunedin. Dave and I are made redundant from our factory jobs. Dave goes and retrains as a carpenter through the Otago Polytechnic and gets a part time job at Carters. I get two part time jobs: 1) waitress at the Leviathan Hotel 2) Hospital Aide at ODHB. I also decided I wanted to be a Registered Nurse and so I do night classes to complete pre-requiste paper to apply for nursing school. Stacey 9 and Ben 6 were living with their dad in Kurow seeing them monthly and school holidays. I got accepted into nursing school.

2000:

Dave completes his carpentry course and wins a scholarship and gets an apprenticeship with Naylor Love Construction. I begin my nursing training part-time and work part-time. Although studying part-time I still manage to complete and pass 10 papers. Dave renovates Ryehill Street. Reunite with my mother for the first time in 11 years.

2001:

Life for Dave and myself is strained somewhat. Nursing school continues and Dave battles on with his apprenticeship. Meet Phil and Annemarie Amende. Although Dave knew Phil as a buddy from school and I had met Annemarie previous in a musical somehow they had found each other and got married and I happened to see their photograph in a community paper with their brand new son Benjamin. I looked through the phone book and phoned the first Amende phone number which happened to be Daphne and the rest is history........

2002:

Dave and I are introduced to the Book of Mormon and we started investigating the church. I loved everything about the church right up until the part where you had to get married. Being married again was not on my agenda as my first marriage was a disaster. However spending time with Phil and Annemarie in their home always feeling and seeing the love, happiness and peace, I really wanted that for Dave and myself. Watching other church members with that same happiness made me jealous. I decided if accepting Jesus Christ into my life and getting married was all I had to do to get just a little bit of happiness then I had nothing to loose. Dave had his issues with joining but marriage wasn't one of them he was ecstatic when I agreed to be his wife. October 5th we got married and October 6th we were both baptised and became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Nursing School continues and still working 2 part-time jobs.

2003:

OH NO!!! found out I was pregnant (wasn't expecting that). Left one of my jobs as I had to attend nursing school full time. Sold our house and lived with the Amende family until April. Moved into Blackhead Road. Received my first calling as second counsellor in young womens (what a disaster councellor I made) released from the calling. Dave gets a new job as a contracts manager in the office of Naylor Love. Nicholas David Finnie was born 1st October by C sections spent two days in hospital losing valuable nursing school lectures. On the third day returned back to nursing school for Bioscience lecture (crazy I know).

2004

Kate and Craig Jenkins became Nicholas carers whilst I finish my final year at nursing school (thank goodness). Dave renovates the house and we sell it and move to Oakwood Avenue, Mornington. Kate and Craig leave NZ and Nicholas is placed into Montessori. Dave's mother remarries. I graduate with a Bachelors Degree of Nursing. Apply for job in the public hosptital as a new graduate nurse. Dave and I wonder away from church.

2005:

Dave and I back at church. I was accepted onto the new grad programme and started in CCU on the 5th Feb (scarey). Stacey came and lived with us. That was a happy moment for me and to top it off she was baptised and became a member of the church. Started post grad paper pharmacology. Received calling as branch chorister.

2006:

Sold the house and moved in with the Amende family whilst Dave built a brand new house for us in Mosgiel. He started in August and we moved in boxing day awesome effort. Received a calling as music leader in Primary. First Primary presentation.

2007:

Sold my beautiful home and moved back into town 16 Galloway Street, Mornington. Dave received the M/preisthood. We went to the temple and were sealed with Nicholas. Became pregnant. Stacey left school and started an apprenticeship as a pharmacist tech.

2008:

Leon move into our house for a few months. Finished work, Kate Sarah Finnie born 6 March stayed in hospital for two hours went home. Had 14 weeks maternity leave and started back working 2 nights a week, Nicholas started school. Stacey went flatting. Went camping for the first time in a tent and started a family tradition.

2009:

I turned 40 and what this year will bring hopefully many more blessings and happy times watch the space......................