Boy, it's been a while.

I don't think we planned on this being a bi-annual blog, but that is what it has seemed to become.  I think it is a good indication of the lives of Charista and myself.  We have been ... forgetful to fill in our blog.  You thought I was going to say busy didn't you? 

Charista has been spending her time working and attending class at Creighton.  She is really enjoying her time there, building relationships with her professors and classmates.  She has also started her time at the golf course, but temperatures have been cold and Nebraska cannot decide whether it is spring or winter. 

Speaking of the golf course, I was able to pick up a job there as well.  That means that I will be turning pro by the end of summer.  Other notables for me... my choir completed its tour a few weeks ago.  It was a total success.  We started out with a clinic at Concordia Seward which was the best way to get the kids motivated.  From there we went to Kansas City and finished at my Uncle Jim's church, Faith Lutheran in Topeka.  We were welcomed there by a great meal and a spirited group of attendees that made the concert very memorable for my choir. 

Charista and I continue to have adventures.  She really wants a tiny puppy but will have to wait until we move out of our apartment which does not allow pets.  We don't have any intention of moving any time soon unless she cannot take it any more and her desire for a puppy overtakes her.

Dreaming of a white Christmas

Here we are a week before Christmas, and we are still without snow.  Last year, we had 3 snow days by now.  At least that means that neither Charista nor myself have had to challenge the white stuff in our newly used economy sized mazdas.  I’m pretty sure my tires were not meant to tread the slippery stuff.  Now we’ve had some snow, but nothing substantial.  It is probably a good thing though, because all of Nebraska’s population got pretty depressed with Wisconsin like levels of white fluff last year.  I heard so much complaining, you would have thought that God had cursed our land.  Frosty would be so disappointed with us all.

Last week marked my second Christmas concert as choral director at Concordia Jr/Sr HS in Omaha, my first as a married man.  I’d say we had a tremendous success.  Everyone showed up, most all moved their mouths to the music, and the concert ended with a standing ovation… one that we asked for on account of closing with the “Hallelujah Chorus” by Handel.  The gym was packed and much fun was had by all.  Even a little baby smiled in joy… after he puked all over the floor.  He probably felt much better to get whatever he had out of his system.

Charista has been working hard with her masters classes at Creighton.  She’s completed her first term and is now in her second.  She has classes 4 nights a week now which means that we see each other weekends and during sleep.  After receiving A’s in both of her first classes, she is continuing to work toward a career that will help me to entertain hobbies such as singing.  I’m itching to get into the masters program myself.  It may not come for another couple years, but when it does I’ll be ready.  I’m planning on getting my masters in Vocal Performance.  I’d like to sing opera professionally wherever I can.  Hopefully we’ll see what that means in a few years. 

Last week, Charista ran in an inter-squad track meet at our alma mater, Concordia University Seward.  This track meet also included any alumni who wanted to compete.  Charista ran in the 60 meter dash and competed in the long jump.  7 months without working out didn’t seem to make much of a difference as she wasted the competition, winning both of her events.  Being in Seward meant that we also got to see some our friends who remain in the quaint town that we called home for our college careers. 

PS… our apartment is currently clean, so come and visit soon.

Our Apartment

Well I did it! I cleaned our apartment. I have pictures to prove it. Now you can all see what our apartment looks like, if you haven't already seen it in person. Normally we don't have our golf clubs in the apartment, but we had to take them out of the trunk.

Our washer and dryer are in the doors there.

Our living room

Living room

Hallway to the bedroom and bathroom

Bathroom

This is what you see when you come in the door.



Kitchen



Bedroom, looking in from the door.

Bedroom again

Cleaning

Well Peter and I will be apart for a few days... Second time in our marriage. He is at an MENC conference. MENC is the National Association for Music Educators. (I'm not really sure why their acronym doesn't match up to their name.) They have a conference each year so Peter and his music director at the high school went. On Saturday there is a concert performed by high school kids who tried out for the band/choir. I hope I am getting all this information correct...

My plan is to have the apartment thoroughly cleaned by the time he gets back. Our apartment is pretty messy right now. But it is that way quite a bit. You may or may not know this about me, but I am a pretty messy person. Peter is quite the opposite. He likes the place to be clean. But he must not care that much though considering our apartment is usually messy. :)

Married life has been going well, but that was one thing that has been an "argument". I put it in quotes because we don't really argue. You might not believe that, but it's true. Peter doesn't like that I leave stuff laying around. For example, when I get home I take off my shoes and leave them wherever I took them off. (Mom, I'm sure you're smiling) I also leave the mail sitting around in various piles. And then there's the clothes that I leave on the floor in the bedroom by my dresser... I know, these all sound like annoying things that a person shouldn't do, but I'm so use to doing it! I'm trying...

This was the biggest thing in adjusting to married life. Well, I didn't really have to adjust, he did. Surprisingly he doesn't do anything that annoys me. :) I think we're both pretty easy people to live with. (Besides me being a little messy) It's so nice to be able to see each other every night. The last year we were long distance since I was still at school and that was hard never seeing each other. We still don't really know how to cook that well, so we're eating a lot of easy food. Or going out to eat, which we shouldn't do. Oh well...

Peter's first post

Hello all… the busier season of my school year is just about to begin. Monday starts the basketball season so I’ll have another batch of young chaps to get to know on a better level for the next few months. The high school and jr. high choir are in concentrated preparation for their Christmas concert on December 17th, and this coming weekend is the Music Educators of Nebraska Conference. This all means that Charista and I will be seeing even less of each other.

On other news fronts, Charista and I joined a gym here in Omaha. Urban Active will be yet another home for us over the next couple years. Why would two beautiful and in-shape people join a gym? I asked myself the same question. I believe that Charista wants to get in even better shape so that she can finally beat me in a race, and I do have good reasons to be working hard. One, to continue to beat my lovely wife in each approaching foot race, and two, to win the “Biggest Loser” competition in which I have entered myself. I need to lose 8% of my weight by Feb. 14… which is 19 pounds. That is the highest number of pounds anyone in the competition needs to lose making me the fattest out of everyone… for now. My goal for Feb. 14th, 150 pounds… well if I can find a way to rig the scales.

Lastly, Omaha had its first snow storm yesterday… feeling like home, threw 8 snow balls.

Wedding Pictures!

We got the link to our wedding pictures and we want to share them with you. We were really happy with Selah Photography for their work on our special day. Jackie and Whitney both did a great job! They both actually went to Concordia with Peter and I, and graduated a year before Peter. It was great to have people we knew taking our pictures! It was much more personal and fun.

Here is the link to the pictures...
http://www.pictage.com/client/event.do?event=859035

If you would like any 4x6 prints we can print them out for you. If you want anything larger you'll have to order from the website.

Our first blog!

Welcome to our blog! We thought we would start a blog so our family and friends could stay in touch with us and know what’s going on in our lives. I (Charista) will probably be writing most of the blogs as I have more time on my hands than Peter. But Peter will make the occasional appearance. More posts will follow!