Just Josie #5

Josie has always been interested in figuring out all those "family" terms like "brother," "daughter," etc. Once she has it figured out she will talk about it too, such as, "Dad! I found your daughter Lauren!" Or, "Mom has 6 brothers." Just when she thought she knew how to properly use all those terms we threw a new one at her - I got married and added the "in-law(s)."

Now it's also been hard for her to figure out that I'm "home" but not living in her home/my old home. When I come over she always asks, "Are you gonna stay forever?" So this afternoon when I stopped by the house quick, I ran in to say hi and to tell her that I would be back in the evening to stay the night. She got real excited and said, "Lauren how long are you gonna stay?" I told her it was just the night. Then she goes, "Oh, and then you go back to your new parents?" That girl cracks me up! She is trying so hard to understand all this. So I told her that I don't have new parents, I just have two families. All she wants is for me to "stay forever."

Second Half

Only 13 days after Jason's first ever half-marathon we ran another half-marathon by his request! My dad joined us as well. The race was in St. Ignatius, and it was beautiful! You had the Mission Mountains ahead of you and pasture land around you! It was all part of the "Good Ole Days" Festival, so afterward was a yummy pancake breakfast at the Senior Center! Our only complaint was that the course was advertised as "mostly flat" but the race was actually uphill for 7 miles! All in all it was a blast.

 

Jason was first in his age group (out of 5) and third overall! His time was a PR at 1:39:49. Let's just say I finished. Haha. I did get third in my age group (out of 5) and my dad got third as well! 

That's How We Celebrate!

We took a couple days to celebrate our one year anniversary!

Friday July 27 we enjoyed dinner at Montana Club, 

partially paid for by the gift card Jason won through his golf tournament!

Saturday July 28 began with an early morning tee time for Jason at the Ranch Club Golf Course, compliments of me! I joined him in the cart and we had a good time. The course is very pretty!

We continued that day with a shopping trip for a new vacuum, which left us with extra cash to spend since we found one for a better deal than the one we returned. I also got to shop for some sandals, which was my gift from Jason.

After a couple hours at the river to cool off and relax, we headed downtown to enjoy another dinner. We had planned on going to this new restaurant downtown, but when we got there realized it was not at all what we expected and quickly left. We chose the Silk Road instead, classy cuisine from all over Europe! We enjoyed a multi-course meal, all very delicious!

Monday July 30 was our actual anniversary, and we enjoyed a homemade dinner with Jason's parents. Jason also surprised me at work with a pair of Toms! And I gave him the gifts I had made for him (blogged about earlier).

Just Josie #4

The other night my brother was making loud slurping noises while he drank his water. 

Josie piped up and said, 

"Nathan, God did not make you to be a dog!"

Better Half

For me, running is a passion. I find enjoyment in it. For Jason, it is getting to be that way, but for the most part it is "work." That being said, it meant so much to me in March when he said he wanted to start running with me and run the Missoula Half Marathon with me in July! We began training...he ran some 5ks in the meantime and I ran 2 other half-marathons.

On July 8, 2012, was the big day. Here's how it played out:

Wake up before sunrise to get to the race start at 6 am on Blue Mountain Road by the Peak Gym.

Jason said he'd probably stay with me until mile 4 or 5, like our training runs. 

But no. By mile 1.2 he was looong gone!

So we each just did our own thing.

The course is very pretty, and there are people cheering you on, sprinklers to cool off with, and even inspirational signs!

Once you see the Higgins Street bridge you have come about 13 miles and suddenly you get a second wind... You can tell Jason is running fast! It felt like I was sprinting...but in the picture it doesn't look like it haha.

Once you finish there are refreshing snacks and loving fans to greet you:

And huge grins for a successful day!

Here are the stats:
* For Jason's first ever half-marathon, he ran a 1:41:45! Finishing 126/754 overall for men and 17/50 in his age group.
* For my third half-marathon, I ran a 1:54:50, which is my personal best! I finished 241/1784 overall for women and 29/170 in my age group.

The best part was the next day when Jason asked if we could run another one -- that one being a mere 13 days away! So we signed up!

Just Josie #3

On Sunday August 5 Jason got to preach at both services for Florence Carlton Community Church where he is the summer intern. After the first service he and I stood by the door to greet people on the way out, and Josie wanted to stand with us. A lot of the people wore name tags, so even though she'd never met any of these people, she would read their name tag ahead of time and then when they got to her she'd say,

"Hey (name)! Nice to see ya!" 

With MUCH enthusiasm AND the official "pastor's handshake" (two-handed).

She'd make a great pastor's wife ;) or just a great official greeter!

End of Chapter One

Here we are already a week into chapter 2 of forever! It's amazing how time flies and how many things can happen in one year! Our first year of marriage looked like this:

Wedding Day -- July 30, 2011

We thoroughly enjoyed our wedding day! It was so special and for the most part exactly what we wanted!

Honeymoon -- Maui!

We played mini-golf on a glow-in-the-dark course! That was fun!

And more mini golf at a beautiful tropical course!

 Can't beat watching Hawaiian sunsets!

And it was super fun to grill on the rooftop!

We also got to visit an aquarium, shop, eat out, relax, take surfing lessons, and snorkel at Molokini. Jason planned our destination, what a great surprise!

Livin in LaGrange, WY -- August 2011 - May 2012

We were in La Grange WY because Jason was completing his last year of at Frontier School of the Bible. I worked in Nebraska (90 miles round trip) at a vet clinic during our time here. He graduated May 11! It was so good to finally not be long distance for college and to experience it all together!

Our first Christmas as Mr. & Mrs...some spent in Montana and some in Michigan.

In March we led a missions group from Frontier School of the Bible -- serving the lost and our fellow believers in Missoula.

In April there was Jason's senior banquet...

And also in April a mini-getaway to Westminster CO!

While there Jason ran his first major 5k race and I ran a half-marathon with my friend Jilanne. 

We also enjoyed a day of shopping and playing (including mini-golf again!)

Our first Easter as Mr. & Mrs...

And our first visit as Mr. & Mrs. to Las Vegas, NV, our soon-to-be home!

Our first half-marathon together! 

The Missoula Half-marathon on July 8, 2012.

And our second half marathon together...only 13 days after the first! 

The Buffalo Run in St. Ignatius on July 17, 2012.

Our first year of marriage has been wonderful. Not perfect, not without lessons and learning, but still wonderful. In some ways marriage has been different than I expected, mostly because of naive misconceptions about the reality of marriage. Overall though, marriage has been better than I expected! I absolutely love being married to Jason Paul Koemans!

"For better or for worse are so much more than only words...and I pray every day will be the proof that I mean what I say when I say, 'I do'"