CPM Steve

Apparently I am not very good at updating this thing.  Over the last year (since my last post) I have been studying like crazy and taking a lot of test to get a Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from IREM (professional management organization).  Last Friday I found out that I passed my certification exams that I took at the end of October.  Huge relief and such an accomplishment.  Looking forward to some down time with Emilie after 2 years of studying for work related stuff.

Broker Steve

I guess this is my new name.  It is a fantastic feeling to be completed with the studying and test taking for now. 

Update more late, a bunch from the family just walked into my office

Broker Test

This morning I take my brokers exam for work.  Since May 11th I have been taking an online course and doing significant amounts of studying.  I am oddly relaxed and nervous about the test.  It is a weird feeling that I recall from college during finals week where I feel I couldn't have done much more to prepare myself yet still doubt all the work I have done.

I think it is one of my flaws that I often will doubt myself when it comes to certain things.  I am not sure why but tests are one of them.  In High School one of the things that stands out that scared me and motivated me was new skills for my routines in gymnastics.  Often times new moves were very dangerous or something that no one on the team had ever tried but I felt compelled and often a sense of motivation to prove to others all that I could do them. 

For some reason though, even after completion doubt always seems to creep back in. I think we all have a need for affirmation.  I have learned this even more in my time in marriage, but the affirmation that will outdo any other in the understanding of a never ending affirmation and love of Jesus.  I need to always find ways to think of this more, and listen for His words speaking into my life.  It is so easy to doubt ourselves and hear things that will bring us down or tell us we can't do this or be successful at that.  Trusting in ourselves in a good thing, but it is not enough and you will always let yourself down.  Putting all your faith and trusting in Jesus will never let you down and always provide you with whatever you need even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.  Releasing control to Jesus is freeing and the best way we can fully live to the potential that He wants for our lives.

Looking back, some of the most affirming times came after I completed a flight check, test, or gymnastics routine.  It didn't matter so much the outcome, but the feeling of knowing that it was God that brought me as I can only do so much on my own.

Hopefully I can report back success later on!

It's our 1 year anniversary, with Max.

Max with his full head of hair.

One year ago today we received Max from Mike and Mere.  He went through quite a rough transfer going from house to house for a while until he landed on our doorstep courtesy of my mom sister and grandma who drove him to Chicago after a dropping off baby shower gifts for Mere and spending some time in DC.  As I thoughtfully told Max one day "You enrich our lives."  That pretty much sums it up.  It has been a ton of fun having him around, even though letting him out in the morning when it is snowing is not so much fun.  While "daddy" forgot to pickup a cupcake dog treat from the pet store, Max did still get a long walk with Mommy and her friend Lindsay.  What's even better was that after the walk Emilie and Max cooked together which also another way of saying max got some really good snacks. 

Max gets one of these bully bones after each grooming

 

 

 

 

 

Max at his first Christmas in Chicago

We affectionately call this one "Bed Beard"

Max still knows Mike's Whistle and gets really excited when he visits too (same goes for Mere)

Max checking out the newest addition to the family while Mike and Mere visited during Christmas

playing drums

You have to check out my very cute nephew!!



Carter Playing Drums on my Head.

VBS for Emilie, Studying for Steve

All week Emilie is volunteering at Vacation Bible School at South Park. She is a story teller. So she gets to tell fun Bible stories to all the little kids that come to VBS (or at least all the 2nd grader i think). She seems to be enjoying it and I get to enjoy some time at home with max and my Real Estate book.

Two weeks ago I registered for a online Brokers exam. This is composed of 5 courses that i need to study up on and then take 10 quizes, and 1 final per course. Follow that all up with a state exam that is no picnic. Hopefully once this is complete though it will be a big boost for me at work and open some doors as well.. It is something I have been considering but just didn't have the time to work on. All that changed back in January.

In January my boss and company president for the last 25+ years decided that he wasn't going to take over the company as was planned. With that, a decision was also made for him to move onto other endeavors. With his exit in march, our company also exited the Residential Management. This composed of about 50% of our work portfolio. Needless to say there have been a lot of changes and staff reduction, but I think we will emerge as a better stronger and more efficient company. That being said my job has changed a little bit, but life is better overall as all the emergency calls and stress that I experienced was 95% caused by the Residential work we did. With that gone I have begun to enjoy my job quite a bit more. On top of that, Emilie even likes my job again.

I thought i would throw out some pictures that I had not yet had a chance to upload prior to this. Some from our anniversary, Minnesota and fishing at the Wolf River, notice there are no pictures of fish (funny how that happens)










Yes this is my boss who I was playing bags with.

mini vaca

Were up in Minnesota for the weekend for a family friends wedding. Left Chicago last night and arrived at 1245am. Drive was thankfully uneventful, considering the storm that blew through last night prior to our arrival.

We have purchased a new computer and Thursday entered the 21st century getting internet at the house. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new web cam so we can skype with our nephews.

Also new, I have enrolled in a online Real Estate Broker course. Myself and 3 others in my office will be taking the course and working together to make sure we all succeed. I am a little apprehensive about the course as it is 100% online and I really do much better in a real classroom setting. So we will see how it goes. I have a set deadline of Dec 10th that I must finish the class by (set by the state for the course limit length), but I want to finish within 3 months.

Other updates will be coming, big changes at work in the last few months that have been really good (in the long run). Emilie is still battling issues with different foods and we are continually working to try and make that better. Off to dive in for the first time into my online class. How fun, school during vacation.

Max: Our little guy

This little guys has brought us many days of joy and fun since we adopted him from Mike and Mere this summer. He loves the snow but not necessarily the bitter cold that we get here in Chicago.


We had a great and busy Christmas and New Years Season with lots of Family in. I will try to post some pictures and fill in the gaps from the last few months.