Med School Wife

Our med school party

2013-08-24T22:58:00.002-05:00

David has been in the swing of school for three full weeks. He already took his first test of his second year in med school. SECOND YEAR. Like, he finished an entire year. Only one more year of class work, less than a year until his first boards, and 10 more months until he works in a hospital (still as a med student of course).

To celebrate the new school year, we invited his mod (don't ask me what "mod" is supposed to mean) to our house. 18 friends showed up and we grilled burgers and s'mores. Oh, and if you're wondering, having 18 people in our one-story house was a blast. Non-stop conversation, some competitive CatchPhrase, and Lily rolling around on the floor the entire time. After everyone left and we got the house back in order, we sat down on the couch, took a big sigh and said "let's do this again soon."

Here's to another year of med school and studying and stress and fun and love. Bring it on.

Our s'mores bar

David's mod, sans spouses

Oh, and this girl is the best study buddy

My magic moments

2013-08-19T22:29:00.002-05:00

I find myself coming back again and again to those magical moments that turn a bad day into a beautiful one. A day of completely unfinished tasks into a day of soul-hugging fulfillment. Those moments when God smiles down and says, "hey, maybe you didn't get what you wanted, but I'm still here, and you are not forgotten." Today was one of those days. I could sit back and focus on what I didn't accomplish or what didn't go my way, but I'm too overwhelmed by these beautifully magic moments. The moments that matter most. (see here for inspiration)

Summer in review

2013-08-17T15:42:00.000-05:00

Our summer bucket list is complete, or as complete as it's going to get this summer. David started school two weeks ago and had his first big test yesterday. Summer was cut short this year by August 5th med school, but we tried to soak up every second of those two summer months.

We (let's be honest, I) made homemade Chick-fil-a lemonade which was worth all thirty minutes of squeezing out those lemons. We had a few barbeques in the backyard complete with hanging patio lights. We didn't go hiking but we walked around the lake...does that count? Instead of KFC, we ate Cane's chicken. We sat out on our hammock looking at the stars. I cut up a watermelon, a pineapple, and attempted a coconut (which sadly broke open in the store, and I didn't realize it). We had a luau date, multiple tubs of ice cream, and several trips to Sonic for slushes. We watched fourth of July fireworks, the parade, and redwhite&blue pancakes for Memorial Day. We went golfing together. We drank raspberry-flavored Italian sodas. For my summer reading, I chose Life of Pi, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Happiness Project, and Three Cups of Tea (which I'm still working on). I had a total of 1 early morning run followed by mango smoothies. And I blared country music any chance I got. We watched a sunrise creep over the California sky and relished the few moments when Lily was actually sleeping. Oh, and swimming? That happened multiple times a week. I've never used so much sunscreen in my life.

The three things we missed on our bucket list: flying a kite (hopefully in the next few weeks), a Red Hawks game, and a drive-in movie. In each case, plans were made and then re-arranged until whoops, summer's over.

David only had two months off for summer. He spent each day doing research for his internship, but we got to spend every night with him enjoying summer and time together. And trying to enjoy every single day made summer seem much longer than it should have.

Can't stop taking pictures of these baby feet.

Anniversary time

2013-08-15T10:57:00.001-05:00

Last week was our big number two anniversary. I remember the first Sunday after we moved into our new apartment after we were married. We went to a new church building, and I sat by a girl who had been married way longer than me. She asked me questions about my bouquet, bridesmaids, and wedding colors, and I just sat there in awe thinking, "wow, she has been married for three whole months. That is so long." I mean, she had been married 8 times longer than me. I wiggled in my seat, feeling a little insecure in my new Relief Society class because I felt so inexperienced. There were girls in that room who had been married an entire year.

Our lesson that first Sunday was on marriage. The teacher asked for some volunteers to share their favorite marriage moment. One girl talked about how her husband surprised her with flowers on a stressful day. Another girl talked about how she loved throwing cold ice cubes on her husband when he was showering; then he would jump out of the shower, snatch her up, and drag her into the shower too, clothes and all. And it was romantic. I sat in that classroom that early Sunday and thought and thought until my brain was fried. In the past two weeks, what was my favorite marriage moment. I had no idea. Our honeymoon was great, and moving into our new apartment was exciting, but had we had one of those moments?

I felt a little defeated that Sunday. I was inexperienced, and I couldn't even pinpoint one of those "magic" moments during our first two weeks of marriage.

I look back on those early days and laugh. We've been married two years now. Sometimes it feels like forever: we both graduated from college, moved to Oklahoma, David started medical school, and sweet Lily was born. The most incredible part of my entire life happened over the past two years. And yet, it has not been long at all; once again, we've been married for less time than any of our friends in Oklahoma. But we have so many years to look forward to, and I've learned to not compare our marriage to someone else's because we're all learning different things at different speeds.

David and I have our own moments. Like when David chased me all around the basement of the Wilk trying to spray me with the water fountain. Or when I woke up in the middle of the night with a scary dream, and David stayed up with me watching funny video clips until I fell back asleep. Or the time David pretended to be a grandpa and made me laugh uncontrollably for half an hour.

We spent this anniversary flying back from Palm Springs. Our flight was delayed for a couple hours, and we passed the time trying to entertain Lily. When we finally got back home, I had time for a quick shower and change of clothes. We dropped Lily off with a friend and headed over to Mimi's Cafe for dinner and BJ's for a pazookie. We talked about what we've learned over the past two years and how unified we've become.

Our marriage is beautiful. It's all about unity. Working through difficult things instead of giving up. And forgiving. Planning together, crying together, and laughing together. Nothing has brought me more joy than this marriage and all the blessings that it's given us. Here's to two wonderful years of marriage and the rest of forever.

Yes, this is what we do on our dates. Kind of like "see-who-can-pull-the-weirdest-face"

Anniversary flowers :)

Magic

2013-08-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was easily one of the best. We finished up our little SoCal trip, and boy was it relaxing. And I've been trying to have more gratitude lately. Gratitude for each of those magical moments.

+Gratitude for visiting my old home is Calabasas and feeling like a small part of me is still there. It is the loving home where my parents first brought me when I was teeny tiny, and although I don't have many memories of living there, I still holds a special place in my heart. Where I first learned to bounce on the trampoline, where I experienced my first earthquake, and where there's a Shell station right around the corner where I thought mermaids lived.

+Gratitude for a windy drive through Topanga canyon that ends at Highway 1 and the Pacific. The whole evening was magical. Dinner at Gladstone's, my favorite restaurant in Malibu that sits right on the ocean. Garlic shrimp tacos and a smiley Lily who stole the attention of every single person that passed by our table. And then watching the sunset on the beach behind the restaurant. Lily had her first taste of sand and got drenched in a wave that was a lot bigger than it looked. It was magic.

+Gratitude for new friends David met at his internship. They were immediately kind and accepting to this family of three, and they pretended not to notice Lily's middle-of-the-night screams. We spent the last night of David's internship eating out with new friends who incessantly passed Lily from person to person, ooo-ing and ahh-ing over her bright-eyed smiles and tiny giggles. I felt like one proud mama.

+Gratitude for an amazing week with my sweet girl. Instead of focusing on David being gone and busy all week, I focused on what the week actually was: an entire week of girl time with Lily. A week of bonding, growing, and stretching. And I loved it.

+Gratitude for sleepy nights and mornings. Vacation was difficult for Lily, my little social bug. She wanted to take in every minute of play time and bedtime was never appealing, no matter how exhausted she was. But that's what the week was, so I tried to embrace it. This morning was a 4 am car ride with David, attempting to help Lily fall asleep. Our attempts failed, but we made it to McDonald's for cinnamelts and then on to watch a morning sunrise in the car. Although most nights didn't meet our expectations of complete rest and sleep, there's something beautiful about enjoying life for what it is. Soaking up every moment for what it is. Focusing on what I can change.

+Gratitude for kind friends. We got to visit my old house, and of course we got to visit David's. He grew up in Lancaster until he was 16; he has so many memories there and still many friends he hadn't seen in years. Our visit was full of driving around to old parks where David lived his "glory days" of baseball games, kind friends who took us in and made us feel like family, and laughing at old jokes until your side hurts.

The week was full of magic: enjoying life for what it is instead of complaining about what it isn't.

My old house:)

Smelling the napkin rose our waiter made for her

Garlic shrimp tacos drenched in aioli

He turned our leftovers into a mermaid for Lil

First taste of sand

Villagefest

2013-08-08T12:36:00.000-05:00

David has been so busy this week with his internship. He leaves at 6:30 in the morning and gets back around 8:30 or 9. And he can't bring his phone with him...it's just weird not being able to text or call him all day. But last night after he finished his work day, Lily and I met up with him and the other med students at Villagefest in Palm Springs.

Every Thursday night year round, three blocks of Palm Springs are closed off to vendors, musicians, and the locals. Lit palm trees line the streets, and as the night wares on, a mixed aroma of kettle corn, bath salts, and fresh tortillas fills the air. I loved being able to spend the evening with David after a long week of 14 hour work days.

It was one of those moments where life seems easy, and I try to soak up every sight and emotion because before I know it, we'll be back in Oklahoma, listening to country music.

After we got back from Villagefest, the three of us dangled our feet in the pool and talked about David's future as a doctor. I can't believe David's internship is almost over and he starts his second year of med school next week. I've got to enjoy every minute of this fast-paced life.

Serious girl time

2013-08-07T09:59:00.001-05:00

Lily and I are having some serious girl time here in Palm Springs. We miss her daddy while he's busy at his internship, but we have so many girl things we need to take care of. Like lunch dates. And shopping and swimming and snuggles. This afternoon, we trecked it up to the Discovery Children's museum. We are busy here in the desert.

Exactly three years ago, I was traveling in Europe. Most of the time, I was around people. But I spent about a week by myself in Paris and Rome. That's what I'd always wanted to do: spend the rest of my life traveling the world. But after a couple of days of traveling by myself, sitting in the Louvre staring at famous masterpieces, walking around ancient roman ruins, and sitting in french brasseries sipping tisanes and writing madly in my journal, I realized that I wasn't as happy as I could be.

Turns out, I'm a people person. I was in some of the most interesting places in the world, and I was lonely. I realized that I didn't want to have the experiences just by myself, and I would have rather been back in my hometown with family. People are most important to me, specifically my family. I decided that I didn't want to travel the world unless I could do it with the people I love.

And that's exactly what I'm doing right now, exploring Palm Springs with my little cutie pie. I'm grateful for her and this time we get to spend together. Traveling is so much more fulfilling for me when I'm with my two best buds.

True love

2013-08-06T06:41:00.000-05:00

Today we have been married for two years. Two years of laughter, work, hard times, and love. The most difficult and beautiful times in our marriage have come during the past year raising our sweet Lily. David sat by my bed as I gave birth to her and let me snap at him whenever a contraction came. And after she was born, David stayed up the entire night with her, snuggling and kissing her cheeks so I could get some sleep. Together, we've taken on this new layer of responsibility in becoming parents. We've prayed together. We've cried together. We've loved together. As it turns out, loving is more than that initial heart fluttering and excitement of when he showed up at my doorstep before our first date and I thought "dang, he looks cute." It's more than those late night talks we had and finding things we had in common. More than creative dates and flowers, more than late-night, romantic kisses. Love requires us to stretch ourselves more than ever before. It requires us to sacrifice for one another with the purest of motives. Love is forgiveness. Love is choosing to forget and choosing to have a fresh view of one another. Love is more than a fairytale ending, it's a journey that requires hard work but simultaneously brings joy. Love is a decision. And it's the best decision I have ever made.

This past year has been the best in my life. Thank you David for letting me be your other half in all the adventures. I love you.

I love how young we look in this picture. So much has changed, but it's only gotten better.

Bringing baby to a hotel

2013-08-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Rough night for Miss Lil last night. As I said, she's been sick since we left OKC, and an airplane, a new bed, and a late night were not the TLC she needed. The hard thing about staying in a hotel is that baby crying is not an option, especially when the people next door are here all week as other medical students in David's program. Lily doesn't usually cry, but last night was the cry fest and Sara and David trying to avoid Lily-shrieking. You can't blame her for being sick, exhausted, and probably confused.

And so we had a middle-of-the night Lily party. We went hall-walking, we watched clips from Tangled (which instantly calmed her down unlike any other Disney Princess clip), we snuggled, and I almost convinced myself to drive around Palm Springs, in the hopes that Lily would crash for even 15 minutes. All of this reminiscent of having a newborn.

Morning came, and all three of us were exhausted. We went to the buffet for breakfast, drove around in the car (again, hoping that Lily would fall asleep), and turned on the steamy shower to clear out Lily's congestion. And then it happened: a 2 hour super nap sans crying. It was wonderful.

Then out for an Italian brunch at the local Mario's, where Lily got her first taste of spaghetti noodles. She's a fan already. And then off to church, which brought peace after an exhausting night. And by the way, the Mormon church that we went to in Palm Springs is mission-style gorgeous, like all the other buildings in Palm Springs. I couldn't help but take pictures out front.

After church, we headed off to Trader Joe's to pick up some TV dinners for the week. Eating out every meal is expensive, and with a fridge and microwave in our hotel, what could be better than eating my secretly beloved TV dinners that I never let myself indulge in? So we finally made it to Trader Joe's after all the hype we've heard, but I'm a little confused because almost everything was expensive. Is Trader Joe's normally expensive, or are the prices inflated because we're in a resort town? Anyways, Trader Joe's did have some really cool things that I don't normally see in the grocery store, like mango lemonade and macaroons. But I think I'll still need to make a stop at Walmart to get the rest of our groceries...

First thoughts of Palm Springs

2013-08-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

I have been excited to go with David to Palm Springs for months. He was accepted into a week long internship at the Betty Ford addiction recovery institute, and Lil and I wanted to tag along since David's hotel and flight were already paid for.

I had everything packed for a week and a half trip to California. And ready for a break from the heat, I packed light sweaters and maxi skirts for Lily and I. But it wasn't until we were on the airplane that David informed me that Palm Springs was hot. Like hotter than Oklahoma hot. Like 109-degrees-when-we-got-off-the-plane hot. I knew Palm Springs was in the desert, but isn't Oklahoma supposed to be hotter than California? I guess Palm Springs is not included in "cool weather California." Guess I won't be needing those sweaters...

And poor sweet Lily. She has been sick ever since we walked on that plane. Drippy nose, raspy cough, screaming girl. At one point on our flight, she had on no pants and no diaper. Obviously we didn't keep her undressed for no reason, but she had a meltdown in the middle of diaper change. She shrieked so loud, I threw a blanket around her bum, and David grabbed her and ran to the back of the plane hoping the engine would drown out her screams. Lily keeps the adventure in our lives, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

And can I just say that Palm Springs is gorgeous? Definitely a desert. But the palm trees, beautiful orange wildflowers, and stucco architecture surrounded by tall mountains are the perfect pallet to a relaxing vacation. This place is a resort town to the fullest. And in fact, I'm convinced that there are more golf courses than gas stations. There's even golf cart parking in front of the local Chipotle. I look forward to these hot California days with Miss Lil: swimming in the pool every single day, maybe a lunch date or two (to offset our cheap TV dinners that are brought to you by #poormedschoolbudget), and exploring the rest of Palm Springs while David is busy at work.

Brown paper packages

2013-07-29T22:52:00.000-05:00

My first year of college, my room was approximately the size of a first class airplane cabin. Okay, maybe a little larger. But only a little. The walls were made of concrete and the carpet was industrial blue. Very naturally unhomey. And so it was all about the decorations. A couple trips to IKEA and 20 picture frames scattered about the room made that tiny space feel less like a jail cell. But also there were those packages from mom. Before Halloween, she sent me Snickers, a lighted, plastic pumpkin, and a black and orange tin to stuff all that yummy candy in. For Christmas, it was a painted snowman, a Santa Clause statue, and chocolate candy. Valentine's Day was a pink card, a new cd, and heart-shaped necklace from my little sister (possibly instigated by my mother). And Easter was a wooden bunny and of course a chocolate bunny. My mom really made the holidays special for me and made my tiny living space a home. I loved getting those packages, and she did it during all four years of college. There's nothing better on a lonely day than a thoughtful package from mom.

And this past week, Lily got her very own package from Gram filled with pink clothes and socks for our upcoming trip to California. Let me tell you. She played with the box and clothes for a full 45 minutes. And that is a long time considering this girl can't play with her toys for more than 10 minutes without getting bored. I'm grateful for my mom who is thoughtful, who always told me that she loved me and then showed me.

the Petroleum Club

2013-07-28T21:43:00.002-05:00

During his summer break, David's been doing research in a lab on campus. He's been working really hard aka running samples, preparing slides, examining results, writing a paper. And last week, his wonderful boss took his entire lab out to dinner. Oh, and their families too. At the Petroleum club. Aka-the fancy pants restaurant on the 36th floor of one of the tallest buildings in OKC.

Lil and I got all dressed up in our matching maroon dresses. The three of us headed up the elevator to the 36th floor, ears-popping and all. I got to meet David's wonderful co-workers who quickly stole Lily away and entertained her the rest of the evening. Dinner included shrimp cocktail, a poblano ranch salad, salmon, steak, and chocolate pie for dessert. The nighttime skyline was simply beautiful, overlooking the vast plains of Oklahoma.

I was blown away by the generosity of David's boss to take the entire lab and their families out to dinner at one of the most amazing restaurants in OKC. Feeling blessed.

Luau Time

2013-07-25T15:50:00.000-05:00

I'm dying to go to Hawaii. But, it doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon. So last weekend, date night became a luau. I stopped by the Dollar Tree to pick up a few Luau essentials: a grass skirt, leis, and table decorations. And when I got home, I turned on a little Bob Marley and Michael Franti. You have to get the mood right with these luaus, you know?
Dinner was divine: grilled Pina Colada Chicken and Hawaiian Mango with Coconut Rice. It was summery, and just the mini-vacation I needed. So there you have it, our Hawaiian date night, all in an effort to make our weekly date night a little more exciting.

Pina Colada Chicken:

4 chicken breasts
2 cups of shredded coconut
1 can of pineapple tidbits
1/2 coconut milk

Before marinading the chicken, cut thin slices into the side so the marinade seeps in through the chicken. This will make it extra juicy. Marinade the chicken for at least 2 hours in coconut milk and pineapple tidbits. After you have marinaded the chicken, roll each piece in shredded coconut. Then, throw it on the grill, or cook for 35 minutes at 350 degrees F (or until cooked thoroughly).

Hawaiian Mango and Coconut Rice:

1.5 cups of brown rice
1 cup of coconut milk
2 cups of water
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 fresh mangos

Combine water and coconut milk in a pan; set to boil. Once boiling, add rice and cover. Turn heat to low until rice is cooked and water has evaporated. Stir sugar into the rice mixture and serve warm. Top with fresh mango.

**if using white rice, use only 1 cup of water.

Mommy Lessons

2013-07-24T22:22:00.001-05:00

My Lily goes through phases. For four months, she rarely ever slept, only in spurts of 20-30 minutes at a time. It was draining, exhausting, ahhh motherhood. But now, she sleeps like a champ. Last week, she slept until 10 am, and I only had to feed her once during the night. Another phase: acid reflux. Some nights, I'd spend 45 minutes nursing her, and a few minutes later, she'd thrown everything up. And now, a few months later, her acid reflux is hardly noticeable. Soon enough, Lily will be crawling and walking. I'll spend most of my days chasing her around and trying to convince her to stay in her crib. When one phase ends, another one begins. And that is the beauty of motherhood: trying to enjoy each moment with Lily before it escapes me forever.

Here's the thing about these phases: they're phases. They have a beginning and an end, like most trials in life. When I look back at those sleepless nights when Lily was first born, I guess I really believed I'd always be that exhausted. For the next 18 years, I would never sleep through the night. But that's not true at all. If I really wanted to, I could get 12 hours of sleep at night when Lily sleeps. And all those mornings with sleepy eyes were just a phase. A beautiful phase. An exhausting phase where Lily and I spent countless hours getting to know each other, teaching each other, and growing. We needed that time together, and we'll never have it back.

I've learned that I can do hard things. And that hard things don't last forever. Those difficult, seemingly-endless days can be beautiful if I find joy in the journey.

Old Town Date

2013-07-22T14:18:00.002-05:00

Lily is young enough to go on dates with us every weekend. She's not too distracting, and we love having her around anyways. But there's something special about going out with just David. David and I are the glue to our little family, and improving our relationship strengthens our whole family (yep, all three of us. But one day we'll have more children, and strengthening our marriage will be even more important).

Last, last weekend we went out for a date without our Little Muggins. We headed way up North to Guthrie to check out Oklahoma's old capital city. And old is the best way to describe it. Old town Guthrie emanates that turn of the century, 1900's shoot out and saloon kind of feel. Abandoned buildings on your left and antique shops on your right. And there's a drive-in movie theater. We even walked right into a wedding being held at the post office. Super small town stuff. But somehow Mumford & Sons is playing in Gutherie in September? I need to look into that.

Dinner was at Railhead BBQ. I loved the hole-in-the wall, little town feel of the restaurant that only added to the charm of being up in Guthrie. And the food was delicious. Briscuit, potato wedges, Texas toast, and friend mushrooms. Everything dipped in one of their five, homemade barbeque sauces. And by the time our date wrapped up, we felt like we were in the wild wild West.

In other news...the AC in our house has been out for oh...the past 6 weeks??? We had no idea because 1). it rained for days and days and we didn't need the AC 2). the Fourth of July week had amazingly beautiful weather 3). we went out of town for a few days 4). the AC man already came twice. This weekend, we convinced the AC man to come back again, and it turns out, our AC unit was a thousand percent broken.

Last night until about 6 this morning, our house was 87 degrees. How does that even happen? Poor Lil, she slept in just a diaper, with two fans on her, and her window open. Oh wait, she didn't sleep because she was too hot. Rough night for Miss Lil. And if the AC man hadn't shown up bright and early this morning, I planned to stick Lily in the car and book it to Dallas where my parents live in a house with air conditioning. Thank goodness for air conditioning, and thank goodness for the AC man. I love him as much as I loved my anesthesiologist. And that is a lot.

My nakey diaper girl who survived the Oklahoma heat. She's a trooper.

Fighting Cancer

2013-07-20T13:06:00.001-05:00

We all have trials in this life. Some seem more difficult than others, but being a human being means that we will be tested and tried. Trials have the potential to mold me into a stronger, more resilient, and beautifully compassionate person if I let them. But I know that in my trials, I'm never alone. And although our trials are not always lifted in the timing we would like, a loving God gives us blessings. He does not leave us alone.

I've recently come into contact with a sweet woman named Heather. Like me, she LOVES being a mother. Her family means everything to her. And, she has a daughter named Lily too. Today, I would like to share Heather's experience with trials. She is inspiring, and I admire her faith and courage. For any of us who are losing hope or feeling alone, I share Heather's story in her own, beautifully-written words:

Fighting Cancer

In my eyes, there is no greater joy than that of motherhood. It was something for which I felt ready; it was responsibility I had been waiting to assume for a long time. I also felt prepared for all the challenges such a role presents. I’d spent a long time reading all the books, stuffing myself with the right, healthy foods, and saw all the most highly recommended specialists. Our new baby would be the center of our world. As with many expectant mothers, I was filled with just that—expectancy, anticipation, and excitement. Meeting Lily for the first time after that nine-month wait, I knew the real meaning of joy, and also knew that I was the luckiest woman in the world.

Although I couldn’t have been happier as a first-time mother, nothing could have prepared me for the news I received 3 ½ months later. I was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. It was a death sentence at a time when I’d never had so many reasons to live, the most important one being Lily. My doctor told me that if I didn’t immediately begin treating the mesothelioma, I could only expect a maximum of fifteen months before it claimed my life. Never before had I known the determination to do whatever it took—endure any painful treatment regimen, pursue any possible cure—in order to remain alive, to be Lily’s mom.

My husband and I made the difficult decision for me to travel 1200 miles away to Boston as it offered the best options and specialists. All the dreams I had spun during my pregnancy of the time I would spend devoted to a new life would now be spent fighting for mine. An entire, precious month of Lily’s life fled past me as I underwent drastic surgery; they removed my left lung, pericardium, and the lining of my diaphragm. The rest of my mesothelioma treatment regime consumed the remainder of that first precious year. In truth, I was lucky. Lucky to have a loving husband and parents who took Lily into their home and provided her with stability and love during that first year, so her life would not be marred by the upheaval in mine. I was surrounded by a host of people there to support and aid me in every way possible.

Once we had returned home, I spent every possible moment with Lily—taking walks, going to the park, visiting with other children. Some days, I simply did not have the energy for these things, but each moment was incredibly precious to me. I wanted to show to her how much I cherished her, and how privileged I felt to be her mom.

Sometimes I feel that the eight years since her birth have only shown me more reasons to love and value her. She is bright, cheerful, and compassionate. She has a unique respect for life, even if she can’t remember that first year. Beyond most expectations, we made it through as individuals and as a family.
Life has a strange way of teaching us how to value the gifts we receive. Facing mesothelioma was a brutal and terrifying experience, but it has drawn us closer together as a family. I wanted to share my story for others fighting through life’s challenges—to know that they are not alone and that help comes from unexpected places.

the Temple: My most beautiful place on earth

2013-07-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

As our two year anniversary approaches, I've been reflecting on the temple where we were married. The first time I got to go inside the Dallas temple was soon after I turned twelve. It was beautiful inside and out, and I felt at home there. And although my teenage years were filled with worry, self-doubt, and the occasional drama, I loved returning to the temple and feeling complete peace there. All my concerns quickly left me as I sat in the temple and reflected on Jesus Christ and His love for me. I knew I wanted to return there again and again.

Berne, Switzerland Temple

Berne, Switzerland Temple circa 2008

When I was 18, I went off to college in Utah, and I was blessed to live less than 5 minutes away from a temple. I made it a goal to visit the temple every week, and those experiences changed my life. College held most of the difficult experiences in my life: huge class loads, crazy work schedules, and of course dumb boyfriends, good boyfriends, and no boyfriends. But I found peace and comfort through the Savior, especially when I returned to the temple regularly.

Salt Lake City Temple circa 2009

Salt Lake City Temple, circa 2009

I grew to love going to the temple more than any other place. It is quiet, it is peaceful, it is beautiful. I feel closer to God when I'm in the temple than anywhere else. And so obviously, the best day of my life was when I returned to the temple with David to be married to him forever. That's one of my favorite things about the temple: because we were married there, we will be together forever (along with our children) as long as we are both obedient to God. That gives me such comfort and peace because I can't imagine being without my sweet husband. The temple has given me so many blessings of peace and love; I am grateful for a loving God who has given us the gift of temples. (check out this link if you want to see pictures of the beautiful temple interior or have questions about temples)

Dallas Temple circa 2011

OKC temple circa 2013

Best friend

2013-07-17T17:47:00.003-05:00

I think most mothers secretly want a daughter. They'll be best friends and have tea parties and wear matching sunhats. And I think most mothers secretly want a son. She'll carpool him to and from the weekly T-ball games, sit in the stands and cheer for him at his first Varsity Football game, and scold him for not opening the door for the older lady at church. I can't wait for that.

But seriously, I am having the best time with Lily. She's 7.5 months old, and she is into everything she can get her hands on. She shakes her head no whenever she doesn't want something (how in the heck did she learn to do that?) She giggles at everything, and if she had it her way, we'd snuggle all day everyday. Her two bottom teeth are poking through. She is my Little Muggins. And I think we're best friends.

My twin?

2013-07-15T13:06:00.001-05:00

All through high school, people thought I had a twin. Her name is Whitney. And she's my sister. Younger sister. And turns out, we are VERY different. So it always bugged me when people got us mixed up. Besides, she's two years younger, so why did the boys I liked ask Whitney out instead of me?

high school Mormon Prom circa 2008

I was excited to go to college. Fresh start, new friends, and I could start a legacy of my own. Except that the first day I started freshman orientation, I saw a random family friend on campus. AND HE CALLED ME WHITNEY. Seriously? She was 16 and was NOT AT COLLEGE. Turns out, it wasn't really a fresh start.

circa 2009

During my last year at college, a complete stranger ran up behind me and jumped on my back screaming "WHITNEY!!!!!" I still have no idea who this poor soul is, but he felt real awkward once he realized that he'd actually never met me before.

Whitney lives in New York City, is in Young Ambassadors (aka traveling to Asia next summer to perform), interns with a casting director, and works at Anthro. She got married about 7 months ago to her husband Jon who is just perfect for her. You can just tell from the pictures. Whit is living every little girl's dream, and I LOVE blogstalking her because well, she's seriously the coolest person I know. And I don't even feel bad about stalking her because---she's my sister, and that's what families do.

Photo courtesy of Whitney Uland

Whitney is hysterical I tell you. Last week on her blog, she wrote an entire post about birds, and I died laughing. Literally died. [I dare you to read the entire thing without laughing] So although we are super different, we both have blogs, so maybe that gives us bonus points? And I would say that her blog is way more entertaining than mine, so check it out here.

Photo Courtesy of Whitney Uland

Cousin Fest

2013-07-13T12:33:00.003-05:00

This week was Cousin Fest in Dallas, meaning Lily got mauled by her free-loving cousins every minute she was awake. Literally, before I even had time to get her out of her crib in the morning, her cousins were right there greeting her with giggles and tickles. And yes, she LOVED it. Even her cousin's cousins were in on the lovin. Slobbery mouth kisses, tickles on the cheek (I still don't get that one), and full-on, wrap-around hugs. And the all wanted to hold her, multiple times. Reminiscent of baby hot-potato (with adult supervision of course). And then we all went swimming: cannon balls into the pool, the water version of ring-around-the-rosy, and Lily basking in sunlight and attention.

And there was grown-up fun too. Late night talks and card games, dinner at Red Lobster, and the grown-up fun of relaxing while Lily was fully entertained. Family lovin all around.

And for the grand finale, we met up with my best friend whom I haven't seen in more than a year. My brown-haired, lipstick-lovin best friend. And oh how I've missed her. This is the girl who helped me text David when I was too nervous to do it by myself, accompanied me on my second date with David because I didn't know if it was actually a date, bought me cupcakes when David broke up with me, and flew out to my Dallas wedding. She was right there with me when I fell in love with David; she was my side-kick through it all. And now she's about to have a baby girl of her own; I am stoked. Catching up with her was the best, and she finally got to meet Miss Lil. I'm thinking I need a trip up to Utah very soon to do this again.

Matching cousin shirts. Love.

RedWhite&Blue

2013-07-05T14:50:00.001-05:00

Our Fourth of July was amazing/insane/best-day-ever. I took approximately a zillion pictures because everything was so festive and Lily was so darn cute. You're about to get a redwhite&blue overload. Here's a break down of our Independence Day.

1). Flag football and parade. David ran out the door early early so he could play football with some friends from church. He begged me to let him sleep in, but I knew he would love going so I convinced him to go. Meanwhile, Lil and I headed up to the parade with our cute friend. And after David's game, he met up with us. Nothing is more festive on the Fourth than a patriotic parade.

2). Cookout. We pulled out our new little barbeque and invited some friends over for lunch. David grilled up some Malibu chicken, I frosted redwhite&blue cupcakes, and friends and their babies piled into our new little home. And Lily made a new best friend (or should I say boyfriend?). Anyways, we had a blast with food and friends.

3). LibertyFest. Hula-hoop contests, free watermelon, carnival rides, and picnic blankets everywhere. Everything redwhite&blue. We had to check it out.

4). Fireworks in the backyard. Before Lil went to bed, we got out some poppers to throw out in backyard. And once she fell asleep, we laid out in the hammock in our backyard and listened to fireworks in the distance. We turned on our Christmas lights on the patio and danced to our wedding song: Crazier by Taylor Swift. It was romantic and festive and perfect. And we were thinking, a year from now, David will probably have to work on the 4th of July (doing rotations in med school). And again in two years from now. And every year after that until residency is over. Maybe not, but most likely. Our Fourth of July could not have been better. We love America, and we're grateful that we can celebrate it together.

Falling in love

2013-07-03T16:51:00.001-05:00

Summer is beautiful. And I think I'm falling in love again. Yes, actually I am. David has been working all summer long, and it is glorious. We spend so much time together. He has a 2 month summer break from school which means when he comes home from work, he's home: physically and emotionally. No studying, no early mornings, no talk of glaucoma or Streptococcus. Just me and Lil, her daddy, and the summer sunshine. I can't get enough of it.

And David gets to hang out with us all the time. Walks to the park, days at the library, trips to the driving range. I'm in love more than ever. And I think Lil is too. Can summer last forever?

Date night with David. Aren't we artistic?

Blackberries at the park. Love.

Fried chicken at the lake

2013-06-29T17:15:00.001-05:00

I rarely eat fried chicken. But last summer, we went hiking with our cute friends. The view was beautiful and the company was fantastic. Oh, and we ate fried chicken. It was one of our best memories from the summer, so picturesque. Like one of those moments where everything around you stops and no matter what drama is going on in life, you feel peace, and you feel joy.

So we tried to recreate it. Minus the mountains, minus Jesse & Lindsay (will you PLEASE come visit us?), and plus a cute Lily. We switched out Canes for KFC and had a picnic down by the lake. Besides the ants crawling around the table and a fussy little girl, it was relaxing to walk along the beach with my two best buds and once again have one of those moments.

For your weekend reading enjoyment:
-Last year's fried chicken adventure
-Our summer bucket list (we're getting closer to checking everything off!)
-Where we were one year ago
-Susie's insightful post about being a wife [scroll down to June 24th). I loved reading it; thanks for sharing:)
-Also, if you don't follow me on Bloglovin yet, you can here. GFC is going away folks!

"Never suppress a generous thought"

2013-06-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to thank my blog readers for being so supportive of me, especially since I wrote this post. I felt such an outpouring of love from people I didn't even know read my blog (which I LOVE). I read every comment (at least 3 times), and I am so grateful that people took the time to write a comment, email, or facebook message. Thank you, thank you. Also, since I wrote this post, the pictures and posts have been taken down, of which I am grateful for. If you want to see a play-by-play of the whole thing, my awesome brother-in-law wrote about it here.

Also, I added a watermark to my newly-uploaded photos. Oh, and a copyright symbol down at the bottom of the page. In case anyone gets confused. Pictures on my blog are not to be reposted or used for any purpose without my written consent. This is Blogger's policy, but I thought I'd throw it out there as a good reminder.

There are some blogs that I read pretty consistently, but I rarely ever comment on them. The blogger probably has no idea how cool I think they are. But I want to make a better effort of letting people know how much I appreciate them (whether on a blog or in real life) because I've learned from this experience that it does make a difference. It reminds me of the quote by Camilla Kimball who said to "never suppress a generous thought" because you never know what a difference it will make. New goal for me.

The best baby shower gift

2013-06-26T08:55:00.000-05:00

Okay you guys. I have to fill you in on the best baby shower gift [assuming the shower's for a girl] because well, I'm obsessed. A few months ago, my friend filled me in on this adorable little online boutique for girl's headbands and clips. And they are the cutest things I've ever seen. Lily wears one every single day because a girl's got to have her accessories, right?

Brittany started the Pearls n' Pink Boutique about a year ago. She loved making bows and hairbands for her little girl and has turned her hobby into an amazing business. She gets to stay at home with her sweet two year-old and make bows (and money) at the same time. I LOVE that. She's been able to pay for a lot of expenses such as furniture and carpet in her new home. She really has the best of both worlds, huh?

Seriously, just peek at her website. You will be so impressed by all the adorable bows that are so inexpensive. These headbands are really well-made and are so affordable especially compared to other companies. She'll even custom make bows for you if you need them for a specific occasion. I'm obsessed.

And I've got a discount for you readers, so listen up. All you have to do is:
1). Like her Facebook page (click here)
2). Send her a facebook message with your email address
3). She'll send you a coupon code to use for 20% off your first order [and these things are already inexpensive people. I'm telling you, this is a steal]

She's always having sales and giveaways on her Facebook page, so make sure to like it. I won her last giveaway, and I pretty much ran around the house squealing, I was that excited. David thought I was nuts.

So here are a few shots of Miss Lily's favorite bows from the Pearls n' Pink Boutique.