Since that last post in October 2011, there have been so many exciting things going on and thoughts and revelations and moments and trips that I should have captured in print and shared for the few of you out there that read this blog. But alas, I just kept on keeping on living this blessed life. Pictures pile up, life happens, and special moments soon become memories. It has been a cycle, but not a vicious one.
Maybe I'll catch back up someday, but for now I can recap the last couple of weeks. In the past two weeks (well, two and a half now that I'm settled back in), I have traveled over 2,500 miles on my own through eight states in two different rental cars and completed three audiobooks....and that doesn't include the round trip flight I took from Charleston, SC to Nashville. I traveled to two weddings, a baby shower, a Mothers Day family gathering, countless work events, visited friends, new babies of friends, family, and friends whom I count as family; yet I won't dare try to count the numbers of loved ones I've seen lately. There was one stretch in the first week where I channeled my inner Goldilocks and slept in five different beds over five nights. I've laughed, I've cried, I've gone through way too many drive-thrus and pumped so much gas it's probably hazardous to my health. And somehow I only missed two days of work. Sure, I'm worn out from it all....but it's a good feeling of tiredness because while I know I haven't done it all just right, I can rest in the fact that I've given it all I had. Relationships with friends and family are extremely important, they reap many rewards, but one lesson I'm learning as I grow older (and wiser) is that they don't keep themselves going. They take investments of time and effort.
But now the time has come [well, almost]. It's a moment I've been waiting for. Through the absolutely wonderful times I've had the past two weeks, I am looking for a fun adventure this weekend....getting to spend the first full weekend with my husband since Easter. And that's putting it pretty lightly since I haven't mentioned that he has been attending grad school since January, worked second shift the month of April, is putting in crazy amounts of overtime hours, and has had extensive work travel in Seattle, San Antonio & Cincinnati during the semester.
My hard working husband takes care of our family and makes our adventures possible. I am so grateful for him and how he leads us. He is extremely caring and protective of me, which I'm extremely okay with. ;) In the midst of his recent jam-packed schedule, he made the effort to book all my hotels and rental cars (not based on the cheapest choices as I would have arranged, but with my safety and comfort as priority), he took money out of the bank so I had cash on my trips (he knows I wouldn't do this on my own), and he has been earning awards and recognition at work. His work ethic and humbleness are models to strive for. Multiple times each day I am overwhelmed with the blessings we share and I can't believe just how God laid out this path for this life of joy with this man. It's not about the stuff he does for me -- not at all. These are just recent examples of how he goes over and beyond to show love for me on a regular basis and even during hectic times. He seems to naturally understand that our relationship takes time and effort. I guess I'm a slow learner because I'm just now really starting to understand how vital they are to maintain.
I pretty much can't put into words how I feel about my husband and our family and friends. I'm so thankful - a blessed girl for sure! So I don't get too sentimental, I'll leave with a few fun photos from the last couple of weeks:
Amy's Wedding in Cincinnati, OH
Catherine's Baby Shower in Northern KY
My work trip to Norfolk & Virginia Beach, VA
Jillian's Wedding in Lexington, KY
