Updates!

I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since I last posted. I don't know what is happening to me. There is a persistent feeling telling me I should blog-next comes the pressure to be creative- then I find myself at a loss for words. Today I'm determined to update no matter how boring it may be!

First I would like to say- I can’t believe my time left in Erie is coming to an end. I can’t believe the snow has stopped falling and the roads are finally clear. I’m not nervous to drive anymore- a feeling most of us take for granted. With these changes also comes the end of our time here, in our cute little town home. Work received its “one month notice” and I even started collecting boxes.  Changes are approaching.

Things I’m excited about:

1.      Our beautiful new place in Mentor-thankfully the process of finding a new home was as effortless as it could have been.

2.      My 3 week trip to Arizona at the end of April- giving Duke 100% privacy as he approaches the final leg of his boards prep.

3.      Our new life in 2 months without med-school in the way. Free weekends and new memories.

Things I’m discovering:

1.      I have a weird habit of not being able to eat anything I cook!! Is this a disease? Even though it looks pretty good- and I’m the one who chose the recipe- I still am unable to eat it! Does this happen to anyone else??

2.      Duke’s first gray hair. He tried to cover and say it was blonde- but we both knew the truth! It makes me sad to see his stress with school coming out in different ways:(

3.      I am a stubborn reader. When I find an author I like- or a series- it is so hard for me to jump to someone else!  Any good suggestions?

4.      I love watermelons. I may have been the first person of the season to buy one at the store yesterday. Silly but it made me so happy to see them back!

5.      I apparently love making lists. 

Lastly my trip to Arizona was amazing- great friends-beautiful wedding! That post is coming!

An unlikely kind of love

I saw this video clip while I was at the gym today. I had my headphones on, could not hear a thing, but the pictures captured my heart. It is beautiful, and illustrates that love comes in all shapes and sizes (and feathers).

One can find love in so many unexpected ways.
Watch ME:)

Hope it tugs at your heart strings like it did mine!

xoxo

A little love

Valentines day is very interesting. I guess so are all holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays in our house. It's difficult when you're other half has a life that is consumed by school.

It's hard not to get excited for V-day. Although I know it's a holiday created by Hallmark, I still love it. I love all the decorations, the candy, the cards, the flowers.

It was my mission to make Duke feel special this year. I made him a gigantic card and bought a giant Hershey kiss- in other words a perfect gift for me. I also hid a secret dessert in the back of my car so he couldn't find it.

This year was different because although the world was telling me to desire flowers and expensive chocolate, all I wanted was time. I wanted to spend time with my med school student husband. So I asked Duke to come to Yoga with me as my gift- and he said yes. (Yoga is my saving grace these days)

But when I came home- I walked into this:

It just made me so grateful. The letter was the best part- honest words. My favorite gift.

It's special that through it all- he still remembers.

Dinner ended up being heart shaped ham-potatoes-and vegetables. Our first date meal.

Don't mind our stripped plate

I still took Duke to Yoga and he actually did great- more flexible than I would have given him credit for:)

 

Cracks

Came across this cute/inspiring story that reminds us to “honor our cracks and see what we can bring to the world.” Enjoy!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots; each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?
“That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.
“For two years I have been able to  pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together to very interesting and rewarding.
You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!!

yes:)

Last year- on February 5th 2010- I arrived in Erie- to visit my boyfriend! I remember that trip so well, what I packed, all the feelings I had, how many days had past since we had last seen each other.. everything. That's how my brain works when it comes to special moments- I can remember everything- down to the color socks we were wearing.


Duke and I had been surviving a long distance relationship at that point, so every chance to see each other was exciting. The highlights of my calendar last year was not my birthday or spring break, but the special weekends we got to see each other again. 


The night that Duke proposed was ordinary. I was exhausted from a long day of traveling, and I did not want to feel special. I had sweats on and refused to put a brush through my hair. 


The proposal was beautiful. Duke had put a lot of thought and effort into it. It made me feel like a princess and so unconditionally loved. From endless rows of candles to hanging letters from the ceiling, I was swept away.

Looking back on this one year, life has transformed. I am in awe. Moving, graduating, marriage, working, medschool, missing family, friends, Arizona- life has just been a whirlwind. 


At the end of the day, I am so lucky he asked me to marry him- and I am so happy I said yes:)


Here's to our one year engagement!

Proud

I felt a HUGE need to express how proud I am of my sister and my husband. Both are very strong, dedicated, passionate, and driven. It's amazing to see those qualities in them- to have such great role models.

My sister is unbelievable. Her dedication to her education as been relentless. She just took her comp- which is the big test for her PhD in Psychology- a three day test! So proud of you sister. No matter what the outcome!

Duke hasn't stopped studying since the semester started. He's preparing for his boards in May. He is putting everything aside so he can provide for us one day. There is not a day I don't appreciate it. 

I love my family. I am just so proud. 

Please.

Friday night I came across a very disturbing, heartbreaking news article. 

It's about the women in Afghanistan, specifically the women who are imprisoned. A majority of these women are innocent, suffering because of a corrupt justice system. Their stories range from women trying to run away from their abusive husbands to women who are being punished for another man's crimes (usually a family member: Dad, husband, etc..) The worst part about these stories are that a lot of the women are mothers. Once these mothers are sentenced, the punishment not only falls on them but their children as well. 

PLEASE take a few minutes to watch this video to hear the stories of these strong/suffering women here: 

http://www.awjp.org/

These women are innocent and are no different form you and me. Their children are innocent.

Redemption: There are nonprofits who are trying to make a difference for these women and children. On the website above you have an option to donate $25 to help pay for 10 students to have school supplies- or for a family to have milk for a month in jail. Not only that, but they will send you a free shirt reading, "Not Guilty." 

Please. When is the last time you have donated?