Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the Family category.
Jet Setting
This has certainly been a summer of travel. After returning from DC last weekend, I jetted off to Durango, CO for a weekend with my family at a lakehouse. It was absolutely amazing to get out of the Phoenix heat, see some (a lot!) of trees. It rained every day and was so beautiful. We took a train from Durango to Silverton, a small mining town in southwestern Colorado. The train has been running for over 100 years, I actually think it was more like 129 or something. The train went through the mountains, sometimes right on the edge of the mountains. The view was definitely different than Phoenix! It felt so nice to get fresh mountain air.
Then, I came home to Phoenix for one day before jetting off to Montgomery, AL to visit my husband. He is there until the middle of September. I spent six days in humid Alabama. It was so hot, and that is saying a lot since I live in the desert! It was over 100 degrees and extremely humid. But it was good to see the husband and I landed just in time to pin on his new rank of Captain. We didn’t even plan it that way! It just worked out. Funny how that happens. I also got to see some friends from DC who just so happen to be in the same training class. They have a new baby so it was especially good to see them and meet their new addition.
Many people were concerned about how we (and “we” being mainly hubby) would feel about returning to Montgomery since we received such devastating news there. I didn’t feel apprehensive or sad in any way landing in Alabama and he didn’t either. It was actually nice for both of us to come back to a familiar place. While the faces weren’t familiar (it’s the military so the same people are never there when you come back), the places were. I was relived to find my way around town, namely to the Starbucks, with no trouble. I even drove past the clinic on base and our old apartment. My first thoughts were not of the fear and confusion we felt, but instead of the compassion and help we received.
Now, I am in the airport in Alabama flying to Chicago for my future sister in laws bridal shower. Phew. Lots of places to go and people to see. As much fun as I am having on the road, I can not wait to get home to Phoenix and see my new friends. I never liked change before, it was always a burden. But, I am proud of how quickly we have adapted to the military and to life in Phoenix – mostly thanks to new friends.
Boarding now! (pictures of travels to come!)
Still Unwritten
Dear Mama.
I know I said Easter is the most important holiday, but Mother’s Day is up there too. Probably because I have some amazing mother’s in my life.
The first and foremost, my own. My mom is a source of strength and inspiration for me, constantly. Growing up, she was always there for my brother and me. While she was definitely our mom when we were growing up, today she is one of my best friends. She is my first phone call in crisis and in joy.
She is my running partner.
and my friend. 
I am also very lucky to know some incredible moms, other than my own. My mother in law, my grandmother and my best friend’s mom have always shown me a mother’s unfailing love. I am so grateful to these amazing, incredible women for always giving me their best. Happy Mother’s Day!
It Is Finished
I wanted to write this post on Friday but time just got away from me. Last week was very low key for us, pushing through the last week of radiation treatments and getting summer plans in order. But, I didn’t write it last week, so I will write it today.
Friday was not only Good Friday where we remembered the death of Jesus that three days later brought his resurrection and the forgiveness of our sins BUT, it was also the last day of my husband’s radiation treatment. This made it not only Good Friday but the Best Friday. Many of you have asked us what comes next in treatment. Well, as far as treatment goes, we hope and pray that we are done. We will go back in throughout the year for CT scans to make sure the cancer stays at bay. Other than that, the next six weeks (how long it will take for the radiation to totally leave his body) should lead back to normalcy.
One of my friends told me that good things can come from cancer, she knew from experience. I don’t know if I can say that good things have come from our experience yet. It still seems just like a real PITA that came out of nowhere and disrupted our normal awesome lives. I guess if you asked me right now, I would say that it was a good reminder that our lives are short and are really not our own. Our time does not belong to us and it can be taken away quickly. It was a reminder to treasure every minute of every day with the one you love.
And so, I find it fitting we enter remission on Good Friday and Easter weekend, celebrating the healing of Jesus’ broken body at the same time celebrating my husband’s healing.
Easter is the most important holiday to me. Yes, we have had our fair share of eggs, definitely more than our share of candy and Cadbury eggs (did you know they make them in dark chocolate now? Yum!) and there’s a ham chilling in the fridge. But, for Christians, Easter is the foundation of our faith. Without Easter, Christianity does not exist. If there is no risen Son, then death was not defeated, sins have not been forgiven and this life is all there is.
I’ll sign off with a quote from C.S. Lewis – one of my favorite authors.
“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”
— C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Off to an evening church service as this morning called for sleeping in and vegging out. 
Still Unwritten
Refresh
It’s been a whole month since we arrived here in Phoenix and in a way it feels like we just got here but also, like we have been here our whole lives. We have settled into a good routine, full of work and friends and fun.
Monday’s routine includes a run and a yoga class in the am. The yoga instructor today talked about starting new and looking at today in a refreshing light, putting yesterday behind and starting fresh today. It was just the thing I needed to hear. With one deep inhale, I let go of the confusion and pain of the past month and with one deep exhale, I looked to the future for hope and energy. And, for the first time, in an entire month, I couldn’t wait to start my day and share with you all the new things I have been learning. I will go into detail about them later but for now, here’s the exhaustive list.
I finally learned how to knit. I taught myself using YouTube videos and am making a…square. Yes, a square. I don’t know what I will do with the square but it’s good practice for now. I also taught myself how to mow the lawn. I have never used a lawn mower before, but today, I looked up instructions on line (yes, they exist much to my husband’s shock) and mowed the back yard. I also started taking golf lessons which are super fun and also require some new clothing items – never a bad thing. I have become an expert fly swatter (who said AZ doesn’t have bugs?!), an amateur gardener and I now definitely know my way around most furniture stores in the area.
All of these things keep me pretty busy and very happy, except for the fly part. The new things I am learning also serve as a reminder that today, this very moment, is a fresh new day and an opportunity to choose life over fear.
Midwestern Love
Whew! My family has been in town and we have been busy! For me, family is the cure for everything and we certainly had fun. The weekend consisted of eating, sleeping, eating, talking, eating, laughing and more eating.
My trip to the grocery store last week brought a little bit of Chicago to my kitchen with bratwurst, steak, beer and potatoes. Yum. We grilled out each night and had an awesome brunch on Saturday. I loved having everyone here and eating true Midwest food, a little bit of home in the desert.
Even though we did venture out for bridesmaid dress shopping, we mostly hung out at our beautiful house on our beautiful base with each other. I loved having a kitchen big enough for everyone to contribute – my brother on the steak and drinks, I was on the sides and my mom was on the cheese, meats and eggs. It was perfect. Here are a few of my favorite recipes from the weekend:
Wasabi Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- Red Potatoes
- Celery
- Hardboiled Eggs
- Red Onion
- 1 jar of Wasabi Mayo (found at your local Trader Joe’s)
- Paprika
- Celery Seed
Directions:
Chop potatoes into bite site pieces (I like to leave the skin on for more nutrition but you don’t have to). Boil potatoes until done, should be around 15 or 20 minutes. Make sure they aren’t overcooked or they will fall apart. While potatoes are cooling, chop up celery, hardboiled eggs and onion into the wasabi mayo. Add spices. Combine with potatoes. Done! You can pick what you want to put into it, so if you don’t like red onions, just leave them out!
Chicago Brats
- Bratwurst
- 3 or 4 bottles of beer, I think the heavier beer the better. Beer should cover brats.
- Onion
- Ground Pepper, to taste
- Celery Seed, to taste
Super easy: Marinate bratwurst in beer, chopped onion, ground pepper and celery seed. Sit for a couple of hours, then grill. If you don’t want to grill, put all ingredients into a pot and boil on stove until brats are cooked.
Yesterday morning, my mom and I hiked at the White Tank Mountains.
We walked through the desert a total of about 3.5 miles – keeping a sharp eye out for rattlesnakes and mountain lions! There were warnings for mountain lions all over the place and rules about what to do if you were attacked by one. My favorite rule: fight back. Duh.
On our way back I realized I didn’t have my car keys! Fearing I had locked them in my trunk, we headed back keeping an eye out for the lost keys on the way. We were literally in the desert, I didn’t have my cell phone and we had no one to call. My mom kept calm, I, in true form, was a mess. Fortunately, I had dropped the keys at the start of the trail and they were still laying there when we got back. Yikes.
Other than the hiking, workouts took a backseat to family. Which is okay because I have a race in two weeks that I know will motivate me to hit the gym tomorrow. I heard an interview with Bethenny Frankel and she said it’s okay to miss workouts because when you know you have a healthy relationship with fitness and food, you know you will be back in the gym. Missing a day or a week or whatever doesn’t make you a bad person. You just chose something different. So, last week, I chose to relax and eat and enjoy. This week, I choose to run and get back in a routine.
The last of my family flew out this morning and I was so sad to see everyone go. Living in AZ is great but its far from home. I wish I could just take you all with me every time we move!
Still Unwritten
In Like A Lion
Today is the last day of March. I hate March. I know, being from Chicago that’s probably some kind of sin but let’s be honest – March hates me. Last March, my best friend almost died in a car accident in the middle of the month. This year, March didn’t wait around to start kicking my but. With a cancer diagnosis on the first of the month and news of my parents divorce on the fourth of the month, we were off to a great start. BUT, today is the last day of the worst month and I am so excited.
Even though March has tried to get me down, I am still here to see April 1 tomorrow, so I win. And, a lot of good things happened in March. I wanted to share with you some things that I am incredibly thankful for during this horrible, no good, very bad month.
In no particular order:
- My mom, brother and future sister in law coming in this weekend.
- My new home to host them in.
- My husband’s improving health.
- My husband’s radiologist being featured in Phoenix magazine as the top radiologist in the region.
- Opening insurance bills to see “amount due: $0.00″.
- Tax free food and appliances on base.
- Phone calls from friends at JUST the right time (lookin at you Liz Reising)
- Phone calls from friends at ANY time.
- An increase in my running mileage over the past month
- An increased focus on nutrition because of my husband’s treatments
- Seeing two old friends from home who were out here on Spring Break.
- Spring Training.
- Thunderbirds Air Show.
- A safe 28 hour drive to Phoenix under very stressful conditions. The same drive that claimed the life of a friend and almost the life of another.
- Our friend’s fruit trees in her backyard.
- Family resources and job flexibility to fly out here as needed.
And, in a weird way, I am thankful for March. I know that I am stronger for surviving this month. And that April will be MUCH better. So, today, we are celebrating and thanking March for coming in like a lion, transforming me in the process, but also staying true to its word, and leaving like a lamb.
Major Rewrite
The last 36 hours have rocked our world and changed our life. Because all of our family knows, now you can too.
I am sure I will have more to write about this as my mind clears but here’s a brief update.
Yesterday at 8 am my husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At 4 pm we learned the medical staff thought it best if we head over to Phoenix ASAP instead of waiting for our originally planned trip in late April. The reasoning is so that his treatment can be consistent instead of having to switch doctors mid treatment.
We hit the road this morning and plan to arrive in Phoenix on Friday afternoon. We did learn good news today that the cancer appears not to have spread.
That’s the very short version of the story.
I should say that we are eternally grateful for the amazing friends, family and military community that are carrying us through this. We had friends we had met for only a few weeks packing us up late into the night and even cleaning our bathroom!
We believe that everything happens for a reason and we know that we will be stronger from this. In the process and always, we covet your prayers and thoughts.
For more information on testicular cancer please visit www.laf.org
Still Unwritten
