Three Thought Thursday: Episode 32

1. We are one-fourth of the way through our month full of travelling. Translation: we've completed one of four trips that we will be taking between now and the beginning of September. With two boys under the age of three in tow, I know we're crazy and probably even unrealistic. But we're going for it. And hoping for the best. Did I mention that three of the four trips are via car? The first trip was this past weekend to Dalhart, TX. Mark's grandparents live there, so we went to celebrate Grandma's 80th birthday. While the trip was just a little over 24-hours long and completely crazy, we still had a blast and really enjoyed our visit. I particularly enjoyed getting to see the many places where Mark played as a child when he went to stay with his grandparents. I love hearing other peoples' stories. And I love just sitting back and watching people who all love each other coming together. There's just something about their faces that says "joy." The boys did fantastic in the car, both ways. It's only a three hour drive, so it was a great trip to start out with to get the boys acclimated to travelling. The only low point was sleeping in the hotel. Kolbe did fine, but Reagan was not a fan. I guess the strange noises and sights made him feel scared. He took a next-to-nothing nap and woke up countless times in the middle of the night. We've been home for a few days and are gearing up for trip number two tomorrow. We will be driving to Dallas to visit Mark's brother Brian and sister-in-law Cristi. Can't wait to go spend time with them on their turf instead of ours, how it usually is! We'll be back from Dallas on Sunday and then off on a nine hour drive to Colorado next Wednesday. I am sure that one will be the doosy! We are driving up there for a little vacation with all of my brothers and their families...except for Dave. Should be a lot of fun! After returning from that trip, Mark leaves for Chicago to attend a board review for his board exam while we stay in Lubbock to celebrate my cousin Tim's wedding. Mark takes his board exam September 2nd and after that we head to Houston to visit my parents for a few days. That trip is via plane, thank God! Why all the travelling? Well, Mark starts his new job on September 13th and we're pretty sure we won't be travelling much after that! Better enjoy it while we can!

2. This past weekend, prior to going to Dalhart on Saturday, I went to Midland to be with Mark for his final white coat ceremony. And I went alone. Sans the boys. My mother was coerced in to flying up to watch them for one evening so I could go up and attend Mark's class party on Thursday evening and then the white coat ceremony on Friday. It was the first time that I've left Reagan for an evening. Ever. Of course I was a little bit apprehensive and talked about the boys the entire time and worried about them and wondered how they were doing, but everything went just fine. And as I came to discover, I think it's probably a good thing to get away every now and then. Even if it is just for one night. Thinking about them and missing them made me realize how blessed I am to have them. I think there are times when I'm burnt out and feel the strain of mothering twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Having that one day away reaffirmed how much I love them and how precious they are to me.

3. So if you haven't figured it out already, Mark is D-O-N-E!!! (*choir of angels begins singing*) As of last Friday he is completely finished with PA School and has just one major hurdle ahead of him: his board exam. This is a time we knew we'd eventually reach, but it always seemed like it was so far off. And now that we're here, it feel so strange! No more school! Mark has been in school for our entire relationship. And now he's not. Hooray! And you know what, I am SO proud of him. Proud enough to use caps, bold, italics, and underline. He has worked so hard. Seriously, so hard. Never giving up despite the mounds of other stuff going on (can we say several surgeries for child #1, second pregnancy for wife, birth of second child...all of which occurred while living over one hundred miles away from mentioned persons...) It has been tough. Real tough. But all things worth doing come at some form of a cost, and you know what? We wouldn't change anything about all we've been through to get to this point. We're exactly where God wants us to be and it's such a good feeling. So what's next for us? Mark has accepted a job here in Lubbock with a team of neurosurgeons. Brain surgery. Scary, huh!?! I've already told him not to bring work home...ha! But again, I couldn't be prouder of my husband and I'm so excited for the next chapter of our lives!