I complain so much.

Just a warning, I'm feeling rambly and a little mentally incontinent. Two midterms, a test, and a competency exam this (shortened) week. I know some people out there are champion students. They can study for hours on end, making amazing color-coded study guides, flash cards, and rhymes. I am not one of those students. I throw hissy fits, take breaks approximately every five minutes and complain about it the entire time. Don't get me wrong---I love my program and I love learning. I just really suck at studying. It doesn't help that it's like, 85 degrees in the house right now and I haven't had a decent night sleep in days. I'm a little less than stellar.

I'm not excited about Devon leaving for Chicago again on Thursday. Half of July, he's with his mistress. It's dumb. But also I'm really proud of him for the hard work he does and at least I don't have to share the fans with him while he's gone.

I don't know how to handle life without an air conditioner.

Spring Recap (Photo Dump)

They like each other.

 I know, I know. I'm really terrible at this blogging business. I have a lot to learn from Lara. So let's recap.

Early spring took Devon to Chicago for a weekend. It just so happened to be a weekend that my parents were staying at their place in Bend, so I loaded up the car and made the trek down to stay with them for a couple of days! It actually worked out perfectly and I'm so glad I went. And I didn't have to drive by myself! One of my classmates moved to Seattle from Bend, leaving his wife behind, so he was beyond stoked about a trip down to surprise her.

I am totally in love with Bend. We spent the weekend eating, shopping, skiing, and walking. Couldn't ask for more. The school there is in the process of becoming a 4-year university so I'm secretly crossing my fingers that Devon will one day work there.

 Some point after Bend, I took on the position of assistant coaching a Special Olympics soccer team. It was so.much.fun. Holy mackerel. Those kids are amazing! I worked with a recreational team, meaning we had some lower-functioning athletes and their partners. The partners were so fantastic and so excited to help. They were great at setting up opportunities for the athletes to score and were so generous. It was just awesome. Restores your faith in humanity. Can't wait to celebrate all of their victories this week at the end of season barbecue!

 Sometime in between here (I'm really awful at remembering dates, can't you tell?) we took off for Oregon again, but this time to spend the weekend with Steve and Diane! They had rented a house right on the coast in Lincoln City. The weather was pretty typical and required lots of sweatshirts and hot chocolate. But a good time was had by all. I think my favorite activity was visiting the Tillamook Air Museum. The building is an old blimp hangar from World War II. It was so enormous! And the planes were amazing. So many different models. I should have gotten more pictures. I think my camera (read: phone) was low on battery.

 We also spent a lot of time gathering agates on the beach and getting lost on walking trails. Diane spent her childhood gathering agates with her mother so it was fun to share in that activity. I love seeing family traditions be passed down. I hope one day we'll get to do the same thing with our kids.

I'm still adjusting to having a whole other family. I love it! Everyone has been so kind and welcoming and eager to have me as a part of the family. It would be great if we could see more of each other but alas.








I am so grateful for all of the fun things we've gotten to do this spring. Not shown are all of the girl's nights with besties, the Halo playing (an xbox game we both like!), cuddle sessions, baking, and more. We really are blessed. Marriage is the most challenging thing I've ever taken on, but I'm learning and growing more each day. I am so glad I've always got my adventure buddy. He's pretty great.

Yup.

I know I owe you a more in depth update. I know I have lots of pictures to share. But I am sick and I can't control my body temperature and I take a nap every other hour. Just wanted to stop in and say hi. I'm about to finish my first semester at PMI, presuming I can survive the drive to school to take my finals. It went by so quickly.

Being a Supportive, Understanding Partner

It can be a very challenging thing to do. When my husband is upset, I'm usually clueless about what to say to comfort him. He opens up so rarely, it's almost uncharted territory. And just as quickly as he opens up, he closes again. And there I am, feeling like a very inadequate wife.

I find myself closing up more in response. That's another huge challenge. I deeply miss the beautiful young women I used to live with. We could open our hearts to one another and receive perfect empathy. Now all I get in response is jokes and teasing. Not super encouraging. I have to remind myself that Devon's good humor is one of the things I love so much about him. Some days that reminder doesn't always work though. Then I just feel lonely and misunderstood. I'm working on it. Right now I just want to bury my emotions in chocolate and Taco Bell. Ugh.

Missionary return

Last night I mentioned to Devon that if we hadn't gotten married, I may have gone on a mission. In response he says, "I probably would have married Alison Brie and I'd be best friends with Donald Glover. I would know so many famous people."

Sucker.

It's Christmas Time!

I am so excited to be with my fam-bam and eat lots of toffee and go skiing.

But first, the mountains are calling! And they are covered in snow. Chains and caution, up in hurr.

The Great Escape

*cough cough hack cough wheeze*

That's me, about every ten to fifteen minutes. My lungs are making their escape. Since Thanksgiving, my throat has been pretty sore and I've been feeling a little fatigued. Thankfully, the sore throat has dissipated and it hasn't been bugging me for the past couple of days. However, it's been replaced by this awful, full-bodied, deep cough. All sorts of delightful grossness happening in my lungs. My ribcage is sore from coughing so much.

Poor Devon. He has to sleep next to me every night, wheezing and hacking away. I feel awful. Funny thing happened though. Last night, at about 2:50am, he struck his revenge. He says he doesn't remember a thing. I was awoken by a quick blow to my thigh, followed by rapid snapping in my face. By the time I realized what had just happened, Devon was already turned away, sleeping soundly. The man can snap in his sleep! Even though I couldn't fall back to sleep and had a very long day ahead of me, I think I'm more impressed than anything else. I can't even snap that fast when I'm awake.