Year 2

It has been two years today.  Two years of wedded bliss, trials, adventures, joy and tears.  It has been exhaustion, teamwork, smiles and so many laughs that I wish I could time capsule it all and never forget the moments that lead us to the now.  So, since last year we have:

 

·         Evaluated and recognized as a family my career change and what it would mean, not always easy but we made a decision together.

·         Birthdays and Christmas shopping.  Darren’s gift to us were bicycles and initially not excited but now I look forward to putting on my buns(padded biking shorts) for a nice bike ride.

·         Family time with both our families at their homes and ours, shopping with my mom and sister while Tegan ran the show. 

·         Another cruise, only 3 days but it made me realize how much I enjoy them.

·         Our yearly ND football game and tailgating with great friends.

·         A weekend away as I went to homecoming in NC and we made our nightly phone calls to see how the other was doing.

·         Our 4^th annual Pumpkin carving with the little warriors, Carter, Chase, Noah.  And finding out we would soon be welcoming a 4^th that same day with Shana letting us know.

·         The change from Admin assistant to Office Manager and finding that I love what I am doing and the people who have the faith, support, encouragement in my work while being surrounded by a great work family.

·         The drives to our parents homes for the holidays, trying to read or nap only to be distracted by Darren until he decides to plug in his radio show to listen

·         New Years eve plans with friends that put us in bed early.

·         Making it through my first busy season while still eating well with Darren mostly cooking and hitting the gym.  And enjoying working even with the longer work days.

·         Helping out friends with different projects, hosting double dates, parties and savoring the time together.

·         A small party for Tegan at our home, watching her only eat the icing and apologize in her kid voice for staining the carpet.

·         The start of another race season, foot races for Darren and IndyCar races for both of us to enjoy.

·         Small groups with our church as well as my participation in the Co-ed volleyball team.

·         Getting stuck in Florida due to storms in Indy after trying to leave via plane to be back in the office after the long weekend.  The drive helped Darren have a sidekick plus I got to drive on this trip, felt like a big girl driving for the first time in Florida. 

·         Being able to catch Darren’s run times and location in his mini thanks to technology.

·         Picking up a second job and still trying to get used to the ever changing evening and weekend schedule.

·         Spending time with Mrs. D while Darren was at the track with Mr. D.  Then the trip to see Wicked in the Bend with Ash and Josh while also having Michelle along for the show and drive.

·         3 Races together this year with weekends filled with sun, lots of walking and great food.

·         Going home for a family event and spending time with loved ones I do not get to see very often as well as friends.  While Darren spent time with a friend in Iowa at a race.

·         Time with my work family outside of the office.  Lake, food, movies: it’s all very wonderful.

·         Long drives to various destinations including the North to the south of the country.

·         Darren working on our home projects while also refinishing a couple items for my personal use.

·         Trying to grow some garden veggies, no food just yet but the plants are growing.

 

I know I missed a lot of other things but this is what I recall and know I will remember years from now.  How exciting and crazed that this time has begun to fly by without us realizing it.  Looking very forward to the next year and the adventures in store for us.

Moments

 This time of year I reminisce about some moments that happened in 2010.  The trip we got engaged on, it was our second year to Toronto and now we are on our 5^th trip.  Something’s we never forget, this is one of the most vivid weekends I can recall.  The feelings, the shock, the whole scene replaying in my head for the rest of the weekend.  It’s hard to believe that we will be celebrating our second anniversary in just a few weeks and the whirlwind of planning a wedding in less than a year, from saying our “I Do’s” to relishing the time together surrounded by an amazing support system.  I can still see that hotel room, the pool and the ickyness I thought of it.  This weekend is almost like the moments at the Speedway over Memorial Day weekend, I hope to never forget how we met that led us to this moment.  I have to admit last year was a tough one and I believe this year started a little rough but right now it is amazing to see how much I feel we have each evolved, how much I have changed, in order to be a stronger, selfless partner (still working on this), sharing in life, home with all the little to big parts that make us and our dynamic.  It's quite a treat to know how a simple conversation brought us this far, looking for to adventure to continue.

Countdown

I have been keeping track of quite a few upcoming events, I have found that doing this helps in looking forward to more than the big events.  Seeing each one on my calendars (yes, I keep several to track home, office and work), and my countdown app makes it easier to know that there are quite a few small items to make it past before our big ones come to be.  Things to look forward to and make the tough, exhausting days a little easier to take on. It's like the excitement of going back to the dorms to see your closest friends and sisters come together from different parts of the globe for another exciting year of memories and adventures.  The joy and treasure of welcoming a new family member into the world after seeing them grow in the belly of someone you love and care for.  Being a part of special momentous occasions of those near and dear.  It is seeing your favorite people mingle in making new friends and connections, a party surrounded in love, laughs and my favorite-noise.  Its whispering a secret that makes the reality of it so much better, its making your kid sister from enemy to best friend, eating ice cream on a hot summer day and running in the rain on a steamy night.  Finding the perfect dress for that night out.  A water gun (propeller, as I had to say when working at camps) fight that makes the hot sun that much more sweet.  
In this, I keep thinking how close we are and hope to be in our home life.  The house has definitely changed and morphed into our (possibly forever-as Darren likes to think) home by the strength of Darren's hands along with those that have helped in its process-from my wonderful father to our friends.  It's a blessing to think that God has this for all of us and while trying to live in the moment that he has given us while looking towards an adventurous future that he has still in store for us.  
I guess countdowns may never lose their magic in making memories and adventures no matter the age.  They help me remember to be thankful for I have been given so much more than I could have imagined and its getting through the everyday moments that make it so much sweeter.  One item on my countdown before our 2 year anniversary and two more after that for our fall cruise.  I am certain to make more dates to look forward to but trying to enjoy this time before its gone.