Circumstance

So as you probably have heard, Zach and I are ALMOST on tenterhooks wondering where "The Computer" will decide to send us for residency this year. We find out on St. Patrick's Day in a ceremony at the school. They'll hand out a bunch of envelopes containing all the 4th year students' precious info, and we all open them together. Like a mass mission call! ;)

All this waiting for our fate to be decided has gotten me thinking. How much of my present situation is my doing? How did I get to where I am today?


I never thought growing up, that I would go on a mission. Was sure that I wouldn't once I had grown up. I met a guy prepping to go on a mission and thought- "I could totally do that." So I ended up in Italy. I met people, learned a language- but the country wasn't my decision.



I thought, in 2002, that I was marrying someone who wanted to be a musician. We met doing a musical, started dating after he wrote me a song, courted while participating in two choirs, and took voice lessons from the same teacher. I foresaw duets, serenades, and guitar lessons. A couple of years later, I found out I married someone who wanted to be a doctor. Two whole duets and seven years later cut to a husband at the kitchen table practicing stitches on a pig foot.


About ten months after Mia was born, we realized that if we started on our next baby right then, he/she would arrive before we moved to med school (then, like now, we only knew the time frame, not the state.) Yeah- Mia would still be young, but we'd have family around for support, I'd be familiar with my doctor, and our first two kids would be from our home state and really good buddies growing up. Six months later, cut to Zach and I half laughing half crying as the ultrasound tech started the session by saying "Weeellll, over here's the head of the first baby..."

We didn't choose Ohio either. When it came down to it, there was one option for med school, and it was OSU.

Kind of feels like I've been part of a tossed salad, bouncing around and landing in random places. Yet, here we are. Healthy. Happy. Hopeful. I've met some friends who I don't know how I ever could have done without, and who will now be a part of my life forever.

Where would I be if I'd been able to plan everything?

Lately Anya and Bree have been running around exclaiming "It's my lucky day! Hey- it's your lucky day!"

I kind of believe them.

V-dub's V-Day

It's been a whole week since Valentine's Day, but one of my roses is still hanging on. Our Valentine boxes still get a daily rummaging. I think Mia's box from last year hung around for two months. We really hate losing our holidays around here. :)

The girls got some cute packages from Grandmas, filled with Valentine clothes and treats. Those things are so much fun- like a little party in a box. After those arrived, they were super excited to go to our homeschooling group's Valentine party to exchange V-day cards.

This year we learned from our experience and made bigger boxes with bigger holes. We dismantled Grandma's singing V-day card and rigged Mia's box to play when the flap over her mail slot was opened and closed. Bree and Anya hadn't seemed too excited about our invention, but then Bree asked me the night before the party if she could have a singing box like Mia's. :( Next year... Every year I find something I want to remember to do for the next, ha. There were 32 kids participating this time, so we were definitely feelin' the love.

When we got home we went "Valentining." It has become the favorite part of holidays for these kids- dressing up and handing goodies to our neighbors.
Now we just need more neighbors who are home on holidays..


The day after Valentine's Kael turned seven months old.

Man-I thought he had me wrapped around my finger before? He started babbling "Mamamamamamama." I might as well now be his personal 6-foot marionette.
Could you resist that?
Well, I can't. :)