THE REAL DEAL

DISCLAIMER: I'm sorry in advance for the long post, but since this is a form of journalism for me, I need it on here.  Also, we really are so happy and love this time in our lives!  (It's still hard sometimes...you know how it is).

It's been one of those weeks...and this week I've felt a little bit lonely.  Most of the time living in Alabama is so so good for both Gordy and I individually as well as together.  Every once in a while though, for some reason that doesn't really make sense, it becomes a little bit hard (or harder).  

The life of a graduate student is rigorous! People often comment to G how they don't know how he does it all and quite honestly, he does it with a heck of a lot of hard work. That's the first thing I loved about Gordy--his work ethic. 

 (I have to admit that I do love G's reply to people's comments though because he always attributes it to me supporting him and caring for him.  I am sure that I help (we're a team), but really he is amazing on his own).  

I sometimes feel that we paint a semi-realistic view of what his graduate school is really like with everything fun that we do. Sure, sure he is simultaneously completing two master's degrees, tending to class president duties, working 20 hours a week, and is very involved with his church calling. (Depending on the time of year he also coaches youth hockey. And I'm not even going to talk about residency search and preparation right now...) 

So what do our lives really look like a majority of the time? 

G's looks like homework until midnight or later every night, required night classes, constant group projects, constant emails, never having free time but neglecting/postponing to-do's to spend time together, (unfortunately) not-so-uncommon days where we don't see each other for 12+ hours at a time (that's half the day people!), quick study breaks for dinner together at 9 pm when G gets home from class, and just a general feeling of tiredness.  I'm pretty sure G comes home everyday and says, "I'm tired," haha and I sure don't blame him! 

^^But look how cute he is!!! HELLO HANDSOME!

 Right after he became Class President.^^

My days look like school online basically all day every day (literally from when I wake up until I go to bed at night, unless I nanny that day).  This means that I am home alone staring at my computer screen for the majority of my day.  Since I am such a social person, this can get pretty wearing on me. However, G always makes sure to spend time with me and give me attention every day and week.  He is so attentive to my needs and I'll always love him for that.  I honestly love this man so much and am so proud of everything he is doing! 

Sometimes on these hard weeks I need feelings (or foods that bring feelings) of comfort.  This week, I patiently waited for my bananas to brown so that I could make some much-needed banana bread.  Tonight I deemed they were perfect for making into bread so I whipped up some banana bread faster than ever! As I was cleaning the kitchen, I started to smell it.  Excitedly, I glanced at the timer and realized that there were still 30 minutes left of baking time! (Noooooo).  haha.  But it was fine because I thought to myself, "I don't know of any smell better than homemade banana bread baking in your oven."  So I patiently and happily waited for the time to run out.  After I pulled the bread out of the oven, I noticed that it looked different. After tasting it, I realized that I forgot the sugar.  THE SUGAR!!!! I have never forgotten an ingredient in all my years of baking! hahahahaha. I started laughing, because after all...it has been one of those weeks. 

^^ See how weird it looks? ^^

(Sorry that we threw you away banana bread, but you really didn't taste very good).

So I filled the void with some Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate ice cream like any normal person would do.  Blue Bell is definitely one of the perks of living in the South!