Father's Day

I woke up on Father's Day and knew I wanted to share my thoughts on FaceBook.  It is what we do in our society these days.  We share share share on social media.

My post, "Happy Father's Day to many fathers. My Heavenly Father provides direction and love that is hard to truly comprehend but impossible to imagine life without. My Dad James Cox is and has always been my friend, an example of hard work and sacrifice, and a trusted source for advice. He has listened patiently especially during those 'fun' teen years. My husband Matt Turek is the best Dad in the world for our boys. He plays with them after 24 hour shifts. He teaches them the gospel and he also teaches them to be boys. My father in law Gary Turek raised a wonderful man. He also shows me love and care as only a Dad can. I am grateful this day for my many Fathers."

Sunday, we went to church and had a good meeting there.  I was reminded of a story about my own Dad that I don't want to forget.  When I was 13 our church was hosting a youth dance.  All of the youth ages 12-18 would decorate but only the 14-18 would actually get to attend the dance. I would be 14 in two weeks!  My church leaders said it would be ok to bend the rules and let me attend.  However, my Dad said that we weren't mostly obedient to the rules but we were 100% obedient.  He didn't let me go and I was very disappointed.  However, when I was asked in our church meeting that day about a time when you were blessed by following a rule even when you didn't understand it that story came to mind.  I have been very blessed as I have been obedient.  There wasn't something magical that happened two weeks later in maturity or growth as I turned 14.  I wouldn't have been hurt either if I had attended the dance anyways.  However, I am grateful to my Dad for teaching me that lesson of unwavering commitment and obedience.

Later on Father's Day, Joshua and Nathan gave Matt their handmade crafts.  The boys gave him their traced hands with all the things they loved about Matt written on them.  This was of course glued to some nice paper with the words, "You are Hands Down the Best Dad!"  Thanks Pinterest.  

Joshua was horrified when he learned on Saturday night that we didn't have a treat for Matt so we had to go buy a single serving of carrot cake (Matt's favorite).  We really don't want to have endless supplies of goodies around.  

It was an enjoyable and quiet Father's Day.  

Temple

Saturday, Matt and I went bright and early to the temple.  We wanted the peace and comfort that the temple brings as we prepare for our big move.  We will miss being only 20 minutes away from a temple also.  Matt and I wanted a picture that reminded us of our time in San Antonio.  We love that the San Antonio temple flies the Texas flag and we love the stain glass throughout.  Matt snapped these pics with his iPhone and put together this collage.  This will be a treasure in our new home.

In our first few months in San Antonio we discovered Gruene, TX and The Gristmill.  This became THE place to take visitors and it was our place if we needed "to get out of town."  It is only about 30 minutes away but feels very far from San Antonio and work.  It was a respite.

Friends and Food

Some of my San Antonio friends surprised Rachel and I with dinner at Alamo Cafe.  Alamo Cafe is delicious and a favorite of ours.  Unfortunately, it was packed and our waitress was brand new to being a waitress.  Who gives the new girl the table of 15 on a Friday night?!?  Despite food being a bit slow it was a fun night!  We all laughed and visited.  I can't belief that 4 years has passed by already.  Our time here has been amazing.  I will miss these women and many others that couldn't make it.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Nathan is 2!  This boy makes us smile and laugh daily.  He also makes me pull out my hair!  He loves life and appreciates everything!  He oooohs and ahhhhs over the simple things.  He loves without reservation and makes me feel like a superhero most days.  He also is extremely independent and hardheaded.  He wants it HIS way or no way.  He basically refuses all real food and currently lives off of cheese sticks, pb sandwiches, and a whole list of prepackaged sugary junk that I am too embarrassed to claim in writing.  He is the toughest kid I have ever seen.  He is ALL boy and treats every injury with laughter or a simple statement, "bonk head, ouch."  He sometimes hits others on purposes because he enjoys making up with hugs and kisses.  I can't believe how much louder our home is than it was 2 years ago.  Our lives are better with Nathan. We are so blessed by this "little" guy!  He is in the 91st percentile for height and 85th for weight.  He is 32 pounds and 36 inches tall.  Looking forward to another year of growth and fun adventures.

Loved his singing birthday card. 

Ready for the day!

Not going to wear a party hat!

So happy to have a cupcake with purple frosting.  He insisted on this color!

No shirt on anymore since he had a cupcake.  Opening presents from us.  Joshua even contributed.

Loves Planes and planes.  This present from Rachel was a hit with both boys.  

Happy Birthday Sweet Nathan!

Graduation Number 3

My husband has always been a hard worker.  He knows where he wants to be and he accomplishes his goals.  This was my third graduation with Matt.  The first graduation was as an undergraduate, then there was medical school, and now residency.  Our life operates in four year segments.  The greater the pain, the greater reward is certainly applicable in this situation.  We have certainly felt the challenge of residency and it definitely surpassed medical school in being a stressful and hard experience.  With the challenge of residency, my husband has become a confident and competent Anesthesiologist.  I am truly in awe as I listen to him consult with other doctors on the phone.  He is speaking another language.  We have become stronger as a couple and as a family.  We know how to celebrate holidays on any day that we choose because Matt was usually working the actual holiday.  We know how to rely on each other and know how to be flexible. I am very proud of my husband and this amazing accomplishment.

The Venue

Pre-graduation pose

The Graduate

Ahh the very painfully long graduation is over!

Two of the other anesthesia wives

 And their husbands matching our pose ;-)

Later that evening there was a banquet to celebrate

The diploma says June 30th so although he is graduated he is still hard at work for a few more weeks as a resident.  However, he is functioning as a staff anesthesiologist.  Crazy that we are moving in a few weeks and Matt will begin as an "actual" doctor there.  

Finding A Home and Other Adventures

The last month has been a roller coaster.  There have been moments of laughter, moments of crying, and moments of confusion.  Tuesdays have been marking the weeks that Mom has been gone.  I tried to get out and go to the mall and ended up crying in the Hallmark store because something reminded me of Mom.  Then other times I am laughing and just enjoying life.  It is easy to do when this your crew!

One of the days that Joshua dressed himself and was very proud of the outfit.

This is a big deal!  I 'blame' this change on Aunt Lizzy!  Joshua never touched a bug until after our vacation to SC when Lizzy helped our Joshua become one with the outdoors.  

Another trip to the Magik Theater.  Nathan amazes me at every show.  He is so attentive especially if we buy popcorn!  :-)

There were water gun fights.

Nathan busted me getting a spoon of PB out of the jar and it is has also become his favorite treat too.

My workout crew!

Target still is one of my happy places.

Kisses make everything better.

Anticipating success, followed by disappointment because it didn't work, followed by sweet success with some brainstorming!

Story time and Nathan is putting the moves on an older woman.

We also had some background stress going on during this month. We didn't really look too hard for housing when we traveled through Mississippi because all of the homes seemed to be sitting on the market for a really long time. The location we had been directing our search in just didn't have anything that seemed right. We had decided to live on base because the housing there is nice and no risk as far as selling at the end of 4 years.  However, there have been continuous road blocks but I was trying to be diligent and just keep working hard.  This road block was intensified when Matt called and we were informed that they hadn't processed our application AND that they had just filled the last spots.  We would then have to just find a temporary housing situation and IF something came available we would qualify for a 3 bdrm duplex.  We started looking at houses with renewed energy since we didn't have the backup plan of base housing.  I found my dream house and it was sold within 4 days.  We decided on a spontaneous trip to MS.  I began compiling a list of homes the day of our trip with my realtor sending me homes as we were driving.  I spent the entire 9 hour drive going through her list only to be told that every single home I liked was UNDER CONTRACT!  We found 6 homes that were winners.  We fell in love with a home or more accurately we fell in love with an area, a school, and a neighborhood.  It just felt right.  We were apprehensive because this home has never sold and has been sitting for two years.  We loved it though and we had really liked the area.  We put in our offer and drove back to TX.  Monday morning we get a call that the home has a competing bid.  How does a home have a competing bid that has had no action in two years?!?!  We put in our maximum offer and found out Tuesday evening that we didn't get the house.  At this point, I was feeling defeated and confused.  Matt and I had been praying to just do what was best for our family whether that be base housing, buy a house, rent a house, or camping on the beach.  :-)  We both felt good about the area the house we lost was in so we looked into a brand new neighborhood that is across the street.  We decided that it seemed right so our realtor took videos and pictures of the house.  We are now under contract for this home.  Am I scared?  A little.  Are we going to own this home forever because we can't sell it?  Don't know.  We felt like this housing adventure we were corralled into making a choice by every other door or opening being blocked.   No matter the end result though we felt the peace that comes from making the correct choice.  For some reason and some purpose, we are going to be living in a different area than our two original plans.  However, having been the recipient of so many tender mercies I know that there is a plan and it is definitely the one I want to follow.  Looking forward to our new adventures in our first home with my fun crew!