Posts from — June 2008

We spent a long weekend in Salt Lake City for one of Daniel’s business trips and my birthday. We thought The Great Salt Lake, mountains, outdoor sports, Olympic Park, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir would make a great weekend trip. However, we didn’t realize that by going in the middle of May, everything for winter would have just closed and everything for the summer would not have opened yet. So, I was a little disappointed in our outdoor options but we still managed to have a good time.

Salt Lake City – May 2008

The Great Salt Lake

The water was really gross and so was the walk out to the lake

Olympic Park in Park City, UT

I would be a good torch bearer, right?

I think this is what Daniel normally looks like when he skis

The Ski Jumpers Practice and a little photo stitching a la Daniel

Getting ready for the 4G Bobsled Ride

And they’re off for the 60 sec/60 mph ride

My delicious birthday dinner @ Robert Redford’s Restaurant in Park City

The Salt Lake Valley

My favorite part was on the way back from Park City when the interstate was closed down for about 10 hours. What could have been a nightmare ended up being a great detour thanks to the handy Garmin we had in the rental car. It took us through an unmaintained county ranch road with beautiful views, lots of wildlife and just an off the beaten path experience…my favorite.

No, I did not run the marathon, but Daniel did! Running and Emily just do not go together…at least it hasn’t since my knee surgery. Maybe one of these days, I’ll be inspired to make running long distances one of my goals but I have yet to have the desire. I’d rather spend 26.2 miles on a bike and my knee likes that much better too. Daniel and his brother Kirk made it a goal to do the half-marathon together and both finished under 2 hours!

Country Music Half-Marathon – April 2008 – Nashville, TN

The Runnin’ Cowboy

Three Amigos: Daniel, Drew, Kirk

I’m a proud wife

Paige is a great cheering partner & friend

The KT Family of Four

We ended the day with a cook-out at our place complete with a bonfire and s’mores. It was a very fun day!

Dave Ramsey’s November Entreleadership Event is being held in the Mexican Riviera so Daniel and some other team members had some site visits in March. We decided to go a few days early to enjoy a little Mexican vacation and because we knew neither one of us would enjoy it without each other. It was so fun, very relaxing, and an incredible treat!

The Mexican Riviera – March 2008

The flowers in our room when we arrived

Our view from our room

On the beach

Mexican coffee every morning

Staring at the ocean

Aren’t we cool? Hmmm…

Our night at the Brazilian Restaurant

We missed the show but not the pic

The classic beach pic

We missed the most important pictures, though. Daniel in the hammock and Emily in the pool lounge chair. That’s where we were if we weren’t eating or sleeping. It was the slowest paced vacation ever and exactly what we wanted and needed.

I just realized how much of this past spring I have failed to blog about so I thought I’d do a few posts to basically cover the last few months of my life in pictures. Enjoy!

242 Slumber Party – February 2008 – Location: Publix

Vogue Grocery Store Models…well almost

Yes, Nicole really is in the freezer

Linsey knows the right ice cream to get…

and how much (1 each!). I love transplanted Texans!

And what would be a good grocery store photo session

without Alexa & Nicole getting in the perfect jump.

Junior Prom – April 2008 – Alexa’s House

Don’t they look awesome! Great choices ladies!

Oh, The Kindergarten Smile. Cheese!

And the Limo!

I love you girls and am so proud of each one of you!

Today is quite a day. In many ways, it marks the ending and beginning of a season of life in more than one way. I’m heading to Birmingham for the next 12 days to help care for Emily after her lung transplant. The Big News from yesterday is that she was released to the townhouse! She will now enter the next phase of rehab (attending clinics, doctor visits, etc) for the next 6 weeks or so. Someone has to be with her 24/7 for the first 8 weeks after transplant so I’m filling in the next ’shift’ to help Jason as her mom is leaving in the morning. I’m really excited for the opportunity to do this.

One of the contributing factors in deciding to leave my full-time job was Emily’s health and that her lung transplant would probably take place within the next year. I had a strong desire and calling if you will to help them. Emily has been my closest friend for several years and a significant part of my life for about 15 years now. The fact that we live only 2.5 hours apart has been a great blessing as I’ve been easily able to visit her during the last few years of ups and downs including the miracle birth of her daughter. Wow! A lot has happened.

But back to the significance of today. I’ve been trusting the Lord with each new day to bring about His desire for me in that day and to give me the focus of what I need to be doing or not doing. It’s fairly easy when you have a “job” whether at a company, a church, as a student or as a mom, to know the tasks that you need to complete in a day and to find at least some fulfillment in completing them. Basically, because of the role in life you are in, your daily purpose or responsibilities are somewhat defined for you. I’m not saying it’s easy to do those “jobs” just that it is somewhat obvious what your overall “job” is. That has been somewhat of a struggle because my role in this world is not very defined right now. So the struggle of resting and trusting has been quite an adventure and it is always interesting to see where He leads me to give and serve and what tasks I’m given to complete.

So, I guess all of that to say three significant things. 1) Thank you Lord for being faithful in leading me through this last year and allowing me to be apart of this. 2) Daniel, thank you for walking with me, leading me, and providing for us in such a way that I have the freedom to do this 3) Emily M, thank you for allowing me to walk so closely as your friend and for giving me the opportunity to serve you this way. I know it’s hard for you to be on the receiving end so much of the time, but trust me, I’m receiving so much from you.

P.S. Happy Birthday Kelly!

Oh AT&T, what should I say to thee
Today was quite an experience
Not the least of which was all of the interference

I had a simple question
Almost not worthy of even calling
But since your website didn’t answer it
I thought I’d try my luck

Not once, twice, three, or even four
But fives times it took to transfer my call
My question not fitting
For anyone at all

The first two times
My account was most recognized
And after a simple hello
The next person would definitely know

But on to three and four
My account was NOT recognized
By your computer or techy
What were they to do with me

Apparently I was an old BellSouthee
Interesting you chose not to transfer me
Into your entire computerized system
When you merged companies

On to the fifth
It took me saying “Representative!”
SEVEN times in a row
To finally get away from the computerized voice
Gosh, she sure tried hard to keep me pressing 1, 2 or 3

And all of this to only find out that yes
I’ve actually had a FREE AT&T wifi account for the past several years
Which I could have used at Starbucks, Airports, Hospitals, etc
But you just didn’t bother to tell me
Thanks for the awesome “extra” service

I find something quite beautiful in city lights.  I have one of the best memories of being on the top floor of the Bomber Hotel in Mexico City and looking out at the billions of lights in the valley.  I was awestruck at the sight of it and it definitely helped that it was Daniel and my 2nd anniversary of dating and he had just given me flowers.  I could sense the presence of God in that moment, felt the beauty of light in a dark world, and felt rather small but intensely loved.  God knows me intimately, yet I am one of many.  And out of the whole world, Daniel wanted me, loved me, and knew me.  There have been numerous other occasions where city lights have struck me in a special way.  Our many travels over the last few years have provided great backgrounds for beautiful nights full of city lights.  I also have a random spot in Cool Springs that has a pretty good view of the lights there and has been a great place to ponder in solitude.  I was struck again flying over Dallas and seeing lights in every direction as far I could see and here I am…in a little plane with a much different perspective than the cars on the ground.  I see beauty and simplicity.  Who knows what the people driving those cars were seeing and feeling.  And I see light.  I can’t see dark, just the absence of light in places spread throughout the city.  Light is beautiful.  The Light is beautiful.  And this week, a light that I love dearly, has the chance to shine a little longer and possibly a lot brighter.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Thank you Jesus.

Emily is doing so well and I greatly appreciate your prayers and concern. I have seen so many miracles through this process and feel like we have come so far from two years ago when things looked a little daunting during her pregnancy and then her decline in health after that. So many of you have faithfully asked about her, prayed for her, and simply acknowledged her life in mine over the past several years and it has meant so much to me. Seriously, so much. It is so nice to have friends that care about your friends even if you don’t know them. I treasure all of you and am so excited to celebrate this answer to prayer with you. Ya’ll are awesome! For those that want to keep up with her story, I’ve been updating her blog for her a lot and that is the best place to stay up to date. www.themulkeys-mulkeys.blogspot.com. She also has another website www.emilysjourney.com that tells more of her history and story prior to this year. I’ll be staying with her for the last two weeks or so in June after her mom leaves as someone has to be with her 24/7 for 8 weeks. I’m so grateful for the timing of this too as it has been a desire of mine to serve them in this way. This is one of the positives I was looking forward to in leaving my job almost a year ago. Wow. A lot can change in a year.

Her first time sitting up in the chair, 24 hours after a double lung transplant.

Today could very well be the very first day that you are able to breathe a deep breath with you new lungs!  I am so excited, humbled and grateful that your lung transplant surgery went so well yesterday.  I know you’re a fighter and although it is hard to prepare for the exact day of such a major life changing event, you have been courageously patient and I know God has been and will continue to work in you and through you in this next change of life.  I can’t wait to see you and will try my best to hold back my tears of joy so I don’t drown you.    I’m so glad I get to be your friend, to have such a firsthand look at your heart and life through this process, and to get to relive the intricacies of life and the simplest of joys with you of being able to breathe deeply, walk without getting winded and to focus all your strength on carrying Faith and not your oxygen tank.  Oh what a beautiful day!  I love you, I am praying for you, and I can’t wait to listen to you share your new experiences in life.  And no matter how hard this rehab and recovery process gets, remember that you are worth it…that all the pain and struggle is worth it!  I love you!

Life has been pretty hectic lately and I’ve decided to not even try and update the blog for the last month.  Most of what is on my heart is on the deeper level and I just have not found or made time to process and write the way I need to.  I’ve been out of town for 12 out of the last 30 days in 3 different states (visited my parents and helped my soon to be sister-n-law with some final wedding preparations in Colorado, traveled on a business trip with Daniel to Salt Lake City, went camping in Arkansas with some of our great friends, The Westers), helped Daniel’s brother’s family get ready for their move from Nashville back to Texas and said goodbye, planned two wedding showers, celebrated graduations, birthdays, and engagements, bought a fridge, started dancing lessons with Daniel, hung out with my 242 girls and friends, and have been preparing for the upcoming family wedding this next weekend and the trip to Texas.  Whew!  It has been a whirlwind of fun and change and I am looking forward to a hopeful respite after we return from the wedding.

But……

My precious friend Emily whom I have blogged about numerous times before is currently in the 6-8 hour surgery that should provide her a new chance at LIFE.  She is undergoing the lung transplant surgery that she has been waiting on officially for the last year but for many, many years as she has battled Cystic Fibrosis.  I am anxiously awaiting the news of the success of the surgery and have decided to stay in Nashville at least most of today so I can update her blog quickly for her other family and friends.  You can check that out here.  I ask that you pray for her, for her family, for her doctors, for the donor’s family, and for me as I make decisions and seek to love her and support her during this major life change.

Here’s the last picture of us I could find but this was from last summer.  I know we’ve taken more since then!