Lazy Day

Yesterday, I may or may not have watched an entire season of Park and Rec.

I woke up, made the bed, worked out, and ate breakfast. I wasn't feeling the cleaning, organizing, or baking that had filled my days earlier this week, so I binged on this wonderful show.

Around 6 o'clock, I went in to make dinner. Dirty dishes filled the sink, I still hadn't fully cleaned up from the baking a few days prior or my breakfast or lunch from the same day. And yet I was filled with a feeling of reassurance that when he got home, Nathan wouldn't be annoyed or disappointed at all. He wouldn't be irritated or frustrated about the messy house or the extraordinarily lazy day that I had, and that made me feel so much better. He's never like that. I'm constantly amazed at the immense love and consideration he has for me. He's just happy to see me when he gets home, no other expectations.

Before he left for work this morning, he did however close out of the Netflix tab on my computer. I don't remember his exact words when he closed out of the tab, but they were loving and gentle.

Let it be known

I survived my first semester of grad school. It was stressful. There were times when I floundered and felt wholly inadequate, but I'm grateful to be in a supportive and encouraging program. Linda Stone-Ferrier reminded me so graciously that I'm here to learn, and I've really tried to internalize that the past few months. I'm not here because I'm perfect or a full-fledged scholar. I'm here because I'm neither of those things but willing to work hard and become better.

More than anything, I learned that there is so much more to life than grad school. I get so caught up in being a good student and worrying what my professors think of me that I tend to shove everything else aside. But I need to prioritize following the Lord and becoming more Christlike. Daily scripture study and prayer are vital tools in this process. When I'm doing these acts daily and God is my top priority, everything else will fall into place.

One down, three to go until I finish the MA. Still on the fence about the PhD, but I'll take it one day at a time.

Life Changes

Sometimes, change doesn't come drip by drip. Some changes are torrential. 

I left Goldman after two-plus years. 

Nathan graduated with his master's degree in biochemistry, topping a journey that commenced 10 years ago for him. 

We moved halfway across the country to a place neither of us ever imagined we'd live. 

I started grad school. 

And  grad school was the right choice for me, on so many levels. Nathan's a trooper for going along with it all. We're liking our new home so far. I love the verdure and gentle hills that are so abundant in this little corner of the Midwest we've found ourselves. I'm also excited to be living near LDS church history sites after studying so much about these places. I'm interested in returning to these locales and seeing how my perception and interaction with them has changed (or hasn't, who knows). 

Canada

Nathan and I spent 9 days in Canada and it was a fantastic trip. It's Canada's 150th birthday (arguably) and entry to all of their national parks was free for the year. We went to Waterton & Banff in Alberta and Glacier National Park in British Columbia; we camped in Glacier although there was an active fire in the east end of the park and frequent bear sightings. Luckily for us neither of those impaired our visit. The parks were beautiful and we hiked 6-12 miles a day, so we returned home with sore legs. Nathan showed me all his favorite spots in Calgary and the food was worth the hype.

IMHO, Glacier was the best.


Glacier

Wildflowers, rivers, and pines, oh my!

The moss covered rocks and gorgeous pines, cedars, and hemlocks! Ah!

Banff

Lake Louise at the top (a gorgeous, dusty baby blue), Nathan with his walking stick that blends in with the trees, Silverton Falls, and the lovely Bow River. 

 Found these fun red Adirondacks by the Hoodoos. I was so excited to find a pair after reading that the Canadian government placed a handful of the chairs in certain national parks.

Boom Lake, courtesy of Nathan's photography skills. 

Cardston 

The LDS temple, a beautiful brick wall with a cute boy, and the most mesmerizing sunset - the picture doesn't even begin to do it justice.

We visited the Remington Carriage Museum and it was probably my most favorite thing ever....ever. 

"Nathan, take a picture of me as I alight out of my carriage."

Waterton

The spectacular view from Bear's Hump. Somewhere in the mid-ground of this picture is the Canada-US border with Montana. 

Calgary

Pics by & of the LDS temple and Nathan with his first love - Seniore's donair pizza. 

Late Nights and Daffodils

Work hours come and go in cycles. The past two weeks, the short hours have been going while the long hours have settled in. 

I arrived home from work this past Thursday around 9:15. I was tired, my head and eyes ached. Nathan picked me up from the train station and we went home. I walked in the door, and noticed an empty sink, a tidied kitchen. I threw some pocket lint away and noticed that the vacuum had been emptied out. My eyes ventured to the cleaned carpet and finally, I noticed some bright daffodils sitting in the white pitcher on the dining table. 

I turned to Nathan and in surprise asked him if he had done the dishes and vacuumed? He answered yes, and I followed up with another question: did you make the bed, too? He nodded. Where'd you get the daffodils? I went to Smith's and got some flowers for you then I got some flowers for me. He had purchased some sweet and Thai basil. 

These simple acts of thoughtfulness were tender mercies, and I felt such immense gratitude for Nathan, although busy with experiments and writing a thesis, who took the time to serve me. 

Sure love that guy. 

A Little Piece of My Heart

Dear L&T,

You moved to St. George yesterday.

Thus ended a chapter in my life of living next door to you guys, commencing a new chapter in your lives. It was and will be quite an adventure.

And when you drove south with the truck and trailer carrying all your belongings, you also carried with you a little piece of my heart, sitting snugly in his car-seat.

It's amazing what a little boy can teach you about forgiveness, joy, patience, frustration, sorrow, laughter, vivacity, and love in a short year and a half.

I'll miss your Big Shark who calls himself "Ol" and proudly proclaims he's three. I'll miss those moments when he would knock on my door, promptly walk in then say, "E, what ya do?" I'll miss his giggles, his hugs, his help in the kitchen, his games that involved monsters and playing asleep or dead. I'll miss the look of pure satisfaction and bliss on his face when he's running -- usually being chased by someone.

We've been through some tough moments as well as perfect ones, moments of regret but also sweet success. I'm so grateful to have had this time with him and for the friendship he has so generously shared with me. I'm also grateful for your patience with me as I have learned alongside and from him.

Sure love you, Oliver.

All the best,
Oliver's E

She Hath Done What She Could

I watched the first session of general conference a few weeks ago, known as the general women's session. It's a unique opportunity to hear from the female leadership of the LDS church. One theme that stood out to me was that of service, and I wanted to share some thoughts.

She hath wrought a good work...She hath done what she could. --Mark 14: 6-8

This is all the Lord asks of us. 

"...there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." --Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

We are never alone, especially when we are serving the Lord's children.

I often think about language's ability to simultaneously limit and expand our understanding of Christ's doctrine. Communication is a funny thing; language facilitates the exchange of communication, but the efficacy of communication depends upon how the message is sent and received. Words have myriads connotations to different individuals, but culture also influences what notions we associate with certain words. When speaking about the role of women, I want to broaden how we interpret certain words that are typically associated with that topic. Neill Marriott spoke last night and I loved how she took expanded our understanding of three words in particular: to nurture, to mother, and to create. We don't have to think of these words in a way that limits them to a biologically essentialist understanding. Instead, we can see how these words apply in a variety of situations and encompass all of God's daughters. Thinking of these words and concepts in new lights allows us to broaden and value women's roles and influences and purposes in many ways. It's liberating.