We (finally) had a quiet, ahhhhhh, normal weekend. Friday afternoon I met my friend Tiffany for drinks at one of our favorite spots, The Misfit in Santa Monica. After dinner Ike and I had an ice cream date and headed home.
Tiffany & I at Misfits
Saturday afternoon we had B's 5th birthday party. I didn't get a great pic of the cake but it was crazy detailed. It had Randall, Davey Jones and Syndrome on it, all villains! Saturday is football day in the Lee household so we came home to watch the Longhorns lose miserably and Baylor kick Tech's ass.
Ike surprised me this weekend with a new blanket.. For those of you who don't know: I've slept with a blanket my entire life. Yes, I know I'm pushing 30, married and still sleep with a "blankie". But this one is sweet because it's the Texas flag. So, no matter where I go I have a piece of my home with me. My other blanket was disintegrating, all that was left was about a 6 inch string. He probably got this for me because he knew my other blankets days were numbered.
Today we woke up a little bit "church sick" so we watched a sermon from our church in Austin, Riverbend. It was a great lesson about how David (3,000 years ago) woke up and realized nothing he had, or saw, belonged to him. Everything we have is a gift from God. How do we live our lives expressing and experiencing that: gratitude, generosity and grace. It was food for my soul.
Tonight I'm cooking meatloaf and we're gearing up for Sunday night TV. It's a big night in our home.
Today is throw back Thursday and it just so happens to be my 2nd anniversary of living in Los Angeles. On this day two years ago, my dad was on a flight home to Texas, Ike was at work and I was left alone in the second largest city in the country. Everything in my life was new; I had been married for 6 weeks, moved across the country and thrown into a new world with endless possibilities. I was worried about what I may do for a job and how I would ever meet friends and then two days later Ike's cousin, Ashlee, called and asked me to come hangout and the rest is history...Or a whole different post. :)
Ike, Finley and I on the Santa Monica Pier, who knew 2 years later we would live a few blocks away from where we took this picture.
Our first date night in LA at The Grove.
The LONGEST drive ever in a Uhaul.
My introduction in LA parking..A ticket!
The past 2 years have been a whirlwind, I've been blessed to do things most people can only dream about. Life definitely isn't perfect here, but I wouldn't change a thing. Cheers to 2 years of LA and many, many more!
Big news! Isabel Marant, a designer I fell in love with because of these and these has created a collection for H&M and it hits select stores TOMORROW!! My friend Christie, who has a fabulous fashion blog and I are meeting at H&M tomorrow morning at 7am to shop! Here's the looks I'm hoping to snag tomorrow..Wish us luck and here's hoping we make it out alive!
I'm sorry I've been gone for so long, but life sometimes gets in the way..I'm hoping this is the first of many new posts :).
In this season of Thankfulness I find myself overwhelmed
with how thankful I am.It didn’t
start out this way though. Let me backtrack to September 15th. Ike
and I were at my doctor discussing our next steps to getting pregnant and Ike
coughed up blood. I thought nothing of it at the time, and to be quite honest,
I was more annoyed that he made this appointment more about him than us. We
both went to work and he called me later that afternoon to let me know he was
on his way to see a pulmonologist. Side Note: Ike and I were both smokers. Ike smoked
for probably 15 years, if he’s being honest, and I was more of a social smoker.
I had been praying for some time that Ike would quit smoking but nothing was
working. Nothing. We both quit that night cold turkey.
A few days later we found out Ike had 2 masses in the upper
right lobe of his lung. For 50 days nobody could diagnose him. Was it cancer?
An infection? A parasite? Scar tissue? Every doctor was left baffled and Ike’s
condition remained a mystery. He had multiple procedures: 2 CT Scans with
contrast, PET scan, Bronchoscopy with biopsy, a needle biopsy and finally: VATS
double resection surgery where they confirmed it was NOT malignant and removed
25% of his right lung. We had appointments with pulmonologists, oncologists,
radiologists, infectious disease specialists and a cardio thoracic surgeon. Our
emotions were all over the place. Our marriage was tried.
Final surgery, last week left Ike with a gnarly chest tube!
Nap time at the oncologist
We will ALWAYS snuggle.
During the 7 weeks of darkness we were showered with so many
droplets of light. Ike’s dad flew out twice. The best side effect of his trips
to LA is, for the first time in our relationship, I feel a really strong bond
with him. Steve’s, Ike’s dad, last visit was a complete surprise to all of us
on surgery day. During this time my mom stayed with us for almost 2 weeks. She
kept me moving and my mind occupied with crafts, activities, basically,
anything to keep me moving and my mind occupied. She bought our groceries and
cooked for us every night. She even left meals in the freezer for us! She was
my emotional support when I needed to cry with someone. Ike’s sister left her
young family at home and surprised her brother at our front door. Ike’s mom was
here multiple times, too. She’s always a great support system and we always
find time to have fun, as well. Our nieces and nephews, sisters and friends
sent care packages that filled our hearts and stomachs. Ike’s uncle came and
sat with me when I was scared and alone. We were flooded with messages, phone
calls and emails encouraging us to keep moving. These droplets of light allowed
us to see far enough into the darkness to know where to put our next step.
All of the above allows me to say how thankful I am for this
trial in our lives. I’m glad it’s over. I’ve learned I am strong. I am a woman
who can care for myself, and my partner, if that is what life throws at me. I
can do really hard things. I will not buckle. I learned my husband is as strong
as I thought him. I learned that no matter what that number shows when I check
the joint, or personal account, that we are rich where it counts. We have each
other. We have an incredible family. We have amazing friends. We are rich with
God’s gifts and blessings. I’m not saying this is new, but I am saying that it
is now in the foreground for me. It is tangible. I am able to tilt my head
back, open my mouth and allow the rain to hit my tongue knowing it is droplets
of light. Not a deluge that is going to drown me.
Once again, I've been absent from my blog and am finally playing catch up. Honestly, the last few months of my life have been less than ideal. I miss family. Am embroiled in craziness at work; however, I do have a few people that have sustained me during this time. I am grateful for them and the experiences we have enjoyed. Today I am blessed and .....
...........this week I celebrated my 29th birthday.
My wonderful husband treated me to a night away in Santa Barbara. We had an ocean front view, toured wineries, shopped and did it ALL with Finley.
Finley, Ike and I at Roblar winery. I swear when we sat down to pose for this picture Finley came and sat next to me to pose for the picture!
I absolutely adore the wineries in Santa Ynez!
Isn't he HOT?!
Sunset in Santa Ynez.
My attempt at getting Finley to pose in front of the vineyard.
We woke up and did a 3 mile walk along the beach and Stearn's Wharf. I'm such a water girl this made my day!
"C'mon Finley, help me out here, buddy".
I love him so much!
My birthday celebration started early with two of my favorite people in LA.
Roblar Winery did food pairing with the wines....Wow!!!
I can't believe I live here moment.
Birthday dinner night!
This birthday celebration was by far the best I've had. I realize how blessed I am in life. Stay tuned this week for my 30 before 30!
We had a wonderful Christmas Holiday in Texas. We were blessed to be able to go home for nearly 2 weeks. We experienced a WHITE Christmas in Dallas (strange as that sounds), loved on our families and were able to escape the hustle and bussel of LA. I feel like this post is a little late so I'll keep it to mostly pictures.
We went to Top Golf; it was hysterical. It was also so nice to just be with my family and do something we'd normally never do.
My parents at Top Golf.
I introduced Ike to Mambo Taxi's. He sees what I mean about these little suckers.
I played Golf. In boots.
I saw each of my nieces and nephews.
Hungout with my partner in crime, my cousin Meredith.
Went skating with Lily and Grayson.
Laughed with Jax.
We baked bread with my dad for NYE. (Okay, he baked it but we ate it).
Had a blast with my sister in law, but we call each other seester's.
Ike and AJ.
My daaaady and I.
Finley went with us EVERYWHERE. He even rode on my lap during the flight.