Hello there -
It has been a while...years, in fact. It feels like time to start writing again, sharing, opening up, living life in a more open way.
Since my last blog post, many things have changed. No longer am I single and living with roommates. A kind fellow came along who loves Jesus and wooed my heart and he is now my beloved husband. We have been married for a year and a half now - it'll be two years in October. Married life is a whole new adventure from single lady life. Merging two lives into one home takes a change....in perspective, way of living life, and relating to each other. We have had great times, hard times, sad times, happy times, and plenty of surprises along the way.
What else is new? Oh, I am working at a new place. Finally I am working in D.C. again, which is lovely. I am learning the "lobbying" world and it has its challenges, appeals, and surprises. Working for a great company, it has been a growing experience for me, which is always good. A bonus is that their headquarters is in KC. When I go back for work, sometimes I pop down to central Kansas with a three hour drive and see my family. I absolutely love being an Auntie to two adorable little girls. Their family is on their way to D.C. to visit Grant and I. We are thrilled! I have a fun-filled couple of days planned for us ahead.
A few of my girlfriends have also tied the knot since my last post. Four of my college girlfriends have gotten married and are experiencing the joys and newness of married life as well. It has been fun to see who people end up choosing to spend the rest of their life with and build the rest of their journey.
On a different note...my health has been a challenge in the past few years. It started before I was married, when I ended up in the hospital for bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms. What a surprise! From there, we discovered that I have thicker blood than the average person. It took almost a year and a half, but my lungs are finally strong again. My allergies continue to be a challenge, and my stomach has its days. Another surprise was discovering that I struggle with adrenal fatigue, making energy a hot commodity. In order to recover from this last piece, it will take a few years of strict discipline around my resting schedule, taking supplements, and not "overdoing" it physically. Joy. I am sure it will be good to look back on all this 2-3 years from now and see the progress, healing, and change - but in the now, it sure is not easy. Bless my husband who has had endless patience with me through it all. He has been wonderful!
Well, in my next post, I think I will talk about fun places that I have seen/experienced in D.C. and some of the fun joys of cooking as a wife - the beauty of using pinterest as a resource. :-)
Happy June - and welcome to summer. May this one be a purposeful, memory making, lovely one to remember for days to come.
Au Revoir!
~Tina Lou
