{winsome weekend}

In typical spontaneous fashion, Jonathan and I decided to drive to the Ozarks this weekend for a little R & R & Ridiculous fun at Silver Dollar City. I took Friday off after going to work 12 days straight. We got to Uncle Louis and Cathy's house on Bull Shoals lake Thursday night and slept in the next morning. Friday was a gorgeous day, starting with fog over the lake that dissipated to reveal shimmery waters. We had a full day of 4-wheeler rides and a boat ride, lunch on the porch, a nap!...dinner at a tiny local pizzeria, and wrapping it up with a soak in the hot tub. Saturday, after a blueberry pancake breakfast, we drove over to Silver Dollar City, and were greeted by fall colors and hot apple dumplings. Again, a perfect day. Katelyn even rode Thunderation! The kids are the perfect ages to enjoy participating in all the activities and rides. Once darkness came, the "city" lit up with thousands of Christmas lights. Two massive trees held our attention as their sparkling lights towered above us, while the parade marched through. Katelyn was especially enchanted by the princess's glimmering dress. We ended the day in Marvel Cave, with 700 stairs and tired, but happy children. Sunday, we drove up to Springfield, ate lunch with Daniel and Christin and got to see their apartment. Many more Boggle games in our future for sure...My life has been so much better since I finished a difficult first year of didactic and started anesthesia clinicals. I'm definitely tired every day, but have more time with my family, and get to interact with people and learn hands on. As always, ever so thankful for this opportunity to become a CRNA and a short getaway before call and rotations start this month. TTFN!


P.S. by Chad "The Farney family is awesome! :-)'
P.S.S. by Kate "Together is best."

{my social butterfly}

This is to my 5 year old daughter Katelyn Farney, soon to be a big 6!

This morning, on the way to your first day of school at a new elementary-Robinson, I thought I'd ask you questions from the "get to know me" form from Miss Garten, your teacher. 

I asked, "What upsets you?" expecting to hear about Chad, but instead you answered, "Not much. Well, maybe if someone tells me to go stick my face in the mud, or something like that..."

I thought I'd try, "What are your weaknesses?" After a short pause, "I'm good at most things, but pretty bad at climbing walls, standing on my head, and maybe picking up a couch." Daddy and I suppressed giggles. 

Your strengths? You answered, "Picking up my shoes, remembering to shut the door, and folding my clothes." I think that was more of a wish list, my dear ;)
Your favorite things were dress up tea parties, ice cream, fancy clothes, and new shoes.

I'm so glad you're my daughter, not afraid to be your own personality, displaying strong character qualities and tenderness toward others, imaginative, spunky, and creative. You are strong, beautiful, and important. I am praying for you to have a good year in first grade, make friends, and continue spreading your sunshine. I love you!

{raindrops}

Raindrops in the storms of life...Only a few days after that triathlon, my world fell apart. Packing for the 2 required weeks of class and lab in Fort Worth, TX, I was also faced with the possibility of not passing my 6 credit physiology course. Once I got to TX, I knew I needed to be in the classroom, instead of trying distance learning any more. Karen, also assigned to Colton, CA offered me a place to stay. I got into a good study group. My grades improved. I was closer to my teachers. I studied every waking moment it seemed. May 10, I took my last exam, flew back to CA and my little family, and packed my sweet kids up for a summer in Indiana with Nana, Papa, and Megan. A few days later, I walked heartbroken through a Dallas airport, gearing up for a summer in the classroom. I knew I had much to be thankful for, but when someone asked if I was glad I went back to school, I responded with "right now, I f-ing hate my life."

Jonathan joined me a few days later, and we lived with Jamie and Ben Casmer. Jamie is a fellow student, and we were able to ride together to class. We became good friends, and spent hours studying in adjoining couch recliners, dog snuggled in each lap. The first week, Karen, Taylor, and I were talking about residency, and Karen randomly suggested Taylor and I switch. Taylor wanted to go to CA, Karen was looking for a roommate, and we have family in Wichita. As soon as Jonathan and I decided to switch, he flew to Redlands, packed up our things, and said goodbye to some wonderful friends. Although it was the logical decision, in my heart, I long for palm trees and mountains again. We loved our experience in California. 

We did get to see a little of the mountains in Denver and South Fork, after my final. We started vacation there for my brother Darren's wedding.

As I write, we are moved into Mary's basement, its raining for the first time in months, the kids are at their first day of school at Robinson elementary in Augusta, and I am preparing for clinicals to start next Monday. Last Monday at the dentist (Jon's dentist when he was a kid), I met one of the hygienists whose husband graduated from TWU and did residency at Wesley in Wichita. She said the first year was definitely the worst. I agree. It's been hell. But now, we're all together again, and I get to see my husband and sweet kids every day. I'm in a better place emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. God is faithful to continue demonstrating his presence. Graduate school has required many sacrifices, but I am blessed with the opportunity, and look forward to the day when I can say it was worth it. Thank you Jonathan every day for your patience, encouragement, and partnership.

{desert triathlon}

 

Jonathan, I am so proud of you this day. Your training, fortitude, tenacity, going for your goals...This was an international distance tri, and your first tri ever to compete in. Your time was impressive and you did not give up. You should have seen your kids, especially Chad, look at you with excitement and inspiration. We love you. You are A+.

A terrible realization seconds before the race- you forgot your timer anklet and had to RUN back to get it.

{deep creek hot springs hike}

{decisions, plans}

Chad with a solemn face: "Mom, don't laugh, but I think I've decided to get married." (No, I didn't panic- this is huge. Up to now, he's vowed in all seriousness that he will never marry, that he's going to be a scientist in a lab, and that girls are too much trouble...)
I assured him I would not laugh and that his new decision was perfectly acceptable at an acceptable age.
Then he asked, "What if the girl I'm supposed to marry marries someone else?"
"Chad," I answered, "The girl you are supposed to marry will not marry anyone else but you. God has a perfect plan."
Not so sure about this response, he reasoned, "Well, maybe I'll pray that God will remember that plan until I'm ready. That's alot of years..."

{"international what?"}

I don't usually write about arguments, but let's face it. We all have them. I also don't usually write about those days where nothing seems to go right, but we all have those too. So, the only reason why I'm writing about this one is that it's provided many laughs, our arguments are rare, and I want to remember the bitter, the sweet, and the irony. Pared back, the jist of it...here it is for shits and giggles.
It was Jonathan's Friday off, and I also had a rare Friday out of class. During some texts back and forth a few days earlier, he had asked me what I wanted to do. My answer was: "How about you surprise me." Well, I have to admit, the morning started out gloriously, getting to sleep in. But when Jon mentioned a hike to the hot springs, I thought surely there was not time to do that and get back to pick up the kids, and told him as much. We then discussed distance, logistics, mileage, miles/hr...and I never picked up on the fact that this was his plan for the day. In truth, I downplayed it. When I got back from dropping off Katelyn, he was still in his pajamas (although washing dishes). Apparently, no plan. Then we started into an argument about Chad's baseball season which escalated into hurtful things said and me leaving to go study. Baseball, really? Neither of us had a clue why we were fighting or how it started, but we felt that our perfect day had been ruined. And how is this at all comical?
As I was driving to the coffee shop, I remembered Jonathan saying he needed a massage since he's been training for a triathlon. I called several places and found the International Day Spa with an opening. After booking the appointment, I asked Carly to call and tell Jonathan about it and when to be there (I didn't really feel like talking to him yet). But when I got there to pay, Carly told me, "Yeah, I just talked to your husband. He didn't sound too excited." I retorted, "Well, we're not having the best day. He can get over it" and left before I could register her facial expression. I sat in Augie's for a while before Jonathan came in with a beautiful dozen red roses and tossed them on the table. I could see he was still upset, so I tentatively asked, "Did you get a call?" He answered, "45 minutes is a little over the top don't you think? 5 minutes would have been more than enough." I was puzzled, mad, hated those roses, and thinking rather evil thoughts. We tried lunch, and I couldn't eat. Finally, I pushed back my plate, got up to go, and said, "Well, you better get to your appointment or you'll be late. Like it or not, I already paid for to to get a sports massage."
"What???" he asked, as a realization began to dawn on him. I repeated myself with plenty of vigor. And then I heard..."Wow. That lady called me while I was picking out flowers and said she was calling from International Day Spa. I heard 'International baseball!'... that my wife had made an appointment (I thought to find out more details about Chad's baseball season), and that I needed to come 20 minutes early for a consultation." Wow is right. There were no other words.
Did we instantly make up? No. In fact, the day continued to sour because of other sad things happening beyond our control. But we do love each other, at the end of the day "it's not the mountain to die on," and years from now, we'll read this and...laugh:)

{train trip}

This Christmas, with my 4 week break from school and all Jonathan's PTO at work, we decided to visit the Farney and Petty families by way of a long train trip to both places. But first, we drove down to San Diego on Wednesday, December 21 to see David's graduation and promotion from Marine basic. We are so proud of him and the man he has become! We felt honored to be there. We then drove back up to our house where a friend picked us up and took us to the train station. At 2200, we boarded the super liner. The kids were so excited, they could not sit still. It was even hard for me to go to sleep! All the next day, the train glided through the snow and ice outside, while we rested, ate in the diner car twice, watched movies, and I read pulmonary physiology for my HW. We arrived in Newton Friday morning at 0400 and got to Grandma Farney's house an hour later. Our time in Wichita was relaxed and laid back. Shara brought over sugar cookie dough, which she cut out, baked, and decorated with all the grandkids. We played lots of games, including a new one introduced to us by Jeremy...Quelf. I've never laughed so hard in my life. And I got many awesome and embarrassing videos- from Daniel miming in a cage full of rabid ferrets, to David barking orders at the game pieces, to Jonathan making up a limerick with thumbs in his mouth, to Curtis running in slow motion with a snorkel attached to his face to Christin attempting the splits...all while calling each other pet names such as "my little rose bud" and "sweet cheeks." Ahh, what memories! One day after Christmas, Jonathan and Christin headed up making homemade horseradish from the roots growing in Mary's garden, while David and I loaded and delivered firewood. That night, Steve Zackula brought over food from Manna Wok, which we enjoyed all sitting around in the basement. Another night, we sat in the hot tub with Curtis and Shara, while our kids spent the night with their kids. I loved our time there. All the siblings have such a strong bond with each other, the fellowship is sweet, and each are healing with time and love.

Thursday, December 29, we got on the train at 0300, headed for St. Louis where my mom picked us up for the drive to Mt. Vernon, Indiana. All my siblings and their spouses had already arrived when we drove up. The country greeted us with vigorous sensory pleasures, although the landscape was brown and barren. My parent's place is what I wished for as a kid...a horse barn and a horse, chickens, garden, blackberry patch, pond... The kids just loved riding Whoops, fishing with Papa, and gathering eggs. Each morning I enjoyed a tall glass of raw milk and coffee with fresh skimmed cream. Although it takes a few days for us all to get used to each other, the time there was awesome. We went to see some crazy rock formations called Garden of the Gods, played a violin quartet in church, went bowling, enjoyed another epic game of Quelf (we liked it so much, we had it shipped overnight), and got to go on a late night hay ride through the fields. Chili and hot chocolate helped us warm up after that. One by one, everyone left. We were the last to go. Sadness was tangible, although lessened by the fact that we made our train with less than a minute to spare! It was a fantastic family trip, but we were excited to get back to warmth and California. The fact that it has become our home was apparent when our friends had a picnic to welcome us back. Even as I start this next hectic semester, I know all will be well. Besides, it's kinda cool having my entire year mapped out already:) Makes for a small list of resolutions: do my best at the task ahead, take care of my family, stay fit, count my friends as blessings, and always give the glory to God...