Reflections

I don't know if the pregnancy hormones are just catching up to me, but lately I have been feeling very nostalgic. So much has happened in our family since Hunter's birth nearly two years ago. I don't quite know how to describe the journey I've been on since we found out about Hunter's brain malformation and its effects. It feels like I've grown as much in two years as I did the entire 22 years of my life prior to that combined.

At first, every day was a test of my endurance. Dealing with people outside of Bryson and my family was more than I could stand. I was sick to death of everyone's pity and trite consolations. I found myself on the back row of Relief Society grinding my teeth at the rote answers people would give on how to deal with trials in our lives. I think I thought I was okay because I used that line so often in response to the dreaded "How are you doing?" question (with sympathetic head tilt). Going through the motions of living the gospel was all I could manage. Looking back, I'm so grateful that we kept doing what we were supposed to. In the doing, you get the feeling, and finally, I got the feeling back. I can't pinpoint the exact day, but all at once it felt like the sun was finally shining again in my soul.

I remembered how to smile-for real. I actually felt happy again. Most importantly, I was finally able to see that the Savior had been with us through it all. I felt honored that Heavenly Father apparently had enough faith in us as parents to send us a perfect son. I started looking around when we visited Primary Children's and offering prayers of gratitude that Hunter had come to our family; to a mother AND a father who had the means-emotionally, financially, and so forth-to care for a child with a disability.

The plan of salvation is more real and relevent than ever before. My testimony is strong. I still have hard days when something completely unexpected reduces me to tears. I don't stay sad though. To be worthy of eternal life drives me, because I want to spend forever with my little boy. I know that someday I will get to see my Hunter do everything he isn't capable of in this life. Until then, I can honestly say I find more joy in every day than I ever thought possible.

Hunter's birthday is still a few weeks away, but I want to share this video that I made in honor of the big event now. Enjoy!

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

“For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.” D&C 58:3-4

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Island Park trip

This past weekend we drove up to our cabin in Idaho with three families from our ward for a snowmobiling trip. There were a ton of kids which made it pretty wild and crazy. Everybody got along great though and we had a really good time. I don't know if snowmobiling or the hot tub was the highlight for the kiddies. The adults spent some time playing a board game called Boxers or Briefs that was very funny and enlightening! There is still A LOT of snow up there! Makes me grateful we are at least experiencing a taste of spring down here. A big thank you to Bryson for making the trip happen!

The next Pavarotti?

This is neat-o!

Courage Reins

Hunter got to go to his first horseback riding session at Courage Reins today. It went really well. I think he enjoyed the experience, although he was very tired afterwards. The people who work there and who helped Hunter ride were great! We get to go every Friday morning for the next few months. I think it will be great for my little guy.

Sunday visit

Hunter and Grandpa Durrant

K-ville

Note: Read the previous post or this one won't make any sense.

In simplest terms, it is the line for students wishing to gain access to the designated tenting games. It is often mistakenly referred to as a ticket line. However, there are no student tickets; students are admitted from the line one and a half hours before each game.

There are usually two tenting games per season, one of which is the game that pits the Duke Blue Devils against the NC Tar Heels. Months before the actual game, students begin to put up and live in tents outside Cameron Indoor Stadium. As many as twelve people can occupy a specific tent number (many "tents" contain more than one physical tent). As regulated by Duke Student Government, there must be a certain number of students in the tent at regular, periodic checks.

From the beginning of tenting in early January (although the first tents usually appear between Christmas and New Year's) until one week before the game, tents generally must have 1 person in the tent during the day and 8 people each night. For the week before the game, only two people must be in the tent each night. The two weekend nights prior to the game are personal check nights, during which each of the twelve tent members must be at the tent for 3 of 5 personal checks spread over the two nights. If a tent misses a tent check twice, it gets moved to the end of the line (assuming availability). If K-ville is at full capacity (100 tents) and a waitlist exists at the time of the second miss, the tent gets removed completely.

Krzyzewskiville is named for Mike Krzyzewski, often called "Coach K", the much loved coach who has helped make Duke's basketball program one of the best in the nation. He has been known to buy pizza for the K-ville residents from time to time and has held open-forum "team meetings" with the Cameron Crazies before big games.

Duke game

We had such a great time on our trip! Bry and I flew in to Durham Wednesday afternoon. After several long hours on the airplanes (especially for the pregnant lady) we cruised to the hotel in our rental car, a red Mustang, and took a nap. That night we had dinner at a TGI Friday's near campus. After dinner, we drove a few blocks, parked and walked to Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was very cold! We were following the crowds, since we didn't really know where we were going, when suddenly we found ourselves in front of the arena. I never would have guessed in a million years that a basketball gym could be found in that building. It is very small inside and only holds 9300 fans. However, I feel like I can guarantee that the opposing team feels as though it holds 3x as many Cameron Crazies as that. The students are a riot! The game ended up being pretty close but my Blue Devils came away with the victory in the end, 71-58.

The next morning, before heading to the airport, we drove around the Duke campus a little and discovered Krzyzewskiville. (That's what the last picture of the tents is of in the next post.) I did some research and found out what it is all about and I have posted more info for those interested. After we took some more pictures of the campus we drove back to the airport. It was a short trip, but one I will never forget.

Cameron Indoor Stadium - It looks like a castle!