So when Josh and I dated long distance - he in med school, me in NP school/working in the ER as a nurse - I often made the trip to Detroit, MI via train….
I was 25 when we started dating - OLD - in my book and so so so so ready to be married and have a family. I may have mentioned Hannah’s Grand Plan for her life included finishing nursing school. getting married and having a family by age 25….and then I remembered there is God - who is powerful, and loves us and has the BEST plan for our lives - and sometimes it isn’t what we planned…as in my case…hahahah Anyway, age 25 I finally meet Josh - my brother’s roommate, and while we both were seeing other people at the time - there was something about Josh that i just loved right away. For the curious minds - we didn’t date for almost a year after meeting….I didn’t want him to be a rebound guy and he was trying to decide how we could make long distance work. So 1 year later like any girl who is crazy about their boyfriend, I would do anything to see him! We lived over 300-something miles apart - over a 7 hr drive to see each other - and while we would call every night and chat for an easy hr - there is nothing like being face-to-face with the man you love…lol am I getting to mushy now!
While it is a wildly debated topic in our household - who traveled more in our dating time - which was 2 1/2 yrs - I still think I traveled to him more then he to me…but I guess I can give him a soft pass as he was in med-school….and studied 10-12hrs a day (reason 7,345,543,345 I would never like to be a doctor) but my little silver Subaru can back my theory as she keeps rolling as we’re pushing the 200,000 mile mark!
Ok so back to the train….While it was often the same amount of time or even longer then driving, I often took the train so I could study or sleep on the way there. It was interesting - you meet all sorts of unique people, and there is just something beautiful and breath-taking about being a passenger looking out the window at the natural scenery flying by when you’re going 90 mph+…..MI countryside is breathtaking. But even after 100+ years - trains still get delayed, have to make random stops bc a crossing light wasn’t working or there was too much snow built up under the cars…so it was an experience for sure. At least there was always a food car that has semi-eatable food on it - hahaha - but I learned quickly - get your meal early - they sell out too! My longest trip took 12 hrs when it was booked to take 5 - because of such bad snow…..
Maybe its that I’m getting older, I can look back on things in life, or that I see Josh and I are coming up on our 5 year wedding Anniversary that makes me reminiscent - or maybe I can just thank my iPhone for reminding me what I did/posted/said 8+ years ago that has me realizing I’m on a runaway train!
Today I’ve uploaded the last 3 posts I wrote two years ago and last year and wow - I feel like its craziness to see where I was then, and where I am now!
And while I feel some days I’m on this runaway train - a scary, unknown going super fast, not letting me breath…..this machine of life that keeps pushing you, molding you and changing you…I have found that looking back on things - photos, stories, projects, frustrations…LIFE - it really helps me see God’s goodness and mercy and grace.
So to slow this train down for a quick min - I am sitting on my back patio - it’s 70-something with a nice breeze - Sherman by my side, typing - during a “nap time” that may or may not be happening - but “mama needs her 30 min break either way”… I keep changing positions on the bench I’m sitting on because we’re 31 weeks 5 days pregnant with a baby boy who we just can’t wait to meet. Talk about your “cup runneth over”….God heard my prayers for a baby years ago and then earlier this year - we prayed God would bless us with more children when it was the right time….and so baby boy is on the way! Josh is at a neighbor’s house helping do electrical work in their basement - I know right?!?! I never would’ve guessed either, and no he won’t be working with live wires esp bc he just finished taking both of his boards…. He starts real “doctoring” as we joke - in a week - so I’m treasuring the time we do have together while we are attempting to finish our basement before baby #2 comes….I mean we have a glass shower door in our front room with one of 4 cabinets for the kitchenette and we have 5,000lbs of tile in our computer room next to the kitchenette faucet, bathroom light fixture, and 8 cans of paint line the steps going to the basement….. yep, life right now just feels like a run away train….
Ahhh but it’s good - I recently found this website that makes little photo books of your pictures on Instagram or Facebook and indulged in making one about Lydia’s first year……I think I cried making it (pregnancy hormones or is that just normal as a mama?) But doing that made me decide that since we’re almost done (thank goodness - what a year 2020 has been) with the year - my resolution for the next few months and hopefully years to come….is to take time to look back and remember all these wonderful parts of life - the hard, the crazy the happy and the sad - and not just be a victim/hostage on a runaway train - but a passenger - like I was such a long time ago - enjoying the beautiful scenery on a trip to see the one I love!