Bachelorette Party

Today has been an eventful day despite all the rain.

The first saturday of May is always an exciting day in Kentucky. It's Derby Day. Of course my pick, Devil May Care lost the big race, but the Derby was still enjoyable to watch. I would love to someday see the Derby in person. I just want to wear the hat!

Later this evening, we had a bachelorette party for one of my friends & co-workers. Shannon is one of the sweetest people I know and she so deserves to be happy.

                                    

This is Shannon opening my gift. I really loved the gift bag!

We had such a good time tonight. I am sure Shannon will have everything she needs to make her wedding night memorable!

Anguilla

As summer approaches, I am sure everyone is starting to plan vacations. I, personally, cannot wait for my next vacation-- I am counting down the days. Over the next few weeks, I plan to blog about some of our favorite trips. One of our best vacations was our honeymoon in 2006. We stayed at Cap Juluca in Anguilla.

The resort was amazing, compromised of multiple small villas spread along one of the most beautiful stretches of beach I have ever witnessed. Our room opened to a large terrace that overlooked the gorgeous Caribbean. I have never stepped onto a beach where the sand actually felt like sugar, except in Anguilla.

This vacation, our honeymoon, definitely showed me just how much my husband truly loves me. The resort offered floats to use in the ocean so I asked Robby to keep an eye on me while I floated and he stayed back on the beach. He watched out for me----When I woke up, I had floated to St. Martin while he was asleep on the beach. He thought my little adventure was just hilarious and I thought he was....well...I just won't say what I thought about him!

While on a snorkeling trip, our tour guides stopped by some cliffs to demonstrate their cliff-diving skills. Some of the other tourists also jumped from the cliffs. I told Robby he would always have regrets if he didn't jump, so he swam to the cliff and started his climb to the top. I steadied my camera, preparing for the big jump when the nut just started running and dove head first into the ocean. I almost died. I was really dreading calling his parents to tell them of his death, but thankfully he lived and I did get the picture!

Robby climbing the cliff

Robby completing the dive--you can see his shadow on the cliff

Wedding vs. Marriage

One of my husband's best friends is planning a wedding for May. He had stopped by today to borrow some of the items we had used at our wedding and you could just see the nervous tension in his face. I had forgotten all the stress (and expense) of planning a "perfect" wedding. It's amazing how many details go into a wedding and even more amazing how much each of those details cost! I know it is easy to go overboard with spending, but there are so few days in one's life so worthy of an extragavant celebration. I tried to encourage him to not allow the cost to ruin a joyous occasion. I am not so sure he was convinced! I truly think the expense is justified in most circumstances if you remain focused on the MARRIAGE and remember the wedding is just a way to involve family & friends in celebrating the MARRIAGE.

Food City Proposal

I am participating in Kelly's Korner--Show Us Your Life --How I Met My Husband.

I met my husband during one of the most difficult times of my life. I had been separated from my first husband for 5 months, had just graduated from nurse practitioner school and was preparing for my certification exam, and had recently been diagnosed with cervical/uterine cancer--a very rare type called clear cell adenocarcinoma. Unfortunately, I had to have a hysterectomy in July 2004. I was definitely not interested in starting any new relationships during this time... 

One of my best friends had grown up with Robby, but I had never really met him. We had actually went to high school together, but I was a senior when he was a freshman --that's right--I'm a cougar! After my surgery, I began spending a lot of time with my girlfriends. Robby was best friends with one of my best friend's younger brother and so they would sometimes go out with us. After several months, Robby developed a little crush on me and began asking me out. Again, I was not interested in dating during this time, but he was very persistent. He began sending  roses to my work everyday for about 3-4 weeks before I finally caved and agreed to go out with him (LOL--I know he is going to kill me when he reads this). By this time, I really did like him, but I knew I could never have children and I really didn't want him to be with me and give up his chance to have children. We finally began dating in November of 2004 and he proposed on February 12, 2005.

We had only dated a few months, so I was definitely not expecting a ring. We were on our way to dinner when he pulled into the parking lot of Food City (I know--this is hilarious). Because it was just 2 days before Valentine's Day, there was a booth set up to sell roses. Robby told me he wanted to stop and get some roses for his mom. I noticed when he was coming back toward the car, he was carrying a dozen pink roses (for his mom) and a dozen red roses (for me). I can remember thinking how sweet it was that he had bought me roses. When he opened the door, he handed the roses to me. I looked down at the flowers and saw an opened jewelry box with a beautiful engagement ring sitting inside. I almost passed out. I didn't know what to say. Then, the words just fell out of my mouth, "Oh my God! What is that?" Robby just started laughing, then I said yes.

We were married on May 20, 2006 in the front yard of his parents' home. It was one of the best days of my life. I am so grateful to share my life with someone who makes me laugh & smile everyday.

 

                                      

All photos by Suzanne Deaton Photography.

A Woman's Finest Asset

Amazingly enough, I got out of bed with enough time to exercise this morning---I am so very proud of myself. However, the piece of red velvet cake I ate a few minutes ago probably cancelled out the exercise benefit. Oh well, I'm trying. I was off from work today so I went for a scheduled hair appointment, then treated myself to a manicure/pedicure. Relaxation was much needed prior to a dreaded Wal-mart adventure. Does everyone dread going to Wal-mart as much as I do? It is just so crowded and people stand in the middle of the aisles with their carts, talking to one another while blocking everyone else and ignoring you as you stand by patiently waiting for 15 minutes until they graciously decide to move. This is how I envision Hell.

Tonight on American Idol, the show featured Jennifer Garner visiting a rural, Appalachian community within 30 miles of my home. The show was seeking donations for Save the Children. The area of Kentucky, in which I live, is often featured on news programs due to the abundance of poverty in the region. American Idol portrayed an accurate depiction of the area, but people of this community will inevitably be angered by the honest interpretation. People of Southeastern Kentucky, myself included, are proud and often focus on the positive aspects of the region, while ignoring the growing number of neighbors who are now living in poverty. I have lived in this part of the state throughout my life and it is a peculiar culture. You will drive by multiple poverty-stricken homes, which should probably be condemned, then come upon an 8000-10,000 square foot luxury home within a mile of the dilapidated homes. I am not sure this type of economic mix exists in other parts of the country. Providing healthcare in Appalachia has provided a rare opportunity to know & truly understand the magnitude of poverty which exists in my region. The most devastating lesson learned is that poverty often becomes an inevitable cycle in families. Sadly, on more than one occasion, I have encountered parents who want to allow their teenage daughters to quit high school (Please allow me to say this a rare occurrence, but this mindset does still exist in Eastern Kentucky). Their ambition is for the daughter to find a husband and have children. I have probably upset many parents, but I always try to be honest and tell the young girls that there is no guarantee that a husband will financially support his wife and children. Husbands can choose to leave. Women must be prepared to care and provide for themselves. An education, accompanied by financial independence, is a woman's finest asset.

Motivation Needed

Today was actually a slow day at the clinic and I have the day off tomorrow so all is good with the world. We have finally booked our vacation after months of trying to decide where to go. Now I have to worry about the BIKINI! We leave for our trip in just over a month so I decided I would start exercising everyday--no excuses. However, when my alarm clock goes off in the mornings, I have a difficult time rolling my big butt out of bed just to exercise. I just want to sleep! Maybe I should post a picture of Marissa Miller or Adriana Lima on my alarm clock to offer some motivation. This may end up triggering an opposite effect, forcing me to throw my alarm clock against the wall.

Yeah, I am pretty sure if I have to look at this picture early in the morning, then it will just piss me off!

New Beginnings

I have enjoyed another lazy saturday, as usual. Robby joined me for a couple hours of sunbathing this morning (I know the sun is terrible for my skin, but I have an addiction), then I did some light house cleaning and laundry---so the day was not a total waste. I was pleasantly surprised to have my Mom & Dad stop by for a quick visit and was very grateful for the beautiful flowers my Dad brought to set on my back deck. My parents also brought some great news today--they are finally getting to start on their new home. I don't know if you have seen some of my older posts, but my childhood home was destroyed by fire the week before Christmas.

December 19, 2009 was one of the worst days of our lives. My parents lost every material possession they had attained over 38 years of marriage, but somehow God allowed them to walk out of the fire with their lives and so we are grateful beyond measure. The past few months have been so difficult for my parents as every task from clearing the debris to choosing the right contractor has seemed to become an overwhelming obstacle. Finally, the debris has been cleared, a contractor has been chosen, and the initial steps have now been taken in effort to begin creating a new home. I have not been able to go back to the site of my parents' home since the few days after the fire when we were attempting to find any salvageable memories. I think I will finally regain the strength to return once they start building the new house. I am so grateful for the welcome sight of a new beginning for my Mom & Dad.