Back Home Again in Indiana

It's been awhile since I've written on this space, and a lot, a lot, A LOT has happened in the meantime.  In the last three months I have, finished my master's degree, secured my ideal job, Chuck has found a new job, we moved back to Indiana, moved again within Indiana, settled into a new routine of full-time work with regular hours, and got a dog.  It's been busy to say the least.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of our enormous post-grad life transition...

At the end of April, I graduated from Grand Valley State University with my Master's in Social Work.  I can't explain how good it feels to be done with my formal education (finally!) and to be able to write "MSW" behind my name.

With my sisters after my hooding ceremony.

As graduation was approaching, Chuck and I spent countless hours discussing what was next for us.  We knew that we did not want to stay in Michigan (particularly after this past winter!), but we didn't know where we would be headed next.  We toyed with the idea of going on a grand adventure far away, as well as settling down somewhere closer to our families and planting roots.  As fate would have it, just before graduation, I was offered a full-time position as a therapist for a mental health agency in my hometown in Indiana!  The position would offer us the opportunity to build a life around the comforts of my family and hometown, and would be an important step forward for my career.  The goal of being a therapist is what drove me to attend grad school in the first place, and I happily accepted the job.  And in May, we were off to Indiana to begin a new life! 

Chuck was able to find a job as an audio/visual technician in downtown Indy for a well-respected company with plenty of room to grow and advance.  Both of our jobs are full-time with regular hours, a luxury we had never before been afforded, and I cannot explain how much of a blessing it is that neither of us have to work nights or weekends... it's the little things! 

In June, we added a new member to our little family when we adopted a dog! Gilbert (the name came with him, but suits him well) is a 2-year-old pointer/hound mix who bounces between extreme energy and utter laziness by the hour.  He has a big bark, but rarely uses it, and he looooves to snuggle. The cat is not so fond of him, but we remain hopeful that she will come around. Chuck and I are officially outnumbered by animals, and we love it. 

Handsome Gilbert.

As we settle into July, we are settling into a place that feels like home, careers rather than jobs, and a new family dynamic.  It feels so good to be in this place of security after spending our first three years together as students, living on a measly budget, and generally feeling as though we were pushing our way through the dark, as we tried to learn adulthood together.  

We are happy. 

We certainly miss aspects of living in West Michigan, but nothing will ever feel as much like home to me as the cornfields.

On becoming a WOD...

Anyone who's a fan of the sitcom "Scrubs," may already know what WOD stands for. For  those who don't know, WOD is what the character, Carla, calls herself when her husband is diagnosed with diabetes, and it is short for "Wife of Diabetic." In less than two months, I will be taking on that title.  It's a big title to bear.  A lot comes with the territory.

As a WOD there are many experiences I will have that wives of non-diabetic partners (or D-Spouses) will not.  Non-D-spouses will never understand the fear of knowing your partner's life is dependent on the proper functioning of a pocket-sized plastic electronic device, which has been known to glitch out.  They will never experience the red hot anger of being told that they cannot get more insulin for 3 days, pending insurance approval, when their husband is all out, with a high BSL.  They won't take offense when they hear the word "diabetic" being used as an insult for someone who is overweight, or eating a dessert or fast food.  And they will probably not worry too much about the chances of their childrens' pancreases malfunctioning.  They won't wonder if their kids will be old enough to manage their sugars on their own when it does, or if diabetes will strike them when they're tiny, vulnerable babies.

In the 2.5 years that Chuck and I have spent developing our relationship, I've learned so much about him and about diabetes.  I've learned that I worry a heck of a lot more about Chuck's diabetes than he does.  (I come from Clark blood, I'm a natural-born worrier.) I've learned that he knows what he's doing. And, I've learned that I have no control over the inner functionings (or malfunctionings) of his body.  He's been type 1 diabetic for more than half of his young life.  He's got it down. But as his wife-to-be I want nothing more than to take care of him for the rest of my life.  In this area, I have to surrender control.  This has been the toughest lesson for me. 

There are many questions that I still don't know the answers to.  And there are many answers I don't want to know. Because, in reality, they don't matter.  I love Chuck. Every bit of him, and every bit of baggage that comes with him.  And we will continue to cross each bridge we come across, together.  Even the scary, rickety, uncertain bridges.       

A Celebration of Love

When I first decided to start keeping a blog (again!) I thought it would be easy to come up with topics to write about on a semi-regular basis.  But, the truth is my life is really pretty boring.  Grad school doesn't leave me with much time to do anything too exciting.  I go to work, go to school, spend time with my man, and do procrastinate and stress about my homework. When I get a little time, we work on wedding plans but that's really about it.  (Consider this my apology for such long breaks between posts.)

Sooooo....
When something awesome happens, I'm going to tell you all about it.

This weekend my college roommate and one of my dearest friends GOT MARRIED and I was honored to stand by her side on her special day.  It was a beautiful ceremony and such a fun reception!

Anne and I met during our freshman year in college when we joined the same sorority.  We lived together in college and for the first year after we graduated (the first year of both of our relationships with our partners.)  The same week that Chuck and I began dating, Anne met Travis.  We shared the joys and challenges of developing new relationships together.  Our engagements even overlapped by 6 months and we were able to share our wedding planning tips.  And, in less than 5 months, Anne will return the favor and stand by me at my own wedding.  I consider myself so blessed to have been able to watch Anne and Travis' relationship develop from strangers to spouses!!!

A million congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.  I can't wait to share newlywed stories.

While I'm on the topic of celebrating love love love- I have to take some time to give a MAJOR shout out to my husband-to-be for keeping me sane this week.  He has cleaned, cooked, and literally served me all my meals while I stressed my booty off because of school this week.  What a man!