I'm a New Yorkuh

Hey Guys

It's been awhile. I am here in NY while Amanda is still in Utah (see below). I miss my sweetheart like crazy. Living in NY has been fun... but what's fun without Amanda? Nothing!

I have lived here for almost a month, but today I officially became a New Yorker... someone asked me for directions!!! And I knew the answer!!!

So it's been a pretty monumental day for me. My program has been awesome. My building is just a couple buildings down from the Empire State. I love being surrounded by huge buildings everywhere I go. It's also crazy being surrounded by all these big time real estate people all the time. New York really does feel like the center of the world.

With Amanda being gone, I have had time to further my arts and crafts skills. I made some closet decor that I am pretty proud of:

I cut out "relax." out of newspapers, glued them to cardboard, then taped it to the wall.

Last thing:

My brother's band "Hema" has a new music video and are in a contest on KSL for best garage band. The contest is on Facebook, whichever video gets the most votes gets to play live on KSL directly following the superbowl!! Everyone check out the video and give it 5 stars!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/page/36259238675?sk=app_107727025983833&app_data=%7B%22mid%22%3A64

Love you guys,

Derek

To answer the many questions....

A month or so before we moved to NY, we found out I had to get surgery. I had been having pain and discomfort for quite some time. I knew it was probably nothing serious, but when it's our future kids on the line, I feel extra responsibility to take care of myself.

We found out that I had endometriosis and vulvar vestibulitis. You are more than welcome to research the female goodness of it all but I won't go into detail. :)

So the plan was to move, come back for about 1 week for surgery, and get right back to NY to find a job and be with Derek! Well...here I am 2 and half weeks later stuck in Utah, either in bed or on the couch, with recent news that I have to stay for at least another week and a half because I somehow ripped my stitches. Boo. When the doctor told me, my heart just sank and I almost broke into tears. I'll admit, I cried in the bathroom for a bit when I got home. I miss Derek. We didn't plan to be out of work for so long either. I feel pressure to get to work. I feel bad that Derek has had to be responsible for putting together the whole apartment. He has now started school in NY. I wish I could be there to greet him with a hug and a kiss when he gets home from school each day.

But if anything, this has been a growing experience. A frustrating one, but a good one.

I realize that I have taken my health for granted my whole life. I have taken time with Derek for granted. I have taken walking for granted. I have been through many emotions throughout this experience. I have felt scared, excited to fix the pain and hopefully make it possible for us to have children someday, grateful for incredible family, sad to be away from Derek for so long, bored, lonely, but mostly grateful.

My gratitude and love for Derek has grown incredibly. Marriage is really an incredible thing. To love someone so much, to rely on them, to miss them, to give, to take, to share, and to trust. It's all so beautiful.

And so is FaceTime.

It's saving us.

Good news! He's loving school! He's the youngest one there, and obviously the hottest one there. I know he's going to do so well.

ONLY (that's me trying to be positive) 9 days till I can go home.

Hopefully. :)

Love,

Me

So touching

If you have a spare second, I would recommend reading this.

It is absolutely beautiful. It only takes about 15 seconds to read.

This is my cousin's blog. They just gave birth to this sweet little girl. She came extremely early and only lived just over an hour. Their outlook is incredible.

Ruby

So flattered!

Sierra from the inspirational Oh, Just Livin' the Dream! has awarded us with the

award!

I am absolutely flattered, and I'm so excited that I get to now pass it on!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers. I guess it's time to step it up eh?

Here are the rulios:

1) Link back to the award-er.

2) Tell us who your 5 favorite up-and-coming blogs are (can be the award-er).

3) Post the award on your blog, and pass it on!

So now it's my turn to share the love. This was much harder than I thought because I love so many! Well, here goes it!

Brynnie @ The Barefooted Way...a lovely blog I tell you. She has such inspiring ideas, pictures, and is just so darn cute. She loves life and everyone and everything in it. And the title is very fitting...it's rare to find shoes on those feet of hers.

Chelsey @ THE SEARLES...a blog full of darling pictures. Through her blog is a link to her photography blog. She is a great photographer and is so good at capturing everything she does.

Kjersti @ Cupookies...if you like food, AKA if you're normal, then this blog will be quite a treat for you! (pun intended) She shares some yummy recipes and cute cooking ideas here!

Dallan @ Words: Thoughts & Ideas...this blog is fairly new, and I am the only follower, but boy does it make you think. He is a very deep writer and quite inspirational. Take a look!

And one of my very favorites...Sierra @ Oh, Just Livin' the Dream...the cutie that awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. This blog is one of the most inspiring blogs I've ever seen. She is absolutely darling, so real, has amazing hair and a darling smile, always helps me to remember what's most important, and reminds me that I have a Father in Heaven who knows me and loves me. Thank you so much Si for such a fun award and for your inspiration! xoxo

Choosing 5 was so difficult. I love so many blogs! Maybe TOO many :) But congrats to the 5 newest Liebster Blog Award Winners! Now pass on the love!

xoxo,

Mandy

A true prince

Derek left this morning to go back to NYC.

I feel so blessed that he was able to come be here in Utah with me for the surgery. It was a complete miracle that he got on a flight to be here. And I seriously cannot even express to you how incredible he has been. He never complained, or even gave a sigh when I woke him up in the middle of the night. He walked me everywhere, kept track of every pill, showered me, encouraged me, and so much more. He even danced around the bathroom with me while we waited for some movement if you know what I mean. Haha. I have no doubt in my mind that he loves me more than anything in the whole world and it is such an incredible, unreal feeling. I don't know how I will ever repay him for the loving care he has given to me this past week. I miss him so much already and can't wait to be back with him in NY again.

Thank you sweetie for everything.

You are absolutely incredible.

xoxo

PS...he got glasses and he looks SO HOT.

Can I call it home yet?

I miss....home.

I miss New York.

But I mostly just miss my sweetheart.

I had to come back for surgery, and inconveniently, my pre-op and my actual surgery are a week apart. So I've just been hanging around. Derek's schooling doesn't start until the 23rd so we are both just hanging around...on opposite ends of the country. Hanging around is usually pretty entertaining when I have Derek around, but I must admit, I've been pretty bored. I also miss New York lots. I was only there a short time, but I feel like it holds a special place in my heart already.

I've been hanging out with this cutie this afternoon. I used to work with Kaylee everyday after school in high school. I've missed her lots. I never realized how fun stacking videos could be. :p

I'm going to leave you with some bad news....

Taylor Swift has been offered the role of Eponine in Les Miserables. Worst news ever right?! I'm so terribly disappointed. Who knows, maybe she'll be good. But her voice and acting both are...not great. So we either need to pray she won't play the role, or pray that it'll turn out ok.

xoxo,

Mandy

In love

We have arrived!

It is better than we ever imagined. We were nervous, but now we want to stay forever. Ok maybe it's too soon to make such a large statement. We've been here 2 days. It's beautiful and practically perfect. We love the people, the surroundings, our island, Times Square, the squirrels, the river, everything. Anyone and everyone needs to come visit.

I love hearing the recording with the Indian accent over the intercom at the airport. I love calling Ikea to check on our order and hardly being able to understand the recording cause she's black. I love walking into the library only discover the original Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals and a real KKK uniform. I love how real everyone is here. I love that Forever 21 is 4 stories high. I love hearing the buzz of the city always. I love everything about this place. It's so perfectly beautiful, and beautifully perfect.

Special shout out to my dear friend Berit. I am so blessed to have her in my life.