The Wedding

I am going to begin what hopefully will be a series of blogs from our trip to Oklahoma. It has been a while, but I really don't want to skip over them.

We arrived in Tulsa late on a Thursday night where Brian's parents picked us up from the airport. As soon as we walked out of the airport Brian and I noticed the smell of water. I asked if it had just rained or if it was about to and they said no to both. I thought hmmm... It was such a strong smell, we both noticed it and then concluded it was just humidity. It is very dry in ND, very dry and immediately we could just smell the water in the air- is that crazy or what? It happened the next several times we walked outside- it would just hit us like a wall.

Then on Friday morning I went to a play date so I could catch up with my old friends. It was so nice to see everybody and how all the babies had changed. They grow up fast. Brian went fishing with his dad and Ryan on his family's land, which is what he probably misses the most about Oklahoma. Tulsa was so beautiful. ND is just now having "spring" and there aren't as many beautiful colors and blooms as Tulsa. It is a beautiful city and I think we took that for granted when we lived there.

Then on Friday night we went to the wedding of an old college friend. Someone we were both friends with individually, before we even dated. He played the piano in our wedding and we all just hung out in the same group so we were just happy the timing could work out where we could attend. This was the most fun I had while I was in Tulsa. All of our college friends (minus Jeff and Laurel b/c they live in Oman-boo and Anne) were there and it was so refreshing! We had lots of people to talk to and lots to talk about. We were a part of Young Life in college and basically that is where we met and spent all our time and where our friendships formed. It is a super fun group and you always have fun when the group gets together.

I sorta talked about this when I blogged about my girls weekend in Dallas, but its so nice to escape motherhood to a place where people you are just Becky Barton and Brian Young. Don't get me wrong, I like Becky Young, I am saying that they just see us as 2 of their old friends, not parents or big job holders or whatever you know? Some people didn't even believe that we had 2 kids! Anyways, minus Anne, I was with a group of girls that I shared A LOT with in college. They too have seen me at my absolute worst, oh poor them. Anyways- I hadn't talked to Kelli or Macy in quite a while but it was like we never skipped a beat. And of course Leah's beau was there so we had lots of fun with that situation. So, this YL group, they are like major dancers. In college my roommates and I used to dance in the kitchen to "Slow Motion" or at least I think that is the song. Oh I laugh just thinking about it but dancing was a HUGE part of college and so to be with my dance friends again was awesome. Of course, I am not so cool anymore and I didn't know most of the songs they were all singing along to but it was still a blast. I love to dance!!!!!!! Brian doesn't quite share my passion, but he still had a lot of fun.

Afterwards some of us went to Cabana at like 1am, which you know I mean Taco Cabana b/c we hung out there ALL the time eating tortillas and drinking coke, well I had Dr. Pepper. For those of you who know Drew, but b/c he lives in Tulsa not b/c of OU, he was a part of the Cabana group. His friends were the cool older guys that we liked to hang out with and do random things that sometimes involved the police. Oh we had lots of fun.

Anyways, it was so refreshing to see my old friends.

On the third day

I never blogged about Easter Sunday so I have uploaded some pics. We had a breakfast at church and it was actually really good. I can't remember ever eating a good breakfast at church, but it was great. The boys were in matching outfits if you can't tell. Then after church we went to our pastor's house for Easter dinner. It was very elegant and tasty. More salted butter, mmm. They have a daughter and son-in-law our age with boys our boys' ages. They also had another couple over from Michigan, b/c they are also 17hrs from home. Anyways, it was another delicious meal and great company. We were so grateful to be invited over, or really just the fact that they thought of us and knew we would prob be alone. I wish I would have done more of that when I was in Oklahoma. Del Rae, pastor's wife, also prepared an egg hunt. Baker was too busy shoveling snow to pic up any eggsthough. Anyways, hope you enjoy the pics.

"Procedure"

There are so many potential blogs swirling around in my head. I have a lot to blog about for our Oklahoma trip. For now though I will just do a small note.

Tomorrow I am having a "LEEP" procedure done. You can google it if you are more interested, but in case there are any male readers I don't want to describe it. Anyways, I have not really chosen to take it too seriously b/c well... I have been busy, and Dr. Leinen said "its not a big deal" and b/c well... I could make room for fear if I chose to and I don't like fear. My 11th grade Sunday School teacher told me "fear and faith cannot co-exist." I sometimes wonder if that is true, but anyhow, it sure stops me from fearing sometimes.

Anyhow, the whole point of my little note here is to say I love our church. I am still acclimating myself to the small church feel but it is so perfect. Well and this is the biggest non-Catholic church in town. Today Maria called and asked if I had a sitter for the boys fore my procedure, and of course I didn't b/c.. basically I forgot, but she asked if she could watch them. I didn't even have to CALL FOR HELP!Then tonight I had 2 ladies from my Bible study come up to me at church and say they would be praying for me and my procedure tomorrow. Then when I got home Pastor Tim called me and said they would be praying for me too. I was like... Woah- this is something new here! It has just been so nice. There are def things we miss about TCABC but the size is not one of them (although you can totally have the same intimate setting there, I totally believe that and saw it). I also feel like I am constantly being challenged. Every time I show up to church I am... I wouldn't even called it "moved" or "touched" I am like Slammed to the ground with God's truth. It's right in my face and I so need that, not only right now but all the time.

North Dakota is home right now and that seems so weird. It was almost like a switch went off when we moved into our house and things are just different now. I like it.

Hopefully while I am recovering I can get some good blog time, so be on the lookout. Brian will be on babysitting duty and I will be in bed- WOO HOO!

Easter Weekend

Well, Brian described this past weekend as our best weekend since we've been in ND, besides the weekend we climbed Killdeer Mtn. That is saying a lot b/c life is getting much better up here. Besides celebrating the fact that we don't have to burn in Hell we were able to have a lot of fun with friends!

Brian had Good Friday off and we mainly just did work around the house. We finally found a decent couch and chair for our downstairs "family room" so that was a big deal. On Friday night we went out to eat with Bobby and Courtney. I am going to start saying names b/c if you are going to cont to follow th blog I just think it will be easier. Bobby and Courtney are about our age and they have a 2 kids that Baker really likes to play with. I don't think we had ever been out to eat with another couple who also had 2 kids but it went really well. It's nice when you aren't spending all your dinner trying to keep your kid from annoying your friend. Very relaxing. Then they came over to see our house and the kids played for a while. They only live about 1/2mile away from us and they still feel sorta new to town, even though she grew up here. We really like Bobby and Courtney and I think we will hang out a lot.

On Saturday we drove to Beach, ND which is on the Montana border. Our other friends Josh and Maria invited us to his family's Easter celebration including his parents, brother and sister-in-law and baby nephew. It was very, very kind of them to include us considering we had.. um.. nothing else to do. Plus Brian really misses his family's ranch and I think Josh could tell that Brian needed some outdoors. Maria is about my age also. She has 2 boys and they are Baker's favorite friends in all of town. I am not even sure how this happened, but he loves them. Both Maria and Courtney are pregnant with their 3rd child and due in May/June.

Anyways, so we played outside. Brian shot skeet and took Baker for a 4 wheeler ride. He was scared. It was nice to be out in the open air... I mean, way out! It's always overcast here as you can see in the picture. I sure hope it changes soon.

So, Josh's mom is like one of the best cooks in Western ND, so I find out the next day. We arrived just in time for lunch and I was so nervous. IF you know me well at all you know I love food! I mean, I love it. So I am like... there are a lot of people here so I am sure they are going to have sandwiches for lunch and I hate sandwiches! It's such a wasted opportunity for my taste buds. I mean, I like good sandwiches, but not meat/chs/mayo cold ones. Anyways, so I am all nervous b/c I had no idea whose home I was going to. Well let me tell ya, this lady made homemade lasagna, fresh corn, homemade bread with real salted butter (tim you would have loved it!) and spinach salad. OM goodness I just kept eating. She had even made a cake for desert!! All for lunch !!! Needless to say, I was in heaven. It was great.

Conversation flowed well too, which is also another concern you have when going to a stranger's home. They were very accepting and we just felt comfortable. I can't tell you how nice that was.

We dyed easter eggs and Baker loved it. He dyed each egg apprx. 3 times. He just kept going and going. I was very surprised with his skills though. He learned quickly how to use the metal hanger to get the egg out of the dye. He was just a bit rough when he threw, literally threw the eggs in the dye cup. Made a mess but it was okay.

Then of course was the Easter egg hunt. That was fun to watch. Baker needed some encouragement but he got the concept.

Then it was time for dinner and you can't imagine how good it smelled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mmmm! She fried cube steaks and oh my gosh, they were great. Then she had these fried hashbrown things that were amazing, more homemade bread with salted butter and green beans with cream. Who would have thought but I couldn't get enough. I am probably forgetting something, but you get the picture. Then she had Molasses cookies which I thought- ugh, but they were delicious. Anyhow, couldn't have been better. We drove home late that night. Oh- I forgot to say- they are a game family, so you know my opinion on that!
Okay, I am going to have stop for now. I will do Sunday soon!

Girl's Weekend

This is us our senior year. We had a lot of fun in high school, and we obeyed the rules too, it wasn't like bad fun. Anyways, you can see how happy we were and how much we loved each other.

pictured: Kaci, Jessica, Sarah, me, and Adrina

This is us today, at a restaurant in Dallas.

pictured above: Sarah, Kaci, me, Jessica, and Adrina

Well my trip to Dallas was great, fantastic actually. The timing was perfect for this season of life. Last year when I went I was pregnant with Beau and it was the longest I had been away from Baker. When you are pregnant you are just a little off your game and when you aren't used to leaving your kid your are a bit emotional. This time I wasn't pregnant or emotional, even though it was the first time I had EVER left Beau. I don't know if it's because he is the second child or b/c my lack of margin in ND left me eager for me time. I was very excited. Its is sorta like when we went on the cruise, it had the potential to be the best vacation ever, but I was so sad b/c I missed Baker and a pregnant stomach didn't go well with the rocking ship. I felt great this weekend though. I was so happy just to see the sun. Might have something to do with the age 2, I don't know.

I don't know where most of you stand when it comes to long term friendships but there is just this automatic comfort that my friends and I slip into. The amount of time since we have spoken or seen each other is irrelevent. We are immediately able to jump into our comfort zone, it is so nice. Especially leaving a place where you are trying to make friends so you are on your guard not to scare anyone off. These girls have seen me at my absolute worst. We are all fully known and there is nothing to hide... although there probably should be! Some of us have known each other longer, but collectivly we have been a group of friends since 6th grade. That is a long freaking time! Especially considering the changing we have all done.

We just talked a lot and ate good food and went shopping. It was so much fun. We also had a mini surprise baby shower for Sarah. She is having a boy in July. We got her a car seat and it was great. She was so surprised and even more grateful. Christina was unable to make it b/c she is being deployed to Guam soon, so we missed her. And then of course we had to watch Twilight, see if I could hook them as well. I think it worked!

Anyways, I returned home and everyone was still alive. Brian survived and in the end I think he was even having fun. He is a much better parent than I am. I couldn't have anticipated how nice a break from motherhood would be. I kept no one alive this weekend. I fed no one. I dressed no one. No one hit me or pulled my hair or climbed on me or spit on me. I didn't have to wipe anyone's nose or their butt for that matter. I was only responsible for me. I am sure this is very encouraging for my friend's considering never reproducing, so don't get me wrong. I love my kids, but margin is absolutely necessary!