Category: love

Throw Back Part 1: Love Story

Now that I am back…I guess its only fair that we play catch up a little. I am going to create this weekly series to slowly get you up to speed on my life. So today lets start in the “Love” category. Basically I want to tell you all about relationship with my amazing husband, Tyler.

Tyler and I met online using the app Hinge in early 2019. We had both recently been through rough breakups and were just hitting the dating scene. Truthfully, I almost cancelled our first date out of, just not wanting to go. Glad I didn’t! We met for the first time at Queens Park Social in Charlotte, NC . This is a game bar…right up both of our alleys. Much to Tyler’s surprise, I was a lot more competitive than he thought I would be and came ready to win…and win I did. Well except for basketball. That’s his thing and something I am terrible at. From that day on, he hasn’t been able to get rid of me! Ha! Sorry, you’re stuck for life now bud!

We dated for a year then in January of 2020, he put a ring on it! He hid behind it being the dogs birthday and made me believe we were celebrating pup man all morning when in reality he had other plans up his sleeve. Ash, his dog…now my dog has always been a big part of our relationship and celebrating him was a no brainer so he had the perfect coverup story for the day. We picked up breakfast, drove around town with the windows down while feeding Ash bacon, and finally went to the park to take him on a walk and open “his” present. Supposedly a new toy to play with in the park. But surprise surprise, when I was helping Ash open his present, there were no dog toys to be found but rather a ring box and Tyler behind me on one knee. I don’t remember what he said or honestly if I even really gave an answer but in my mind, it was the easiest yes ever!

October of 2020 we tired the knot. After a lot of unknowns and changes with all that COVID brought, we had an intimate ceremony and reception in my parents back yard on Lake Norman. It was the perfect day and honestly better than any wedding I had dreamed of and had planned prior to pandemic lock downs. More to come on this some other day!

And that brings us to now! Happily married and navigating learning to be parents and husband and wife. Our relationship grew leading up to having a child and now has grown even more than I could have ever imagined since bringing Charlie home from the hospital. Seeing your husband as a father might be one of the biggest blessings of them all.

Cannot wait to see what the next chapter of our love story will look like!

Kathryn

All or Nothing

How is it possible that we can go from going 500mph, firing on all cylinders, 100% of the time to these periods of nothing?! Its an odd feeling, and currently, thats the state I am in. I am trying to effectively navigate it but honestly, it almost seems like more of a struggle than the 500mph I am used to.  So how am I embracing it….

First, sleep! Yes, I am still working the night shift but that is only 1-2 nights a week right now so I am 100% allowing myself to recover from each shift. This has been an incredible change of pace and honestly is making the night shift a little more bearable.

Elementary School Friends

Number two, friends! All those people I neglected the past 6months, I am making an effort to see and it has been fantastic. I have loved reconnecting and just enjoying the ability to really embrace conversation that during times of chaos doesn’t happen.

Three, my house is finally getting some MUCH NEEDED love! I feel like it has been neglected since I moved in nearly three years ago since I started nursing school almost immediately after purchasing my home. I have been cleaning out and redecorating and it feels so good (even if it is still a work in progress).

Four, I am actually working out again! I have been running (alone and with friends…hey more connection!), lots of long walks with some of my favorite podcasts, and going to core power yoga several times a week.

Five, cooking real meals! This is strange but I have to give all the love to Trader Joes, with this extra time, it is allowing to actually get back in the kitchen without it feeling like such a chore.

And last but not least, six. I am back out there dating!!! Yes, you heard that right. Over

the last few weeks I have gone on some great dates and I am really enjoying putting myself back out there. Just like the free time thing, this is also strange but I am ready to fully embrace it…. and I promise, no more long distance relationships for me!

So to close, the past 6 month have brought a lot of change in my life for both the good and the bad. I have had the highs of graduating nursing school and passing my boards to the lows of losing my grandma and so much in between. But regardless of these highs and lows, it has brought me to this 5 week period of “free time.” Time I am not sure how to use, but I am trying to take advantage of as I know I will probably never have these days again.

Leave a comment below and tell me how you use your free time!