Volant, PA - Amish country during planting season
Ohiopyle, PA - Camping all over the Pittsburgh area
Harrisburg, PA - Time out for women (I guess just me went)
Philadelphia, PA - With Shaws
Hershey, PA - With Gneitings
Palmyra, NY - Sacred Grove & Pagaent as leaders for youth conference
Niagara Falls, NY - and Canada side for graduation
New York, NY - With Gneitings for Thanksgiving
Boston, MA - Sedation Convention (I guess just Dev went)
Cincinnati, OH - One of our favorite places (staying with the Jensens-Dev's aunt and uncle)
Columbus, OH - temple trip with Erikssons
Kirtland, OH - 2 times (can't remember with whom)
Washington DC - at least 7 times (with Shaws, Ani, Eams, Nelsons, young men and by ourselves biking)
Richmond, VA - Stayed with the Miles
Virginia Beach, VA - 2 times (with the Nelsons and Teerlinks) my second favorite
Jamestown, VA - sightseeing really fast but one of my favorites historical sites when 6 months pregnant with Brynlee and after Richmond visit.
Outerbanks, NC - 2 times with dental families and our all time favorite vacation
Raleigh, NC - Visited the Browns and Gochnors for Thanksgiving
Bradenton, FL - Visited Poulters for Christmas
And Idaho and Utah several times to see more family
So the weird thing is that my to do list is done. One of the last things on it was to take some Pittsburgh family pictures. Here is a picture over load.
Brother Bob:
I honestly don't know where to start on this one. All the drama was in the first 2 yrs of living in the branch. After attending the branch for 3 weeks we were leaving and heading to our car when Brother Bob darted in front of me. First off he was now growing a gotee (Dev was growing a gotee) he had also dyed his hair red (Devin bragged about red hair a few times to him). Brother Bob started giggling like a school girl and told me that my husband is "absolutely hilarious. He has the best farm stories ... EVER!" We made the mistake of driving to the ghetto to eat dinner at his house. Then an even bigger mistake of inviting him over. I guess this last kind gesture on my part meant he was Brynlee's godfather. I never gave him that title - I swear. Anyways he had a partner in the past before he joined the church. About 12 hours after birth in the hospital I get a call (about 5 minutes after church ended). It was a hysterically sobbing Brother Bob on the phone. He informed me that Brynlee was his pretend daughter and was the new woman in his life. He bore me his testimony (ending in the name of jesus christ) about how Brynlee was so special. I was so stunned I don't remember saying anything but thanks about a bigillian times and then bye Brother bob. It only went down hill from there. We tried to back off a little bit. He stormed out at least 2 times and possibly more (in the middle of conducting a sacrament hymn) because he thought we either weren't singing the song or we were laughing at him. We will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Sacrament Meeting at Mckeesport Branch:
Testimony meetings are filled with incorrect doctorine but that is the awkward part not the funny part. The funny part is when they go 45 mins over and no one has mentioned Christ once! Once on Father's day someone spoke on how her dad abused her and was the worst father and how she wasn't sure the gospel was true. Another meeting someone stood up and talked about how she joined the church cause she thought momen men were cute and how she had to go to the crazy house cause she was mormon. The sad part is when you see people you love and have served fall away from the church over stupid little reasons or comments. Looking back of course it is hilarious. And honestly it was really hard sometimes at the branch but would I do it again. Yes. It's like serving a mission - of course you would do it again even though at the time it was discouraging and hard. We learned hard lessons about selfless service and fundamental princples and keeping perspective that we will never learn anywhere else. I feel stronger because I learned those lessons. No matter what stories I remember and can come up with I will also never forget the people and how strong they were. Can you imagine being recently converted and joining a branch where everyone else is recently converted? They thought we were suppose to feed the bread the the birds that wasn't eaten in sacrament. Just little things like Jimmy's testimonies and Brother Mcbeth's kindness. There were some big hearts in that branch. One was President Rogers. Right when we moved there and I was struggling to find a job at the University we had me clean his house for way more than the cleaning service use to pay me pre-college. I had so many great conversations about history and life with President Rogers and his wife. I loved every minute of it.
Devin's Young Men:
Well one of his young men was murdered. Shot point blank from gang violence. His brother was on probabtion the whole time. Devin would drive 30 minutes to pick of these young men. Then drive 45 mins to take them to a stake ice skating activity. Then 45 mins back and then 30 mins back home. At the ice skating activity he brought an investigator. He was 16 and a cousin of one of the youth. Dev was helping him make it on the rink and he fell down. Out popped a pack of cigarettes. Honestly exposure to the church is the best and what I learned is that you don't have to be perfect to be a part of it! We went on a youth conference to Palmyra, NY with the Alverezs. Norma, Rosa and Deshawn. On the way to the bus at the stake center we asked them, "So what is the Sacred Grove?" Silence. "OK. Who is Joseph Smith?" Silence. They learned a lot on the trip and it was so fun answering their fundamental questions and watching them feel the spirit and learn.
Our 80 yr old house:
I went to 40 homes and walked through 30 to find a place to live. I was excited about our Trautman home. When we moved in I walked back in for the first time and cried. Now if you know me you should know it honestly takes A LOT to make me cry. I couldn't believe "we had just paid that much for THIS!" (imagine sobs in between) But Dev quickly went to work and completely redid the kitchen installing a new fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher, disposal, cupboards, and lighting) Then he re-wired the electrical throughout the house (including an motion detector light in the kitchen which is my favorite part of the house) painting every room but one, re-doing porch furniture and the patio above the garage. Landscaping the upper half of the back yard and putting in a new vanity in the bathroom. I can remember it pouring rain at like 11 pm and we were Dev and I were nailing and drilling the railing together for the patio. Julie and Nan were coming the next day and we had to get it up in time! I love how our toilet upstairs is right by a 2 foot by 2 foot steam heater - the seat is always warm in the winters! Also we have a half bathroom downstairs that I haven't cleaned in 4 years! It has more bugs/spiders/cocroaches/centipedes in that corner than the whole house put together. Also it smells funny. So Dev is under the understanding that if he uses it - he cleans it up! Or doesn't - I don't care. No matter how much work we did on the house it was still 80 yrs old. The doors wail with sputterings no matter how much WD-40 you put on them. The house paint sticks together and I don't know of a quiet door in the house acutally that wouldn't wake a child up! I've learned what steps to take that will and won't squeak. Oh and I can't turn on the AC in the living room, the toaster in the kitchen and the island plug at the same time or the middle level electricity will short out!
Mary Lou:
We couldn't have asked for a better neighbor. I hope Brynlee remember the constant cookies and gifts that she brings over every holiday and after work if Brynlee is ever in the yard. We have watched Bill (her husband) struggle with 3 strokes and he passed away last month. It's been hard on her and I feel bad we are leaving right now. Dev has helped her a lot from helping lift Bill when he has fallen to cutting her tree. Once I came out and Dev was 30 feet in the air with a saw. He threw a rope at Mary Lou and I and said "make sure this doesn't fall on her house!" We ran up hill and started tugging while he sawed. Crazy man. Mary Lou is the most selfless person I know.
Friends:
I know the number one thing I take advantage of is the friends we have made here. There are so many families (20+) that are in our exact same boat. Then are our age, in dental school, kids are the same age, LDS, have the same hobbies goals and ideals, etc. We have had so many fun parties, BBQ's, dates, etc. I have learned how to be a good mom from some of these ladies and have learned good and hard lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Every girl is so different and I wish I could thank each of them individually for what they have done for my family from taking Brynlee over night for my cancer surgery/labors or listening to my less-than-pleasant rant and raves or putting up with my creative juices or not judging me or honestly putting me in my place or loving my kids like their own. Loyalty is a hard trait that I've always had to work on but have had amazing examples of it here.
Employment:
Dr Rescher was THEE best employer ever! I would come in up to 15 mins late and he would be in his office and ask if I needed a treat from downstairs cause I was running behind that day. I was his personal assisant. Then he would scribble jibberish down and I'd try to translate and type it up. He never said a ill word to anyone the whole time and I wanted to keep that job so so so bad! But I got pregnant and you know what he did my last day? He asked to meet with Devin and I and gave me 100$. He was in his 80's and was a philosophy teacher at the university. I also worked at a high security jail just typing in numbers ALL DAY LONG! Then I'd go outside for lunch eat in my car and count how many cigarettes people lit up during the break. There were hundreds! Then I worked in accounting typing in student ID numbers and addresses all day. I'd run to the bathroom about every hour till 1 pm throwing up. Yep - you guessed it - I was pregnant with Brynlee. Everytime I passed the sewer holes on the sidewalk if I didn't hold my breath long enough I'd lose breakfast. I knew all the alley ways after a few weeks. I walked 1/2 a mile to work 9 months pregnant (a week before my due date) so that we could park for free at the LDS church parking lot. Driving home with Dev was my favorite park of ever day!
Piano Lessons:
I got all my students off of Craigs List - gutsy I know. I had 12 but usually 10 at a time. Tues and Wed nights for 2 yrs. I loved every moment. From ages 5/6 to 50. It was in our home in the dining room and Dev would usually take Brynlee for the night.
Bike Riding:
We have rode over 1200 miles here - I think. Our route is about 10 miles that we usually take. Last year we would go at least twice a week. This year around once a week. We have done 2 30+ miles and have done less than 10 miles before but that is average. We have loved biking. When Thomas and Janelle came for school. They were new to the city and the best way we knew to introduce them to ALL the city in a timely manner is on bikes. So we started in Southside like usual. Well this dark luminous cloud started coming. By the time we were at the point downtown we decided to push it back to the car in stead of wait it out. Bad bad terrible idea. I have never seen a sheet of rain like that. We couldn't even see the rode in front of us. I wanted to cry I was so stressed riding in that rain. Brynlee was soaked and we were freezing! Needless to say they probably haven't biked since!
Pregnancy announcement:
Another memory I wanted to remember is telling Dev about being pregnant for the first time. I had thrown up pretty consistently all week on the way to work and school with him. So he knew something was up. We went to South Side and parked in a parking lot (we didn't know better at the time of where the free parking was) It was early Nov. We walked to a little ma and pa restaurant. I didn't know what to expect when I told him. But finally I spilled the beans and he was beaming. He was so so happy and have me a big hug! The rest of the dinner is a blur - just quickly talking about our future plans :) ! Callen and every baby after will probably never be a surprise! Another maternal story to remember is my first flight with a child by myself. Brynlee was 6ish months old and still nursing. And I was boarding my second flight late from a delay. The ONLY seat available was in between 2 very very obese men. That's right I still nursed. Brynlee was making funny sucking noises, they were mad and I was pretty sure I flashed both of them at multiple times. What was I suppose to do I had half the room I normally would with normal-weighted people?!
Junk:
We have picked up our fair share of junk here. Maybe people are too lazy to donate but trash day is one of our favorite days. I know it's horrible and I'm embarrassed but we picked up Brynlee's car seat on the side of the road. I washed and washed and scrubbed it clean. We got a mini tramp home once. The funniest is a 6 foot table we took home though. It was just sprinkling and we had a blanket in the back so we put the blanket on the top of the car rolled down the windows and we both stuck our hands out and held the table on top of the car while we drove home. It is stupid but it was even more stupid when it started pouring rain! I just remember my arm was shaking from the weight and there we rain drops dripping down my armpits! Come to find out it's the heaviest table - I can't lift it myself but has served it's purpose many times at parties all over Munhall!
Some other memories that have already been posted on the blog is Brynlee projectile vomiting multiple times on an airplane and 2 feet out on the stairs wall about 4 feet circumference circle. Oh and of course cancer. I'll never forget how depressing and overwhelming that was. Well actually I have forgotten but I hope that I can always humble myself. I like reading my journal and the blog cause it helps me put things in perspective.
OK that is all I can think of. I love Pittsburgh. I love where I live, who I've met and what we've become. I would do it all over again, no regrets and I will miss it. I haven't been emotional about leaving cause I think I'm just as excited for our new adventure in TX. If it turns out half as good as Pittsburgh than I have nothing to worry about. Life is going to be so busy in the next little bit so I guess this is my written good bye to the city I love. It's taken me days to write all these memories down but I know I'll appreciate it later on. So much has happened here I'm sure I've forgotten a ton. Meredith posted on her blog about wiping the finger prints off the walls when she moved. And she is right - it's our first house where we have brought home 2 kids, raised our first toddler, finished grad school and developed into the people we hope to be. It's like setting your pace in a half marathon. The beginning is so important and God couldn't have pushed us to a better grad school. We have loved it here and now trust God even more that he is constantly guiding our lives to meet and help or be helped by certain people and experiences.
2 comments:
Love the pictures! You all look fantastic
I read all of your stories and loved them! I will always have a special place in my heart for Pittsburgh too. Keep in touch!
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