Smattering.

I'm starting to get a little nostalgic. The reality of moving in just a couple months is starting to sink in and take root.

For example, I'm leaving a doctor's appointment this week, and they ask for my address so they can mail me a yearly appointment reminder next Spring. 

Me: Oh I'm moving in a couple of months so I won't be at that address.
Receptionist: That's ok, do you know your new one? We can just mail it there.
Me: Well I'm actually moving to Ohio.

The words so casually slipped out, then sort of hung in the air for a moment. "Holy crap I'm moving to OHIO!?!" (thought, not said). In the spirit of all honesty, maybe the exact wording of my thought was a little less PG-13 than that, but you get the idea. Deep breath. Remind myself I/we got exactly what I/we wanted. The puzzle pieces that came together to open this door for us are part of a much bigger plan for our lives. Excitement returns.

It was the first of many of these moments I'm sure.

This weekend has been a wonderful one - full of friends, laughter, and relaxation.

There is certainly something about scattering across the country that has motivated all of us to soak up every opportunity we have with each other. I sort of wish we possessed this mentality from the beginning?

We are off to dinner with the Neel's tonight. It will no doubt be a time filled with good food, laughter, playing pups, and... loan repayment plans? Ugh. Conveniently my husband is a CPA who LOVES financial planning...

Weekend visitor x3

1. Spring - a season that brings me annual joy and heralds that sweltering time we call an Alabama summer.

On a random but somewhat related note, this from Wikipedia regarding Cincy's climate: "Summers are hot and humid, with significant rainfall in each month. July is the warmest month, with highs just above 86 °F (30 °C), reaching 90 °F (32 °C) or above on 18 days per year, often with high dew points and humidity." Highs around 86 in the hottest part of summer? I can totally get on board with that.
2. A beautiful & energetic weim: Bella's favorite doggy cousin and the reason she is the most anti froo-froo shih tzu around.

3. Lauren - a sweet niece that has shot up like a weed right before our eyes.

It was a much needed restful weekend after the excitement of last week.

I skipped 2/3 of Couch to Houston last week on account of Match Day and its related celebrations, and I am going to be hurting here in about 20 minutes. On that note, have a great week!

T-minus 14 work days until I finish school!

Drumroll please...

Not really. I'm guessing most of you who read this blog have either seen/heard from one of us, our family members, Facebook, e-mail, text, etc. the results of yesterday's Match Day. So where are the Fain's headed come June?

That's right folks. These Southern born-and-bred kids are headed to the Midwest. Match Day was sort of amazing. And a little bit of a blur. My friends (and class) totally rocked the Match this year.

Unfortunately the combination of my nerves plus accidentally switching off the autofocus on my camera resulted in very few photos on my camera from Match Day morning. At UAB, all the students names/envelopes are placed in a large basket, and at 11 a.m. when the results were released, students were called up (at random) a few at a time to open their envelope and read their match to the (very crowded and excited) auditorium room. Lucky for me I didn't have to anxiously wait very long, as I was #8. If anyone is interested in seeing the video, click here and fast-forward to around minute 40 or so.

This whole process has been such a whirlwind of emotions, and it's crazy that the course of the next 3 years of our lives boiled down to what was inside that envelope. Needless to say, we are PUMPED! We would have been thrilled with any of our top 3 choices, but we both confessed to each other yesterday afternoon after things had slowed down that the idea of Cincinnati had sort of captured our hearts and minds, and there certainly would have been an element of disappointment had things worked out another way.

After the ceremony we went to a lunch hosted by the school and then had a few hours of downtime before the epic celebration that was planned for later that evening.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my classmates and their significant others?

Because I do. A ridiculous amount. I love these people so much and my heart swelled with pride when each of them announced their stellar matches.

We have laughed and cried and vented and rejoiced our way through these past four years, and celebrating all of our hard work yesterday was truly an experience that will go down as one of my all-time favorites.

And where did these five end up?

In AMAZING programs that are unfortunately not in the same cities.

Don't worry we have already started strategizing our off weekends. We definitely have some cool cities to visit each other in! And thank goodness for technology.

I am so proud and excited for my classmates - our four years of hard work certainly paid off yesterday!

Walker & I are beyond thrilled about the opportunity and path that lies ahead. We wanted an adventure and have sure got ourselves one now!!

Happy weekend!!

Laney's Dedication

It was a just an overnight trip to Nashvegas, but we crammed in a whole lot of fun.

Saturday night we hit up some Mexican at Taco Mamacita's, then went back to the Griesheimer's for some delicious cupcakes. Very few things warm my heart and my stomach like cheese dip and margaritas.

Sunday after church we headed to Barbara's for some good ol' fashioned home cooking. WOW. So delicious. 2nd best yeast rolls ever (#1 goes to my Nonnie).

Campbell and Laney provided each other full-time entertainment and lots of laughs.

Next we headed to Sweet CeCe's in downtown Franklin. I have visited a lot of create-your-own-ice-cream shops over the past couple years, but this is hands down the cutest.

You think sweet Addy liked her ice cream? So much so that she voiced frustration in between each bite and was clearly distraught when the cup was empty.

Then it was back to the dedication service. Such a sweet time to all be there together to pray for this beautiful little family (that I am lucky enough to call my own!).

And clearly Uncle Walker is always a fun time. Aren't these two just adorable?

Thanks Lele & Eric for planning such a fun weekend!

On an also exciting but unrelated note, I will be officially employed in 2 days, city and academic institution TBD. Next post will be post-Match Day, woohoo!

our week in Instagrams

(Instagram = iPhone app, and maybe Android too? Not sure on that one.)

Sort of lazy, I know. No time to pull out the good camera, and no overly-exciting events to report, but in an effort to keep posting on a semi-regular basis this is the best I could come up with. I sort of love keeping up with friends and family via photos on Instagram. I only follow 5 people b/c I have no idea how to find other people I know, so you should find me (etfain) so I can follow you too.

Sunday = Church. Bella's bath day. Afternoon on the deck. Grilling out while playing Scrabble. We are so cool.

Monday = Start of difficult new rotation, which made for an intellectually, physically, and emotionally exhausting week. Week 2 of Couch to Houston begins. Powerade Zero is my best friend.

Tuesday = Night at Jackson's. Despite feeling tired, soaking up all the time with friends I can get.

Wednesday =  No memory of it.
Thursday = Taste of Homewood. We L-O-V-E our neighborhood.

We also love Chick-Fil-A. This (blurry) drum-playing cow gave Bella a new toy, which she clearly loves (ignore her creepy flash-induced eye).

Friday = TGIF. In bed by 9:30.

Saturday = Sleeping in. Mom and dad drive up for lunch. First visit to Over Easy. Ate too much. Enjoyed the rainy day.

Sunday = Phenomenal sermon by David Platt. Much needed and too long in waiting hug from Krisha. Lazy Sunday afternoon in pajamas.

11 days til Match Day. 5 weeks until my last day of med school.

Good times ahead folks :)