My Husband- Temporarily Unavailable

 Dale and I were married on December 20, 2008. Since then, we have both graduated, and moved to Kansas City to start our big kid jobs. Currently, we live in Prairie Village in the cutest little cottage you've ever seen.  Dale and I started dating when I was a sophomore in High School. Yes- we were 16 years old. Dale knows me better than anyone, and can actually tell me what I'm thinking before I have to say anything. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy, and he challenges me in many ways. Dale is extremely smart, and excels in literally everything he does. I am still a better singer- and he knows it- he just won't admit it. I love Dale for everything that he is, and for always making me a better person. Dale has been there every step of the way, and has been supportive of everything I have done (even if he didn't always agree). Even though we are married, we're still growing up, we're just doing it together.

Before we were married, I had this image of marriage as a blissful and always happy time. Although this is true in many ways, it may have been a slight misconception. Don't get me wrong, I married the man of my dreams and I will love him till we're old and gray, but man, sometimes grown-up jobs make it hard...

To explain my temporarily unavailable husband, I must explain my point of view first. There are about 3 months a year that I am "on my own". Cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. etc. etc... yes, I do it all, all on my own. It's kind of like I live alone, but with a stranger coming in and out at odd hours of the night. Every afternoon as I get home from work, I discover what the stranger has left for me in the wee night hours that he is roaming around the house. Most days I find dirty socks on the floor, cereal bowls in the sink, and toothpaste goo on the bathroom counter. On lucky days, I even find a set of clothes hanging on the designated "dry-clean me please" door handle. On bad mornings, the stranger leaves the kitty unfed. On really good mornings, I come home to find her bowl so over-filled that I am afraid she may just explode if she tried to eat it all. Each afternoon, I get to clean up after the stranger that comes into the house at night, sleeps, eats, and is gone by the time I get home.

This stranger is my husband- the accountant. More specifically, a tax accountant. He received his CPA in May of 2010 after graduating from KU with his Masters in Accounting.  Soon after graduating, he started working at Deloitte in Kansas City, and has been working his hiney off ever since. Luckily, this allowed me/us/him to skip right over busy season for 2010. Although last September did bring a "busy" season, it was nothing in comparison to the busy season that is happening now.  Now that I think about it- I think it should be re-named "say goodbye to your family and friends, and possibly consider just moving into your office" season. This name would be more fitting, and it would also give wives like me different expectations. I wouldn't call in the middle of the day leisurely asking how his day was going and what time he will be home for dinner. I would know better than to think an actual conversation is possible! As Dale once described to me, "Getting my work done is like being chased by a cheetah. I'm always on the clock, and always trying to beat the cheetah. When you call, he catches me. If we talk too long, I get eaten by the cheetah".  Now I stick to the 3 sentence rule. Hi! How are you? Home tonight?

This was a very hard concept for me to learn. When I say hard, I mean- I tried to cheat the system many times. Things like whining, pouting, pathetic voicemails and emails...and even shopping. None of these things worked. Not even a little. As it turns out, no one at the office really cares if I am waiting at home for Dale to get there. Taxes and deadlines will always be more important.

This brings me to the very important, highlighted, circled, starred, and very much anticipated day of the year...April 15. Taxes are done, mailed in, turned in...whatever. It all comes down to this day. I think I may look forward to it just as much, if not more, than the accountants actually doing the tax returns. As April 15th approaches, I know that the end is near, and that this means I get my husband back.

This being said, I love my husband very much. He works extremely hard at his job, and I admire him so much for that. (I could never pull off an 80 hour week!) Much more on Dale to come. Most likely, after April 15th when he is...Available.


xoxo

Meet Katie Joy- The Farmer's Wife

My sister, Katie Joy, let me know last night that I have left out a very important person in this blog. I responded with, "Don't worry, you're next"!

My sister is someone in my life that has done (and will continue to do) everything I haven't. She's driven and accomplished in every way that I'm not. We couldn't be more different, and it doesn't help that we look nothing alike!

It all began when Katie started running. I don't mean running on the treadmill for fun. I mean running for a passion. And she is a good runner- a very good runner. Once Katie took to running and quickly won her first cross country meet, she was deemed "that Stockstill girl I always see running down the street".  Me? I hate running. I mean, I really, REALLY hate running. Katie will tell you it clears her head and allows her to get her frustrations out...I have never experienced this. There may have been one point in my life when I thought "man, what a great run". Those feelings did not last long- I think at that point in my life I was a little crazy for thinking such silly thoughts. In fact, the last time I went for a run (by choice), it was to prepare myself for when I come home to McPherson-- to run with Katie! Yes, I'm a personal trainer. No, I don't keep up. It's unfortunate, but that's life.

Not only is Katie an accomplished runner, but she's also brilliant. When I say brilliant I mean- if you put a book in front of her- she will immediately understand it. Math, History, English, you name it. She has always been the brains of the family. Definitely something I am not. I will admit, there have been times when she has made us question if she is actually the genius we all thought she was...but in the end, she'll end up proving to us that she is a smarty pants. You have a question about anything politics, history, world news? Ask Katie- she'll answer it. And if you disagree with her, she'll explain to you why you are wrong. Gotta love her!

My big sister and I have not always been the best of friends like we are today. In fact, there were many times in our child-hood/teen-hood, etc. that I can vividly remember us screaming, yelling, fighting and throwing a fit over a disagreement. Usually it's because Katie thought it was okay to come into my closet (without my knowing) to steal my clothes..okay...this could have been me. She DID have all the cool clothes though. Or, if you really want to start an argument between us, ask Katie about the Truck. If you ask her- she had to drive the truck ALL through high school. The truth is, she did have to drive the ol' Sooner Schooner in high school, but we actually shared the truck when I learned to drive. Hey, I had to drive something! Then we got the civic. Katie's story: Abbey got the civic. The real story: we shared the civic. She did not appreciate having to share the new car with her little sister. Who could blame her? I was most likely very annoying- yes, I'll admit it. In my defense, I didn't appreciate my big sister bossing me around. And around and around we went.  That's love, isn't it?

Where is she now? Well, after going to school in Pittsburg, Kansas (yes, of course with a few scholarships under her belt...cross country, swimming, academics), she moved to Springdale, Arkansas. To Katie, it was a new job and an adventure. She was always the child that wanted to get as far away from home as possible. The rest of the family did not care for this move, as it put her too far away from the family. Me? I would rather just live at home. As recently stated, I don't like change. The farther away I am, the harder time I have. That is how I have always been, and will always be (Thanks Dad!). This is "Sew" Not like my Mother!! My parents reeled Katie back home to McPherson and she got herself a fantastic job as the Managing Editor of the McPherson Sentinel. Have a question about the paper? Ask Katie- she's in charge!

Lastly, my sister has recently married Mr. Derek Sawyer, the farmer. As the story goes, my Mother told Katie, "If you move home, you will meet the man of your dreams". And that's exactly what happened. They were set up on a blind date and the rest is history. Married in December 2010, they have been a happy farming family ever since. Katie has had more new experiences on the farm front that she will be happy to share with you (newtothefarm.wordpress.com). Along with a new husband, she now has more animals than any of us can count, and is still learning how to live with a boy. Nope, it's not easy- and it never will be.

I admire my sister for so many reasons. We are very different, but that gives us the bond we have now. Oh, did I mention she's now a K-State fan? Let's not go there. We love you Derek, but accepting your purple will take some time. Like I said before, she excels and appreciates things in life that I don't, and that gives us balance.

Need to know who to vote for in the election? Ask Katie. Need to know how to lift weights? Ask me. And that sums it up. I love my big sis like crazy. She's a great sister, an accomplished runner, a brilliant businesswoman, and she's my best friend.

Love you, Sister!

My Mother & My Father

I excitedly texted my parents last night to tell them I had finally created my very own blog. The idea of starting one had always lingered in the back of my mind, but the only reason I didn't was because I couldn't find a name fitting enough to really get my point across.

I told Dale I needed some help thinking of creative names . He came up with...well none. As I thought about my everyday life, I realized the people who has inspired everything I  have done and become are my parents.

Don't get me wrong, the blog is titled after my mother, but my father is actually the person I am more like. For example, we may have at one time both had brown hair, although that is still questionable. Neither of us like change, and we would both prefer to pile everything together on our plate as one sloppy concoction, rather than eating things separately.  We are both very superstitious, and most of all, we're both short and athletic. My dad was my coach all the way throughout my athletic career/life. Gymnastics, pole vault, triple jump, and yes, even cheerleading. You name it they were there. You could usually find my mom in the stands with her pom poms, and my dad right down there on the sideline just coaching away. My parents were my #1 fans that led me to every ounce of the success I have ever had.

Last but not least, my dad and I both love my Mother.

Looking back at my childhood and into adulthood, my Mother always seemed to know what to say, what to do, where we were going, and how to get there.  How to cook it, how to make it, and how to put it together. Even to this day, she always seems to know just the right answers, especially to that never ending question of "why".

As I have grown up, I can see myself in her- as a wife and someday as a mother. I aspire to be more like her, and to be able to do things just as she has done. She's an amazing influence, and has taught me more about life than I could even explain. This is why I decided to dedicate this blog to my beautiful mother. For everything she has given me, this is my attempt to show her I have learned a few things along the way!

Love you Mom & Dad!