I guess before I get all crazy writing about life and stuff, I wanted to explain why I'm even writing this blog. There are so many people from Colorado, my mission in New York, and just friends I've made over the years who I struggle to stay in contact with. I hope that this blog can be a small gesture of trying to still be part of each others lives even though we may be far from each other.
So I guess I will give a quick blurb about the last month of mine and Spencer's lives. As always, the Christmas season went by way too fast. So much happened in December. We both finished another semester of school. Spencer is studying public health administration at Utah Valley University. I finished my final semester at Brigham Young University! I am a college graduate! I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies: Emphasis in Human Development. I actually had to just look up what my major is actually called haha! I just tell people human development. I am really excited and proud of myself to be done with school! It was also kind of anticlimactic because I don't actually walk until April. But my diploma is on its way in the mail, so even though I don't have the graduation pictures to prove it, I have the diploma! Spencer still has a couple more years to complete his Bachelor's so we will still be in the Orem/Provo area for a couple more years. After that, who knows where we will end up!
So this Christmas season ended up being very special to me for a few reasons. First, I was able to spend my first Christmas in Utah with my in-laws. On Christmas eve Spencer and I spent the night in South Jordan with Spencer siblings, their families, and his parents. It was really fun because I felt like we got to experience the kid magic of Christmas one more time since we all slept over and woke up together on Christmas morning. We were spoiled rotten! It also snowed all day! It was so beautiful and magical. There really is nothing like a white Christmas. It was a great day spent with family.
The Christmas season was also a difficult one because my Grandpa Bonnes passed away on the morning of Christmas Eve. He had suffered a major stroke a little less than a week earlier. It was very difficult to not be close to that side of my family when all this happened, but thankfully Spencer and I were able to fly home to Colorado for his funeral the Wednesday after Christmas. It was a beautiful service and I was privileged to sing "The Wind Beneath My Wings." My Grandpa was a wonderful singer and guitar player. That song was one that he was known for singing at funerals. He also was famous for singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth." So at the end of his funeral my 9 cousins and I sang that song together. The last few weeks have been tearful ones, but it has been fun to reminisce with everyone about how awesome our Grandpa is. He was a goofy, kind, loud, loving cowboy. I still can't believe he has died, but I am grateful to know that because of our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement I will see my Grandpa again. I know that families can be together forever.
Grandma and Grandpa Bonnes
Our Christmas break continued to be busy after the funeral. Spencer's family had a family reunion planned all year, so after the funeral we flew from Colorado to Arizona where we met up with family in Wickenberg. It was the first time I met a lot of Spencer's cousins and aunts and uncles. We had a great couple days in Arizona. The weather was beautiful and it was fun to get to know everyone better. We went four wheeling through the desert, played tons of games, visited a ghost town, had a family home evening, and ate lots and lots of delicious food! It was a very fun couple of days and it was sad to say goodbye to everyone.
Wilkes Family Reunion
After the long drive home to Orem from Wickenberg the craziness didn't stop. Spencer started another semester of school. I worked Monday and Tuesday and then on Wednesday I had surgery on my hip. I had what's called a cam impingement, which is where the head of my femur is too big for the socket and so my bones grind. I also had a labral tear, which is where the cartilage surrounding the femur wears down or tears. So I went to the hospital Wednesday morning, had surgery, and got home around 7pm that night. The surgery went well! The doctor shaved part of my femur off so it wont grind anymore, and stitched up my torn labrum. The whole day is a blur to me. It was kind of fun to talk to Spencer about all the things that happened that day because I seriously had NO recollection of anything that happened. He was surprised because he said that I seemed very with it. Anesthesia is some crazy stuff.
The last few days after surgery have been very humbling. I'm on crutches for the next three weeks and then I'll continue doing physical therapy for the next three months. I've been sick on and off because of the anesthesia and other medicine I'm taking. Although the past few days have been very difficult because I've been feeling very sick and very sore, I've also felt so loved. I've had multiple family members and friends bring Spencer and I dinner, take me to physical therapy, and just come over to keep me company. It brings me to tears to think about how grateful I am for the family and friends that I have in my life. But more than anyone I've been so grateful for my husband Spencer. He has taken such good care of me the last few days and I just can't begin to express how much I love him. I am so lucky.
