Wow, has it really been six months?? Well, some days it certainly feels like it when I attempt to formulate potential posts in my mind, trying to figure out the most efficient way to cram all the things that have happened in the last few months into semi-quick reads. Instead, I tend to give in to my procrastination and enable the cycle. Oh, well.
I HAD to at least post about THE most anticipated event in the Wood family-- GRADUATION!! We made the trek back to ol' Kville for a long weekend of graduation events. It was very nostalgic to be back in Kirksville. We only spent two years there and though many days were tests of sanity and trials of faith, we made some wonderful memories (and friends) there. It almost felt as though we had never left as we drove past our old duplex, went to familiar parks and met up with old classmates and friends. My parents and sister were lifesavers and came up with us, helping out with the kids so that Christopher and I could go to all the "grown-up" dinners and events. Each night was a date night it seemed, as we had my SAA Banquet dinner Thursday, Christopher's Award Banquet Friday night and then graduation itself Saturday. My parents (and sister Jesi) stayed in the hotel babysitting most of the time. The girls did enjoy swimming in the hotel pool and eating early breakfasts with grandma. Besides dealing with a screaming baby ALL.NIGHT.LONG. the night before graduation, I think the five us did pretty well trying to sleep/play in one hotel room for three days.
I've been wanting to write down my thoughts and feelings from that weekend for a while. It's a time I NEVER want to forget. Some of the first conversations I had with Christopher after meeting him had been about how he was going to go the medical school and become a doctor. I know that the vast majority of college freshman rarely end up with the profession they had first considered, especially if postgraduate work is required. Not that it's wrong to change minds/paths...that's the beauty of being a freshman. You're just beginning your life as an adult and there seems to be so many options and roads to take. But Christopher had a plan and for anyone that truly knows my husband, you stick to the plan! So I've had the privilege of witnessing and supporting this man for the past eight years on his road to becoming a doctor. Christopher has worked full-time (as undergrad) supporting a family for 90% of this journey, studied his tail off for every test/entrance exam, held down church callings, moved away from family and familiar, and gave up SO much personal time to provide a better life for his growing family. I've never known anyone as dedicated and driven. This man can go for days without sleep, food and coming up for air so to speak to take care of business. There have been so many aspects of this learning process that didn't necessarily come easily to Christopher, though few people see that since he always pushed through and came out on top. He, like anyone else, has had moments of doubt in his abilities and time in the slumps. So while we discussed the fact that the graduation weekend would seem anticlimactic and drawn-out (which some parts were), it was a very emotional few days for me. I remember those "one day..." conversations back in our newlywed sophomore year as we would drive back and forth between Ponca City and Tonkawa for school, discussing how the goal of med school and then med school graduation seemed so far off, and some days, unattainable. Then there I was, sitting there, watching my husband cross the stage a student to a doctor just like that. I've never been more proud in my life. Christopher also received a scholarship during the Awards Banquet from one of his professors, Dr. Sargentini, and his wife. It's a memorial award for their son who died from Hodgkin's disease ten years ago. Christopher was very honored. We enjoyed getting to know these sweet people that night and hope to keeping in touch with them over the years. 
I HAD to at least post about THE most anticipated event in the Wood family-- GRADUATION!! We made the trek back to ol' Kville for a long weekend of graduation events. It was very nostalgic to be back in Kirksville. We only spent two years there and though many days were tests of sanity and trials of faith, we made some wonderful memories (and friends) there. It almost felt as though we had never left as we drove past our old duplex, went to familiar parks and met up with old classmates and friends. My parents and sister were lifesavers and came up with us, helping out with the kids so that Christopher and I could go to all the "grown-up" dinners and events. Each night was a date night it seemed, as we had my SAA Banquet dinner Thursday, Christopher's Award Banquet Friday night and then graduation itself Saturday. My parents (and sister Jesi) stayed in the hotel babysitting most of the time. The girls did enjoy swimming in the hotel pool and eating early breakfasts with grandma. Besides dealing with a screaming baby ALL.NIGHT.LONG. the night before graduation, I think the five us did pretty well trying to sleep/play in one hotel room for three days.
I've been wanting to write down my thoughts and feelings from that weekend for a while. It's a time I NEVER want to forget. Some of the first conversations I had with Christopher after meeting him had been about how he was going to go the medical school and become a doctor. I know that the vast majority of college freshman rarely end up with the profession they had first considered, especially if postgraduate work is required. Not that it's wrong to change minds/paths...that's the beauty of being a freshman. You're just beginning your life as an adult and there seems to be so many options and roads to take. But Christopher had a plan and for anyone that truly knows my husband, you stick to the plan! So I've had the privilege of witnessing and supporting this man for the past eight years on his road to becoming a doctor. Christopher has worked full-time (as undergrad) supporting a family for 90% of this journey, studied his tail off for every test/entrance exam, held down church callings, moved away from family and familiar, and gave up SO much personal time to provide a better life for his growing family. I've never known anyone as dedicated and driven. This man can go for days without sleep, food and coming up for air so to speak to take care of business. There have been so many aspects of this learning process that didn't necessarily come easily to Christopher, though few people see that since he always pushed through and came out on top. He, like anyone else, has had moments of doubt in his abilities and time in the slumps. So while we discussed the fact that the graduation weekend would seem anticlimactic and drawn-out (which some parts were), it was a very emotional few days for me. I remember those "one day..." conversations back in our newlywed sophomore year as we would drive back and forth between Ponca City and Tonkawa for school, discussing how the goal of med school and then med school graduation seemed so far off, and some days, unattainable. Then there I was, sitting there, watching my husband cross the stage a student to a doctor just like that. I've never been more proud in my life. Christopher also received a scholarship during the Awards Banquet from one of his professors, Dr. Sargentini, and his wife. It's a memorial award for their son who died from Hodgkin's disease ten years ago. Christopher was very honored. We enjoyed getting to know these sweet people that night and hope to keeping in touch with them over the years.
Awards Night
Med school friends
Like I said, graduation day seemed a little daunting since I had only gotten an hour of sleep and Caprice was not a happy child. I'm very grateful for my parents' help, again, and that Christopher's sister, Autumn and her friend, Zach, came as well and entertained the children beautifully. I didn't have to get up once with children during the whole ceremony and was able to focus on the moment. The entire program was very inspiring and embodied the D.O. theme of "mind, body, and spirit" very well. But we were sooooo ready when the W's turn came around during the conferring of degrees!
It took a little while to meet up with Dr. Wood after the ceremony, trying to find him in the crowd. There are those momentous times in life that you always have mental pictures of when you think of things that make you happy- your wedding day, the birth of your children, etc. You know, the moments that in a movie would be drawn out or go in slow-motion with swelling music in the background, all that cheesy stuff? Seeing the love of my life after this achievement that has been a major part of our dating/married life was such a moment. It was very hard to hold back blubbery emotions, and getting no sleep the night before did not help. But I kept it together...for the most part. We still had to take pictures, for goodness sake!
Christopher with sister, Autumn
It took a little while to meet up with Dr. Wood after the ceremony, trying to find him in the crowd. There are those momentous times in life that you always have mental pictures of when you think of things that make you happy- your wedding day, the birth of your children, etc. You know, the moments that in a movie would be drawn out or go in slow-motion with swelling music in the background, all that cheesy stuff? Seeing the love of my life after this achievement that has been a major part of our dating/married life was such a moment. It was very hard to hold back blubbery emotions, and getting no sleep the night before did not help. But I kept it together...for the most part. We still had to take pictures, for goodness sake!
the men who spent more time with my husband than me for two years!
Christopher with sister, Autumn
*I don't know how my parents got out of getting their pictures taken, but they were there!!
We stayed in Oklahoma for a few more weeks after graduation so that Christopher could participate in his brother's, James, med school graduation. Christopher saved his white coat to ceremoniously (and a bit vengefully) burn with his brother the night before his graduation! The look of pure joy on their faces in the third picture is absolutely priceless!
Christopher was invited by James to hood him during the ceremony, which he could do since he was officially a doctor! These two have been each others' greatest support through the trials of going through school, step by grueling step.
I love this pic
proud parents
happy wives
James, Amanda and cute family
It was great to see ALL of Christopher's siblings that day! Afterwards, we had a party celebrating the first doctors in the family!
It's been a crazy journey and it's definitely not over, but I'm so lucky to have been a part of it! Love you, Dr. Wood!
