My birthday weekends with my boyfriend Mark Struby will always be special in my heart. We both born in July and always celebrate our birthdays together. This year, we met in Kansas City, Missouri where my sister Lindsay lives now. Mark flew from Austin, Texas to Dallas, Texas to Kansas City, Missouri all by himself. His plane was delayed because of storms in Dallas for hours and hours. I was a little scared and also worried also because I want him to be okay and I was sad he wait all alone by himself in the airport in Dallas, Texas.
He landed in Kansas City, Missouri after 1:00 in the morning and it was a long time to wait to get my hug from him and we both have a really long day. He hold me tight and it was the hug that I wait for all day long.
We have the best birthday weekend together and it will always be a special memory for me to have with me always. I will write about it soon because I staying with my sister Megan while My Mom and My Dad are in Las Vegas on vacation.
I love Mark Struby with all my heart. Happy Birthday to my sweetheart.
It’s birthday month for Leah and Mark and this past weekend did NOT disappoint. Mark and Leah manage a long distance relationship and he flew in from Austin, Texas with the final destination of Kansas City to be with the one his heart beats for. This was no small task, as his flights continued to be delayed in Dallas, and him, my mom, and Leah had to wait over 7 ½ hours after his intended arrival time for him to land in KC.
They stayed in a hotel the first night and enjoyed Embassy Suites breakfast the next sunrise along with sleepy morning cuddles. It was then that my mom shared the exciting news to Mark; we were going as a family to the KENNY CHESNEY concert THAT DAY. He was elated.
The weekend came and went and was filled with more incredible moments than I could ever put to paper… although I will try to convey the love, patience, laughter, and frustrations that are involved in “Mark and Leah weekends” as such in another post.
I want to highlight a moment that happened at the end of the trip. Mark was sitting in my apartment eating his final breakfast in KC (banana bread that they insisted on getting at the Farmer’s Market the day prior and a glass of white milk).
As I sat down next to my “brother-in-law,” he goes,
“Lindsay, my friends in Texas are going to be SO THRILLED that I went to the Kenny Chesney concert!”
“Oh really, Mark?” I replied.
“YES, I mean, they are going to be VERY happy for me,” he responded.
I was taken aback.
If it had been me stating that sentence, without thinking twice, I would have said, “Mark, my friends are going to be SO JEALOUS that I went to the Kenny Chesney concert!”
One word made all the difference.
What is it about Mark and I that influenced this difference in word choice? Do I put too much emphasis into doing things that I feel others would be envious of?
It really got me thinking. Why can’t we all just be thrilled for each other, like Mark and his friends? Of course, we will be happy for the ones we love when they get the opportunity to experience something that makes them happy. But why does jealousy, or envy, have to make its way into our sentences and into our hearts?
With one word, Mark was able to remind me of what real friendship looks like. He was able to illustrate with one sentence that life is not a competition; it’s a unique mix of special experiences. And while my experiences may be entirely different than those of my best friends, at the end of the day, my heart is thrilled when I see the people I love getting those beautiful moments.
Here’s to turning our minds Upside Down.
Tina Young
I enjoy reading your articles.
Connie Peterson
You girls are doing a great job with your blog! I love reading all your insiteful articles! 🙂
Jacki King
Your insights are as amazing as your obvious love and devotion to your sister. Thank you for showing how important it is to remember to rejoice in our friend’s happiness.