HI FROM 3500 FEET

The invention of in-flight wifi has got to be the single most life-changing aspect of my current travelings. I love having the entire World Wide Web at my fingertips on long flights, and the ability to work a little on the plane feels like the ultimate multitasking activity, like you think this is amazing, hundreds of people up in the clouds flying in a piece of metal across the country? Watch me google at the same time.

We are currently somewhere over the middle of the USA. No idea where. Which is kind of freeing in some ways, knowing I have absolutely no clue at all where I am, because that hardly ever happens in my day to day life. It's great right now because I know that someone does know where we are, and not only what state we are currently over but also the altitude, how fast we're going, the wind speed, and a myriad of other things I can't even begin to fathom. I'm glad I'm not the one in control here. It feels nice to not be calling the shots here. Relaxing, even.

I wonder if I could learn to act more like a passenger in my day to day life, and less like a wannabe pilot, how differently my days might look. On land, I enjoy being a boss. I run my own business, and I think sometimes that gives me a false sense of control. In life, just as in this airplane, the amount of control I have over things is about the same as I have from this seat. Almost none, in the grand scheme of things. There are some things I have control over here: what I order to drink, which book I'll read and how many photos I'll take out that window. But there is so much more out of my control, the big things, that I couldn't even alter even if I wanted to. And I'm glad that I don't get to. I want to learn how to control what I can control, and let go of the things I can't. I think it's a fine line.

ON TWO YEARS

Two years ago today we said Yes to a lifetime together, not knowing what was ahead of us. We've been so surprised, in the best way, about how good marriage has been. When we were dating and engaged we heard over and over again about how hard marriage was, and while that can be true on some days or in some seasons, I want to also share how good marriage can be.

One of the most amazing things to me is the fact that I am a better person today than I was two years ago because of my marriage. Marriage is absolutely a refining process, and I am continually being shaped into a better version of myself on so many levels. I have a greater bank of patience now, I am a better communicator, problem solver, and compromiser. I see my strengths as well as my weaknesses more clearly, giving me a more accurate picture of myself. I am both simultaneously more grounded as well as a higher goal setter than I was before. My sense of "home" is no longer a place but a person. Thankful doesn't even begin to cut it when I think about the ways in which I've grown over these past two years.

Daniel and I have a long history of friendship, and our families go way back. We first met when we were five, and by the next time we saw each other at 12, we had developed heart-pounding crushes on each other. We grew up in different states and wouldn't start dating until after college (read more about our story here) so by the time we started dating, we were already on a first-name basis with each other's family pets and extended relatives. It was ideal and fairytale-like in so many ways. I was already loved by his family before there was any reason for them to like me, and vice versa. That history and friendship has been an incredible foundation for us, and I truly feel like I hit the in-law jackpot. We are well loved and supported by them, and since we live in Daniel's home state, my in-laws are my local family, and they feel more like immediate family.

One thing we learned in our pre-engagement class (which was one of the best things we've done as an investment in our marriage) was that 80% of conflicts couples face are unsolvable (meaning one person is a night owl while the other is an early bird, etc). No one you marry will be an exact clone of you on every level (thank goodness, right?). So, we knew that we were guaranteed differences and conflict, but if we could learn how to embrace them and work through conflict in a healthy, constructive way, it would serve us well for a lifetime. The point wasn't to avoid conflict, but to communicate and draw closer to each other through it. That has been our strategy and it has been an incredible mindset shift for us. We both continue to learn how to fight fairly and I think we will continue to learn about conflict resolution for the rest of our lives.

Daniel and I are each other's number one fan. When we had to evacuate Lake Chelan a few weeks ago because of the fires, I asked Daniel on the drive home what would he grab first if he were really in a fire, to see what his most prized possessions were. And he calmly and seriously said, "You. If I didn't have anything else, I would be ok." And I feel the same way. He is my number one, my can't live without, grab first in a fire, most treasured survival item.

Happy two years, Daniel. Proud to be yours.

EVACUATING CHELAN & THE SEIDEL FAMILY STAYCATION

Last week, my in-laws reserved a giant five-bedroom lake house for 11 of us to stay at for the week. We all have looked forward to this week since Christmas, we all took the week off, we talked about it at length, stocked up at Costco, and and dreamed and prepped and packed and planned. And then, none of us could have predicted what would actually happen.

There had been fires near the area on and off this summer, but the night before we arrived, a dry lightning storm struck, starting fires that have currently burned a total of 155 square miles, and currently only 30% of it has been reported to be contained. The devastation has been far-reaching and unmeasurable, but we had no idea just how bad the weekend would turn out for us.

With no power, cell service, and limited water in the house, we were already in survival mode when my eleven month old nephew began to develop a severe allergic reaction to breakfast. No benedryl in the house plus no stores being open due to the power outage made an ER trip the only option. My nephew began to recover, but heightening an already stressful situation, the hospital was evacuated just as they were released. We were staying a few miles down the road, and even though we didn't have the direct order to evacuate, we decided that was best for everyone at that point. We called an audible and headed home, totally devastated, shocked, and curious at how our week-long, lakeside family vacation could have gone so wrong.

After getting home to electricity and showers, we rallied for dinner that night at my in-laws. After being sad about it for a little bit, we decided we would turn lemons into lemonade. We nominated people in categories over the past two days for "best one-liners" "most inventive use of scarce resources" and "best meal," and I laughed so hard I cried. If there was ever a family who could turn a tragedy into a comedy, it would be my in-laws. It's a gift for sure and they have it.

We've gone all out for our staycation this week. Brunches and dinners out at our favorite spots, afternoons at the pool, picnics at the beach. We're bummed but rallying in the best way. It's a treat to get so much time together still, and even though we're not at a lake house, I feel like I could even have fun with this crew in a dumpster.

We'll get a redo vacation someday, but until then, I'm thankful for this week. I'm thankful mostly that we're all safe, but also for a family who knows how to have fun, even when things go really wrong. It reminds me of dancing in the rain at our wedding. There is no one I'd rather dance through all the storms of life than with my husband and his hilariously fun, generous family.