Things We've Learned: Three Year Edition

I've fallen in love with this tradition of ours. Each year around our anniversary, we talk about things we've learned about each other in the last year. I'm always surprised with how much we can come up with. Here are our year three highlights!

Things Phil's Learned about Hannah:

1. She loves giving gifts and hates waiting to give them. 
2. When she sets her mind to a goal, she does whatever it takes to achieve it. 
3. She's passionate about books. 
4. She has a wide range of interests and loves reading about all different kinds of things. 
5. She can whip up dinners when it looks like we have nothing to eat. 
6. She enjoys hiking if it's at the right pace.
7. She loves riding bikes.
8. She hates the idea of working out, but loves the feeling after it's over. 

Things Hannah's Learned about Phil

1. He can wield tools like a boss and is now an expert picture hanger. 
2. He is one of the deepest sleepers I know. He also assumes very specific positions when he sleeps, such as putting his hand on his face with his elbow in the air.  
3. He loves showing off things that he's learned in school. 
4. He can be super competitive. 
5. He absorbs stress from other people. 
6. He's very adventurous. 
7. He's obsessed with the Olympics, like we moved our mattress into the living room for almost two weeks to watch everything.
8. He's a great teacher and loves sharing thoughts and ideas with others.
9. He loves traditions, especially around the holidays.
10. He loves leaving notes for me on Post-Its and he always asks if I find them. 

I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be married to Phil forever. He's my best friend and greatest blessing. I love you, Philly! 

Grateful for Fighting

Yesterday Phil and I had a fight. Like most of our fights, it started with me. I had to go to Seattle for a business trip, and we'd planned to have me drive myself down to the airport. We were going to wake up early, jump my car (because hello, working from home, I hardly ever drive), and then I'd head out.

Mentally I agreed with the plan, but emotionally I hoped that Phil would drive me. And then, irrational as I can sometimes be, I was offended when he didn't jump on my newly proposed plan to drive me when I asked him about an hour before I needed to leave. Like, how did I not think that he clearly had his day planned already? And how do I always forget how annoying it is to drive someone to the airport? 

Similar to most (if not all) of our fights, it lasted about an hour. Mostly because Phil tried to apologize and I grasped my perceived offense as if it were a dinghy in the middle of my ocean of emotions. I think our fights would be seconds, or mere minutes long if I could just let things go easier. But I digress...

But within moments, it all melted away. He looked at me, apologized from the bottom of his heart (as if he had something to apologize for), and then hugged me in that tender way that only Phil can. As we said our prayers before heading out for the day, I thanked God for our fight and that we were able to forgive each other. 

Phil laughed, and I know he thought it was weird that I would be grateful for a fight. But I can honestly say that I'm grateful for every single fight we've ever had. Not because fighting is fun, but because of what it's taught me. 

We're never fighting against each other, we're always fighting for each other. We always fight because our love runs so deep, and hurt or offense with a love like that cuts a lot deeper than any other hurt. Our fights show me that we truly need each other, that we love each other, and that we expect so much of each other. Each fight, and corresponding forgiveness, strengthens that love that I so deeply cherish. Because the best things really are worth fighting for...

Starting the Year with Some Aloha

There are benefits and downsides to starting out the year with a vacation. Benefit: Your year starts out on a huge high note. Downside: Everything in real life seems dull by comparison.

This family trip to Hawaii was a dream come true (minus lost phones, luggage, etc.). Shout-out to my parents for all their love and planning. We could not have asked for a better vacation.

Sea Spray Win

Floating Down Sugar Cane Irrigation Canals

It Was Raining... Phil Was Cold

Family Beach Day

I Sure Love This Guy

Roosters and Chickens Everywhere!

Kayaking... Before We Lost Our Phones

My Seal Besties! One Swam about 10 Feet from Me!

That Turtle Though

Taking Off in the Helicopter

Aerial View of the Napali Coast

Happy Because Helicopters!

Those Views!

Biking along the Beach 

Getting Back to My Brasilian Roots

When Your Shaved Ice Is as Big as Your Face

Cutest Fruit Stand

Agua de Coco!

Lazy, Lazy Beach Day

View of the Sunset from Our Catamaran

He Looks Good on the Ocean

Poipu, I Miss You!

Kayaking, tubing, beaching, boating, helicopter riding... It all added up to an unforgettable week with my favorite people. Aloha until next time, Kauai! 

The Stats of 2016

It's been a record year for the Crepeau family. Here are some of our stunning stats:

1. One year of medical school for Phil 
2. One summer research position at Seattle Children's for Phil
3. One two year wedding anniversary
4. One 1,000 days married celebration
5. Two international trips (Canada together and India for Hannah)
6. Two birthdays
7. Four major work conferences for Hannah
8. Six big hikes together
9. Seven seasons of Gilmore Girls re-watched by Hannah
10. Ten weeks in Seattle
11. Twelve temple trips together
12. 368 General Conference talks listened to for Hannah
13. 30 books read for Hannah
14. 360+ new Portuguese words learned for Hannah
15. 611 miles of running for Phil
16. 2700+ hours of med school studying for Phil
17. Almost 30,000 work emails for Hannah

And this doesn't include endless laughs, date nights, Ben and Jerry's pints, and happy memories. It's been a year for the books. There's no one I'd rather dance through life with than my amazing husband. 

Christmas Cheer 2016

I'm clearly behind on the blog posts, but I couldn't pass up a post about Christmas. Spending Christmas with my family was THE BEST! I've missed them so much and we had such a blast this year. Is it too early to start a Christmas countdown? Asking for a friend...

The Scenery from Idaho

Cookie Fest

My Masterpiece

Sisters!

Cookie Love

We Make the Best Cookie Team

A Little Guess Who Before Gingerbread Houses 

He Takes This Very Seriously

The Final Product

The Tree of Life in Draper

Christus on Temple Square

Our Blurry Couple's Photo

This Place Though

A Crepeau Tradition

The Family Princess and her Presents

Brother-Cousin Photo Bomb

My Surprise Birthday Balloons

A Belated Merry Christmas to You and Yours

An Open Letter to Americans

Those who know me know that I am not political. I have my opinions, of course, but I rarely discuss politics. Conversations like this are divisive, contentious, and deepen already ingrained opinions. But in the shadows of the results from this week's election, I can hardly remain silent.

Let me start by saying that I didn't vote for Trump. Or Hillary. I voted for a third party candidate. I didn't care for either major candidate, and felt that neither expressed my values or beliefs. Yet here I am, days after the votes have been cast, wondering how this has happened. How has a man who bred bigotry, hatred, and anger been elected to govern our nation? How can someone who criticizes, demeans, and belittles people receive support from anyone? I, like so many, am baffled.

However, the president elect is not my greatest fear. I have faith in the system of our government, the establishment envisioned and structured by our Founding Fathers. I know that the system of checks and balances will keep drastic and horrifying things from destroying our country. What I am worried about is our people. Checks and balances in Washington D.C. cannot take back hateful words. They cannot minimize the anger that grows within the hearts of so many following this election. Politicians cannot heal the hurt.

I was openly offended and distraught by Trump's words about women. His treatment of women is both archaic, appalling, and utterly inappropriate. But I cannot say that I understand how it feels to be judged by the color of my skin. I cannot say that I know how it feels to have someone threaten to deport all members of my religion. I cannot say that I know how it feels to be called a rapist or a drug dealer, simply because of my ethnicity. I will, hopefully, never know what that feels like.

Remember this: We don't need to perfectly understand another person's fears or trauma to be able to support them and be compassionate. We don't need to pass through another's experiences to be able to offer respect and courtesy. We do not need to be able to experience all to be a support for all.

If there's one thing that this election has proven, it's that racism, bigotry, hatred, anger... They're all real. They burn and grow within the hearts of many Americans. But I also know that compassion, charity, love, support, truth... Those are also very real. This is a defining moment in America's history. Will we choose to fuel hatred, or will we choose to fuel love? Will we choose to let our leaders dictate how we treat and respect others? Or will we rise up, reach out, listen deeply, and attempt to heal and understand our neighbors? I know what I will choose.

Ultimately, progress is rarely made by debating politics. Progress is made by considering and understanding people. We make progress not by discussing issues, but by discussing solutions. We make progress when we put aside differences to find commonalities. We make progress when we realize that we are all more alike than we are different. We are Americans, and if we are to push past the rubble of this election, that must continue to mean something to each of us. 

Autumn in Utah

I may be biased, but there is nothing like autumn in Utah. So when I found out I would be visiting for work in September, I was thrilled. I spent over a week visiting family, friends, and hanging at the office. Plus, a girls trip to St. George never hurt anyone.

Paradise 

My Parents' Eden

Josh's Famous Pecan Pie

Right after Dad Called BYU "Bush League"

We Bleed Blue

Getting Pumped Before We Lost

Never Too Cold for My Game Treat

Sister Selfie

Road Trip Buddy

Mom: "Look Candid"

Our Normal Pose

Prepping to See Tarzan

Morning Walk in St. Geezy

My Lady

The Cutest Cactus Ever

Nana at the Bakery

"Does It Tickle?"

Found Her the Perfect Necklace

The Gorgeous St. George Temple

Selfie 

Those Leaves Though

You're Kidding Me, Right?

Aspen Love

Miss My Camille

Provo City Center Temple

This state will always have my heart.