Astros Night!

Brad scored some amazing tickets through work to the Astros game, and it turned into such a fun night! We had incredible seats, and after the game we got to go down on the field to watch the fireworks show. Being on the field was surreal — and we happened to be standing right by the visiting team dugout when out walked Maldonado, the Astros’ former catcher. It was so cool to see him up close, even though it was a little bittersweet since he was traded.

We made it an overnight and stayed downtown, and Brad totally surprised me. He told the hotel we were celebrating my birthday, and they sent up a bottle of champagne and a cupcake — such a sweet touch to end a great night!

 

10 years cancer free

 

April 9, 2025 marks 10 years cancer free. A milestone that fills me with deep gratitude—and yet, this year, it’s incredibly hard to feel celebratory.

I still go for my yearly checkups at MD Anderson, but now I'm in their survivorship program where I don't have to do as invasive testing, just some blood work, x-rays, and ultrasound.  And instead of meeting with my oncologist I meet with the nurse over the program. 

I often think back to that time with deep gratitude and a bit of disbelief. I had just turned 30 and was in the thick of motherhood, raising a kindergartener, a 3-year-old, and nursing a 9-month-old. Life didn’t slow down when cancer showed up. Two surgeries, 30 lymph nodes removed, one round of radiation, a month with a drainage bag, two months of physical therapy, and four months of treatment—it was a season of survival in every sense.

I don’t take a single day for granted. Just feeling incredibly thankful.  Especially thankful for the advances in modern medicine.  It gave me ten years of life. Ten years of motherhood, holidays, milestones, laughter, and ordinary moments I’ll never take for granted.

And yet this year… my heart is heavy.

Just weeks ago, we lost our sweet Olivia due to complications from cancer. And suddenly this “10-year survivor” milestone feels bittersweet. I know what a gift it is to reach this point, but I also know not everyone gets that chance. It’s hard to reconcile both truths at once.

So today, I hold space for both joy and grief. I honor the fight in me, and I honor the memory of Olivia and every brave soul whose story ended too soon.

This is for her. For all of them. For the fighters, the survivors, and the ones we carry in our hearts forever.

Sedona Day 3&4

By our third day in Sedona, I already didn’t want the trip to end. The morning kicked off with something I was looking forward to our whole trip—sunrise yoga on a red rock cliff, overlooking the stunning valley below. It was the most perfect morning as we flowed through poses, and I couldn’t help but wish this was my regular yoga studio. It was peaceful, grounding, and such a beautiful way to start the day. I only wish our instructor had taken some more dynamic photos of us—because let’s be honest, we were doing some pretty cool stuff up there!

The view of our yoga studio

 

After breakfast, we headed out to Boynton Canyon Trail, and I have to say, it was my favorite hike of the trip. The trail winds through beautiful, lush canyon terrain, and the final stretch at the end—where the crowds drop off and the canyon walls rise dramatically—is just breathtaking. It felt like a little pocket of stillness tucked away from the busier spots.

On the way back down, we did make the detour to the Subway Cave, one of Sedona’s famous vortex spots. It’s a really unique rock formation and worth seeing, but it was packed. The narrow trail and crowds made it a little stressful, so I didn’t linger long. Brad, on the other hand, ventured around and explored the other side of the cave while I made my way back. Different paces, same appreciation for the beauty around us.

To top off an already magical day, we indulged in a couples massage—which felt amazing after all the hiking—and then treated ourselves to a fancy dinner at The Hudson. Delicious food, great atmosphere, and the perfect way to celebrate the final night of our trip.

Subway Cave

On our last morning, we were determined to squeeze in one more hike—Cathedral Rock. We’d tried before and couldn’t find parking, so we figured an early Monday morning would be our golden ticket. Turns out… nope. Still no parking. Since I’ve hiked it before, I told Brad to go for it and dropped him off at the trailhead while I grabbed some coffee and enjoyed one last quiet morning soaking in the views.

Brad said the hike was incredible—steep, rugged, and unforgettable. He even witnessed a wedding up there! Not a bad way to end a Sedona adventure.

(the wedding)

Then it was back to reality. We’d left the kids home on their own for the first time, and they did great! It’s such a good feeling to know they’re at the age where we can take a quick getaway and trust they’ll be okay.

This trip was everything I hoped it would be: adventure, beauty, time with Brad, and a little space to breathe and reflect. Sedona never disappoints—and it was the perfect way to celebrate a new decade.

Sedona Day 2

Our second day in Sedona was all about getting off the beaten path—literally. We rented mountain bikes in the morning and hit one of the “easier” trails… although I’ve now learned that in Sedona, easy is a very relative term. The trail was about 3 miles, but between the rocky terrain, steep inclines, and sharp turns, it turned into more of a ride/hike combo for me. Let’s just say there were plenty of moments where I was walking my bike instead of riding it! But the views made up for every challenging stretch, and it was still such a fun way to experience the landscape.

After lunch, Brad had his eye on a longer 7-mile ride, but I decided to peel off and explore on foot instead. I found a hiking trail that overlapped with Brad’s biking route (even though I never actually spotted him), and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. For the first part of the hike, I didn’t see a single other person. It was just me, the red rocks, and it was so peaceful and grounding. I loved having that stretch of solitude to just soak in the beauty of Sedona without any distractions.

Eventually, the quiet trail connected with the more popular Devil’s Bridge trail, and suddenly it went from nobody around to crowds galore. I hiked all the way up to the top, but decided not to wait in the forever-long line for the photo op on the bridge. I’d already done that on a previous trip, and the clock was ticking to catch the last shuttle back to my car—thankfully I made it just in time!

Meanwhile, Brad was loving his longer ride. He said it was definitely challenging and confirmed that I made the right call skipping it. Sounds like it was a win-win for both of us: we each got our version of adventure for the day.

Dinner that night was at a local pizza place—definitely not your standard pepperoni-and-cheese joint. They had some creative combinations and bold flavors that totally hit the spot after a full day outside.

By the end of the day, we were sun-soaked, tired, and happy. Another perfect chapter in our Sedona escape.