Those Months I Dreaded

***This post was originally on my personal blog, but I felt the need to share it here today.***

Before Derek left for his audition rotations, I could barely utter the phrase "clerkship". I hated the thought of not being able to see Derek everyday. Even though his schedule is hectic and crazy, we always had mornings and late nights together, no matter the time. If he had to be up at 4:00 am, I was up at 4:00 am with him; making him breakfast, reading scriptures, and seeing him off for his day. If he got home after midnight from a late surgery, I waited up for him. Even if all I did was re-heat leftovers, pour a bowl of cereal, or climb right into bed with him, it was still time. 

Flash forward to today. The audition rotations are over & we made it. We managed 6 full weeks apart (plus smaller increments of 2-4 in between) which doesn't seem that long, but it was challenging in it's own way. Sometimes it was the time difference. Other times it was extreme exhaustion. It was that time I was crying my eyes out because someone broke into our car, busted the window, and stole Derek's backpack. Then, these little things seemed like the most horrible things in the world. Today, we look back and laugh. We did something hard, but it made us stronger. 

Stronger in the fact that we appreciate each other a little more. In the fact that after the long time apart, we still found the time for the things that were important in our relationship and life. Those things that we took for granite before like a date night or a trip to the temple. 

We realized that we can do hard things together and I know now that I don't have to be afraid.