"Moooovin' on Up..."

Our closing was scheduled for the Wednesday afternoon after graduation, and so we *planned* to be on the road to North Carolina by Tuesday evening (Yes, 48 hours after all our guests left our house) at the latest.

26ft Truck + Car Trailer + Car = A Long Ride 

Have you ever tried to host guests at your house while simultaneously trying to pack for your cross-country move? In hindsight this probably wasn't good planning but...YOGO (You Only Graduate Once. No? Oh ok.)  In all seriousness, even though it was a stressful process to say the least, we actually made a ton of great memories :-)

In the pre-move planning stages, we realized that movers was ridiculously expensive, so we decided to do it ourselves. Nate rented a 26 foot truck - HUGE! And we thought, "Surely we won't even fill this thing, especially since we filled a 20 foot dumpster with all our junk a week ago..." HA. Long story short, we filled the truck with our stuff, and filled my little brother's 12 foot truck with things that just would not fit (i.e. things for his college apartment).

He thought he was so cool in the truck

At 2AM on Wednesday morning, we were all set to hit the road (still determined to make closing), but Nate realized that the truck's trailer lights were shorted out -_- Honestly, I think it was divine intervention because we were exhausted and it was probably safest that we just went to sleep...

After some much needed rest, we pulled out of the driveway home for the last time, and said goodbye to Indianapolis. It was a rainy morning, which set the tone for continuing the crying outbursts I had been having throughout the evening prior as I listened to Miranda Lambert "The House That Built Me" on repeat. I know, I know...but I'm really, really good at being dramatic. Sure this wasn't my childhood home, but it had so many memories, and the bigger picture here is that I was moving the furthest away I've ever been from my parents' home. Don't judge me.

The drive was LONG. Normally it takes about 10 hours by car. However, by car following a 26 foot Penske truck towing a car, going 50 miles an hour (or less) the whole way, it takes about....16 hours.

We obviously did not make the closing. Fortunately, we prepared for this by having a power of attorney ready to sign in our stead. What we were not prepared for was that when we got to Virginia the lights in the truck would short out again - causing us to have to check into a hotel and finish the last 3 hours of the trip in the morning. This was seriously thee most anti-climactic trip ever.

So close!

Finally, on Thursday morning we made it! When Nate was packing up the truck in Indy, I helped a little with the really heavy stuff because I am so strong, he told me that he looked into having a moving company help us unload when we got to our place. I assumed that was the plan. However, when we got there, it was just us...

Trickery.

My mom came along for the ride and stayed with us for a week. This was immensely helpful because she was able to keep the kids while we unloaded and ran around town for Home Depot & Lowe's errands. She also unpacked our kitchen, helped me clean, and pretty much did anything I was too overwhelmed or stressed out to do.

Dame's Chicken & Waffles with my mom

Doing grown up things (i.e. trimming our bushes) 

We have been Durham residents for almost two weeks and we absolutely love it! The area is beautiful and everyone is so friendly. Not long after moving in we discovered that we live next door to another 5 year old boy. Couldn't have planned this any better if I tried! Nate started his new job the Monday after we arrived. It seems like a great fit so far and I'm so excited for him :-)

Residency orientation starts June 12th. Needless-to-say, I am in "try and get everything done while you can" and "try and do something nice for yourself too" modes until showtime.

Over the last year we have added Johnson child number two, got two new jobs, graduated, moved approximated 700 miles, and bought a house! I told the hubby we aren't allowed any more big changes for a while... Nothing wrong with some good ole' monotony ;-) 

Home Sweet Home!

Docta J: Graduation Weekend Recap **Warning: Awesome Picture Overload**

Over the next couple of days I am going to catch you up on everything that has been going on in the Johnson world. The first update being....drumroll please....

Ya girl is hooded!

Hood Status: Achieved. 

It is still surreal.

Graduation weekend was epic!

Friday night, our family and friends came into town from all over. I'm so blessed to have had so much unwavering support throughout this journey, and friends that didn't let me fall out of touch even though I am not the best at reaching out. The whole weekend was filled with so much love. I can't begin to tell you how good it felt to have so many people (who have been there with us every step of the way) come to celebrate with us.

Friday was also senior banquet. Nate and I got all dressed up like we were headed to prom and attended the event at the Indiana Rooftop Ballroom downtown. It was a beautiful evening in honor of our graduating class.

Saturday was the big day!!! One of my besties from U of M, Victoria, is a makeup artist in LA, and she hooked me up all weekend with awesomeness. She is so talented! If you need a MUA in the LA area, you can check her out here: V. Aje Artistry

Team Johnson!!

Grammy xoxo

The Parentals

Bros!!!

My U Mich Girls!

Sis-in-law & Mom-in-law

Michigan friend-family

My plastic surgeon boo. She's kind of a big deal ;-) 

Hooded!!

My GenSurg Love Ashley

After being hooded (whoot whoot!), we went back to our house, and hosted a BBQ for our guests. It was perfect because it seemed like the entire city of Indianapolis graduated that day, so it would have been so crazy trying to find a restaurant that could host our ginormous party of 30+.

Post BBQ we hit the town with my girls and brothers which was so much fun!!

My classmate Ty and his beautiful wife Sherron, our Indy couple friends 

Celebrating with the legal Ransone boys

Sunday, was brunch at one of my favorite restaurants close to our home. The food was delicious and the view from our party room was amazing. Before we cut the amazing cake Nate had made, I said a few words to everyone about how much it meant to me to have their support and how amazing it was to be living in that moment. You already know...ugly cry. I was so sad when the weekend ended because it was phenomenal.

The Ransone-McConico-Johnson Clan 

The McGraw-Johnson Clan

My Godmom & Godbrother :-) 

College Roomie Bestie/Newly-minted J.D.

Mommy looking HOT at brunch

Cutting the yummy cake (I was crying a little during my speech)

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Sidenote, for the weekend I decided to try Rent the Runway for the first time! My banquet dress (red) was Halston Heritage and my graduation dress (blue) was Monique Lhuillier. I will definitely be a repeat customer! If you want to try RTR for yourself, use my invite and we both will get a $20 rental credit! Click Here

Makeover!!!

Well, now that things are starting to quiet down over here...I'm done graduating, packing, moving, unpacking, finding schools for the kids, etc... I have time to show my beloved blog some TLC.

I am a creature of habit, so it took me a while to finally revamp my cozy little blog. No really, nothing has been changed since March 2011.

The hubby surprised me right before Match Day with an amazing new illustration - remember those sweet t-shirts?!

And this time around I designed my own header :pops collar:

I was super ambitious at first and was going to build the whole thing from the ground up, but when I almost threw my computer at the wall trying to learn html realized how much time it was going to take, I decided it was best to get some help :-)

I'm so excited with the new look! What do you think?!

New posts coming soon! I can't wait to catch you up on everything thats been happening with our fam...

On Maya Angelou...

My heart is so heavy by this morning's news of Maya Angelou's passing.

Through the written translation of her life's immense struggles and equally amazing triumphs, she was an inspiration to us all.

Thank you for giving our history, Black history, such a commanding voice, recognition, and presence.

That was the reason I chose her words [below] for my high school senior quote. And those words took on a new, greater significance when I received my M.D.

Thank you for letting women everywhere know it is OK to celebrate our bodies, our curves, and to feel downright phenomenal just the way we are.

Thank you for showing us all, way before I could even appreciate its significance, that your past does not define you. That you can take what other's would see as a roadblock and use it to catapult yourself into your purpose.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Rest in heaven Dr. Angelou. You were genius personified.

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise. 
I rise. 
I rise. 

And fin.

Yesterday was my last real class day in medical school. From now until graduation, I have a few shifts as a pathology TA and then I am free!!!

The Narrative Medicine Crew

To commemorate the day, our Narrative Medicine preceptor brought cake for our last class. It was her last class too since she is retiring this year. She is the sweetest lady, really, and the cake was delish!

Later that evening, the Student National Medical Association held a dinner in honor of the graduates. During second year, I was social chair for the org and I remember being in charge of planning the senior dinner for the class of 2012. I felt like it was going to take forever  to get to my own. It didn't.

Class of 2014 SNMA Grads

After getting our certificates, we all gave words of encouragement to the other classes, and of course, I started crying. I feel like I'm in an emotional bubble just waiting to pop. I told ya'll, on graduation I am going to be a hot, tearful, mess.

I just cannot believe that the years of dreaming and hoping and working and praying have all come to this. I am so thankful to be here and I am trying to take in every sweet, satisfying moment. The realization that I am about to graduate really has been one of the best feelings of my life.

I remember growing up and being enthralled by the cover of my dad's surgical journals that came in the mail. My mom thought it was so gross...haha

And I remember not wanting to go to sleepovers throughout my childhood because of a "very real" fear of meningitis.

I remember not eating beef because of the threat of e.coli. Oh and in third grade being concerned about HIV.

I remember my ambitious research project in 4th grade for the enrichment program at school. I wanted to learn about the entire human body. Although she knew it was a huge undertaking, my teacher let me try and I did it.

In 5th grade, I wanted to do a project about asthma. I could go on and on...

Yes, I was such a weird kid, I know. But I was made for medicine.

And then there was the summer at the Boys and Girls' club, when I realized I genuinely loved people, the messiness of their lives, and making them feel better.

I could go on and on, but the point is that...

I am watching my lifelong dream unfold before my very eyes, and I am so grateful to God.

I am so happy.

Ok, headed to campus. Talk to you later peeps!