Happy 23rd Anniversary

 I'm several days late in blogging about our anniversary but my older than dirt laptop died this week.  I just got my new one last night.  Mike and I celebrated 23 years this past Sunday.  We celebrated with a steak dinner - I ate chicken (darn healthy eating) at home - our happy place. Jay joined us, Nick ditched us. Such is life.  I sure love this man and love doing life with him! 

Nick's love of the game

Nick loved football this season.  His freshman season was cut short because of Covid but thankfully varsity prevailed.  Any chance Nick got he asked the head coach to travel with the varsity team to their games so he could cheer them on and help from the sidelines.  Nick has been in quarantine but got out of jail - ha - on April 24 which just happened to be our last game.  Nick traveled to the away game with the team in the rain (I might add) and cheered our team on to victory!  My heart is full today knowing our seniors won their final game and by golly they made it - they completed their season.  Covid has been a dark cloud but our football season has been a source of light.  Thank you God for this blessing!  

                               Love my boy!  One of Nick's greatest gifts is how he encourages others!  

Plumber Jay

 Yesterday was Jay's last day landscaping - a job he's had since he was 17.  I'm so grateful for mom's neighbor, John, who took a chance on Jay and hired him the summer after his junior year.  When Covid hit Jay went right back to work full time and has been full time since May 2020.  Like most kids Jay didn't know what he wanted do but he knew what he didn't want to do.  He knew he didn't want to landscape the rest of his life and he didn't want to go to college especially after he learned most schools were remote during 2020 and 2021.  He wanted to get into a trade.  He took an exam to become an electrician in January but didn't pass the test.  Then God opened a big door for him.  A friend of mine, Philip, who I use to work with has his own plumbing company.  In the fall I texted Philip (with Jay's permission) and told him if he ever had an apprenticeship open up to let us know.  In February he did just that.  The interesting part is at first Jay wasn't sure what he wanted to do.  He had just learned he didn't pass his electrical exam and was in limbo.  You have to understand that as a mom I have prayed a lot for Jay this past year.  I have prayed that Jay is able to work with godly men and that he gets into a trade he loves.  One thing has lead to another and Jay starts his plumbing apprenticeship with F.W. Boland Plumbing on Monday, April 26.  I'm beyond thrilled.  He'll be working with Philip everyday, learning a trade - with full health benefits.  I'm super proud of Jay.  His current employer was sad to see him leave and told him he will always have a spot for him if something doesn't work for him.  Truly Jay is coming into the man God made him to be.  

I got him a cookie cake on his last day to make him smile.  I thought it was appropriate! 

What's Normal.....What's Not

 It's snowing here in Central Illinois today.  I wish I could say it's not normal but sadly it kind of is.  We usually get one snow in April, as annoying as it may be.  Last year I believe it snowed on April 16.  It was more frustrating last year because we were locked up in our homes.  Today it will snow and by tomorrow it will all be melted.  By next week it will be 70 degrees.  Such is life in Illinois.  We are one year into this pandemic.  Mike and I have been vaccinated.  We made the choice because we travel so often.  Nick has been in school since August but has been quarantined twice.  My heart truly aches for the children across the country who have not been in school in over a year.  Nick's most recent quarantine is going on now.  As I type this he's upstairs in his room remote learning.  There is nothing normal about it and again I can't express how thankful I am he didn't have to remote learn all year.  I am thankful for fishing because during both quarantines he would remote learn and then head out to fish.  The outdoors continue to be his solace. This is even more important now since the football season came to an abrupt end due to Covid outbreaks.  During quarantine he has to fill out a daily symptom tracker - not normal. We are still walking around with diapers....I mean masks, over our faces.  I'm sick of all the shaming.  Recently Mike was at a store where a person was not wearing a mask.  Another person walked up to the non masked person and started yelling at her - telling her 500,000 people have died and how dare they go anywhere in public without a mask.  Thankfully my sweet husband intervened.  I will add Mike was wearing a mask.  Mike politely told the gentleman to stop bullying the woman.  How have we become so judgmental and consumed by our own fear that we think we're entitled to treat people this way?  Sadly It happens all the time now.  Jay and his girlfriend went out to dinner last night.  He was so cute about it.  And it was good for my momma's heart to see them do normal dating things which has not been easy during Covid.  They have been dating since after New Years but before Jay's birthday.  Either they don't feel like going out to eat or they haven't had time but last night they did.  Jay said it felt really good to go out to eat with his girlfriend.  Jay has more exciting news but I'll write about that in another blog.....

I try everyday to have a grateful heart.  Even today during the snow I am thankful for my warm home and my job.  I am even thankful for Nick's company today. 

Cousins weekend

Kim, our cousins Cora and Amber and I went to Galena for the weekend and we had an absolute ball. We laughed, drank some wine and ate.  Amber found us a beautiful home that we rented.  We all drove in on Friday night.  We stayed in and made tacos.  On Saturday we went shopping, stopped at a winery or maybe two then went out to dinner.  

At a winery enjoying a cocktail.  Cora is pregnant so she was our D.D.  I absolutely loved every minute of this weekend.  What a blessing it is to have a relationship with my cousins.

Here we are.  I'm the oldest, followed by Kim.  I think Amber is older than Cora but not by much.  

And here we are again at another winery.  Truly this weekend was wonderful.  Until next time, girls!  
 

More football and Sarah's birthday

I know I've mentioned this in my other blogs but there is a really nice and talented parent who comes to the football games and takes pictures.  The images he's able to capture are so good.  Here's Nick doing his thing.  

The good news is Nick has loved football this season and I'm just thankful there was a season - although as of today it's been cut short thanks to wonderful Covid.  I'm starting to wonder if our lives will ever get back to normal.  Several boys have tested positive so therefore every football player is quarantined.  This is Nick's second time in quarantine and let me tell you these kids are over it.  The freshman football season is officially over.  Nick was bummed but as usual took it in stride.  He remote learned today and then took off to fish.  Hallejah for fishing! 

This past weekend I had Sarah's birthday dinner.  I just love this girl.  There are so many reasons I love her but I'll never forget the time Sarah, me and Jenny were at Fiesta Ranchera.  Jenny was leaving to go to Texas.  We were all thrilled to be together but at the same time the mood was somewhat somber.  We were sad to see our girl go.  Jenny had gotten up to use the restroom and from across the table Sarah grabbed my hand and said, "Amy, you are such a dear friend to me, I hope Jenny leaving only makes us closer."  You see Sarah and I built our friendship through Jenny.  Jenny introduced us.  I can tell you that Jenny leaving did cement our friendship.  Sure we would have preferred that Jenny never left but even if she stayed I know our friendship would still be strong.  Sarah and I are kindred spirits and she's been a big blessing to me all these years.  

Three of my favorite people.  Mary and Shannon joined us on Saturday night, along with John and Matt.  We laughed, ate and drank.  Seriously what could be better? 
 

The weekend; football, sister time and Easter

I just love Mary! On Thursday she traveled with me to go to Nick's football game.  I so appreciated her company and Nick loved that she came.  When he saw her in the stands he yelled, "What's up, Mary?" The two of them chatted the entire drive home.  Nick loves Mary but then who doesn't?  She's the absolute best.  She endured freezing weather to go along with me.  It was cold but we had fun together. 

On Saturday night the boys were gone so Kim came out and it was warm enough to sit out on the deck.  It was lovely! She shared some whiskey with Sieb. Sunday was Easter and I realized I didn't take any pictures.  I should have but since my boys are older now I kind of forget about taking pictures.  Last Easter we were in the middle of lockdown and no one had in person church services.  My heart was full being able to worship in person this Easter and the weather was absolute perfection.  All 9 of us went to my church service and it was lovely.  I'm humbled by what Jesus did on the cross for us.  I try to remind myself of this daily and have a thankful heart for my salvation.  Nothing I can ever do, no good act, nothing except the blood of Jesus bought me my salvation.  What a reason to celebrate! 
 

My Weight Loss Journey

 In early March I came face to face with my scale and it wasn't pretty.  I managed to put on 11 lbs in one year and I felt every one of those pounds.  Nearly one month later I have lost 9.5 lbs so I'm so close to being back to where I was pre-pandemic but trust me, that's nothing to brag about.  My goal is another 11.5 pounds.  I would love to be down those 11.5 by my birthday but we'll see.  Right now I'm in the "very motivated" phase.  However, for some reason I feel as if something might have clicked or changed from within, specifically in how, what and when I eat.  The truth is as an almost 47 year old woman I have to eat right 90% of the time.  I'm conquering my vodka intake.  This week I've been successful.  Next week might be a different story.  It's one day at a time.  What has worked for me is apple cider vinegar gummies - no joke.  They are a game changer and I see myself popping those fun little gummies for the rest of my life. There are so many benefits to apple cider vinegar. I've eaten a lot of salads.  My biggest focus has been on plant based foods but I've incorporated a lot of fish and a lot of chicken.  Another game changer for me is intermittent fasting.  Again I'm not sure I could do this without the gummies.  Intermittent fasting for women my age has a lot of benefits and I have to admit my body feels great after I do it.  I just got off a 24 hour fast and I notice my mental clarity is sharp, my energy is increased and I'm sleeping better.  I'll keep blogging about what I'm doing and how it's going.  I know some weeks won't be so great but I am determined and focused.