A visit with Faith

 It was another busy but blessed weekend.  On Friday I drove to Chicago to pick up Anna and Faith.  They flew home to visit their girlfriend, Daisy, who just had a baby.  Friday night I went to my friend, Erin's, birthday dinner.  On Saturday I had my sister and Jenna over and on Sunday after church I collapsed.  Ha.  Faith flies back to AZ today so last night we (me, Sarah and Jay) met Faith and Anna for a cocktail. I've been able to see and spend time with Faith two back to back months!  What a blessing!  

Appendix and family reunion....oh my!

In February my sister, Amber, Cora and I came up with an idea to pick a central location and have a family reunion.  A place that would be easy for my mom to enjoy her family and have a nice summer getaway.  The hiccup for me started on Thursday afternoon when Mike came home from work - never a good sign.  He threw up violently for the remainder of the day.  The pain woke him up early on Friday, June 16.  By then Mike was starting to suspect it was his appendix, at which point I took him to the E.R. and sure enough it was his appendix.  He had surgery later that day.  Obviously I was not able to make it on Friday so my comical cousins and creative niece photo shopped me into the pictures.  

This one is my favorite.  Photo shopped me sitting at the pool with Kim, Amber and Cora.  So funny.

Better late than never.  I got Mike home on Saturday and he was comfortable and feeling well so I took off to spend time with my family.   Here I am at the pool for real!  We had a great time.  My mom was able to spend time with her brothers and Mom handled the trip very well.  Family is everything. 

 

June Weekends

It was another great weekend! On Friday night I went to my friend, Karen Neal's, for dinner.  I had dinner with Karen and other friend, Karen Page.  It was quiet, intimate and lovely.  On Saturday I spent time in my tank - my favorite empty nester activity.  Then that evening I had dinner with mom and Kim.  Here I am posing with Lauren, all dressed for her job.  On Sunday I went to church and attended an 80th birthday party.  

 Nick had another fishing tournament.  He went with his fishing coach and caught this big fish right away.  

Nationals!!!

I can't believe it but our Nick and his fishing partner, Jackson, are headed to Icasstt Nationals next month.  Nick called us on Saturday feeling pretty confident and asked Mike and I to come on Sunday for weigh in.  When we arrived yesterday, however, Nick, Jackson and their captain, BJ, were not feeling overly confident.  In order to make Nationals you have to place in the top 15.  Nick and Jackson weighed their fish early on.  At first they were in 6th place but as more and more people weighed their fish their position kept going down.  It was a real nail biter.  Mike and I watched the screen until the end when it was revealed Nick and Jackson took 14th place.  They secured a position to head to South Carolina in July.  To say we are over the moon is an understatement.  I am so thrilled for Nick and our family.  Mike will be going with Nick so it will be a father/son road trip filled with memories I'm sure.  I'm so thankful for this team and especially Jon, Nick's coach.  

Nick and his fishing partner, Jackson, after they learned they had placed and were going to Nationals! 

                            Jackson, their coach, Jon and Nick.  Big smiles from these boys!