Jay's big news

 I am an over the moon happy momma today.  Two weeks ago Jay interviewed for a union electrician apprenticeship job.  For 18 months he's worked for an electric company as a union employee banking his hours to qualify for an interview which by the way they only do once a year.  Sixty people were interviewed and only ten were taken for apprentices, Jay was one of them.  I am super proud of him.  He has wanted to be an electrician since he was in highschool.  I'm so glad this desire in his heart came to fruition.  Being a union electrician will be a great career for him.  

Thank God I Do

 Today marks 5 years since my dad left his earthly body and went home to be with Jesus.  With each passing year I think of him more often than not and although I miss him I'm mostly filled with joy.  His human life was just hard.  I still shudder when I think he became permanently disabled at the young age of 46.  Even though it feels like he was disabled a long time, I know his life here was just a blink compared to his heavenly existence for eternity.  I'm forever grateful that God allowed Kim and I to be with dad during his final weeks and at his death bed.  This would not have been possible during Covid.  I'm thankful dad didn't have to experience covid while living in a nursing home.  

The past 5 years have been challenging, to say the least.  Recently I heard a song by Lauren Daigle, "Thank God I do."  The chrous sings, "I don't know who I'd be if I didn't know You.  I'd probably fall off the edge.  I don't know where I'd go if You ever let go so keep me held in Your hands." These simple words say it all for me.  I'm stronger today than I was even a year ago, let alone 5 years ago.  Anything that is good in me comes from Jesus.  Any resilience I have is from Jesus.  Without Him I am nothing and as I always say I know nothing.  Thank God He does! 

Sisters weekend

This past weekend Kim and I met up with our other "sister," Lindsay.  Kim and Lindsay have been friends since they were in fourth grade.  Lindsay also spent a lot of time with us when we were kids.  She was a staple in our home.  I just love her.  Lindsay often says, "Everyone needs a friend like Kim."  It's true.  The three of us laughed together and had cheesecake (see below).  It was a blessing to reconnect and be together.  

 

Nick

Last week was quite a week for Nick.  It was FFA week and for one of the days they were giving away awards to whoever  had the nicest truck.  Nick asked his brother if he could drive his new truck to school.  Jay said Yes.  Full disclosure, my momma's heart sung when that happened.  It felt good to know Nick felt comfortable enough to ask and even better when Jay said Yes.  Nick filled the truck up with gas after he was done with it for the day.  I'm not sure Nick won but it didn't matter.  It was just good to witness my boys being nice to each other.  

 Last Monday (Feb. 20) was Presidents Day.  Nick had no school.  What does Nick do on a day of no school.  He works.  About 9:30 that morning Nick called me to inform me his boss was driving him to the ER.  He had split his lip open.  He ended up getting 13 stitches in his lip.  It was quite an ordeal.  Nick handled it in usual Nick fashion and never flinched as they stitched up his injury.  Nearly a week later his lip is healing nicely and I am thankful.  Hopefully that was Nick's last work comp injury.  Ugh. 

Cousin Weekend

 Yesterday Kim and I met our cousins for an overnight at Amber's.  We went out for a late lunch then headed back to Amber's where we spent the night laughing together over cocktails, snacks and hot tubbing.  Cora and Amber are in such good places in their lives right now.  Cora moved to Florida and loves it.  She remarried Dennis and they are very happy.  Amber got divorced and is dating someone new whom she really likes.  Cora is back in Illinois for a few months helping to manage care for her dad.  We were so thankful we could all be together!  Until next time girls!

Worry

 Lent began yesterday.  Full disclosure I usually don't give anything up for Lent.  However, about six weeks ago I was reading an article about a woman who gave up worrying for Lent.  For the past several weeks I've put a lot of thought into doing just that.  Jay has a really important interview coming up on March 9 and when I first thought about giving up worrying my initial thought was, "But then I can't worry about Jay's interview!"  Thankfully I had several weeks to really process how this would look for me and trusting at the end of it all how free I might actually feel from doing it so yesterday I promised Jesus I would leave all my worries at His feet.  After all there hasn't been one time in my life when He hasn't taken care of me.  So often times I just want to be in control of what I'm doing and where I'm going.  Also, I'm a mom.  We worry.  It's what we do but so often I allow myself to be consumed by worry when it comes to my boys.  

I'm convinced God has a sense of humor or as Mary pointed out to me last night, God was surely testing me.  The minute I gave up worrying yesterday morning I had something distressful happen (which I won't go into on my blog), Jay told me that they are interviewing 60 people and only taking 10, Mike has no work right now and Nick got 13 stitches in his lip.  Granted Nick's injury occurred two days earlier but we were concerned about infection so Mike took him to the doctor yesterday (good news, no infection).  I texted Mary last night and told her about my day and that I had given up worrying for Lent.  She encouraged me as only Mary can and texted me right back with verses from Matthew 6:25-30.  I literally went to bed reciting these verses, along with Romans 8:28.  The more I recited the verses the more peace I felt.   

The holy trinity

 So many of my past blogs focused entirely on stories about my boys.  These days the stories are just different.  They aren't quite as entertaining.  Plus I try to respect their privacy since Jay is an adult and Nick is on the cusp of being an adult. Knowing all this my momma's brain and heart is still completely centered on them; what they are doing, what they are up to and how they are feeling.  I don't suppose that will ever change.  If I ever have to wonder all I have to do is read my previous blog post.  My mom still wonders about her grands everyday and wants to know what they are up to and mom and I are cut from the same cloth.  

Recently Nick did give me some blog material.  The two of us were in his truck.  He was driving, I was talking and listening.  I'm convinved that some of the best conversations with kids happen in a vehicle.  Nick enjoys sharing his music likes with me and talking life.  He had just broken up with his girlfriend.  I told him I was sorry, that I had really liked her.  Nick didn't miss a beat when he said, "Don't you worry, mom, one day I'm going to bring home the holy trinity for you."  I loved that he said that.  It sure made me smile.  One day I'll look forward to hugging his future wife, remembering our sweet conversation when he was just 16.