Today is my birthday. Birthdays are always fun and special no matter how they are celebrated. No 2 are the same, each as unique as the year that has ended and the year that is to come.
Today, I am completely overwhelmed by the impact of the last 365 days. I can't wrap my mind around the highs and lows of the year. So, just for fun, I wanted to see if I could list some of the most memorable moments.
May 29th, 2:00 pm - My leave of absence for the upcoming school year was approved. Little did I know that it was also my last day of school for the school year that was just coming to a close. And little did I know how important it would be for all of us that I would be home during the months ahead.
May 29th, 10:30 pm - My sweet little Rosie came into the world - although little, she has continued to shoe that she has a HUGE personality! Nothing slows her down.
Summer 2013:
Cory settling into his new job
3 trips to the farm
Carman and Brad's wedding
Bachelorette party and wedding shower
Sam and Nate's wedding reception
Play dates, lake dates, zoo dates, softball games, and picnics
Sleepless nights with a newborn
And the beginning of the "year of firsts" for Rosie
Fall 2013:
Pinky's first day of preschool
Pinky's first day of Sunday School
Our first day of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)
Rosie's Baptism
Melanoma . . . Followed by the best words you can hear your doctor say "No further treatment needed"
Bison Football
Another trip to the farm
Halloween - We had a monkey and a cupcake at our house
Losing Kaili
Winter 2013-2014:
Trips to see Santa
Rosie's first Christmas
Another trip west to spend the holidays with our families
Sledding
Snowmen
Ethiopia
Pinky's 4th birthday
Frozen - the movie came out during one of the longest and coldest winters ever - very fitting
And a trip to the farm in February - celebrating birthdays and visiting friends
Swimming lessons
Spring 2014:
Spring Break at the farm
Trip to see Great Grandma
Trip to the farm . . . in MN
Rosie's first Easter
Listing our house/Selling our house
Looking for houses/Buying a house
Fargo Marathon
Turning in the keys to Kai's house
More play dates
Warmer weather
Our last day of BSF
Pinky's last day of Sunday School
Pinky's last day of Preschool
Swimming lessons
I'm not sure my heart will ever fully recover from the year. I have been blessed beyond words. And I have been broken in ways I never could have imagined. And here I sit, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon: Sun is shining; girls are resting; husband is grocery shopping; drinks are chilling.
Life is good.
God is good.
36 years old?
Bring it on!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Home Sweet Home
So, this spring we decided it was time to start considering if/when/where we should start looking for our next home. This has been a very stressful undertaking for a variety of reasons:
1) We love our house. We love our neighborhood and neighbors. We love the location.
2) I don't like change.
3) The thought of packing everything up is completely overwhelming to me.
4) I get overwhelmed when faced with too many decisions at one time.
However, we also knew that if we were going to do it, this was the time. Although we have a year before Pinky starts kindergarten (sniff sniff), we also want to be settled into a neighborhood and start to make friends with families and children who will be at her future school.
So, we started looking. Not long, but pretty thoroughly. Mainly on-line, but one day we managed to hit SEVEN open houses in one afternoon! And we found what we hope will be "the one".
We found several we liked, but this one we loved. And we could picture ourselves living there for a long, long time! So, if all works out, this is where we will be living by the end of the summer.
Of course, first we have to sell our house. We are hopeful, after a week on the market and 12+ showings that an offer will come soon. So weird to open your home to strangers and hope they love it as much as you do.
It's exciting and overwhelming to this Mamma! There is this inner battle in my head/heart hoping that we are making the right decisions. That our priorities are solid. That we aren't being too selfish. Praying that the right doors will be opened to guide us to our new home, whether it is the one above or not.
Of all the houses we have looked at one thing is for certain: I want an apple tree for my birthday! :)
1) We love our house. We love our neighborhood and neighbors. We love the location.
2) I don't like change.
3) The thought of packing everything up is completely overwhelming to me.
4) I get overwhelmed when faced with too many decisions at one time.
However, we also knew that if we were going to do it, this was the time. Although we have a year before Pinky starts kindergarten (sniff sniff), we also want to be settled into a neighborhood and start to make friends with families and children who will be at her future school.
So, we started looking. Not long, but pretty thoroughly. Mainly on-line, but one day we managed to hit SEVEN open houses in one afternoon! And we found what we hope will be "the one".
We found several we liked, but this one we loved. And we could picture ourselves living there for a long, long time! So, if all works out, this is where we will be living by the end of the summer.
Of course, first we have to sell our house. We are hopeful, after a week on the market and 12+ showings that an offer will come soon. So weird to open your home to strangers and hope they love it as much as you do.
It's exciting and overwhelming to this Mamma! There is this inner battle in my head/heart hoping that we are making the right decisions. That our priorities are solid. That we aren't being too selfish. Praying that the right doors will be opened to guide us to our new home, whether it is the one above or not.
Of all the houses we have looked at one thing is for certain: I want an apple tree for my birthday! :)
Around Every Turn
So, last weekend was the Fargo Marathon. One of my favorite weekends of the year, as you probably remember. We always look forward to it for a variety of reasons - the excitement of Marathon week is the best!
Usually....
This year we were planning a post-marathon party where the guest of honor wouldn't be there.
We were wearing t-shirts with her name on them, along with 2 dates marking the length of her life.
I had all of the ingredients for "marathon bars", only I couldn't deliver any to her door.
We were registered for various races, but she wasn't.
How do you gear up for one of your favorite weekends when one of your favorite people won't be a part of it?
To be honest, preparing for marathon weekend 2014 was one of the hardest things I had to do this year . . . and that list is lengthy this year. I didn't want to train. I didn't want to wear a purple shirt with her name on it. I didn't want to go to a party with all of her friends and family, just to be reminded of her absence. I didn't want to follow the marathon route, only to be looking for her around every turn.
But I did. I did all of it. And some of it was good. The 5k. The Relay. The post-party. The marathon bars. We were surrounded by friends and family all weekend. We shared hugs and stories and laughter. And it was fun. And memorable. And just as hard, if not harder, than anticipated.
And I cried.
I cried waiting at the church for my relay exchange. Waiting in the same spot we waited for her years ago. Waiting for her red shirt to round the bend as she finished her leg of the relay.
I cried at mile 23. I don't know why she stopped to take a picture at mile 23 last year. The year she ran her first and only full marathon. But we stopped. We took a picture. We cried.
I cried when I joined the rest of the team, just before the finish, and all the way across.
And now it's over. And it's one more thing on that list of things we can't believe are a part of our story.
And I miss her . . . Around every turn.
Usually....
This year we were planning a post-marathon party where the guest of honor wouldn't be there.
We were wearing t-shirts with her name on them, along with 2 dates marking the length of her life.
I had all of the ingredients for "marathon bars", only I couldn't deliver any to her door.
We were registered for various races, but she wasn't.
How do you gear up for one of your favorite weekends when one of your favorite people won't be a part of it?
To be honest, preparing for marathon weekend 2014 was one of the hardest things I had to do this year . . . and that list is lengthy this year. I didn't want to train. I didn't want to wear a purple shirt with her name on it. I didn't want to go to a party with all of her friends and family, just to be reminded of her absence. I didn't want to follow the marathon route, only to be looking for her around every turn.
But I did. I did all of it. And some of it was good. The 5k. The Relay. The post-party. The marathon bars. We were surrounded by friends and family all weekend. We shared hugs and stories and laughter. And it was fun. And memorable. And just as hard, if not harder, than anticipated.
And I cried.
I cried waiting at the church for my relay exchange. Waiting in the same spot we waited for her years ago. Waiting for her red shirt to round the bend as she finished her leg of the relay.
I cried at mile 23. I don't know why she stopped to take a picture at mile 23 last year. The year she ran her first and only full marathon. But we stopped. We took a picture. We cried.
I cried when I joined the rest of the team, just before the finish, and all the way across.
And now it's over. And it's one more thing on that list of things we can't believe are a part of our story.
And I miss her . . . Around every turn.
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