Project 365, Week 19

Who doesn't love the month of May! Even though it can get crazy with sports and end-of-school-year events, its such a great time of being out after a long winter and anticipating all the good things of summer.  

May 8

I tagged along with Avery to watch Jack's baseball game. He was pitching and had one of his best games. Avery and I had a lovely time together.

Family Night...the good, the bad, the ugly.

May 9

Ginger developed a "hot spot" overnight and the vet was able to get us in. Aiden came to help me and he was clear that we had to do whatever needed to be done to get her well. When I explained to him that we believe there should be a limit on the money spent to save an animal he said Mom, Ginger is the best dog. I would rather have her than a nice family car. It was really sweet.

That they posted this one and only sign on the door made me wonder what on earth happened?

May 10

Big day for Amanda! She exchanged her own hard-earned money for a pretty blue car, a 2005 Sable with 120K miles. She got a good deal from a nice couple.

May 11

One day you're feeding your baby french fries at the restaurant to keep her quiet, the next she's treating you to a dinner date. I cashed in on a Christmas present and we had a lovely evening on the patio.

May 12

Ginger woke up feeling more herself, which was a relief. Such a pretty morning on the path.

May 13

Amy and I did our annual farmer's market run at dawn, a favorite tradition. It was such a pretty morning and a good sign that spring is firmly here.

So generously, Sarah came over after work to get Amanda ready for junior prom...hair, makeup and sharing in the excitement. She came up with a hair style that Amanda was thrilled with.

And then it was go-time!

She was stunning! I took a few pics at home, but she chose to not have us join her for the group photos/send off.

(from Instagram)

I picked Aiden up from his soccer game and we joined the crew who got together to see Shaun's mom who was in the state for a few days. The kids had such fun together!

May 14

Mother's Day! After church my people took me out to brunch, where we found our favorite waitress.

 

Project 365, Week 18

This was our first week back from Florida and without tax season so we had fun getting acclimated to the new (and improved ;) pace.

May 1

Family night, even though Amanda had to do training at her new job.

May 2

Tons of hours spent studying for TBQ, specifically I & II Timothy and always, always moving.

May 3

I went out early to capture some of the beauty within a mile of our home. What a spring!! I will never stop being amazed that such vibrant life can come out of things that have looked dead and lifeless for months and months.

May 4

After rush hour, Katie and I headed to New Jersey with three of the four quizzers for Teen Bible Quiz Regionals. Initially we were not going to go, but after the kids qualified at districts, they expressed their strong desire to go and we couldn't help but support it.

We booked our hotel specifically because it had a pool and we used it well. Every break we got the kids were in it, it was a good size and we never saw another person there.

May 5

Last year we went to Regionals for the first time ever and the discrepancy between where we were at and where the seasoned teams were at was quite shocking. This year we knew what to expect and there was marked progress from last year to now. SO proud of these guys for their guts to go against tough competition and their diligent studying.

Colombo and Rocco joined us at lunch time to support Trevor and the team.

After a full day of quizzing, the teams met up at a trampoline park and played together.

May 6

I left Aiden with the hotel room key and headed out early back to Connecticut for my nephew's First Communion. It was a very special ceremony with a packed church. The volunteers did such a great job organizing 54 kids! After, Sarah and Tony hosted a lunch and we got to catch up with family we rarely see.

Colombo sent a couple photos of the rest of the day. These are the teams that represented our district.

And they stopped off at the American Mall in New Jersey where the boys rode the ferris wheel, among other things.  Avery also spent the day there as the youth group Senior Outing.

May 7

Sarah is back from college!!! 

 

Florida Trip

Our trip to Florida has long been a highlight of each year. Shaun and I have been going nearly every year since we were married and its evolved as we've added more people and circumstances have changed. Nana is a generous and delightful host and has provided us with countless fond memories over the years for which we are incredibly grateful.

This year we had the special addition of Jack, Avery's boyfriend. He's a very easy, go-with-the-flow person and I thought it was brave of him to vacation with our family for a whole week. It was great having him along!

We left around 10 PM when the kids got home from youth group. Its always fun when we see palm trees in the morning after Shaun has done the hard work of driving through the night. When we pass over from Georgia to Florida, we always crank up Cruise by Florida Georgia Line, roll down the windows and get excited about arriving in Florida.

This year our house was on a main street with restaurants and shops. We were also on a canal and in between Tampa Bay and the Atlantic. The location worked well for the teens to venture out to shop and get ice cream and the canal was fun for fishing and paddle boarding. We got to watch the sun come over the bay and set over the ocean. 

It didn't take everyone long to settle in. The pool and hot tub were popular. So was the pier on the bay. Several times a day there were walks to the beach, and always at sunset. In between there were games and books, fishing, reading, silliness.

It was a simple, quiet, easy week and we were able to exhale from the trauma of the last several months. Tax season, treatments every two weeks, a major surgery...it was a condensed, intense time and we were thankful for this getaway to reconnect and rejuvenate.

Each morning Shaun and I were up early. We watched the sunrise together, then separated to go for a walk. He chose the sidewalks around town, I chose the beach. It was so life-giving to be mobile.

One morning, he took me on a date to "our" place for breakfast on the beach. What a dream!

We were able to connect with Nana and Grandpa John and it was so good to see them! We caught up on life, Nana and Aiden got their poker game in and they treated us to an evening at The Melting Pot.

Busch Gardens! 

There was a passing lightning storm in the afternoon so we waited about 45 minutes for the all-clear to be given. It ended up working in our favor because many people just headed home in that time so for the remainder of the day, it was no lines, no waiting.

Jack and Avery made it down for one sunrise.

I was walking down the beach, nearly finished with my early morning walk, when I sensed a guy coming up behind me. I slowed down a bit so he could pass but he kept cutting a diagonal and was uncomfortably close. Then he touched me and I finally realized it was not a creepy guy, it was Shaun. CeCe Winans was singing Goodness of God in my earbuds and I was locked in, apparently. So fully dressed, I joined him for a swim in crystal clear water.

Our family counselor suggested we make a new memory while on vacation, so we went together to the souvenir shop and each bought something we can wear.

Our last sunset was on the road as we headed back home after a relaxing, satisfying week.