Easter 2026

Today was a very nice day, in spite of Andrew being sick.  He started running a fever last night, and felt lousy.  I slept in a different room.  Today he has not had much of a fever, but his throat really hurts and he is achy.  The rapid test came back negative, so they are doing the throat culture but are treating it as just a virus and he'll have to ride it out.

My mom and the kids were here.  Fortunately, we were having a fairly simply meal, so Andrew being unavailable didn't really affect anything.  My cleaning is a different story, but I still got it done.  None of us slept overly well last night, and I suspect it will be an early night tonight.

It's a chilly day, and although cloudy earlier, the sun came out laster in the day.  It feels like the "official" beginning of spring now.  I'm so grateful that our family spent the day together, I'm so grateful I took lots of pictures, and I'm so grateful that the house is mostly cleaned up and put back together!  Tomorrow is another day off as well.  So grateful.

The Easter baskets are ready

Easter is happening here tomorrow.  If I'm totally honest, this holiday has always been a struggle for me.  We never particularly had set traditions as a kid, although as I became a teenager we always spent the holiday with my Dad's side.  Because my family wasn't religious, it was just more of a "whatever" holiday.

When I got married, it generally made more sense to spend the holiday with my in-laws.  After all, they are very religious.  At the same time, there were years when that caused resentment because sometimes I wanted to be with my family, or just not have to travel.  Now, my MIL, whom I adore, comes and spends a week or two with us each year for Easter.  It's still tough to balance my MIL's religious devotion with my mother's anti-religious feelings. 

And now our kids are on their own.  Thomas and Lyndi have her side to visit as well, and Catherine and Zeke just kind of "do" whatever.  I was never good about coloring eggs or doing egg hunts when the kids were little so it's not like we are missing any traditions in that regard, but I do still miss them being little.

Life feels really, really heavy right now, but I'm grateful for a few days of quiet and peace!

This break is officially over

Even though none of us had students yet, we've all been back to work.  I'm grateful I took the morning off and allowed myself to ease back into things, although the last several days I've been working hard.  I'm responsible for compiling, editing, saving, and sending the narrative progress reports that we do twice a year, and it keeps me plenty busy.

This break felt much busier than I would prefer.  The days leading up to Christmas involved trips to help my mom and days picking up our house here, and of course getting ready for Christmas itself.  I'm a little embarrassed by our bedroom as that just kind of became where I decided to throw things.  Thomas stayed over Christmas night and was here all day the next day until we went north for a family wedding gathering.

On Saturday the 27th, our dear friends son got married.  There were only 12 of us present, including the bride and groom.  It was important to them that we be there, and it was such an absolute honor to know they consider us family just as we do.  We were gone literally all day, but again, it was such an honor.

After that, things began to settle down, but I had done no work on the reports at all.  I'm grateful I have those things to do because if I didn't, I wouldn't be getting a paycheck this week.  At the same time, I'm a little sad that I didn't get an opportunity to do a Christmas puzzle.  I don't think I'll let that stop me though...it just extends the holiday!

This week is busy, but tomorrow is already Wednesday.  I get to go and finalize the adoption of our sweet pup, Jane, and she has been the best thing to happen to us in a long time.  2026...here we go!

The first day of 2026

As I've written many times before, January 1 is often my favorite day of the year.  And this year is no exception!  We've been watching the College Football Playoffs, (after the Buckeyes awful loss, we are now Hoosier fans).  Andrew and I have both been doing a lot of school work today, but we haven't left our home...just the way I like it!  In fact, I informed Andrew this morning that I wouldn't be getting out of my pajamas, although in my defense I actually put on clean pajamas this morning.  I gave myself a new set for Christmas, and they are incredibly comfortable.  I also put on my comfy Christmas socks for the last time this season.  It's been a great day.

NYE was spent at our good friends' house last night, and it was especially fun to share it with other friends and even some of the kids.  There were twelve of us together at Midnight, and we left shortly after.  I told Andrew that I know I'm getting old because although I love our friends and I especially had fun watching the game, I'm to the point that I almost prefer to stay home and just hang out ourselves on NYE.

Our sweet new pup, Jane, has been so much fun today.  After insisting it would NOT happen, she slept in our bed last night.  Beagles are just absolutely the best!  She and the cats are coming to an understanding.  There are so many little traits that remind us of our dear Abby but she looks different than Abby and I'm glad about that.  I'm so, so glad that she has come into our lives.

This break had a lot of crazy, but I'm so grateful for the last few days.  It's very nice to end the old year and start the new one with a sense of peace!

The last day of 2025

Here we are, at the last day of the year again.  I'm no longer surprised by the rapid passing of time.  I'll blink, and it will be summer, than I'll blink again and wonder where the summer went as the students return, and then I'll blink and we'll be celebrating Christmas again.  Even though the year will fly by, I wouldn't mind if the next five days (I'm still off Monday) pass by at a snail's pace.

There were a lot of wonderful family memories made this year between Thomas's wedding and our big family vacation.  Catherine is also in a lovely relationship, and she is making better choices in life.  I'm thankful for the way things are going with my children every single day, and I don't take their successes for granted.

The hardest part of this year was the world around us.   The hardships faced by so many this fall has been especially emotionally challenging, and Andrew and I have both joined groups and committees to address these issues.  We've also both been incredibly busy with our church and the new pastor search, and of course my job has been a source of exorbitant stress.  I still love my job, but parents are crazy.

Today, we also created a new beginning.  I'm so thrilled to announce that a new sweet pup has joined our family.  A neighbor who volunteers at a local shelter tipped us off to a young female beagle that had just arrived, and Andrew put in an application the same day.  We had a meet & greet today, and we could not be more thrilled.  We've named her Jane Harriet (Goodall and Tubman), and Janie is a delightful addition to our home.  Right now she is curled up in Andrew's arm and they are both napping.  There are so many things that remind of us our sweet Abby because of her personality, but she is absolutely her own dog and is an absolute lover.  We are thrilled she is here.

I'm excited about the beginning of another year, and I'm grateful we are here to see it!  Our dear neighbor (and mother of co-worker) passed away Monday morning, and that combined with the death of Tatiana Schlossberg is a poignant reminder that nothing guaranteed.  I'm grateful to be able to see 2026 arrive.

This day after Thanksgiving

Even though this is the end of my break, this might end up being my favorite day.  It was just this time, exactly a week ago, that we were all bolting out the door ready to rest and relax on this break.  And it's been lovely.  But today, well today feels just the MOST relaxing.  The weekend was about getting ready for my MIL's arrival, Monday and Tuesday I had to work several hours at my jobs, Wednesday was about getting ready for yesterday's meal and the evening of all the kids, and yesterday was full of the meal and helping out my mom.  Today though?  Well, today I need to decorate, but we aren't doing the trees today at all.  Today I could sleep in, know that no one expects a big meal this evening, and just putz around the around the house, decorating s-l-o-w-l-y.  And I'm thrilled with that.  I still have two full days without any real commitments, and I'm going to soak them up.  And I'm filled with gratitude about all of life's blessings!

A beautiful fall day

Today was such a gorgeous day.  It was almost 70 degrees, and bright and sunny.  A cold front is coming through and the wind picked up, so the leaves were gliding.  It was truly a lovely day.  Work has settled and I'm able to get things accomplished in a more timely manner.  And of course, it is a lovely time of year when I currently have only 25 work days remaining in the year.  Ahhhh.

Since the time change on Sunday, the days feel even cozier as the darkness settles in earlier.  It makes me incredibly ready for the holiday season.  Although I still miss the big family meals at my aunt & uncle's house, and I miss the gatherings at Christmas, I'm still looking forward to family time.  We have some fun things planned, and my mother-in-law will be here for the entire week of Thanksgiving.  I am so grateful and so excited.

One down thing to today is that my mother had to say good-bye to her dog, Peach.  She had begun to suffer, and that is just not okay.  I know how much my mom must be hurting today.

 

A quiet Labor Day Saturday

Today has been a very quiet Labor Day Saturday.  Andrew had to be at work at school at 9am, and we are cautiously optimistic he'll be home around 9pm tonight.  It's a long day for him.  I've been enjoying the beginning of college football and watching the Buckeyes continue their dominant ways over Texas!  It ended up being close at the end, but it was mostly a fabulous OSU performance.  With Andrew gone, it isn't as much fun to watch the games so I had it on, but was also picking up the house.

It's also been incredibly quiet in our neighborhood today.  It's an incredibly gorgeous Saturday, in the 70's, no humidity, not a cloud in the sky.  It's a wonderful day to be outside, but that sure isn't happening around here!  None of the kids and families who live close to us are out, and honestly, no one is out walking or working.  I took Bettis out for a walk, and it's oddly quiet for a normal day, let alone a Saturday of a holiday weekend!  

Tomorrow I am headed up to my mom's house for a weekly cleaning session.  Tomorrow evening our Fighting Irish play, and I'm so grateful Andrew and I will have an evening at home together.  And then we still have Monday...woohoo.  It's a little daunting to realize it will be six weeks before we have another long weekend.  This is one of the hardest stretches of the school year, especially in our house where Andrew stats for football and usually works another 2-3 days a week at athletic events.  I'm trying not to think about that though, and just be so grateful for this moment in time, which for today is all college football!

I love Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend has always been one of my favorites.  It is the unofficial kick off of the summer, and many years (at least since moving here) we are done with school.  I loved the years we did the cemetery trip with my mom's family, and when Dad had his cottage we tried to spend a day there as well.  As a child, Dad would often take us to my grandparent's place in Michigan.  There were lots of friends gatherings over the years as well, and of course it is often a weekend filled with graduation festivities.  And of course, we get an extra day to the weekend, too!  This was so incredibly needed as the month of May was beyond crazy at work. 

This weekend had some grad parties with very dear friends, it had quiet time with just Andrew and myself, I tried to shop (unsuccessfully), and we had a lovely day with the kiddos.  There has been a tremendous amount of stress and drama involving the kids, and it was so much fun to hang out today for a meal and then a family game of croquet.  I laughed, and I especially loved hearing my daughter-in-law laugh out loud.  In two weeks we will be on vacation with all of us, and I think it is going to be an incredibly special week where we make lots of memories.

We have a lot of fun plans for this summer, and I plan to soak it all up! 

It was the best Easter

We had a very lovely Easter weekend in our family.  All the kids were here for church yesterday, and it was a lovely weather day.  My favorite part though, was Saturday evening.  Thomas and his girlfriend came and stayed over Saturday evening.  We had potato pizza, which is always a hit, and then we sat around and played a game.  We all laughed so hard!  We are taking the entire crew on vacation with us this year, and the fun we had Saturday made me look forward to it even more.

After church we just hung out as our family meal will actually be this weekend.  I don't think anything could top how much fun we had this weekend, though!

The end of 2024

I'll be honest, I had high hopes for the year 2024.  Overall, I'm going to have to say it was not one of my favorites.  It was a really hard year with my kids.  Some of it was certainly of their own doing, and some of it is the fact that they are struggling to adult in a world that isn't really set up for young adults to adult effectively.  They are learning, and I am grateful that we are able to help as we can.  We'll miss Lincoln and we'll definitely miss Abby from this year, but overall we are healthy as we head into 2025.

This year has flown by faster than I thought was possible.  I know I wait all year for the holidays, but they will be here again before I know it.  These holidays felt like I blinked and they were done, but I know even though it's another year to go, they are just around the corner.

I've been sick for several days so we are staying home this evening.  I regret not getting able to hang out with our friends, but I'm completely okay ringing in a quiet New Year with just Andrew (and Maudie, our only remaining cat).  For today and tomorrow, I'm completely okay with just vegging on the couch and enjoying football.  And we don't go back to work until next week!

It's all so different

Andrew and I have commented on how everything just feels so different.  It's so different when we get home each day and Abby isn't at our door to greet us with her loving squeals and wagging tail.  It's so different that on Tuesday we were able to run and grab some dinner after work without having to worry about getting home to let her out.  It's so different that there is no animal howling at us around 5:00 each day (and again at 8 for a snack) because it's dinner time.  Even without Abby, Lincoln was the one that started howling first, but he's gone too.  It just really sucks.  I was looking at a picture of her today, and the tears began to flow.  I didn't mean for them too, but she just didn't feel old, and seven years wasn't enough with her.  I really thought she was the beagle who was going to live longer than the average of 12-15 years, and I certainly never thought she'd be gone at 12.

Outside seems different.  It's been entirely too warm this October.  There is a chance that it will be in the 70's during Trick-or-Treating on Thursday.  That's crazy.  The leaves are finally starting to really turn color, but it's just less than it has been in years past.

The holidays are going to feel so different this year as well.  Thomas doesn't live here, so he won't be waking up in our house on Christmas morning.  I haven't completely wrapped my head around that yet.  Because of the way things fall this year, we decided to do our Thanksgiving meal on the Sunday before.  I'm actually kind of excited about this.  It was really important to me that we decorate the tree together, but I refuse to serve a Thanksgiving meal with a tree up.  This will allow us to decorate the tree Wednesday evening and we can watch our Friends episodes as well.  These things are going to be different, but we can go with them.

Christmas shopping is going to feel different this year as well.  Some friends have decided we are going to stop exchanging gifts, and the kids truly need mostly just money.  There will be a few cute and traditional gifts here and there, but no one really wants "things" just for the sake of having a gift.  I bought my mom tickets to a performance she wanted, and that took care of that.

I don't love change, and it feels like there is so much that is different. I know it isn't all bad, but right now it sure doesn't necessarily feel good either.  Even 

Easter 2024

Our Easter looks a bit different this year.  To be honest, I just wasn't up to hosting a big meal.  And to be further honest, there was a pretty serious lack of enthusiasm throughout the family.  My mom had said she didn't feel she was up to coming down yet, and we knew my sister wouldn't be particularly interested.  We had decided we would do a bit of a nice meal on Saturday evening, but then Catherine informed us she was having dinner with her best friend and family as the best friend turned 21 this week.  Certainly couldn't argue about that, but we had already told Thomas he could spend today with his girlfriend and her family.  We decided it would be fine, we'd just take the four of us and eat at the state lodge buffet.  We called to make reservations as they were recommended, but things were completely booked.  Perhaps it should indicate reservations are "required".  I went yesterday and purchased things for a very simple meal.  This morning, Andrew took his mother to Mass, then we all joined them at our church.  Andrew lectored for the service, and Thomas's girlfriend joined us as well.  We then rushed home, threw together our meal, and then cleaned up.  It was all done by 2:00, and then nap time was upon us!  Another nice thing is that for the first time in four years, we don't have to work tomorrow.  It's really nice having tomorrow off!  He is risen!

The first day of 2024

Typing this title was the first day I've used "2024".  Another year has arrived.  It is so hard to believe.  I am fifty years old, so last evening was my fifty-first NYE.  Wow.

As a child, New Year's Eve was always so very special.  My parents hosted a gathering every year, and my sister and I would spend the night at my paternal grandparents.  My grandmother retired when I was very little, and my grandfather retired when only 11, so most overnights were at their house.  My mother always took us to the bulk nut factory in town, and we were allowed to pick out snacks for the evening.  Peanuts and other nut assortments, and always jelly beans, were served as evening snacks.  We would eat dinner at Long John Silver's, and then we would undecorate my grandparent's tree.  As I got older, those weren't my plans, but even my freshman year of college, I stayed at my grandparents.  The very first NYE I remember was 1983, and I remember walking into the bedroom where my sister and I slept thinking, "I can't believe it is 1984."  I was ten years old, and that was forty years ago.

This was a tough break, although I'll write about that another in a different post.  Today is always one of my favorite days of the year, and this year is not an exception.  I'm especially grateful as the last two years have been less than spectacular.  This year, this day has been exactly as I hope it would be.  Andrew and I spent the day in our pajamas and our meals were leftovers.  Right now I am watching Michigan play Alabama (ugh) and enjoying the candle with a lovely fire in the fireplace.  Catherine spent the day at her apartment, and Thomas had to work before going to spend the evening with his girlfriend and her family.  We are still off tomorrow, and although I have A LOT to do, but for today, I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet!

The last day of 2023

Here we are at the last day of the year.  It's been a dramatic week, although everyone is alright.  I keep telling myself, everyone is all right.   There have been some poor choices, and there has been some drama not at all brought on by the kids.  Additionally, there is a young man the same age as Catherine who is in failing health, and my prayers go to his family.  I know his sister well, and I just can't imagine.  And it makes me feel guilty about the sadness and anxiety I am feeling about my own healthy children.  My mom also continues to have health problems, and the dynamics of dealing with the family are challenging.  It was also challenging to have my mother-in-law here the entire time, although I do adore her.  The hard part was her having an opinion on all of the drama around her.  I am hoping that some medications will help me to get my head together and feel better as we head into the new year.

We are heading to our friends' house for the evening.  Catherine is joining us, I'm not sure what Thomas's plans are.  Knowing he will be out driving at Midnight definitely adds to my anxiety at the moment.  I've been doing a lovely puzzle to help distract and to calm me.  I am very grateful there are still two more days until back to work!

Snow bursts

I am off for my first "official" day of break.  After all, the weekends are always the weekends! Thomas and Andrew are both working.  We've been having a bunch of snow squalls this afternoon.  They really are lovely to see, and I feel better knowing that Thomas is NOT out on deliveries and should be able to get home okay when he is off work in a couple of hours.  It also helps that the college students are gone and the traffic isn't awful. 

I haven't written much this month as I've been pretty emotional about things.  I'm hoping as we all gather for a few days that the peace and spirit of the season fill my heart!

The rest of the birthday weekend

It was a busy weekend, but overall very lovely.  Yesterday we were able to watch Notre Dame just unload on Pitt.  While I follow Pitt because the kicker is from my hometown, I was still delighted that ND could trounce a team.  Our Saturday evening was spent at a Halloween party at a friend's house.  While we all know I love Halloween, I do appreciate an evening spent with those friends!  It was a very fun evening.  

Today was a very cold and dreary day.  My dear friend Jen had wanted to have lunch today, so we made that happen.  I was able to run a quick errand after.  I came home and I'm grateful that Andrew is making a fire in the fireplace.  It's always a lovely way to end the weekend and start the next week.  I'm so grateful for the peaceful feeling.

July 4, 2023

Today is the birthday of our country.  This has never been my favorite holiday.  I don't love crowds and loud noises.  Our friends decided last year that they would start spending the holiday with family since our kids couldn't get along at that point.  Our other friends had stopped celebrating years ago, and since last year I was busy getting ready for Thomas's graduation party, I was fine with it.  This year, it feels a little strange to not be doing anything, but I'm also completely fine with it.

I'm about half way through this week, and we are about half way through our summer (as of tomorrow).  It all goes so fast, but I'm grateful for this time!

Catching up on our lives

I didn't mean to have a two-week gap without writing!  Life has been busy, but mostly a good busy.

Right after I last wrote, Andrew and I made a trip to Tennessee to visit family.  Although we see them at least once a year, and usually more often, we hadn't been down to their place on Norris Lake in nearly nine years.  We had never been there this time of year either.  We noticed how it was definitely more spring down there then it was here at the time.  The hard part was that we had no cell connection, and I didn't love that my kids couldn't get a hold of me.  We ended up coming home that Friday evening instead of Saturday morning, and honestly, that was the best decision for a variety of reasons.  It gave us a lovely weekend at home, and we didn't have to travel in tough weather.

Baseball is in full force around here with Andrew's team.  I haven't been to any regular season games yet, but I'm sure I will this week.

Today is Easter.  It's been a very lovely day.  We were able to attend our church this morning as Andrew took his mom to a very early service.  My mom and her friend joined us here this afternoon for dinner.  Catherine had come home yesterday and Thomas was home since Thursday night and Andrew took him back this evening.  I loved that they were her together, even if only for 24-hours!  My heart feels full in so many ways.

The end of the season

Today is my amazing husband's birthday.  I always feel like I short change him because it is so right after the holidays, but this year I had gifts for him...actual gifts to open.  Then this morning I realized I didn't have a birthday card, so I'm still not completely on top of things.  I did at least leave the kids some cash so they could go buy him a card from them.  Anyway, in the last 90 days we have celebrated the birthdays of all four of us, and of course Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It's a crazy three month period of the year, but also my favorite.

Today also marks the end of the holiday season, as Andrew and I went back to work.  I ended up taking the morning off and I'm grateful my school was okay with it.  Six weeks ago today was the Tuesday just two days before Thanksgiving...one of my favorite days of the year.  It really kicks off the holiday season, and those six weeks are generally awesome.  It always makes today rougher, in my opinion.

We did manage to venture to our family's favorite restaurant in Cincinnati this evening.  I felt a little grumpy about it because it is such a drive, but traffic wasn't bad at all, and since neither Andrew nor I had any students, we were both able to get out of school a little early.  And the kids are home, so that made it even better.  In fact, it really was what I needed to do this evening.  I loved the dinner, I loved having all four of us at the table, and I love the fact that I am generally home early enough to get some things done.  I'm feeling grateful this evening!