20 years

 what I would have told my 22 year old self.....

Marriage is beautiful. Marriage is hard work. Marriage is team work. Marriage is selflessness. Marriage is forgiving. Marriage will see hard times but also amazing time. Marriage is being there for your spouse when they can't be there for themselves. Marriage is loving. Marriage is times of disappointment. Marriage is giving your all to your spouse even on the days they have gotten on your last nerve. Marriage is loving your spouse the way Jesus loves you. Marriage is to be cherished. Marriage is showing grace. Marriage is appreciation. Marriage is listening. Marriage is compromising. Marriage is showing respect. Marriage is loyalty and faithfulness. Marriage is a gift. 

life in quarantine...

Ethan is officially taller than Nathan. 8th grade 14 years old. We played a lot of games, kids did school online, we played basketball, church was online but they left a sign in our yard, friends left sweet gifts on the front porch and we walked up and down our path for exercise. Missing my family and friends, missing the little things like going to Target. I can get in my car and drive around the block but very thankful we have not gotten covid. 

 

injury

Of course the first week we are quarantined we are outside playing basketball and Ethan falls and hits his head on the basketball goal meal pole. The one thing they say is to stay at home and the last place you want to be is the hospital where people have covid and are dying. Highly contagious. But it was a bad cut and Ethan needed staples so off to the hospital Ethan and Nathan go. They decide to quarantine for 2 weeks. That is what they say how long it last. So Nathan lived upstairs in the living room and Ethan lived in his room. I brought them food and left it at the door. Such a stressful time.
 

covid

 For a few months there has been talk about is virus covid over in china. Of course we are living our life here in the US. But then more and more talk and then the virus was showing up in CA. No-one is very clear about it and what it is. People are dying. It is spreading fast. President Trump has now shut down the USA. NO planes in or out. NO travel. Everyone must stay home. Don't leave your house. Stores have closed, schools have closed. At first panic and fear set in. Nathan being the planner and protector he is went and got us a big freezer and we stocked up on food, medicine, water. The kids are all home and school is online. We don't know how long this will last. We don't know anything much. The news is scaring everyone. Hospitals are full and there is no room anywhere. More people dying. Its' like the flu but worse. Seems to be worse on overweight people, older people, people who already have heath problems. Now we are starting to know people dying. This is the most horrible thing. Ethan's favorite teacher in her 30's died Ms. Ham. She thought she had a cold doctors sent her home and she died. It attacks your lungs and you can't breathe. We don't leave our house. Groceries are delivered and put on the front porch. Nathan takes them in the garage with gloves and a mask and washes everything and wipes down with lysol wipes. This continues for months we don't leave our house. My sweet friend Caroline Bussemas gets it. She is in the hospital over 2 months. She is in ICU and almost died. The government after a few months has a vaccine and tells everyone to get it. Me and Nathan got it, but not the kids. this is a new vaccine and nobody is sure of the effects down the road. Million of people died it spread all over the world. 

baseball

 

This Swing

 This swing. This swing has swung a million times over the years. There have been many talks, many prayers, many laughs, many tears, many hugs, many a corn shucked, many scriptures quoted, much advice was given, many quiet moments on this swing. The swing sat under a special tree at my parents house in the front yard and whomever was on the swing if you road by you would get a big smile and a wave. People still talk about this swing back home. My parents are not here anymore, now I have the swing. For the new laughs, new tears, new hugs, new prayers, and new memories. 

Amaris

you are loved... 

today I did something

I thought I would never do

I got a tattoo 

it is in Latin

you are loved

mom would always tell me that

now when I look it I will remember

her words...and how much she and daddy loved me