Check off another year

I don't love how fast these years with our kids keep flying by, or how I don't write about our memories anymore. I wonder if those two things are connected? Like, I'm out there "doing the thing," as Beth Moore says, which means I'm not at my computer writing about all of it.

Braylen's home from his first year of college. He's been home for a little over 2 weeks now. I LOVE having him back at home! Tomorrow is Kaleb and Aaron's last day of school. When I dropped Aaron off at his school this morning I realized that was the last time I would ever do that at our middle school. Ever. I probably won't ever have another reason to go inside the building, either. A friend asked me this morning if I'm sad or excited about it. I told her I'm a little sad with stages ending, but I've learned the new ones are worth celebrating, too. Nothing stays the same. We'll have a freshman and a senior in high school soon. Again, I don't love how fast these years with our kids keep flying by!

Spring break in Chicago with friends

Braylen's in my favorite city!

They took a trip to The Ark :)

He spent Easter weekend in Michigan with Emma

The biggest blessing at Cedarville University this year are these people!

Lots of people have asked me what it's like having Braylen back at home. I think he summed it up best when he came home from college and said, "It's great to be home, but I'm already excited to go back." That's the stage of life he's in right now, living in temporary homes. So how does it feel to be one of those temporary homes? It feels good and right. We take great delight in having him here--he brings life and love and laughter into our family. And when it comes time to release him again, it'll also be good and right. I can't explain it any better than that.

Kaleb went from boyhood to manhood in one year. Truly! Here's proof of that.

November 2018-November 2019

Kaleb has had an amazing junior year of high school. He's kept excellent grades, participated in a very busy marching band season, and an even busier swim season. He grew into the oldest brother at home, and is blessed with great friends. One thing about Kaleb that I think is extra special is how he is tuned in to other people's needs. It makes me feel lucky to be his mom. I wonder how God will use that in his future? This year he had to take a certain medication with some strong side effects, and we all prayed him through it. God took care of him, and last week he took the final pill. Yippee! His braces came off on 4/30, and life is good!

Kaleb hauled our Christmas tree home in his truck in the snow.
It looked like Derek's truck ornament :)

Kaleb at the start

Kaleb swims the backstroke

He did an official Cedarville visit and loved it!

He flew to Ohio in early May so he could road trip home with Braylen

He plays the trumpet AND the tenor saxophone

My new job is better than it was when I started it. Someone wisely told me not to even think about if I like it or not until I'd been there at least 2 months. She said that up until 2-6 months I would hate it, because it wasn't the wonderful job I left behind. She's so wise! I gave myself permission to hate it for 2 months. Little by little, as time went on, I found some things I liked in my new position. It's enough to keep me there, and so that's enough for now.

Derek switched positions in mid-April. He's still within the 2 month time frame, so it's safe to say he's not where I'm at yet. ;)

Derek and I took a weekend trip to Minnesota for my cousin's wedding...in February...which led to us getting stranded overnight in a blizzard on our way home. The wedding weekend was so much fun! I loved being with my family--the ones I see often, and the ones I only see every few years it seems. Getting home provided us with a story we'll never forget. We spent the night in a small hotel with no vacancy, where no travelers were turned away. The owner welcomed us with a warm place to stay safe from the storm, and we were thankful to not be stuck in our car on the highway!

We had more fun at the Mall of America than either of us ever thought we would!

My dad :)

Mom and I, then Derek and Dad, rode the log ride! Such fun!

The view from The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, where the rehearsal dinner took place.
It used to be a fire station back in the day, very cool!

Rehearsal dinner: my mom (in gray) with her siblings

Cousins Justin, Brandan (groom), Eric (my brother), Nick, Katherine, me, and Kate (bride)

Kate & Brendan

I think the last wedding on this side of the family that we attended together
was my brother's, and that was in 2001!

Eric and I having fun at the reception

Me and my honey!

Once upon a time Nick and I were the only cousins in this family :)
We're still very close.

My lovely cousin Katherine, sister of the groom, oh how I love her!

Our little nook where we spent the night on our way home
We were thankful to grab it when we did!

Quite an experience to share with 100+ other stranded travelers!
A local restaurant brought food for everyone, and the gas station provided water and pizza.

Grand Stay Hotel & Suites in Medalia, MN

And that wraps up the big wedding weekend!

Aaron's biggest news this spring involves band. He spent an entire Saturday auditioning for the high school drum line, and received a snare drum position! This is an incredible accomplishment for an incoming freshman, and the extra blessing is he'll be doing this with his cousin. Oh, the memories they will make! He still designs and prints his creations with his 3D printer. My cousin gave him access to a great design program, which is leaps and bounds better than what he had been using. He's also been growing taller, and that's very good news to a soon-to-be-freshman. :)

My favorite picture because it captures his true smile

Turning 15 means learning to drive!

Laughing with his cousins and brother

Running the 400 in 8th grade track

Getting ready to fly his super cool drone that he got for his birthday

All together after Aaron's band concert

We're ready for summer--Derek's been talking about summer since January I think. Jet skis, camping, lake trips, fireworks, family time...I can't wait! I guess it's not so sad the school year is ending after all. The new stages are worth celebrating, too. :)