December 2022

        Prices here have gone through the roof this year. Gas prices have soared but in the last couple of weeks have dropped a little. Interest rates are the highest they have been in years! I have one more big goal and that is to move us out to the country. Somewhere not too far from where we are, but with enough space for Caleb to be able to drive a golf cart around. We live in a real expensive area right now, but it has been worth it. The schools are amazing and the programs and resources they have for my boys are beyond compare with any other area in Michigan. As a single parent, I have felt safe here, my children are accepted and celebrated in school and in our community. This makes it a very scary move for me. We need more room though. I'm so afraid that I'll regret the move, but I'm praying we will find the right home for us and we can live happily ever after there.  For now, I still have two boys in high school so we won't be going anywhere until Elijah (my youngest) is out of high school. It also depends on the interest rates and what the housing market looks like in a couple years. For now though, we will enjoy our cozy little home which has brought us many years of love and laughter. :) We are blessed.

War

Russia invaded Ukraine 5 days ago. It's heartbreaking to watch as Ukrainians are fleeing their country. Except for the fathers, brothers and sons age 18-60. They are required to stay and fight. There has been bloodshed and loss of life. Russia has killed civilians.  An innocent six year old child, at a market with her parents to get food, before returning back to the bomb shelter, has died. Her father covered in his baby girl's blood. God help Ukraine and protect the vulnerable children and adults in orphanages and institutions around their country. They are dependent on caregivers and rumor has it, that some caregivers are fleeing with their own families. It's devastating, Please dear God, hear our prayers.

Love myself

This is going to be the year that I begin to love myself. To extend the grace to me, that I extend to others. I have never done this, I am so hard on myself. But, as I grow older, I am more comfortable with myself. I think with my heart, I always have. That has not always been a good thing, but it has definitely shaped my life. So many things, that I would not have done if I sat down and did the old pro's and con's list. Looking at the monetary cost versus the emotional reward. And I am happy that I think and act with my heart, I would rather believe in goodness, then become overwhelmed in the what if's. This loving yourself thing is a long time coming for me. I've been listening to others for decades talk about loving yourself, and seeing your worth. I think I'll begin with liking myself and know that I am worthy, even if I have to remind myself several times a day. :)

Happy New Year!

Love and Loss

We have lost two of our precious pets. Both unexpected and both missed beyond words. Kolya was 8 years old and he had torn ACL' s in both of his back legs. I had been lifting him in and out to use the bathroom, but I knew his condition would only get worse. Surgery was well over $5000 because it involved both back legs. :( He woke up one morning in September in severe pain. He couldn't move without horrible pain. Lap of Love came to our home so he could pass in peace and be as comfortable as possible. I am heartbroken, but comforted by the fact that he is running again, free of pain and we will be reunited one day. Our other little fur baby was Linus. He was a male calico born with several serious health problems. He had two ectopic ureters, and even though there is a surgery that can be successful, the surgeon told me that he did not feel it would be successful for him. Even with prescription medicine and prescription food, he still was getting UTI's. He leaked urine and that was becoming worse also. It was a quality of life decision and one that will haunt me for the rest of my life. He was only a year old. :( If you know our family, you will know that we love our pets and we have a lot. We currently have four cats and four dogs.  If you put your heart out there, you will be blessed by having a pet. With love comes loss at some point, and though it hurts like hell, it is so worth it. Their love is unconditional. Nothing compares to the love from an animal. 

August 2021

No fancy title here. Just an update of our life during the Covid-19 saga. The boys are back to their summer programs. They have all been vaccinated. Jimmy's class is still Zoom for him right now. Liam has been home all week with a fever. There have been breakthrough cases, but I'm positive this is not Covid. He appears to have a cold. No coughing. Caleb graduated from high school and is eagerly awaiting the Young Adult Program that he will attend. It starts on the 30th. Saline schools just announced that masks will be required when school starts. Thanks to an uptake in the Delta variant and because the children under 12  can't be vaccinated yet. We've done a few doctor appts. and the boys have eye appts. next week. Can't wait to get Caleb a new pair of frames! Elijah turned 15 in July. Wow! Now, all my boys are in the high school and beyond. I will be driving them to and from school to avoid the bus situation this school year. So, on to the pics of our summer this year. :)

Went blonde this summer!

Christmas in July

New electric grill.

Caleb with his new ping pong table that he got for graduation.

Almost back to normal

 So, here we are in June 2021. Over a year into the Covid-19 pandemic. We have all received both doses of our vaccine, so we can safely (hopefully) begin getting back to normal. Caleb has graduated from High School (next post) and Liam will be beginning ABA therapy twice a week, beginning next week. We are going to the lake again, and I am super excited to get into that water. A sense of freedom in a way, sent from God, is how I welcome that experience. Our family has stayed home during the pandemic, no stores, school, restaurants, theaters...... So, this is a weird thing for us to jump back into it. The boys will be going to their summer programs this year in person! I will still take precautions when I go shopping and things, wearing my mask and social distancing when I can. I will most likely try and avoid taking the boys in restaurants and stores throughout the rest of the year, with an exception here or there. I can't explain it, but it gives me peace of mind, not to wholeheartedly just throw them back into everything so quickly, while there is still so much to learn about this virus. Vaccinated or not. So, here are a few pics and hopefully we will have a fun summer with more to share this year! Thank you Jesus for all of our blessings.

Birthdays!

 I can't believe my poor forgotten blog has been neglected for so long. I post most of my stuff on Instagram and Facebook. We celebrated Caleb's and Jimmy's birthdays in October and November. With Covid still here, we had a birthday parade for Caleb which was so much fun! Jimmy declined, because he didn't want to go outside on his birthday. Unfortunately, he is pretty worried about the virus and doesn't like to leave the house, even to go outside much. :(  Here are the birthday boys (Caleb 18) and Jimmy (34) on their special days.