2020 Blue Jeans Week 13

So I guess this week was unofficially our 2nd week of spring break, as starting next week school will be online and packet learning.  Another surreal week.  Things we were grateful for this week...home church, yummy cheesecake with lemon curd for my birthday, getting what we needed at the grocery store, and enjoying beautiful spring weather that allows us to be outside!  Take a look at our week....

Sunday--our home centered church around the kitchen table with Miss E wrapped up in a blanket and Mr J giving a lesson.  It was pretty awesome!

And Happy birthday to me!  Ben and the kids made me a divine homemade cheesecake with an even more divine homemade lemon curd that I love!  It was a good day!

So, We stocked up before all the crazy and have not had to go to the grocery store for a few weeks, but we had to go today.  During this stay at home crazy, I have put the kids in charge of dinner menu planning and cooking, so they planned out 2 weeks of dinners/breakfast/lunches/snacks and made a grocery list, and we decided to head to the store as soon as it opened to hopefully avoid other people.  It was still dark when we headed out to the store.  So grocery store shopping, here we go....

This is a sight I have never seen in my whole life..... completely empty grocery store shelves.  Wow.  It was disconcerting.  This was the cereal isle.  Toilet paper isle looked the same.  Thankfully cereal and toilet paper were not on our grocery list, but everything else we needed was.  That was a blessing!

So last summer I made the declaration that we were going to play one board game/card game every single day. And we did it!  It was a lot of fun.  So, starting last week I made the same declaration and since my family always loves everything I decide to do (yeah, right, but they know better than to contradict me) they are being good sports about it.  These are just some of the games we have played the last two weeks.  Lots of fun!  It helps keep things a little more normal and gets our mind off more heavy topics which we are dwelling on a lot lately.

It was a beautiful and warm sunny day, so these two decided to have a water gun fight.  Lots of fun!

These two, since they have extra time now (lucky them) got the job of washing and vacuuming out all 3 cars, but it was a gorgeous day to do it, so they didn't complain (too much)

And then we had a super windy day, and they got out a kite, but it was a little too windy, and that poor kite didn't last too long, but it was something fun to do!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you are all healthy and safe where you are!  Find Joy in the Journey!  See you next week!

2020 Blue Jeans Week 12

It is really, really hard to describe the emotions and what life is like right now.  Surreal, crazy, unimaginable, the world turned upside down, and as I told a friend, I wake up each morning and think, "No, this is not a bad dream.  We are living this crazy."  It seems like life changes almost hourly, and we really have no right to complain.  There are many that have it way worse than we do.  I am grateful I have a home.  I am grateful I have food. I am grateful we have toilet paper.  I am grateful my kids can still learn even though they will not physically be attending a school building.  I am grateful for technology that allows me to communicate with family not close by.  I am grateful my husband currently has a job.  I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers. I  am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for an amazing and hardworking husband.  I am grateful for good leaders on all levels of government who try their best.  This is uncharted territory people, we need to have patience and say lots of prayers.  Even amidst the crazy and uncertain and scary, there is much to be grateful for.  So, this is at look at our constantly changing week that was our scheduled spring break....

Family walk on Sunday.  It was cold, but we all needed to get out of the house!!!  Living in the country and near a rural community is a blessing that we can get out and walk and enjoy the beautiful earth.  Spring is coming!!

So we got word that our library was closing for the foreseeable future, so we went and loaded up on lots of books, board games and some movies.  I am grateful we have a library and were able to check out all these books!

And then the bomb dropped.....schools closed for the rest of the school year.  I have a senior.  Her year is over.  Learning will still take place at home be that through online or packets mailed to homes, but her senior year is over.  No track meets, no school play, no prom, no graduation, no senior picnic and the list goes on--anything and everything associated with school is over.  She had no idea when she left school the Friday before spring break that it would be the last times she sees those friends she has had since kindergarten and those teachers.  It is hard on my freshman boy too, but especially for my senior girl. Man, it was a HARD day.  This is HARD stuff for these teenagers.  Not to minimize the hard things that others are dealing with, because I know it is a lot worse for some people, but just taking a moment to acknowledge how tough this is for these seniors.  Ugh.  Makes my heart hurt and tears come to my eyes.  

Despite the bad news, these two made some awesome chalk art on the driveway to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

And our traditional all green dinner on St. Patrick's day.

And then my mom stopped by this week to drop off this surprise for Ben.  She made him this awesome quilt.  So much love!

And even though it is spring break, with travel restrictions and rainy weather, we did a lot of stuff inside.  Mr J working through his lego sets.  Love it!

And I enjoyed a walk with these two on the trails by our house.  They have had a hard week, but I am proud of them!  We have had a lot of rain and this river behind them shows it, but it was nice to get out.  I am grateful we have nature trails by our home that allow us to get out and enjoy outside and still practice social distancing.

Prayers and patience, my friends, for all!  Hope you were able to find things to be grateful for in your week!  I know so many are dealing with so much at this time!  Prayers and patience!!!

2020 Blue Jeans Week 11

So if you are familiar with the musical Hamilton, there is a song called "The World Turned Upside down."  That song has been playing in my head for the last few days.  Wow.  Our world has been turned upside down, but prayers for those who are fighting the CO-VID 19 virus and for the families of those who have passed away from the virus, and prayers for the healthcare workers all over the world working so hard to help so many!!!  Our worlds are turned upside down to prevent more from having their worlds permanently turned upside down.  We are focusing on the greater good for all, so we will look for the beauty and the joy in what we have and where we find ourselves now.  Prayers for so many right now!  So, these are my pictures from last week, take a look...

Our very first daffodils bloomed!  Spring is coming!!

Helped Miss E do her taxes this past week.  Exciting times!  Good life lessons for her!

I enjoyed an evening walk and a beautiful evening sky while my family was at church activities.

And then everything changed.....screen shot from our church account.

And screen shot of announcement that church services and any and all activities and meetings are temporarily suspended.  Major adjustment for our family, but I loved what our Church leader said in making this announcement, we want to be part of the solution to the problem, so anything we can do to help and limit the spread.  Amen!  So home centered church for the unforeseeable future.

Celebrating Pi Day!  Miss A and her friends enjoyed the day with some yummy pie!

And we also had our own Pi day celebration. We made apple, lemon supreme and chocolate cream pies and invited some friends over to play some games.  It was a fun night after a very stress filled day of announcements, cancellations, and adjustments with schools, church and activities.  We decided we are going to play a game a day for the unforeseeable future :)  We did this last summer and really enjoyed it. Let the games begin!

Prayers for each of you  and your families wherever you are and that you stay healthy and safe!  Wash your hands, don't touch your face and stay home if you are sick!  

2020 Blue Jeans Week 10

Late as usual this week, but better late than never.  My life as a basketball mom is officially over.  That is a sad thing.  I have loved watching Miss E play since 7th grade.  She has a passion for it even though she is the shortest player on the whole team, but she is fierce and a great competitor.  So last basketball game was this week.  Mr J had a jazz band competition, and the kids had a day off school for end of the quarter.  Only 9 weeks of school left, and only 8 for senior Miss E!  Take a look at our week...

Mr J rockin' his solo at the jazz band competition this week.  They sounded so good!

Last basketball game ever for Miss E, and she got to start!  Ready to go!  So proud of this girl!

Had lunch with these two cuties one day this week.  Yummy!

Weather has been so nice!  It finally feels like spring is here, and the kids enjoyed being out on the trampoline for a little bit in the nice weather.

Mr J and his forensics team this week.  He got first in both of his events and their team was league champs!!!  

A picture from Miss O this week, she and her friends took a road trip and went to Vegas to get away from school.  She said it was fun but she doesn't want to go back :)

And Miss E enjoys cooking when she can.  She made some yummy lemon cupcakes this week.

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you have a great week!  Wash your hands and don't touch your face!

2020 Blue Jeans Week 9

Better late than never...We had a good week.  Long weekend with the kids off on Monday.  Our weather is finally warming up and the sun is shining.  Life is good.  Take a look...

Our absolute favorite waffles.  I make them once a week to freeze so everyone can warm them up for breakfast each day.  Yummy!

Getting out to enjoy some nature on a nice day.  We love our hiking trails!

Kids had Monday off, so Ben took the day off and we headed to the city.  Went to Top Golf which was fun and a first for us.  We are soooo not golfers, so it was funny to see us hit nothing as often as we hit the ball :)  Fun memories!

Miss E was in charge of finding a place for lunch and she chose Vietnamese food.  It was yummy!

More basketball!

My oldest Miss A and college graduate who is heading to law school this fall!  Excited for her!

Mr J rockin' the forensics meet this week with his team.  He medaled in two events!  Woohoo!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!