Spring Vacation 2023

 

Spring Vacation 2023 was everything we hoped it to be with the sun feeling hotter, and the food tasting even better. Our first stop was in The Villages to see mom and dad. Eighty square miles, four quadrants, 71K homes, everything in pristine condition and everyone riding golf carts. It's like a Jetson's playground for seniors with money! 

A couple nights at mom and dads where we perused the quaint shops of Lake Sumter and eating alligator for the first time, we stopped by the magical location where David proposed and I said, "YES!!" 

We rented a romantic little cottage on Anna Marie Island with a private beach and fell in love with this relaxed island that exists truly on "island time." Our skin sun-kissed, we walked hand in hand on the beach for days, going to several beaches, and lingering in the cutest beach shops. 

We couldn't wait to get to the ocean for fresh seafood and we dined well. From several seafood shacks (our favorites!!) on the ocean with phenomenal seafood, to a darling Parisian cafe, Le Creperie, we sampled and tasted everything fresh seafood. 

After a couple days at Anna Marie Island, we drove down the coast to our beloved Siesta Key Beach for sun, sand, and that fabulous Mango Tango. The very inspiration of one of our wedding day signature cocktails! My favorite seafood meal being Shrimp & Grits at Captain Curt's, a giant tiki hut restaurant with outdoor dining. 

Our skin thoroughly cooked, hours in the sun, we went back to mom and dad's before heading home. 

Thank you mom and dad for allowing us to stay with you, the fun playing cards every night, the use of your golf cart, and delicious meals!! We had the best time, and we love you!

Easter Dinner

 

We hosted Easter dinner in our home with an Easter basket for Amelia and an outdoor Easter egg hunt that led to Easter presents for Sofia, Rowan, and Claire. 

The kids were excited walking in the house shouting they saw Easter eggs outside!!! I had three empty baskets for them to choose a color to grab and run around collecting eggs. On the back porch was their presents with frilly bows. A sit-and-spin (one of my favorite toys when I was young), a seat on wheels they can ride around the house, Seek & Find cards for outdoor scavenger hunts, and a giant bottle of bubbles from Great Grammy (Gigi). 

Having my grandbabies together was wonderful to watch. Amelia sitting in her bouncy seat with the kids gathered around her quiet as to not startle or scare her. They would gentle touch her hair and watch her. Me, it's as if I've blinked in life and I have four grandbabies. 

The sun was shining, the food delicious, and yummy desserts. Lots of conversations going at once and little ones eating their special ice cream in their new ice cream cups and playing with their toys. 

Most visits end WWE with Papa David. David is swift and quick, and the kids love full on wrestle mania with him until they are flushed and overheated. 

Claire-bear is the quiet one. She likes to get into the pantry into napkins and cups, changes the channels on the television, and at the end of the day, I had to delete over 70 videos and photos she took with my phone. For the most part, I had no idea she even had it. She's quiet, smiles sweetly, and is unapologetically her. I love their unique personalities. 

It was a beautiful day for an Easter celebration. 

Rage and Prayer

 

My husband walked out the door this morning with a bullet proof vest on. 

Emotions are raging war in love, fear, understanding him, and zero acceptance of the cause. 

My husband made to protect what we don't believe in and I cannot even speak about it without becoming "F-bombing" furious. I go from fury to tears, from prayer to admiring the man he is. He's so loving and allows me to rage truth verbally, to him speaking into me that he is law enforcement in the gentlest and most loving way. Assuring me that all is well. 

Until... he walked in the door last night with an arsenal of "protection" and the seriousness of what he is taking and why quickly has me at the reality of the situation all over again. Pinning his uniform, loading magazines, filling duffle bags with weapons and a trauma bag, I laid across the bed and watched him. 

My husband is gentle, affectionate, patient, over the top loving, kind, and always super funny. He is my love and he is my Boaz. He is everything a husband is supposed to be, sprinkled in magnificence! 

My husband, going in with his team of close friends, those who train law enforcement. My husband, years on SWAT, trains SWAT, he is highly trained in defensive tactics, weapons of all kinds, armed, equipped, and lethal with crazy-skilled talent.

He is at the 11th hour on the verge of retirement. To be put in a situation we do not believe in, to protect those who choose to put themselves in a place of threat of violence, threatening my husband's safety, puts me in a significant heart condition of extreme conflict between rage and prayer. 

All it takes is one person for hell to break loose and today is April Fool's Day. 

My husband is maintaining order among fools. 

UPDATE:  All went well, thankfully. Ended up being an unnecessary expense for taxpayers. 

Birds Chirping

 

Ahhh, spring! To wake up in the morning to birds chirping. 

Tulips are coming up through our flower beds, which is a welcome sign of spring and knowledge our new home has tulips!! Hooray! Our grass is beginning to grow from the rain, sunshine is lingering longer through the evening, and I am opening windows in our home every chance it warms up just enough.

I just booked a lovely cottage on the beach of Anna Marie Island, with it's own private beach. Longing for the intense sunshine of Florida, the smell of the ocean, the roar of the waves, and day's basking in the sun with my husband, is pretty magical.

Last year was the best year of my life. It was also a very busy year with a lot of moving parts, house hunting, selling and buying homes, our wedding, and moving into a new home. This year... we are in our groove and look forward to lounging at our pool, biking, pickleball, jaunting off on spontaneous getaways, and a year of more relaxation.  

Winter was just the rest we needed; however, spring has arrived, and we are ready to play!!

Custom-designed Dining Room Table

 

For our new home, we custom-designed our dining room table. It is a one of a kind! 

I knew my vision and pouring through books upon books of fabrics and wood color selections, we chose the wood type, the stain color, the fabric and the fabric color. I wanted three different types of chairs around the table and enhanced with special requests, such as slightly larger, rounded captain chairs with tufted backs. 

We have wondered since we created this last August what the finished product would look like.

Six months later, my vision came to fruition and it's PERFECT!! Amish built, quality made.

We LOVE it!!

It's a GIRL! Brooke + Josh

 

We both have a Brooke and we say, "my Brooke" or "your Brooke" Otherwise, it begs the question, "which Brooke?" Our Brooke's are the same age, too. 

This is my stepdaughter, David's Brooke. Brooke + Josh. I absolutely adore them both!! 

David and I have two more grandbabies arriving in August and September of 2023. This means three of our daughters were pregnant together. My Brooke, his Brooke, and Taylour. 

Gender reveals are so much fun!! Those smoke & confetti cannons go off and there were screams of joy!

I love this photo of Brooke. That wonderful moment where you know what the baby inside you is. 

Family gatherings are large and enjoyable. In-laws from all sides, including son-in-law's, everyone coming together. Everyone genuinely liking one another and happy to see one another. Kelly, David's ex-wife, and her family are some of my favorite people. I genuinely like both my son-in-law's parents. Events are large. How blessed my stepdaughters are to have healthy and functional families! 

Come September 2023 we will have 8 grandbabies!!!!!!!!

Intermittent Fasting

 

January 22nd, I began intermittent fasting. Starting at 16/8 the first couple of days, let's be honest, I thought I was going to eat my shoe! It was the 3rd day I was busy at work and slipped into and 18/6 hour fast by accident and I realized I was okay. Thus, began my 18/6 fasting.

Within one month I lost I think it was 8 lbs. and 1-1/2" around my waist. What I found interesting as I read about the endless benefits of fasting, I found another amazing result is my allergies cleared up!!

I always thought I had seasonal allergies, that turned into year-round allergies. I now know I have food related allergies with fasting and eating clean (very little starches or sugar) completely clears me up. 

Now, if I eat heavy starches or sweets, my body reacts pretty strongly. 

I feel great!! David and I do this together, which makes me more successful. I have the Zero app that tracks my fasting times, because I like the daily green check mark when I've successfully completed a fast daily. It tracks my daily success rates, too.

Here's the thing, when I cannot go 18/6 and fall short at 16/8, I'm still doing fantastic and far better than a regular eating schedule. Out of the last 2 months, there are only 7 days I fell short. I won't beat myself up about that. 

Intermittent fasting also strengthens your immune system. David has been really sick with a fever for a 3-days and extreme multi-symptoms for over a week. I never got sick at all. I had a slight sore throat for a couple days, but that fact that I didn't get sick is nothing short of a miracle. 

I am seeing and feeling the benefits and super grateful for our healthy lifestyle.