April

Greg started his new job with Kentucky OSHA on the first and has been loving all the opportunities to learn new areas of safety. Fire resistant coveralls are needed for the oil refineries. I don't necessarily love this one but do enjoy seeing him excited about his role supporting safety practices in state businesses. 

Diesel's nose.....always just *this* close to the edge

I caught one group before they headed out to their second Easter gathering of the day but missed the others because I decided to nap rather than address a snarky comment from one daughter. The balance of Easter Joy was restored with rest.

Easter brunch for our crew consisted of four dozen eggs used in the butterscotch coffee cake, hash brown bake and scrambled to top the Mr. Potato Head Casserole. Fresh fruit and casserole toppings insured no one left hungry. There was a text chat with banter about alcohol that left me shaking my head at the girls who are always willing to "turn up for Christ rising" as only Makenna would declare. Lord help us all. But it was Christmas Eve the last time they all gathered around my table and after Greg contributed smoked pork belly in the form of perfect bacon, I have no doubt these moments will become more regular now that spring has sprung and the smoker is prepped for the season. These people can eat and they know to expect the good stuff when their father is involved.

Around Greg's travel and Austin's ballgame schedule, we took a few weeks off from the spring version of Soup Sunday. But I scored a quiet Sunday morning on Erin's screened in porch with her and the cats while Greg went to church. I love one-on-one visits with my kids, especially ones in peaceful locations like Erin's house.

Oh the dilemma. I went to work. Being a responsible grownup is overrated.

Yellow. A color that makes me smile. A color not easily welcomed into my home because my husband hates it on principle. The buckeyes have agency here. 🙄

Impulse purchase at Aldi just because. 

He was certain his first vehicle was going to be a motorcycle. We went with a sedan. Evan sold us his old 2015 Fusion with a steep family discount. Ty and Greg had it in the garage within minutes to start poking around under the hood. Ty is now anxious to complete his driving hours and spends his evenings attempting detailing methods to clean up the interior.

Just another day in third grade 

My neighbor's irises. She keeps encouraging me to cut a few for a vase. Eventually I will accept her offer but for now, the plant full of blooms is so pretty as is, I just can't quite bring myself to snip them.

Moments bringing me joy:

• A neighbor singing while tossing a ball to his son. It helps he has a beautiful voice.
• A choir of neighbors from around the backyard calling out "bless you" when one sneezes.
• Flowers in my hanging baskets
• Brunch with a friend who is finally local
• An old friend calling with an announcement of new a new granddaughter 
• Open windows 
• Golden morning light across my bed on cozy days off. It's a bit disorienting to be home alone now that Greg works normal shifts for the first time in three years. I think the year was 2019 the last time my days were not occupied with others and that was only for a few weeks. And before that? I don't recall ever being alone for hours on end. Disorienting, yes. But also pleasant.
• The satisfaction of pressure washing the deck and patio. Instant gratification. 
• Sukhino Wellness for pain relief after said pressure washing.
• Austin filling his pockets with chocolate for the road as each visit ends. This alone is reason enough to keep it on hand.
• A surprise package containing a gorgeous handmade quilt from a friend. I literally cried over the generosity and thoughtfulness.