Isn’t it just magic when you hear the right song when you’re in the right mood? Today I’m very thankful for one of those moments as it helped me tremendously. Hearing the lyrics and knowing that someone else understood right where I was in that moment was priceless and helped tremendously. Having someone put words to how I was feeling was medicine for my soul.

Today would’ve been Dad’s 63rd birthday. As I drove home from Winona this song suddenly pooped into my head and I was happy to find I’d downloaded it onto my phone. It was exactly what I needed to hear to remind me to be thankful for the time I had with Dad instead of just being sad and missing him.

Thanks!!!

My Old Man

Zac Brown Band

He was a giant

When I was just a kid

I was always trying

To do everything he did

I can still remember every lesson he taught me

Growing up learning how to be like my old man

He was a lion

We were our father’s pride

But I was defiant

When he made me walk the line

He knew how to lift me up

And when to let me fall

Looking back, he always had a plan

My old man

My old man

Feel the callous on his hands

And dusty overalls

My old man

Now I finally understand

I have a lot to learn

From my old man

Now I’m a giant

Got a son of my own

He’s always trying

To go everywhere I go

Do the best I can to raise him up the right way

Hoping that he someday wants to be

Like his old man

My old man

I know one day we’ll meet again

As he’s looking down

My old man

I hope he’s proud of who I am

I’m trying to fill the boots of my old man

My old man

Two years ago today I was wandering alone through the streets of Armidale on a a beautiful fall day.  Yup, it was fall…  because I was on the opposite side of the world.  We were about midway through our trip and Becky was working at UNE prepping for her confirmation.  This gave me a lot of time to explore on my own and it was AWESOME!!!

Meandering through the town I had my headphones in and was just soaking it all in.  So much was similar to back home and so much was completely different.  It was a surreal experience that has been burned into my brain forever.  I still remember exactly which tree I chilled out and took a nap under in the park while listening to some Mumford and Sons.

Driving back from Menomonie today I fired up that same album and spent time thinking about all of those awesome moments while down under.  From the crazy long flight on a double decker jet to seeing the Sydney Opera House the first time to exploring the tide pools and touching an octopus to wandering through towns to hiking in Australian National Parks to traveling the countryside with Becky to eating so many delicious foods (specifically eggs benedict with a rasher of bacon and a flat white with an extra shot).  It was the experience of a lifetime!

I was smiling from ear to ear as I walked through all of those memories and it was a great reminder of just how grateful I am to have had that experience.  It’s become a part of me in a similar yet completely different way than our other adventures.  So many lessons learned on that trip and so many wonderful memories.

Thanks!!!

There’s something about doing good for something bigger than each of us as individuals to bring out the best in us.  For me Kid’s Cup is an annual reminder of this.  Each year I spend time calling, emailing, and using social media to ask for help from friends and family to help with this incredible cause.  Any support you can offer is greatly appreciated, whether it is a financial donation Kid’s Cup ( http://www.fundeasy.com/m/3921574/ ), spreading the word, or offering encouragement as I work towards my goal.

Kid’s Cup is a pretty awesome event as 100% of all the funds raised go directly to the cause, not a single cent goes to putting on the event.  That is all made possible by the many wonderful sponsors of the event, including Express Employment Professionals.  Over the past 21 years it’s raised of $1.5 MILLION!!!

So where do the dollars go to help?  They go to help kids who are in need of medical need and their families.  These dollars go towards things that the hospital doesn’t have a budget for and are focused on ways to support the entire family as they fight through their medical challenges.  In past years the money raised has gone to Beads of Courage for each procedure a child has done to iPads to help entertain them and their siblings on long stays to machines that help make blood draws easier and less painful.

Each year at the event we have a family or two who come in to share their story and help us see how their lives have been impacted for the positive from this event.  By the time they receive a standing ovation there is rarely a dry eye in the room.  It is mind blowing to see what so many people can do when they pull together for a common cause to help others.

Thank you in advance for considering to help me out in this event!  Of course, I’ll always be happy to help you in a cause that you are championing as well.  🙂

For more information please check out the donation site at:  http://www.fundeasy.com/m/3921574/

Thanks!!!

The title of this one almost speaks for itself, doesn’t it? In a go go go day I’m at the soccer fields after Gavin’s game and waiting for Dominic’s last game of refereeing to conclude. Normally I would have brought my headphones and lost myself in music or a good book. Instead I am just standing on the sidelines.

While watching the referee more than the game I kicked my sandals off. The feel of grass underfoot was awesome, one of the first times this spring. The ground is still a little damp which gives it a great bit of sponginess.

Standing here I caught myself soaking in the breeze. Not a stiff wind or anything, but rather a cool and peaceful flow of air. It’s blowing just enough that I can feel it almost constantly moving my hair and drifting across my face.

The sun is shining bright and my skin is loving every moment of it. One side of my face feels a few degrees warmer than the other so every so often I’m changing direction. This might sound weird, but I swear that the sun like this makes it smell like summer and vacation. Strange, I know, but I swear that I can smell when my skin is getting a solid dose of sun.

Put all three of these sensations together and it feels amazing to just stand here and just be. That said, I’m going to wrap this ups so I can savor it for a little while longer. 😁

Thanks!!!

We followed up a great night at the Brewers game with a day at the Milwaukee Zoo.  It is a pretty special place for Nick and I as it is where we used to go pretty much every summer when we stayed with our Aunt Nadia as kids for many years.  Every section of the zoo that wasn’t new brought back many memories that Nick and I shared as we walked with our families.

We talked about how we only went to the reptile house every other year because Aunt Nadia hated snakes.  How cool that she would be willing to go into something she really was not a fan of every other year for Nick and I?

There was a machine that made us immediately smile when we saw it.  As we got closer Lauren asked Nick what the smell was.  Without missing a beat he responded, “it smells like childhood.”  The machine was one of several plastic molding machines that makes a small plastic animal in front of you.  Each year Nick and I would get one or two of those as souvenirs from our trip.

As we walked the zoo it was fun to have so many old memories come up.  In sharing them it seemed that others came up.  Being able to have that time with Nick was priceless.  Having my family present to share in those memories as we make new ones was just awesome.

Some of the new ones that I’ll keep smiling about are Dominic’s jokes to Uncle Nick, Lauren’s response to Jennifer when asked if she wanted to see wild pigs, and a trek halfway across the entire zoo because he wasn’t interested in the chicken tenders that were the only option for food.

It’ll be fun to see if Gavin and Dominic go back with their families when they get older and talk about all of the memories they have and the stories they heard us share.

Thanks!!!

Not much to say about this one! A great time at Miller Park enjoying a few of our favorite things – Brewers, Star Wars, family, and greasy stadium food!

Life is good!

Thanks!!!

Sometimes it’s all about the simple pleasures in life. Today is one of the days that I really appreciated a small thing that will be taken for granted regularly in the upcoming months.

This morning when we went for our run I was wearing only running shorts and a T-shirt, and it was GLORIOUS!!! No jacket, no tights, no long underwear, no stocking cap, no gloves, and no sweatshirt. No heavy winter shoes, just light normal shoes. It was amazingly liberating and I savored every moment of it.

Sure, within a couple of weeks it will be normal again and it will be something I take for granted, but today I’m very grateful to go for a run without layers.

Thanks!!!

I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a lot of disagreement on this one, but I’m thankful for it tonight regardless. 🙂

As a kid I wasn’t a big fan, but now I’m always ecstatic to see this wonderful dish for a meal:

I still remember watching this get made at Grandma Kreiling’s house with the tabletop sausage grinder.  My dad always loved the stuff, but it wasn’t until I was much older that I came to appreciate this delicious meal.  Meat and potatoes in one package?  Yes please!

Tonight’s meal also holds another special place for me.  It was the last potato sausage that Dad had left in the freezer.  I’m eating it with pride, thinking of him, and enjoying every wonderful bite.

Thanks!!!