Start Where You’re At

I’ve put off blogging/journaling, because I got behind. Then the daunting task of playing catch up got in the way. Now it’s been almost two years, and here we are. So, I’ve decided to just start today. No time like the present! So much has happened in the last two years. The boys have changed immensely. Ethan is an adult. Eli is a young adult and Tate is a teenager. Ethan has graduated high school. Eli is in high school and Tate is in middle school. 

Here’s where we are today:

Eric is still working from home as a professional voice talent. He is a seasoned pro! He is such a great dad and husband. He enjoys his reptile/snake/spider/bug/tortoise hobby. We’ve had so many critters come and go. He currently has one tortoise, one rubber boa, 3 blue tongue skinks, one tarantula, millipedes, and dozens of assassin bugs. He was diagnosed with DISH about a year ago. It is a degenerative disease that causes bone spurs to grow all throughout your joints and tendons. He is in constant pain, and has decreased flexibility. His spine is beginning to fuse. It’s been frustrating for him. He’s always been SO physically strong. He amazes me though! He rarely complains and still works in the yard and around the house like there’s nothing wrong. He’s a keeper! 

I’m still working in the ER at Cache Valley Hospital. I enjoy my job and the people I work with. I’m still in love with being a mom. There has been much heartache in the last couple of years, but there is joy and love that mends it. I am always looking for ways to be a better mom. It will forever be a work in progress. 

Ethan is loving that he doesn’t have school to stress about. He’s working at Quick Quack car wash. He’s still deciding what career path to choose. He’s leaning toward computers for now. I’m not putting too much pressure on him. He doesn't need to have it all figured out just yet. He’s been dating Ivy for two years now. She is so good to him! She builds him up and just loves him to pieces. He never smiles quite the way he does when Ivy’s around. It warms my heart. 

Eli is at Ridgeline High School. He joined the marching band this year. What a positive experience!! So much good came from it. He’s planning to participate next year as well. He is working at the DI. He likes his job, especially the money he earns. He has grown so much in stature! He was really under weight, but cases of Ensure and boxed of fruit snacks have brought him to a good weight. He has struggled to make friends. That’s been really hard. My heart just aches for him! He had a sweet girl that befriended him at the beginning of the year. It really put a spring in his step and was a huge blessing. Her name was Emma. She invited him to eat lunch with her and her friends every day. Once the semester changed, he didn't see her anymore. But whoever you are Emma, thank you from this mom. You were able to find the one who needed a friend.

Tate is at South Cache. He is a friendly boy with lots of friends. He is fun! People are drawn to him. He’s taking Spanish this semester. He likes it! Him and Taylie are still best friends/cousins. They have such a bond. His best schools friends are our neighbor, Noe and his school buddy, Shaddix. He just got his first phone. That’s been exciting for him. He is thinking he’ll work at Chick Fil-A when he turns sixteen. They’re happy there and he likes that. Hahaha. Tate got braces almost a year ago. He's been my most compliant brusher and flosser. He has more one year to go.

Harley is our sweet dog! I still can’t believe I have a dog...an indoor dog. Oh how I love her!! She always comes running when I get home from work. It’s so cute! She brings joy to our home. We also adopted Luke the goat. He was the runt of his litter. He was featured in a blog post from 2017. He's all grown up now! He's at Mike and Steph's for the winter and will come back to us in the spring. He is so fun! He eats all of our weeds too. It's awesome!

As a family, we still live in Nibley, UT. We’re getting used to living on the South end of the valley. It is really different than the North end. I mostly miss being close to work and my parents. Kaden moved out of my parent's house and actually lives one street down from us. 

I could fill pages talking about the events of the last 22 months, but I’m going to just move forward and not look back. Looking forward as the year 2020 unfold...