Spring Break 2020

Spring Break 2020 

I still can't believe we're on our last spring break together in the same school district. My baby boy is less than 3 months away from his high school graduation. 

Money's been a little tighter this year, so we had to wait until the last minute to see what kind of money we even had to play with, and with everybody's crazy schedules, we never did sit down to make any real plans until spring break had already started. We talked about going somewhere for a night or two, but we couldn't decide on where to go. So we decided to use the money we'd spend on gas, food, and a hotel to just do fun things around town that we don't normally do. 

It's not quite over yet, but 2 out of the 4 of us are already back to work, so I guess I can post our fun-day pics for our completely unplanned spring break. All I can say is that I'm so thankful for two young adult boys who still enjoy hanging out with their parents. 

Friday night, we all went to Braum's for ice cream and played a game of cards together while discussing possible things we might be able to do over the next week. 

Saturday morning, David worked the early shift at Chick Fil-A, so Mike and I decided to join him and went there for our breakfast date. :)  Then we all went to church together on Saturday night, before the boys went out with friends after church and we went out with our Life Group. 

Sunday morning I went to the gym and achieved a personal goal of hitting 100 miles on the bike. As much as gyms have seemed overwhelming, intimidating, and inconvenient to me in the past, I sure am thankful David got us all to join Fit Factory this year. It's funny how making the time to go increases my energy so much that I feel like I have MORE time than I used to, plus it is truly inspiring to see other people there making their health a priority. And the mental benefit has done wonders for me. It reminds me of my high-school cross-country days when a long run through the trails, alone with my thoughts, was the perfect way to end (or start) my day. 

 That afternoon, we all went out for lunch together at Pluckers, then shopping together at the outlet malls, and then found an adorable little coffee bar to enjoy drinks, pastries, and card games together in the fresh, spring air. 

 Monday we all split up and did different things. Mike and I spent the day with my parents, exploring IKEA and getting new ideas to organize , while David worked another day at Chick Fil-A, and Juan served with the youth at church. David met up with them at Dairy Queen later that afternoon. Then that evening, Juan met up with his DBU friends, I went to writer's group for the first time in a very long time, and Mike hung out with a truck buddy. 

Tuesday morning, we all got up early and went to Top Golf to get the best deal. We paid for two hours at the driving range, but the ball machine kept messing up, so they moved us to another bay and gave us an extra hour for free! After that we had lunch together at Chick Fil-A, and then went bowling at Strike and Reel, a new entertainment place just built in Garland. 

 I was so proud of myself for beating everyone in the first game, even if my score wasn't that great. The truth is, though, that it only went downhill from there for me. Lol. Two hours of bowling is actually quite tiring, and I completely gave up about an hour and a half in. Two days later, and I'm still quite sore!

 We found out that movies were only $5 on Tuesdays, so we stayed for the 5:00 movie and filled ourselves with popcorn for dinner. 

By Wednesday, we were all pretty tired from the previous day's activity, so we slept in. We got up, took care of a few errands, and spontaneously ended up at a chicken restaurant for lunch because it smelled so good when we drove by it. After that, we took our cards in to our favorite local coffee shop, got drinks and pastries, and played Phase 10 for the next two hours. 

Then the boys went to Lowe's, got some materials to work on a backyard project, worked together with Mike on it for a bit, and then David and Juan headed out to go bowling with the youth from church. Mike kept working on the backyard project while I went for a nice walk in the beautiful weather and then just sat on my porch writing in my journal until dark. 

Mike and David went back to working normal hours again today, and Juan and I ditched our plans to go to the Arboretum and decided to stay home and relax (and clean). 

I can't complain. It's been a very pleasurable spring break, despite not having any plans or a lot of money to play around with. I love that we all can enjoy simple things together, like a cup of coffee and a deck of cards. 

Just walking the trails

So, I could say that I've had an adventurous winter break. Over the last 9 days, I've walked trails in Los Angeles, California, through five little towns in Italy, in New Zealand, Canada, British Columbia, and even Argentina! I've walked through woods, through rocky trails, on the tops of mountains, and right along the beach. 

Okay, so I wish I got to do all that. Actually, I just joined the new gym that opened right around the corner, and when I press the virtual tour button, the screen takes me on famous trails all over the world. It's kinda cool.

Now you have to understand, I hate the gym. I hate working out with other people around, I hate having to change my clothes in order to exercise, and I hate crowds. 

But I love my boys and my family, and I'm always trying to be super intentional about finding ways to hang out with them and stay connected with them. I had no intention of joining a gym, though I knew the stress of last year had gotten the better of me physically and I needed some accountability to get back on track with more healthy decisions. 

So when David started talking about joining a gym, it was a no-brainer to do it together as a family. He researched gyms close to us, and we found a new one that just opened up by the mall around the corner. I've already seen big benefits for me mentally (if I'm feeling overwhelmed, I can go tune out on the treadmill to recharge), not to mention the physical benefit that comes with being active, the dietary benefit (because it's harder to eat a bunch of junk after you just worked so hard to burn calories), and the bonding benefit of working out side by side with your sons. 

I'm looking forward to how this impromptu decision is going to help us become a healthier, more connected and bonded family in many ways. 

And I am excited to keep walking such famous trails all over the world. Any opportunity to see the world keeps my spirit motivated. 

Unexpected beginnings

2020 started much differently than other years.

We usually bring in a new year by playing card games, eating 12 grapes (a Colombian tradition), drinking a sparkling drink of some kind, and watching the ball drop on TV.

This year Juan drove to DBU to celebrate with friends, and David went to Atlanta to attend the Passion 2020 Conference.

It was David's first opportunity to attend Passion, as it's for 18-25 year olds, and he just turned 18. Juan hasn't ever gone, so we knew little about it.

As soon as it started on Tuesday evening, David sent me a text saying that we could watch the sessions live online and even on certain TV stations. 

So Mike and I pulled it up online while we played cards, and we sat and watched almost the entire first session of the conference from the comfort of our home. Then we sat and listened as 65, 000 young adults brought in the new year and new decade while singing praises to God, while worshipping with song. We even sang along here. It was beautiful, and I am so thankful that David had the opportunity (and desire) to be there. I can't think of a better, more memorable and truly meaningful way for him to bring in the year 2020.

 While this went on outside...

 this continued on inside, without skipping a beat. 

 Powerful.

 Day 2, while Mike was at work, Juan and I sat playing cards and watching more of the Passion sessions together. 

I ended up spending the following two days watching as much of the conference as I could along with him. And each session made me more thankful that he had the chance to be there. You know God worked deeply in his heart when he came home with a new book by John Piper and said, "Mom, you can read this book after I'm done with it." (This is the child that's super smart, but won't crack open a book unless absolutely necessary.)

Expecting God to show up big in 2020. 

A few highlights of the last year

 The opportunity to dine over the ocean

 A few hours of relaxation on a private beach in Cozumel--an excursion that we won! Before the beach, we got to go snorkeling.

 Visiting a small school in Belize

 Visiting an orphanage in Belize

 Finally experiencing the "floating city" behind all those little windows on the ship

 The clearest of waters in Roatan, Honduras. 

 Sunsets over the ocean

 David finding his natural ability in the accounting field, surpassing all the kids in the grade above him in his class.

 Unexpected FC Dallas game tickets

 Another successful butterfly release with 2nd graders

 A surprise strawberry pie for my birthday from my mom

 David earned his letter and letter jacket.

 Free concerts in the park

 Impromptu coffee date with BOTH my parents

 My dad published another book!

 David got accepted into DBU

 My mom and I got to be part of a Lifeway taping of Mary DeMuth's upcoming Bible study, Into the Light

 Our Gratitude Wall in second grade

 Bringing in the new year while worshipping, singing praises to our God, along with 65,000 college age students at the 2020 Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.