My heart has been aching to be in Illinois with my Mom since my Dad was admitted to the hospital way back on December 5th.

Eliza has healed and the snow has melted, so this week the kids and I finally got to be there!

We didn’t want to let go….

When we first got there, my brother was there for a few hours! The kids LOVED his horse dog, Milo. He was such a sweetie!

Very funny, Grant!

We had a great week! Such a blessing to be with my Mom.

The boys worked on projects….Addie made special treats!

We enjoyed one summer like day by spending it mostly outside. Eliza loved watching the ducks come up the yard to swim in the pond by the house!

We got to see my nephew and his wife too! David helped me with my phone! I am always asking him for technical help! Cheryl and Eliza became instant buddies.

We went bowling one morning. It was such a blast! Eliza scored 90!!!! She acted like she had been bowling before!

Since Eliza and Lane bowled with bumpers in the gutters, they finished before we did. I couldn’t help but snap these photos of her expression while she waited on us!

One of these days I am going to find the time to take a photography class to actually learn how to take good photos! One of these days!

Eliza Claire, you are so beautiful!

I also got to visit with a few friends. I hoped to see several other friends too, but there just was not enough time! I don’t have photos of everyone….including Blake’s Mom. I wish I did, though!

Got to hug Kayla’s friend too!!!!

On Wednesday Chad started to get sick. By Thursday he and Eliza had pretty bad colds. Poor kiddos. Chad is so congested, coughing hard, and pretty miserable.

We stopped to see Grandpa and Grandma Nettell too (Blake’s Dad)! Hope we didn’t leave any germs behind!

It was very hard to say good-bye and drive away yesterday. I know the prayers a few friends were specifically praying over me gave me the ability to be strong this week. We made it home safely last night, after a long ride in the van. It was a beautiful day to be driving yesterday, and I am loving, just loving, the sun pouring in the sunroom windows as I type this morning!

Now it is time to unpack, do mounds of laundry, get some grocery, help Chad and Eliza get well, and prayerfully keep anyone else from getting sick!

I miss you already, Mom. Thanks for the great week!

Dad, I miss you too.

David and Kayla blessed us on Valentine’s Day with a card saying they would stay with the other children for a weekend so Blake and I could sneak away to celebrate our anniversary!!

So we did that this past weekend!

We didn’t go far – just in case we needed to hurry home for Eliza’s sake.

She did GREAT though! We are so thankful!

The kiddos were so excited about our get-away, because that meant that David and Kayla were staying at the farm!

What a blessed time we had! We stayed in a suite in downtown Rochester, Minnesota.

We had time to research and plan things…like our farm season, budget, and school for next year!

Also listened to some amazing sermons, and spent some serious time in God’s word.

We had an incredible frozen banana latte from a place next door! We should have gotten another one!!

We did some clothes shopping for a few things the kiddos need, and also took a walk right at dusk one night!

We visited a church on Sunday morning that was an amazing blessing! The music and message had us both in tears.

Right before we headed back home, we stopped at Costco to stock up. Our freezer was BARE. Praise the Lord, it’s not anymore!

We both feel rested, refreshed, energized, connected, more in love than ever….and ready to jump back into our crazy busy world at home!

Thank you, Lord, for my wonderful husband!

David and Kayla, we cannot thank you enough for helping at home to make our get-away possible!

And now, the kids and I are FINALLY with my Mom….and will be here all week!!!! Can’t wipe this smile off my face!