Unkie Jared showing her the goats

Grammie!

 

Of course, we had to pose in front of the John Deere

 

Smiling and kicking the whole time

 

Jared always makes everything awkward. In a good way, of course.

 

Sitting on the “cow-ch”

 

We may or may not have given Nora her first taste of ice cream…and in the process created a monster!

 

There is never too much time that you can spend with Grandma and Grandpa!

Enjoying The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Grandpa.

Eric’s tournament was fun, as it usually is. It’s always a good time to see old friends, catch up and, of course, play a little basketball. Eric’s game plan is simple every year – show up and play. In years past, he hasn’t touched a ball since the last tournament (I think he prefers it that way, haha). So this year, he just showed up again. His team played pretty well at times, but they only won one game out of the three they played. It’s still fun watching him play with his old classmates every year, win or lose. They always have a good time together. Nora, on the other hand did not particularly care for the tournament. We have figured out that large crowds, mass amounts of people and constant noise are not her thing. So we spent lots of time in the foyer, walking around, eating nachos and hot dogs slathered in mustard (I didn’t complain).

We were able to spend Saturday evening with our wonderful friends, Dolen and Kati. Dolen was Eric’s best friend in high school and they were best men in each others weddings. Even though we don’t get to see each other every time we visit Nebraska, we have managed to stay very close to them. They have completely gutted out and are refurbishing an old farm house in Dorchester, which is just southwest of Milford, and we were able to get the grand tour and hear all of their fun plans for their beautiful home. We went out for pizza in Seward and then drove to the John Deere dealership to take a look at what machinery they had out in the lot. Farmers and their toys, let me tell you what… They love ’em! We have much in common with these dear friends and we are undeniably more blessed by having them in our lives. It will be fun to live close to them in the near future.

Eric and I were able to take the four wheeler out Sunday afternoon before we left and go through one of the large barns and some of the out buildings and dream a little bit of what our own home will be like someday. I am anxious to use old windows, naturally distressed barn wood and other antique pieces on the farm to make our house a home. We spent a lot of our time on the drive home continuing to dream together. I love our long drives together – talking, conspiring, “solving the problems of the world”… I’m just glad Eric has as big of an imagination as I do 🙂

Someone got a little anxious on the way home

 

And incredibly close patient of mine, who turned into a cherished friend, passed away this past week. It was truly and honor and a privilege to take care of this man, coincidentally named Eric. As I was telling my sweet friend Emily earlier today, there are just some patients that you can’t help but let into your heart, up past the barriers that I normally have to protect my own heart and emotions. Eric and his wife Mandy stole my heart almost immediately from our first meeting. I enjoyed getting to know them, hearing all about their kids, Nick and Kelly, and their sports tournaments. Even more so, I enjoyed getting to know their hearts for one another – they loved each other so deeply and were a true picture of what marriage should look like. This precious man’s funeral was today and my heart was breaking. I know that my God is a God of sovereignty, a God of mercy, a God of deliverance. But in my flesh and weakness, there are some days, like today that I wonder what His divine plans are. Your not supposed to die at 45 and leave a wife and two babies at home – it’s not fair. Yet I KNOW that God does not forsake His children. And I TRUST completely that I will see Eric again someday. But days like today, I have to make the CHOICE to trust in His plan and embrace His peace. I have had to make this choice many times before when other patients have passed away. It is not always the easy choice to make – but if the choice includes God and His goodness, I’m all in. And he must have known that I needed an extra smile today… My BFF Jodi stopped by while I was at Eric’s funeral today with gorgeous pink gerber daisies – my favorite! Jodi is due this month with her third child, a little boy, and I had done some spring cleaning for her last week and she was thanking me with these lovely flowers. I swear, we were somehow separated at birth, she has become like a sister to me. She is even as obsessed as I am with Will and Kate haha. I am blessed by her friendship and I am SO looking forward to her precious little boy being born this month. I can’t wait to hold that bundle of joy!

So, what a busy weekend we had! I know I am looking forward to lots of time spent at home, getting re-organized after our back to back trips and get some good recipes going this week. Planning on making one of Eric’s favorites – Runza casserole!! and going back to some of my Pioneer Woman favorites.