OUTINGS AND FRIENDS
AND
Dates with my handsome boyfriend and husband....My Jeremy
I feel so blessed and grateful for my family and friends. I am just beginning to get out a little, and as TERRIFIED as I am, I need to trust in Christ that He will protect me as I cautiously re-enter society.
My transplant surgeon told me that he did not give me new lungs to stay home all day. He gave them to me to be able to live again.....Then shortly after I was advised to steer clear of groups until after cold and flu season.....well, after a bit of a mixed messages, Jeremy and I prayerfully discerned that we needed to be careful but realistic about life.
SO HERE WE GO....
LAST NIGHT
December 16, 2016
Our FIRST dinner date since my lung transplant
Day 60
January 31, 2016
Our LAST dinner date.....last January
I was pregnant with Gracie Ann
MORE SPECIAL TIME WITH MY LOVE, JEREMY AT HOME
SUNDAY 12/11/16 4:00PM
Isaac is FINALLY down for his nap...Jeremy and I can relax
SUNDAY 12/11/16 4:18PM
(only 18min later)
Notice anything different in THIS picture.......He's up! It was a very relaxing 18min, though
FRIENDS
My friend Michele and Lori and I do a girls' Christmas baking day each year.
We all have Christmas baking to do....It is much more fun to bake with your girlfriends, as we chat, eat and giggle and chat and giggle some more.
We even have a tradition of wearing monogramed matching aprons!
I have had to miss baking day for the last two years
I felt SO blessed to be able to be there this year......it was also our FIRST time seeing each other since I received my new lungs.....It was such a GREAT day!
We did a lot more catching up and crying than baking
But that was just fine with us, as our Lord's beautiful birthday brought these three longtime and special friends together for some much NEEDED and much prayed for. girl time. We didn't know if we would ever get this opportunity again.
We got a couple of things baked....Lori had us in stitches as she over estimated the size of her crockpot
Yikes....and all of the ingredients weren't even in the crockpot yet!!!
But we quickly problem solved, and the special Christmas treat was saved!
I just love my sweet friends...I am so blessed to love and to be loved by them
We usually do baking day at my house, but this year Lori so kindly hosted it
But, I bet by next Christmas, IF it is in His perfect timing.....there will be Santa's Workshop in my kitchen again! I cannot wait!
OTHER OUTINGS
My very first outing with my friend, Bree....she gave me a mani/pedi gift certificate for my birthday last year (February 26th), but we never got to use it, because that is the day that I was admitted into the hospital and never came out until summer
So it was a VERY special nail appointment between two extremely special friends
Bree was so sweet to agree to go early in the morning, so that the nail place would be empty of crowds.....boy, she is too good to me, as she agreed to it without a thought
Since it was my VERY first outing and I was so crazily excited as well as a bit nervous.....I came home terribly tired, and missing my little ones, so I spent the rest of the afternoon snuggling Gracie Ann
It was a great day from beginning to end
GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MY AMAZING FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR HER SKINNY VANILLA LATTE....
As Jen would surprise me so often with my favorite triple shot white chocolate mocha, on my doorstep while I was too sick to get out or to see anyone
A SPECIAL VISIT FROM MY MOST HOLY SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR WHO KNOWS ME INSIDE AND OUT.....AND HAS NAVIGATED MY SOUL THOUGH LIFE FOR OVER 10 YEARS
THIS BEAUTIFUL CONSECRATED LADY OF REGNUM CHRISTI.........
CHARLENE
Charlene graced our home for an entire evening (not that I even came close to deserving so much of her time)
That she also got to visit with the kids, meet Gracie Ann and catch up with me, as we feasted on Chinese takeout from our favorite Asian Bistro
Charlene is so beautiful inside and out
MOMMY WALKS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Everyday, Jen walks with me around the neighborhood, even in the bitter cold weather.....we walk over an hour and well over a mile as we gab the entire time
Her son Christopher and Nicholas are the best of friends.....the other day, these two cuties wanted to join us!! We figured that they would ride their bikes or take another path so that they could visit with each other alone
These sweet and precious "mommy's little loves" walked the entire way with us....it was such a fun walk
DINNER WITH MY LONGTIME FRIEND OF 16 YEARS, CELESTE
Celeste too, agreed to a very early dinner at a quiet (unbusy) restaurant so that I could steer clear of groups and viruses. She was also very sweet and understanding when I had to be home early to put the kids to sleep and take my "night medications"
I have been greatly blessed with some very thoughtful and self-less friends
GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY LITTLE PAL ISAAC
Here we are off to the store
My sweet little buddy wanted to help me unload the car.....he made trip after trip to the garage to get more bags out of the car....he even wore a hat "like mommy has to wear" as he says
POST GROCERY STORE HIDE AND GO SEEK
Isaac's absolutely favorite game
"Mommy....find me"
Hmmmm.......I think that I see fingers
"Boo Mommy!"
I love you so much Isaac.....you make life super fun
COFFEE DATE WITH MY PRECIOUS GISELE
Gisele and I have been friends for 13 years! We were in a church "Familia" group together when our daughters were only three years old. We have supported each other through homeschooling, returning to school, carpooling, kids driving, kids dating, in general...raising teenagers (she mentors me), and we continue to prayerfully journey together, as old chapters of life end, and new chapters begin.....She is my sounding board and my home cooked meal EVERY TIME I have been sick. We are "getting through" high school together as college is RIGHT around the corner!
I wouldn't have it any other way. We talk each other down off of the cliff as life gets crazy and.....all in all....She keeps me sane.
Gisele...I was so excited to see you and I had so much to tell you and we had so much catching up to do, that we NEVER took a selfie during our long awaited coffee date....BUT like we always say, we will offer it up as a special prayer to our Lord Jesus.
MOMS BRAVING DINNER WITH ALL THE KIDS
"Table for NINE please..."
"TWO moms and SEVEN kids"
This isn't even ALL of our kids....My two oldest, Madison and Savannah stayed home studying for finals
Can we get some chips and salsa over here
The IBC root beer in the glass bottle is the best for the oldest boys
Mom, look at my straw that I just pulled from my kid's soda cup....so now mom has been sprinkled with Sprite
Before we left he house, Nicholas looked at me with a serious face and said...."Mom, do you think that we can do this?" and I answered him with a big smile...."Well, we are about to find out!!"
It WAS crazy (as expected)....but it was also SUPER fun! I cannot wait to do it again! Like I always tell my kids.....
"It is NOT what life throws at you, it is how you deal with it.....always choose joyful virtue"
There is so much more to share, but I must stop for now and make dinner for my hungry little lambs
Chicken noodle soup will be the main course on this chilly fall evening
WHAT CAN I SAY.....A BRAND NEW CHAPTER TO A JOY-FILLED LIFE. EACH AND EVERY DAY IS A BLESSED SURPRISE.....I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY
Thank You my Dear Jesus, for this extraordinary chance to live my life healed from so much fear and strife. Thank you for seeing fit for me to be a mommy once again to my five beautiful children.
As much as I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, I know that in Your Divine Wisdom and Your Absolute Perfection......No matter what You Will for me to face, I will be in the Safest and most Mighty and Protective Embrace of my Loving Creator.
My prayer of thanksgiving for my new blessing of life.....
I pray not to think of another, speak to another, or touch another without reverencing the Holy Face of Christ-
Loving without judgement.....seeing the Holy presence of Christ in every person who crosses my path
I love you Jesus Christ
love, kerry ann
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
