Mother's Day

This past Sunday was Mother's Day here in Sweden. It is always the last Sunday of May. I had a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day. Breakfast was made for me and I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers. We also took a trip out in the boat to Askö and I had a very good dinner with my family and Erik's parents. Erik and his Dad did all of the cooking. I am so blessed to have two beautiful children, a wonderful, caring, and loving husband, and such thoughtful and loving in-laws that I love spending time with (not everyone can say that! :))

I also never reported on our trip to the U.S. when the kids and I visited my parents, Luke and Jennifer, and the rest of our family and friends back in April. I always find it so hard to write about when we visit there or when they visit here, because it usually takes me a few weeks to get over the trip and I am usually quite sad when I return and vice-versa. So, writing about it just makes me homesick. Anyway, I am now in better spirits to write about it. Needless to say, we had a wonderful and exhausting time. I realized (after the past two visits being 3 and then 4 weeks) that 2 weeks really isn't enough time to do everything and relax at the same time. The two weeks were like a whirlwind. The kids and I arrived on a Friday. The next day, Saturday, we went to Nashville because my parents attended a wedding and we visited friends (by the way Missy and Megan, I forgot to take pictures. It must have been jet-lag!). Then we came back to Covington on Sunday.

During the visit we had a big family picnic which Alex and Isabella looked so forward to and really enjoyed! I also visited with Granny and Pappaw and Aunt Patty Lynn (all of whom need prayers). My Grandfather is continually fighting colon cancer, Granny needs strength to care for my Grandfather, and my Aunt Patty Lynn is in the final stages of fighting pancreatic cancer. I think about them everyday and pray for them and wish that I were there. I also pray for my Uncle Terry, Stacy, Becky, and Michael. How hard it must be for everyone. I know how my aunt stays in my mind and it weighs on me. I can't even imagine how it is for the rest of the family.

I was also able to visit with college friends. It was such a treat, especially considering that Julie was fighting for her life not even a year ago, and now Abby is finding a new lifestyle to accomodate her lupus diagnosis. And definitely not least, I also was able to visit with high school friends. The laughs never end!! Felecia and I also booked our trip to Paris that we will take when she comes to visit in July! I can't wait for some good friend time!

Alex and Isabella, well especially Alex, loved playing with Target and Stripe (Grandmama and Pa's two cats). Alex made sure that every morning he went down to Pa's office to feed them. He truly loves them and talks about them all of the time between visits. They also had to make sure that they visited Buddie (my Grandmother, Farmor) everyday. Anytime we got on the golf cart they wanted to head down to Buddie's!! They definitely love their Buddie.

Alex made sure that most days he followed Pa to train. He would ask Pa everyday if he was going to train. (My Dad trains hunting dogs for a profession for those who were wondering.) He especially wanted to tag along in the mornings because Pa always made sure to take a break and have a snack which, for Alex, always included a candy bar and Coke :)

We had a wonderful time in the U.S. and I really hate that I will not be there to see little Reid (my first nephew) when he is born, but I promise him that I will definitely make up for those lost 4 months in December.