Updates.of.2016.

So I think about him every day, multiple times a day, and for awhile, that was ruling my life... but little by little the saddness of losing him and the awful memories of him being sick and not himself, have been replaced with the goodness of him, the funniness of him, the love of him.  I thought I would never be able to forget the real awful things that happened in the end, and while I haven't forgotten, I think more about the good.  This is what has been  happening that has been good.

   

Taking it back to December.... Andrea and Amanda, their hubs, and their kids came over and did a little cheering up!  As always, I love to see them all at once.   

Jeremy and Kim tied the knot in January!  I can't say enough how proud I am of them.

The beach.  My happy place.  I got there.

In January, there was a college program reunion put in place by Disney, inviting 35 years of us college programmers back.  I had been looking forward to it since last summer.   And turns out a little bit of Disney magic was what I needed.

   

   

     Mom celebrated 72 years!

   

I celebrated with my nursing school buddies, 10 years of being nurses!  I can't even believe this.  I got them each a bouquet with these words written on them.

"Be strong when you are weak,

 Be brave when you are scared,

 Be humble when you are victorious,

 Be badass, everyday."

         

This little monkey I found on the internet makes me smile ever single time.  And I have needed a lot of those.  Just throwing it out there.

         

                          Oh yah, Anna Claire was born February 13th!  And I got to visit!!!!!

         

Pre St. Patrick's Day, I was downtown watching the Chicago River turn green and doing a little freelance work for a friend of mine's sister in law.  So fun!!!

           

I really can't say enough how much my siblings have helped me in the past 6 months.  Due to our age difference, it's never really been a close relationship.  But when your Pop gets sick, there is no one you would rather turn to--- to deal.  My loss is theirs.  I keep saying that.  This was my ode to them on #nationalsiblingday

      

I called Erica Day a few weekends ago.  A day where we do whatever I want, when I want, how I want.  And Adam just has to make it happen.  He isn't a big fan of going downtown on the weekends since he does that Monday thru Friday.  So, I usually request we do that.  This particular day, we had a donut at Stan's, went to Eatly, and then off to a Cubs game.  Afterward, we met up with his friend Justin who was in town from Virginia and had BBQ!

We have a lot of going away parties, and retirement parties coming up in my department at work.  This one was Ferdie's at the Lucky Monk.

Vicki made a visit with her daughter Frances all the way from Hawaii!!  So it was great getting together with her.

And then here is Lisa's going away party at the Saddle Room, just last Friday.

"my thoughts can not move an inch

                                                                        without bumping into some piece of you"