Just a fun memory
Jaden called tonight as he was working on travel plans for his January break from school.
He called about using some miles he had accumulated for signing up for a card - “I have 3,000 miles…my flight is for less than that…how do I use those miles?”
It was just one of those things that you never have to deal with until you do…so when would you ever learn that 1 mile of award miles doesn’t equal a mile of a flight?”
Well…Jaden was today years old when he learned :)
As part of his birthday plans, he wanted to bowl…so we went to PINz and enjoyed some time together.
We ended up on lane 14.
So he turned 14, on December 14 on lane 14 :)
With as badly as he bowled, I wondered if he would hit 14 on that as well…but no such luck :)
Many more pictures and videos over the 45 minutes…but fun to get to watch those around us participating in something that they love.
Kristen made some cookies and did a good job getting the boys to decorate a few.
Dinner and dessert at home the night of.
Presents
And the next night, a fun night out with friends at a comedy club. Good memories.
Janelle posted that she was going to do 90 miles in November as a fundraiser for ALS in memory of our mom.
We donated, but separately I told her that I would try to run 90 miles during the month in support of that goal and so that she would have company/support, accountability :)
Well, despite the difficulty of missing days for our trip to Colorado for her memorial, I did hit it today!
That was spot of running and I am happy to take a little rest. My goal is to keep
Running a couple times a week and work on some speed…cause that is SLOW. But I also want to work on some other training-strength-as I feel I have lost a lot of muscle mass and strength in the last year.
Kristen had been desperately wanting to get back into Boston to see some lights and enjoy some family time.
Had dinner out at PF Chang’s, walked a whole bunch, took photos and got some dessert at both modern pastry and Mike’s -
This was also Katherine’s first taste of the best cheesecake in Boston :)
Today was my mom’s memorial/celebration of life. It was a small affair but we were blessed that multiple people from my mom’s family traveled to Colorado to have this event with us. We tried to stream it for those who couldn’t attend, but it wasn’t great quality. Ultimately, the important thing was that we had it. It was an important moment for moving forward after this period of languishing grief.
I led the remarks/remembrances and used Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as the basis for my thoughts. I focused on the “and” that existed in each passage and how the tension is recognizing that we are many times dealing with both at the same time.
I was also really happy that Jacob felt comfortable enough to get up and speak as well. He remembered that my mom’s last words to him included “shave your face” which was funny and true since Jacob is in the midst of that transition phase where he doesn’t get a full beard and the patchiness of the growth doesn’t look good…even though he is adamant that he wants to grow it out :)
I hope it is a good memory for him…it is for me.
Grateful that my mom enabled one more of those through her celebration.
Jacob and the varsity team won the division title game tonight. Exciting game and awesome result for them.
Love the joy on Jacob’s face!
Yes, I really did this.
So, Ben Montano was at our house not too long ago for pictures for kids Homecoming event.
Was really nice to see him and catch up for a few. We talked about playing soccer a bit together again and so, he invited me today to go play tonight.
I agreed before realizing it was outside. I didn’t want to change my mind-I wanted to go hang out and help foster connection and friendship…so, I ran to the store after work and bought my first pair of outdoor cleats and played tonight -only 7 people TOTAL showed up- and made a wreck of myself and those new shoes :)
