Thankful and blessed

 A friend wanted to stop by before they left on their trip and we left on ours to get these to us. What I love about these special gifts is that Cole would have loved these but they’re so pretty I do too.  The little lantern is perfect for me to see on our deck from our living room. And the custom wooden box just took my breath away.  I had that tiny jewelry box I had given our son many years ago that my great great grandpa made. When we got it back we put some of his small things in there but I still had some things that I wanted to keep that were just in my cedar chest waiting for this.  It was perfect. I held back the tears somewhat. Not so much because I was so sad again but because of the thought for these gifts and the beauty of them in memory of our son. We have really been confirming the greatness of our long time friends.

#morememories #bestfrirnds #lovedones

One more last time

 

Her and I had always planned to go back. The other two said they’re not feeling a need anymore. We always leave this up to them when and if we save enough to go back. 

Then in January the tickets dropped and we decided to grab them. We made all of our reservations and had it ready to go when Cole passed.  I was on the fence about leaving after that. Mostly just felt too sad at the time to think about anything enjoyable. But if we don’t just use our tickets now it will just get harder after she starts nursing school with clinical and working. 

I had always seen travel blogs and social media accounts where people get inexpensive upgrades. We’ve never flown anything but economy to Seoul. It’s not great but it works. I happened to checked early one morning and I snagged Delta One for $699. We’re getting our last flight to Korea in a suite for about the same price as we always paid for Korean Air economy!  The Delta One flights are usually $9/10,000 per ticket. Check out my blog for more info.  

This will likely be our final trip.  We have worked very hard to save money (and lots of credit card cashback bonus’s) to do this but it had to end at some point.  I, of course, have made it very clear they decide to return as adults and want me there I will always be willing, if possible   

Stay tuned for lots of pictures  

#flyinstyle #deltaone #seoultravel

Don’t blink

 

They grow up just that fast. Just like that my second to last is out of high school. 

I really didn’t expect to get emotional at graduation. I never have in the past. But I wasn’t expecting what she did. The older kids always bought and brought me a rose during the ceremony. She had three in her hand so I assumed she had bought one for me and one for her grandmas.  She gave me mine and then gave her little brother one and then gave me the last and told me it was for her oldest brother we lose two months ago.  That explained why she was crying before she got to me and then it was all over for me. Our son wouldn’t have been able to make her graduation with work so it wasn’t a particularly emotional event until then.

And little brother admitted to me that he would have been disappointed if she hadnt given him one. He’s going to miss her!

 I love my girls and they are definitely an inspiration. 

#mydaughters #graduation #imisshim

TSA packing tips

 

Pretty self explanatory on packing more liquid toiletries into a one quart TSA size bag. AND packing medication!  

Another first….Mother’s Day

 

My son wasn’t usually home for Mother’s Day. He always had plans to be here over Memorial Day and knew I didn’t like him on the road too much. 

A lot of times the day was sprinkled with a graduation, my middle son’s birthday, visiting their grandmas or really not doing anything. This year was so different. I was missing an important phone call that I always got.  It was replaced with very thoughtful Mother’s Day wishes from friends and family who didn’t normally say anything.  But there was never a need to. Oddly, while it made me cry, it made me feel better.  My kids worked together to make the day special. I shared it with my middle son’s birthday once again which always has made me happy. He was my Mothers Day gift I brought home 24 years ago on actual Mother’s Day.  He had his girlfriend over to spend time with her but then she left to be with her mom and I had all 4 of my kids to myself.  We all spent time blowing up floaties and then lounging around the pool together for the first swim of the season.  It was quiet and nice.  I wore my son’s Metallica shirt to feel him with me that day.  I felt okay with the day.  

It doesn’t mean I don’t still have days like today where a song came on the radio and I cried on my way to work, walking into my office with tears still in my eyes. But suppressing this will do no good. Shoving it down as I sometimes do, to get by, can’t be done constantly.  I have kids to live for. I have kids to be strong for. But sometimes I know it’s okay for them to see how much losing one of them hurts and means to me.  I will always love every one of them unconditionally. I always have. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there who still have their kids and big hugs to those who don’t.  

#mothersday #motherslove #momgrief 

One last stand

 

We left at 8:15am. Will return about 8:15pm. All to watch her compete in the 4x800 and 4x400 her senior year. First and last events of every meet. But worth all of this for the past four years.  She and her team are going to state.  And some records were broken by some of the kids. Great day for them. 

Her freshman year she went as a 4x400 alternate.  This year she earned her way in both events and has done that for three years now.  Proud of her and the team.

 #tracklife #supportingourkids #itsmay

Count down

 Counting down for so many things.  One kid finishing his first year of his first full time job. One finishing junior year of college getting ready for her first two summer internships.  One graduating high school and finishing her final and 4th year of track as the two before her did.  And one finishing his freshman year of high school.  Despite what has happened this year they all 4 stayed strong and finished strong   I’m so proud of their strength and resilience.  It will serve them well through life because as our family well knows an easy life is never promised and rarely realized.

We’re leaving soon for one of my happy places. It’s just my daughter and I. Our first trip just the two of us but we’ve been planning this for awhile.  Not literally planning but intending to go.  And I got my flags out of the garage for Spring. Yes. You cannot see the US flag but it’s in the photo. I have them in the respectful flag order. But I always want my Korean born kids to also be proud that they are Korean American. 

#patriotism #countdowntovacation  #senioryearwinddown