Been Busy Living

I used to tell people that when it seemed like I had not written on my blog in a while that meant something had been off for a while and I just wasn't feeling it. I told people I write when I feel inspired. Believe me, my forced writing isn't near as entertaining as my inspired writing. When it flows, it flows... so maybe I've had writer's block ... but this time it was also something else...

This time I have been way too busy living and enjoying all the little things, that when it comes to that time of night where I would devote time to my blog I literally have fallen asleep. By that time my mind and body have been ready for a recharge. 

They like sleep and living every moment up until that point. It's an understatement to say that we are active people because by golly we are almost always doing something. Ask those closest to us, and they will tell you so.

So tonight I am taking a little time to reflect. Here comes a plethora of photos to show you how we have been living lately. I am also sharing a few words along the way and some quotes I have saved over the last several months. They will be in no particular order, as I copied the ones I liked and uploaded as is. Life's a bit chaotic sometimes, but live it we shall.

I enjoy living outside of town and those varying sunrises and sunsets. This gorgeous sunset took place after our big blizzard.

Been doing country things.

And loving some time at home sweet home.

"A snowflake is one of the most fragile creations,

but look what they can do when they stick together."

Scooped lots of snow after that blizzard of 2016.

Made a trip to Olson Nature Preserve one day with my mom to get those photographic creative juices flowing and spend a nice morning outdoors.

Spent some time with great friends from ugly sweaters to time on the sand.

We were the most fun adults on the sledding hill in town.

A few words from the Curious Case of Benjamin Button:
~~For what it's worth... it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you life a life you're proud of, and if you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.~~

Took our 4-wheelers out on some cold but calm days.

"Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open

where you didn't know they were going to be."

Tackled many a tree jobs, hauled loads of wood, and picked up plenty of brush.

 

Went on a snowshoeing adventure through the Nebraska canyons at Ponca State Park.

Made a little canvas to display at home:

~In this house we laugh a lot, we try our best, we tell the truth,
we hug often, we make mistakes, we never give up,
we always forgive, we always have fun, but above all we love.~

Went for an 8-mile walk on a beautiful February day at Willow Creek.

Went bowling with family and friends.

Learned how to make balloon animals one afternoon and shared the joy.

"LIFE is short, remember to KEEP LIVING. 

Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true direction."

Together we keep living, laughing, loving, and riding on. I hope you all are enjoying some of our more spring-like days, sharing time with the ones you love, and enjoying things in life. Until next time... whenever that may be. 

Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It was actually starting to look a lot like Christmas around our house a few weeks ago, but I was gone to DC this last week for work. Feels good to be back home. While I finished up our stack of Christmas cards to send out, I wanted to take some photos of our Christmas decorations to share. I have always wanted to theme trees, and this year we did! 

Some of the lights outside

Snowmen Mike made

Living Room

Nick's Santa Tree

Boats

 Farming Tree

Lego tree

Snowmen Tree

 4-wheeler Tree

While I was gone, Mike added these green lights to our front yard. A smile and sad moment when I first saw it.

 

I invite all of you to follow this other blog, where Mike and our family will be sharing various stories about Nick. Sharing stories will help Nick continue to ride on with us all. Click Here to check out our Nick page.

In case I don't get around to saying it again in the next few weeks, Merry Christmas!

Heartache, Joy, and Life

This last year of my life has been one of the most intense yet. Some days I tell people I feel as if I aged 10 years in terms of life experience. My heart has been through trying times - it has ached, parts of it have felt broken, and it has been tested; yet, it has also grown, parts of it have felt full, and it has felt joy.

I went from being your everyday single free-spirited outdoor educator working at a state park to being with my aunt and uncle through a life-threatening illness and ultimate liver transplant. While living at the hospital for a few months with the two of them, I was reconnected with an old friend. Little did I know at the time that reconnecting with that friend would lead to the growth of my heart and family.

As I discussed in one of my last posts, I really was feeling like I was in the right place, people were coming back into my life, and we were crossing paths at just the right time. I was there while my boyfriend’s son continued to enjoy life and make us all laugh despite his great battle with osteosarcoma. He never gave up, not even in those final days. I lost a friend that day.

I know there is a part of our hearts that will never feel the same without Nick here. He was a great person, son, brother, and friend, and I was just beginning to feel like a part of his family.

I am thankful for the time I had, and beyond blessed to walk into his life when I did. One of the first times I hung out with him and his dad in Omaha, I felt so inspired by Nick already. I wrote a post titled “Stay Strong” that evening. Nick later shared a few words himself that day, which brought me to tears and touched my heart.

“Jessica is one of the most inspirational, very outgoing, strongest, and never forgets someone or leaves them out. She definitely made my stay go a lot faster and brightened it up by just coming over and hanging out. My journey in life is just a small dent in life and the people I have met like Jessica have made a tremendous dent in the most important journey, and that’s LIFE.”

As a family we remember, we cry, we share stories, we laugh, we enjoy, and we love.

Simple guide for enjoying life, laughing lots, and staying strong:

1. Spend time with those you love. The ones who make you happy. The ones who make you smile without even saying a thing. The ones you can have fun with and keep on smiling.

These are the people we should be there for, spend our time with, make memories together, enjoy life, and bring each other joy. Family and those few great friends. Smile together.

The boys and I participated in a 1-mile honor walk in support of Childhood Cancer Research. I also ran the 5K that night. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Go gold.

 2. Find excitement and joy in your work.

I am embarking on a few new work adventures this week. First, I am beginning as the administrative assistant in an office that works with community development through homebuyer education and assistance. Second, I may be doing a little freelance writing and photography for a magazine. Both are exciting opportunities right near my new home. I can see challenge in both of these work adventures for me, and I can help make a difference.

3. Share stories with one another.

Sharing stories means sharing experiences and emotions. How do we go about remembering and not forgetting? We share stories. That’s how. Stories can help us process, remember the good things in life, reminisce, and hope for more.

I have been telling a few people about the hearts I have been finding lately. One showed up in the form of a rash or something on my left arm. I had it for about three days. Every time I looked, I would trace the heart shape I would see and think of my buddy. Maybe Nick was telling us he loves us. Look close in the photo below. The heart is tilted on its right.

 

Then, at the start line of the 5K race in support of Childhood Cancer Research, I took in a group of clouds forming a heart with a pink tinge in the sky. Nick again I thought, and Mike, Nate, and I shared stories on the way home. 

4. Make each other laugh.

I swear I have not laughed as hard in my life as I have in the past 3 months. From Oklahoma shenangians with the guys, to riding in the truck, to sitting across the table. Those Kroeger men always find something. I don’t just giggle, I bend over laughing with tears in the corners of my eyes. I have Mike, Nate, and Nick to thank for that.

5. Enjoy the little things.

With one of new work avenues including a little photography work, I decided to wake up a little earlier one day and go see what beautiful sky the sun may provide for me one morning. Sunrise has always been one of my favorite times of day, when just that simple change as it sneaks over the horizon. This is one of those little moments that just makes me smile.

Heartache, joy, and life… How do we make sense of it all? I don’t think we ever will. A part of our hearts will ache forever; yet, other parts of our hearts shall grow as we continue to be here for one another. Like Nick said “it’s the people I have met that have made a tremendous dent in the most important journey, and that’s LIFE.” We shall do our best to help each other find our way. We will cry. We will remember. We will hold each other. We will smile. We will laugh. We will enjoy. We will love. We will ride on.