March 10, 2023

WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

In our last blog, just a few days before Christmas, I shared that I was flying Christmas Day from AZ to IL to help with our youngest grandson for a few weeks.  Well that few weeks wasn't what was to be and I am still in IL with Jerry still in AZ.

Our grandson's mom has decided to change her residents from IL to Texas and my son retained a lawyer to prevent her from taking their son, Vincent with her.  To make a long, 7 month story short, the judge said Vincent needed to stay in IL so his mom moved back until right before Christmas when she moved herself to Texas and doesn't appear to have any foreseeable intentions of moving back to IL

So Jerry and I have decided, at least temporarily, to come back too IL to help with Vincent while Steve is at work.

We are not selling the motorhome or giving up our lot in Benson, AZ   We will rent a home for a year here in IL and see how everything goes before we make any major decisions.

So, 2023 has not been at all like what we thought it would look like and although we miss each other like everything there are blessings.  Jerry is in a wonderful park with many activities to keep him busy.  We have made many friends there and two very dear friends from our home church are there, Gary & Steph Vogel, and they have been such a blessing.  Having Jerry over for meals and them all doing various activities together.

For  me it is some quality time with my son and grandson.  We are living in a one bedroom apartment so will be happy when we have a little more elbow room but am actually amazed at how well everything has been going.

Jerry and I joke and say we talk and text each other more now than we did when we lived together!!

Because of all the legal !!!!! Vincent was delayed in starting school.  He should have started kindergarten last fall but has just been in for 2 weeks today.  He loves it and enjoys riding the bus.

So now that you now the background I will share some pictures.

Steve, Vincent and I Christmas Night

A fun night at our dear friends Peter and Becky Wrights and our oldest grandson Calvin

For those of you who know my son having pictures taken is not one of his favorite things so we took advantage of his cooperative mood

What a blessed Nana I am!!

One of my friends in AZ makes these wonderful fluffy snowballs so we had to have a snowball fight.

Jerry with Gary & Step Vogel celebrating New Years Eve

A few days later was my birthday and my sister in-law Nancy had us over for a wonderful lasagna dinner.  For fear of putting all the candles on and burning down the house I had 76 M&M's!!

My brother Brian drove up from Peoria and brought flowers!

A few days later to continue the celebration Carol, Mame, 

and Audrey(also her birthday) and I all went to the Chocolate 

Sanctuary for a delicious brunch

It was so yummy!!

The first 3 weeks I was here I didn't have a car and since we weren't sure at that point what was going on as far as how long I would be here we didn't want to invest in another car.  My friend shared my situation with her parents and they have been kind enough to have lent me their extra car all this time.  

I will never be able to repay them for their kindness.

With Steve at work all day and Vincent not being in school (although I gave my best attempt at home schooling) Vincent and I tried to keep busy.

We visited a Wild Life Sanctuary in a nearby town thanks to my friend Wendy

We have had playdates at McDonald's

Visited the Kohl's Children's Museum with my friend Jan and her grandson

Some people have a Cat in the Hat and we have a Cat in a Bag

Not sure what brought this on but he was quiet and happy

We have learned about allowances and saving our

money for what we want to buy - his first purchase

with his own money

We celebrated Vincents 6th birthday and he wanted candles and M&M's on his cake!

Made cards for Valentines Day

Daddy and V making cookies

Vincent's first Karate lesson

He likes pretending he is daddy at work

We had a couple of nice enough days to go to the park

And Nana and Vincent's Happy Day

2 weeks ago today he started Kindergarten

When I say my happy day I want to explain that Vincent is a delight and very easy to get along with.

But for eight weeks, 5 days a week I had to try to think of things to keep a six year old occupied.  Many of my friends were wonderful and had us over during the day and we visited a lot of places but that is a few hours out of every day for many weeks.  He so wanted to go to school and it was so exciting when the courts finally said he could go.  We spent so much time together for 2 months I have to admit I miss him when he is gone all day - I know never happy!

And today, after about 6" of snow last night, was his first E learning day at home.  The school provides them Chromebooks.  It was very well done.  I thought it would be kind of a waisted day but I was wrong it was surprisingly productive.  I am learning SO much!!

                                                          How my guys end each night

I am so blessed to have a loving and supportive husband.   I am flying out to AZ in a few weeks for a week and then Jerry will be coming back here with the motorhome in June.  In the meantime I will continue to enjoy this precious time, look for a car to buy, and a house to rent.  Should keep my bust!

So far 2023 may not have been what Jerry and I had planned but we continue to trust God and know this is what we are suppose to be doing for this season of our lives.

Hugs and Blessings to each of you from, Jerry(AZ) and Carol(IL)