Talk about back up plans

Every time we though we had our plans figured out, circumstances changed and we had to re-think how to get home. These are all the plans we went through before one finally worked and we were on our way home!

Plan A - Our original plan was to catch the train on Tuesday,  in Chicago, IL which was the closest train station that checked baggage. Because we had all Rusty's stuff we needed to check multiple bags (5 bags were allowed for each of us). Two days before we were scheduled to leave, we found out the train was canceled.

Plan B - With train service being canceled Tuesday, Amtrak scheduled us on a train leaving Wednesday in hopes that the train would be running again. Although, with the day change, we no longer had a ride to Chicago since our friend took Tuesday off work for the 6 hour round trip drive to get us there. We looked into bus tickets to get us to Chicago. But tickets were a lot more than we thought they would be and the time the bus was running wouldn't have even worked in time to board the train.

Plan C - We called Amtrak to change the train station we would board the train. We would have to take as much baggage as we could carry on, then ship the rest to my house since there was no checked baggage. Rusty's Dad would be able to give us a ride since that station was less than an hour away. (Rusty's mom is disabled so his Dad can't be away from her for more than a few hours at a time). The Amtrak Representative told us the only way to change the station was to cancel our old reservation and make a new one, but at that point the train was completely booked and we probably wouldn't be able to get our room/sleeper car again if it was canceled. While on the phone with the representative.... the train was canceled for Wednesday.

Plan D - We changed our ticket to the train leaving Thursday from the station we wanted and still got a sleeper car. Luckily, we got part of our fair refunded back to us because fair on that day was less expensive and by changing the station we weren't traveling as far. We bought the largest size duffle bags that were allowed for carry on baggage since we were fairly confident that the train would run on Thursday. The refunded amount of out ticket was just about what we spent on the duffle bags and shipping for what we could fit in our 4 bags. Thursday was the very last day we could wait to get back home so we needed....

Plan E - If train service was canceled again on Thursday, we were going to have to fly home. We looked at plane tickets and they would have cost a fortune due to it being last minute. Then we would have had to pay for each bag we checked in addition to paying for shipping for the rest. Thank goodness Plan D worked!!!

Summer Iowa trip

 My trip to Iowa this summer was great. Especially since it marked a new chapter in our lives. After being friends for years, Rusty and I are perusing a relationship. It's amazing dating your best friend. After visiting Iowa this year, he came back to Utah with me to live.

I flew out to visit with Rusty, his family and all my Iowa friends. We went with our friends, Justin & Lacey to pick out wedding invitations. We are planning on flying back out in October for their wedding. Rusty will for sure since he is in the wedding party and I will too if I can make it work. I felt like I couldn't commit to being a bridesmaid since I'm not a 100% sure I can make it back out since the kids will be in school then.

We got to hang out with friends quite a bit and still stay home and relax a lot. Since Rusty was moving many of his family wanted to spend time with him and took us out to eat many times. I felt pretty spoiled.

Even though it was the first part of June, the weather was pretty hot. Sadly, the fireflies weren't out yet; I didn't see a single one. It felt like 100 degrees many days. We were glad to have a thunderstorm roll though and cool things down for a few days. Since it was a pretty big storm, the storm sirens started going off. I cannot believe how loud those warning sirens are, almost deafening since the tower is right by Rusty's house. It was a little unnerving and I was thankful it was for a thunderstorm and not something worse. It made me think of the people that have to run for shelter every time they hear them go off for tornado warnings.

It was fun going though Rusty's things from his childhood and hearing stories about him and his brother, Tyler.

 One of the restaurants we went to had the craziest decorations. It was decorated right out of the 80's with flower prints and pink everywhere and a bunch of random chachkies; such as a random blue fish by the welcome sign. We BBQ'd a lot at home and had many delicious meals. We also visited Tyler's grave and took flowers and balloons on his birthday.

 A bunch of us went out for hot wings one night. Our friend, John asked the server what flavor he would suggest and it happened to be the second hottest flavor they have on the menu. Personally, I wouldn't dare eat something with "Habanero" in the title but the expression on his face as he ate one was priceless! We were laughing about it for days. Altough, it was so hot and burned his mouth so he didn't eat anything else after that, so we did feel a little bad for him.

Because we had Rusty's stuff to pack and bring back with us, we thought riding the train would be much more fun & relaxing than driving nearly 2000 miles ourselves. I had not rode on a train since I was a little girl and Rusty never had. I couldn't wait.

Just before we started packing everything up, I called Amtrak to ask a question and found out our train was canceled! I was so glad to have called. The train station we were going to was a three hour drive from Rusty's and it would have been terrible to have some one drive us all that way only to find it was canceled. Due to flooding on the tracks in Nebraska the train was not able to run. We had to change our plans a few times and were worried we wouldn't be able to ride the train at all. Though all our crazy running around in the last couple days, trying to make our travel plans work, we did take some time so enjoy the scenery and visit a beautiful park to relax a bit. 

            

Jackson's Orange Belt Promotion

 Jackson is going great in Karate, he is working up through the belts and just earned his orange belt.

This was the first time his dad & stepmom came to a Karate event. I'm glad they are showing their support. I really want Jackson to stick with it; I think it will be good for him to keep at it.

Jackson demonstrated some of the moves he has been learning; including combos with his weapons.

Then he was presented with his new belt and a certificate. I'm so proud of him.

 

 

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have; I am thankful for:

• These hot days not feeling as hot after being in Iowa with the high humidity
• Jackson telling me, almost on a daily basis, how much he loves Rusty being here
• Ashleigh having a great time on her vacation to Alabama (to visit family) but still calling and texting me everyday.
• The baby birds chirping from a hole in one of our trees, for the third year in a row
• Finding a great new community swimming pool
• Our patio in the backyard for the guys to play basketball
• Watching our garden grow
• Our new Legos and playing with them for hours (thanks to Rusty bringing his & his brothers collection)
• Hot pink snapdragons
• Camping season

Thankful Thursday (Train edition)

Of the many blessings I have; I am thankful for:

- Getting on the train after being delayed for days
- Friendly staff
- Our room being larger than anticipating
- Quiet & smooth ride
- Large picture windows in our room & the observation car
- Comfy linens
- Delicious meals
- Beautiful scenery
- Meeting & conversing with new people
- Room service

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Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have; I am thankful for:

• Myself and Ashleigh both being away on vacation at the same time, yet still talking everyday
• The amazing lightning storm last night
• The cool weather and smell of rain for next couple days
• Seeing old friends again
• Hospitality
• Movie snacks
• Fresh fruit
• Homemade pie
• Swimming pools
• The ability to 'get away from it all' for a while

Little moments

My kids had the stomach flu this week. Luckily, it was just a 24 hour bug. Also lucky that I managed to not get it as well. It's amazing how quickly us moms wake from a deep slumber at the sound of our kids being sick. Being supportive, compassionate, and patient at 4:30 in the morning while cleaning up vomit is something that comes from deep.... very deep within. Thank God for those maternal instincts. But I thank God as well for those little things that lift us up and encourage us. After cleaning up my bed & carpet, I walk into the bathroom to check on Jackson again. We are both exhausted and just want to sleep. Jackson looks and me, and in the sweetest little voice I have ever heard, he said, "I'm sorry I threw up on your bed Mom".  I felt so bad that he was sick and it just melted my heart that he felt so terrible yet was worried about me cleaning up after him.

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have, I'm thankful for:

• A break;I leave for vacation on Saturday
• An adventure; I'm riding the train cross country on the way back home
• A new chapter of our lives; Rusty, my boyfriend, will be riding the train back home with me since he's moving to Utah
• Jackson enjoying Karate so much; he is being promoted to an orange belt tomorrow
• Ashleigh working hard in school and getting good grades
• The tree in our backyard having that perfect branch for a swing this summer
• Cute sunglasses
• Cards
• Hot Wheel cars
• Board games