With Spring Break 2014
winding down to its final hour, I thought I should take this time to write
about this past week. (Apologies for the length of the post!)
One would think that my
wife and I, both teachers with the same spring break, would want to go off
somewhere and spend spring break together in Florida, South Carolina, or even
in Texas to see an old friend. Nope. Not us. We look forward to spring break to
finally spend some days alone together and going to see my family in
Kendallville.
This is roughly how my
spring break went:
Saturday -
1. To Kendallville for
breakfast at MHOP (Maria's House of Pancakes) with my dad and 3 brothers. Also
with us was my brother's good friend Brant.
2. We went to Fort
Wayne to meet up with my Uncle Chris and Cousin Nic for lunch at BW's.
3. We all went to
Lazer X! I was the dominant one in the group. Finished 1st for the team (3rd
overall) in game 1. I am proud to say that my years of playing COD actually
paid off.
4. Fort Wayne
TinCaps baseball game! It was a good time. Will probably need surgery again
after seeing how hard I throw... let me tell you... it wasn't pretty.
5. Ended the night
back at my parents place to get a good night's rest for Sunday.
Sunday -
1. Big Breakfast made by
Mama Rise!!! No one can rival her biscuits and gravy!
2. Road Trip to Detroit
for a Detroit Tigers game.
Granted I did not get to
spend much time with Jenna and Quinn that weekend, but it was so nice to be
able to have a weekend with my dad and brothers. We don't get many
opportunities like that very often anymore. There are so many different work
schedules and responsibilities that keep us all tied up. So whenever I do get
the chance to go back and just goof off with my brothers, I cherish it. (I will
never forget the one time I was able to get back for a birthday. We shut the
power off in the house to have a COD Nerf War! Great times.)
Monday-Wednesday -
These were great days!
With the exception of Jenna taking Quinn to see a friend, we had all three days
to ourselves! We did nothing! It was awesome. Quinn and I had some great daddy/daughter time.
We played some basketball, watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and of course the
Lorax.
Thursday -
Back to Kendallville.
Jenna, Quinn, and I went up to see Mama Rise and Gpa/Gma Rise. It had been
forever since my mom was able to see Quinn. Coaching basketball and going right
into baseball leaves very little time to see the family. It was a nice trip
though. My brother Eric was able to join us for lunch and hangout at the house.
It was great going to my grandparents’ house too. We hadn't seen them since my
gramps left the nursing home where we live. (It was a sad blessing to have
grandpa in Milford to rehab after surgery. I got see him often but it was tough
when it was due to a serious procedure.)
Friday -
MY BIRTHDAY!!! Jenna had
a great day planned out! She had 27 different gifts for me to open at different
times throughout the day. It was a pretty neat idea. I thought that she found
this idea on Pinterest but apparently it was all her. Oh Jenna... How awesome
you are! I received everything from Double Stuff Oreos to golf polos. I even
received a TMNT bowling set and a kid’s basketball hoop. Crazy to think a 27th
year old man would find pleasure in those gifts, but they were pretty awesome!
Quinn thought so too.
Saturday -
Another day spent with
family ;)
That morning we went to
breakfast with my in-laws and came back to our house to open up a birthday
present from them. I received an Apple TV! So excited! I am going to see if I
can get it hooked up in my classroom!
After lunch, Jenna had
to be in Kendallville for a wedding shower. So I dropped her and Quinn off,
picked up my brother Ryan, and headed to Fort Wayne to watch an IPFW baseball
game. Now Ryan wasn't the only family I was able to spend time with at the
game. I was able to see my old IPFW baseball family. My friends Tyler, Matt,
and Jason were all at the game. It was great seeing them since it had been a
while!
Sunday (Today) -
Today was a special
day... I was able to see my student council family. I have just joined to be a
chair in the high school division of the IASC. Today, the elected high
schoolers on the executive council met in Indianapolis to discuss plans for the
next year. I saw so many familiar faces from the leadership camp (SLI) that I
do every summer. This was such a great feeling. Many of the students were in my
councils at the camps. It definitely helped validate what I do every summer.
Feels good to see the difference that I am making.
After my trip to Indy, I
headed back to a family birthday dinner for a number of us who shared a
birthday this past week. It was just the perfect way to end a week full of
family time.
Family... whether it is
by blood, marriage, or through bonds of friendship, is by far the most
important thing in the world. Barbara Bush tells us, "Cherish your human
connections - your relationships with friends and family." That is what
Jenna and I did this week. We wanted to be sure that we took time to cherish
all of our connections. Fortunately for myself, I was able to visit, text, or
call a lot of my loved ones this past week. Spring break for was not about
going to a vacation spot and getting a nice tan. Spring break for me was about
putting value back into the friendships I have had over the years.
We all, at some time or
another, have been guilty of getting too consumed by what we are doing
"now" that we forget about those who have helped us. Even if we do
acknowledge those who have helped us in the past, I honestly believe that we
can do more. We should want to tell all of our love ones, friends and family,
that we want them to be a part of our future.
#RiseTalk
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