Have A Little Faith in We

This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for over a week. I just about wrapped it up before we left town – but figured I would stop to pack and finish it when we were on the road. There is always down time and I can make the best of it. In fact, I planned a few posts for during my travels. In the past Dan would nap or need downtime (aerosol treatments, stomach issues, exhaustion) and I would have that time to do me (blog, read, straighten my hair, repack my many bags) – so I was sure this down time would be provided. Yet here we are – this post still in the drafts folder and I am exhausted from the trip that ended late Wednesday night for me and will end late tonight for Danny.

During this road trip with stops in to see friends and family we were go go go the whole time. While racing on foot through Chicago during our 24 hour tour, Dan had to turn around and wait for me to catch up. Our lives are completely changed. Danny is well….and it is incredible. Most nights I had to say I was tired or my cute shoes weren’t quite make the cut any longer. In the mornings Dan would hit snooze a few times, but then was up packing his bags, throwing his clothes on and heading towards the next adventure.

There was no AM treatment that left him in a coughing fit or his head in a toilet… which would lead to the need to rest again (even though he really just got up) and we would hope he would bounce back. Normally I would be writing a text message of sorts with the need for more time or telling folks to go on without us. Selfishly I would silently pray with all my fingers and toes crossed that he would recover quick or – perhaps even worse- I would be on board with a skipped treatment because that meant we would get going…. yet in the back of my mind wonder if I was trading a day from Dan’s future health for my current desires. Those days are over.

We will be sharing all about our recent travel adventures here… but for now, here is my post from before – enjoy:

And its time for another little bit of life lately…..

As I have mentioned just a few times (sorry ya’ll, it has been just too exciting to not repeat…..) – Danny has not just been doing better, not just feeling good – he is at his best. For several years, we had no way to know how much of life we were missing. From little things like a day of errands is planned, but Dan would first need a little nap to get some energy and then he would never get back up. Eventually I was running errands late at night or alone. To the big things like lost plane tickets because we could not get Dan well enough to go to an out of town wedding. It was our expectation that the big things would be most exciting to take on- Dan being able to have a career, traveling, starting a family – but surprisingly, the little things have been pretty awesome.

For example, this life lately includes a few different dates….

First up – a night of baseball with Tim Tebow! Danny enjoyed following Tim’s football career – he even has the t-hsirt. Now that Tim has switched up – and is playing baseball Danny is pretty impressed. Anyone who can find a way to keep making sports his career and do so with some talent, is worth his salt! One weekend Tim’s minor league baseball team, the Fireflies (minor league for NY Mets), arrived to one of our semi-local minor league stadiums in Hagerstown. What better way to enjoy the beginning of summer and baseball season than at a night of hot dogs, scorecards, cold beers- but for half the cost of a professional game!

Another date night we headed to the local fair. It ended up being sorta a bust – if even I, the lover of all junk food – was not feeling the funnel cakes, it was not worth it! So we headed home to find a movie or something but ending up on the deck enjoying the sunset. By all accounts it was a “failed” date night, but in our world actually choosing how you want to spend the night and not being forced to cancel plans because of illness still feels like a win.

June has also brought quite a few celebrations to our world!

First up – Ganmommy was honored for 75 years of sisterhood! This year would mark her 75th year as a Chi Omega sister…..and although she has been getting a little forgetful, she never misses an opportunity to remind everyone that she is a Chi O and that it is the largest Greek organization. Congratulations Ganmommy – I am so grateful you live close so we can pop over for all these unexpected moments to celebrate!

Next up – we celebrated Dad’s 30 years at DHI! Since we currently live in a world of serial job hoppers, this is a rare find! DHI has been a part of our family for many years and I am grateful for the big lessons it has taught us kiddos: work hard, build relationships, work isn’t always so bad, how to attend business events and travel, and that our Dad is one passionate guy! It has been an honor to watch him on this journey and I love that everyone who knows are family is aware that our Dad is “still in that door and knob business” (not exactly – we are the association for the door safety and security industry) – it shows how proud we all are of him and the life his job created for all of us. This year was especially important since I was able to honor him as both his daughter and employee. Congratulations Dad – I love that we work together!

We have also had quite the list of wedding festivities to attend recently – which I am looking forward to sharing – but sometimes the best parts can be the little celebrations along the way! We have had two gal mani-pedi nights to celebrate the occasions and get dance floor ready. Each of these evenings have brought a little down time for us to hang with family and remember what these moments are truly about: another couple embarking on the adventure of their own family. To me it is a huge compliment to your ancestry when you too want to carry on the family and I love that we have these moments to cherish those who make up our own!

Especially my Ganmommy. Who on one night was not donning her normal “chains” from her boyfriend (my grandfather). This collection of long gold necklaces can ALWAYS be found around her neck, but they are very light and delicate – thus prone to tangles. So after a recent medical appointment that required she take them off, she kept asking all of us where they were – but we had planned to unknot them a bit more before returning them to their rightful place. Well Ganmommy wouldn’t hear of it – “My boyfriend gave me those and I don’t ever, ever take them off”. After that story we forgot about looking for any knots and Bridget helped Ganmommy place them back on. We are lucky for such a strong example of dedicated love as we celebrate wedding season.

The final celebration for Life Lately – our Friday night Flaherty celebration for “all the things” the Friday before our final summer wedding. That evening we gathered at the house that was my grandmother’s (the original that housed all my aunts and uncles through their upbringing) that is now my uncle’s, for a crab feast/BBQ. At this alfresco event we celebrated birthdays, relatives that have not visited in quite some time but had returned, anniversaries, a solider welcome home, two different brides and grooms, and the start of summer! It was a fun evening because we were all just family hanging out…. and any reminder that we are a bunch that is loud, opinionated, embarrassing, but also loves big, laughs hard, and honors our roots is a blessing.

Finally we have just been soaking up the summer time!

Danny is our normal head gardner here at Laceyville Terrace, but due to the sensitive nature of his lungs, he can’t do yard work. So this year out of true love, I donned my garden gloves and earbuds to try my hand at rose tending and yard manitnence. Truthfully, it has not been my favorite in the past – but this year the sense of accomplishment from my training sessions by Dan to hours just going for it was so rewarding! And my grandfather loved his roses dearly, so I felt a little kinship to be sharing in his passion, has he is hopefully watching from heaven. Plus – cleaning the house doesn’t really provide you with the option to tan a little bit. So I am finding the perks and learning my way around back there.

Lola also came for a visit on Saturday while Katy worked and it was fun for Danny and I to spend some one on one time with her! She is very in demand in the crowds so ya know, it was lucky to not have to wait in line!

Plus – she is a pretty chill baby that goes with the flow, like napping on Aunt Jackie so she is forced to watch the latest “Orange is the New Black” season, and she was so darn cute with Danny’s lung pillow our hearts melted a few times. It really does seem like Lola Grace is changing daily, so soaking up the time is always a welcomed opportunity.

This week we are checking a few things off our goal lists with a BIG road trip: Pittsburg, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Cleveland…. away we go!

Thank you so much for reading and remember to make it a great day!
Jackie