Running has always been my favorite way to get to know a new area. You’re able to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, but you’re still moving slowly enough that you can spot the little playground tucked behind the public library, or the old-fashioned ice cream shop hidden around a corner. Later you can walk or drive back to visit the places that really caught your attention.
When we moved into our house in Eden almost two years ago, one of the things I was most excited about was seeing if any flowers would sprout up in the spring around our yard. Although we had a few random patches of flowers that grew, it was nothing too spectacular and hardly enough to clip and put into any vases in the house, which was a bummer. Then I discovered my favorite hidden gem right down the road, Henry’s Gardens, and it was all rainbows and butterflies (and brightly colored blooms!) from there.
During the week, we mostly eat at home amidst the chaos of after school activities and homework. My husband and I feel that it’s important to sit down and enjoy some family time with our kids over a meal, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. We’ve learned that family meal time requires a fair amount of planning and then having the fortitude of sticking to our plan. Without a plan, or our commitment, it’s simply easier to order out or dine and dash.
I have a countdown to draft day and the season opener (Thursday, September 15 against the Jets, in case you were wondering). I follow players on social media. I even once caught myself tuning into an AM radio station press conference while in the TJ Maxx parking lot. To be honest, I don’t even know who I am anymore considering that before this past year, I’ve never really cared about sports or watched a full game of anything.
