Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was amazing! The Husker Football team had an excellent run at the Spring Game on Saturday with over 78,000 people. Can you believe that many Husker fans came out to support their guys in some good ol' rummaging against one another? Another reason I love the state of Nebraska... the fans show the utmost support in all of America!

On Easter Sunday, the family kept it light and mellow. The LO was able to dig through a few Easter baskets he graciously received, and played with all sorts of toys that caught his interest a few minutes at a time. The greatest thing was watching him pick up the eggs the Easter Bunny left behind on our lawn and putting them in his basket.... well that's until he discovered they had goodies inside. Once he discovered the taste of a jelly bean (thank you Trader Joe's!), it was GAME OVER. He stopped picking up the eggs and wanted to open the many in his basket just for the one jelly bean I mixed in with cranberries and Aunt Annie's cheese rabbits.

The neighborhood kiddos were out and about, so Mata got to enjoy some fun and play with them and Dada!

We wrapped up Easter Day with a delicious dinner, and called it an evening (after some ice cream). Though we weren't home with all the kiddos to hunt for eggs, we made special memories with our little family here in NE, AND enjoyed my Dad and Stepmom's lovely company! It warms my heart watching the LO interact with family.

Happy Easter

Easter is such a special and spiritual holiday for me. We typically start our Easter day bright and early back home, by attending sunrise service. Sunrise service is always special... the message of Jesus rising from the dead is such a powerful one, and to celebrate that together with family, friends and fellow Christians completely fills the heart. Then we usually visit our loved ones who passed away, paying respects to our family at the break of dawn. For the past few years, we found a park that accommodates our huge family and allows us space to play sports, run on the playground, and hide Easter eggs for the little ones to collect. We love spending the entire day there, lounging, eating, laughing and watching the little ones play and dance together. It's GLORIOUS!

This year, we won't be home to join in on the festivities with the family... so we'll have to start our own Easter tradition as a little o'hana here in Nebraska. Fortunately, the community we live in hosts tons of different Easter festivities, beginning the week before Easter (last weekend). I took the LO to Michaels a few weeks ago to paint some eggs, which was a ball! We might partake in some Easter fun Saturday morning before the Husker Spring Game (WHOOP!)... then I think we'll set up a nice easy-peasy Easter egg hunt for the LO at our home. There's nothing cuter to see than the kiddos actually finding the eggs all around and putting them in their basket!

What are your plans for Easter weekend?

P.S. Isn't the shot above stunning?! Nebraska sunrises will make for another beautiful Easter indeed!

Let Freedom Ring

As we approach the long holiday weekend, I can't help but reflect on the true meaning of Independence Day. It was only over 400 years ago that our country became independent and gained our freedom.

This year, I am happy to celebrate FREEDOM...

     - Freedom of speech (particularly through starting up the J&BT blog). I now have a platform to talk about some of the passion I have in life through the eyes of sports and the professional world.

     - Freedom of prosperity. Why should I wait any longer to live happily ever after? For me, it's always been a waiting game. These are some of the infamous lines I tell myself: "After I graduate from school" or "Once I find a good job" or "Starting on Monday!" Being mindful and present has helped me find the good in TODAY and in the now!

     - Freedom to live life to the fullest. "What makes your heart sing?" (Talk Like Ted). Asking myself this question has really opened up my eyes to discover new things about myself that just tickle me pink!

     - Freedom of worry. This one is something I have to work at constantly and repetitively. Without practice, I would never know how to approach being worry-less. But, when I'm able to remind myself  every day that WORRYING IS AN UNPAID JOB, things look much brighter, and I tend to not think about things I don't have any control over in the moment. This has got to be one of my faves this past year as the Hubs and I quickly approach parenthood (*yikes*)!

Ask yourself this question as you celebrate this weekend with tons of fireworks, good eats and swell family and friends... What does freedom mean to you?