Time at home… has been awesome! Sorry for the delayed post but better late than never right? I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to see family, friends, and meet a pretty sweet new baby (looking at you, Michael). Highlights have included going out in Omaha with my Phi’s, getting to dine at the Green Gateau with quality company multiple times, and going out with my oldest friends here in Lincoln. On my first weekend home, I got to meet cute baby Michael, my cousin Evan and his wife, Kristin’s first-born. He is such a sweet, happy lil guy! I have also loved getting to see new spots in Lincoln (at least new for me) like Hacienda Real, The Doughnut Hole, The Flatwater, Paper Kite, Select Style, Dempsey’s, and Honest Abe’s. So much good stuff with my favorite people.
It’s definitely been great to come back to favorite spots in LNK… I have also loved getting to try Lotus yoga classes with Hayley, seeing Jank’s new gallery, tailgating on Barry’s roof for the Spring game, and relaxing at home with my mom and Lucy! I have kept busy with driving my mom around, trying to help her as much as possible around the house, visiting friends, and continuing my work with Family Box. The photos below were taken from our trip to visit Aunt Charlotte down in Summit, MS over the Easter weekend.
My mom and I flew into Jackson, MS on the first day of April and then drove south to Summit. God bless Enterprise – we definitely were digging our upgraded ride. We had been planning this trip for a while, as we were going to help my (great) Aunt C recover from her first cataract surgery. Aunt C is nearly 90 years old and lives alone in the country (her late husband passed last year). It was both of our first time seeing her since we had been there for Uncle Bill’s funeral; suffice it to say that losing your spouse of 60 years is not easy and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. That being said, Aunt C had been holding up on her own, still cooks a mean chicken n’ dumpling, and is a fiercely loyal member of her nearby Baptist church. Pictured above our just a few snapshots from our time down south — the ever-tasty Krystal burgers on the road, our favorite spot out for southern cooking: the Dinner Bell in McComb, and my personal love affair with the Topisaw General Store on McComb’s Main Street.
I feel the need to go ahead and spell this out for those of you unfamiliar with southern cooking: While in MS we had fried chicken, fried eggplant, rice and gravy, biscuits and tomato gravy, spicy sausage, seafood gumbo, cheese grits, bread pudding, Blue Bell ice cream, sweet potatoes, chicken n’ dumplings, fried catfish, peas, beans, squash, and strawberries with coconut cake. Holy deliciousness. It was awesome because my mom’s good friend, Jean, came over from Baton Rouge to meet us at the famed Dinner Bell. It was nice to get to spend the Easter holiday with my mom and Aunt Charlotte there. Since we have been back in NE, Aunt C has broken her hip. She already had surgery and is recovering well, but we would greatly appreciate any prayers!
Now back in LNK I am just loving the spring weather and getting to walk Lucy daily. The Spring game this last weekend was too much fun. I am definitely looking forward to Saturday – it’s my mom’s, Beth’s and my Uncle Al’s birthdays. Scott is coming home from MN tomorrow night and then let the weekend begin! I am really missing Damian, friends, and Barcelona in general at this point.. But when I have further life updates I will share them! Until then…
SAMHOPEHANSEN 