That's a wrap on 2018! Life on the Line.

I don't know another way to describe our year, other than most of it was focused around life on the line. To some this may not make sense and honestly until you live in the life of lineman or a linewife its hard to understand! Our 2018 started off with a phone call from my husband Todd, "they are asking for Puerto Rico"....at that moment it's hard to explain all the emotions that went running through my head but all that came out was excitement for him and a "do you get to go?!" As a lineman (especially for mine) this was something he had always wanted to experience, storm restoration work. Working for a local utility this type of work isn't something that comes around all too often for them. I remember the exact spot I was when he called me, I actually pulled over and listened to the excitement in his voice and the details he knew at that moment. Todd didn't have a concrete answer if he was going yet, but I already knew - he was going. When we hung up, I did all I knew to do that was to say a prayer, I prayed that he would get the opportunity to experience this, I prayed for his safety, his crews safety and that this would be an adventure of a lifetime.

I will be the first to admit in all my excitement for him I was scared; Puerto Rico had seen so much devastation. Todd and I have been together since high school and the longest we had ever been apart was for a night or two. This wasn't a short assignment, he would be gone for 6 weeks. I know to some that may not seem like along time but to me it seemed like an eternity!

Fast forward to Jan 17th, at 5am, 1 backpack and 2 suitcases later we headed to the APS yard where 50+ Lineman and support staff loaded buses to head to Puerto Rico. This was unlike anything that APS had done, hearing Todd talk about the logistics of getting their trucks, tool, etc to Puerto Rico was for lack of a better word insane! Up until days before they left they knew little about their sleeping conditions, meals or communications to those back home. That morning began the countdown of 6 weeks until he came home, as hard as I knew it would be to not have him home, he was surrounded by some of the best guys (lineman) and friends we have. I knew they would keep each other safe!

"It takes a strong man to leave his family to go to work in extreme conditions so he can

 provide for his family and help others. It takes a strong women to watch the 

love of her life walk out the door, not knowing when, or if he's coming home. 

Together we are invincible, too powerful to be defeated". -Linelove

The stories I heard on a daily basis brought tears to my eyes, the scream and laughter of children, the touch of sweet elderly ladies, the people jumping up and down on their roofs when power was restored after 6 months of being in the dark are experiences and memories Todd will never forget. I was so proud of him! There are so many stories he shared I couldn't even begin to tell you them all.

THANK YOU to the people of Puerto Rico for your hospitality, for the BBQ's and for your kindness to our lineman. THANK YOU to all Todd's brothers for not only keeping him safe but keeping each other safe. THANK YOU to my family, friends and my line family, when the days were hard you were there, when the pictures and stories were texted you were there to listen to me tell them, when I needed at good cry - THANK YOU for letting me. Denise, Olivia (Tate, Waylon and Laynee), Wendy and Lacey not only are you my dear friends by my family.

Our Lineman's homecoming was perfect! They worked their asses off, they stayed safe and they came home.

2018 started off crazy and honestly it never stopped! We spent most of our summer at our Home Away from Home at the lake. We had such a great summer with friends and family. My dear friend Kate from Boston visited us and her hugs can make every care in the world disappear.

We may have, ok there was no may have, we got Anthony a little, ok ALOT tipsy one night!

In the middle of lake season we got to take a quick trip to wine country in Temecula and be apart of my sweet cousins wedding! Heatwave and all through southern Cali it was an amazing day! The wine vodka (yes it is a thing) kept flowing and we kept dancing!

We got to travel to some of our favorite places and to some new places. 

"The world is a book and those that do not travel read only one page." - St. Augustine

We hiked Rim to Rim (South Rim to North Rim) in the Grand Canyon.

Some of our favorite humans + 24ish miles = 1 day in and out of the Grand Canyon

We both had an incredible year personally and professionally. We celebrated 12 year of marriage. It was a very challenging year at times, with many ups and down. But it caused growth for both of us. I laughed, I cried (alot), watched friends experience great loss, watched friends and family achieve incredible goals! I learned that life is precious and a gift.

"If there is even a slight chance of getting something that will make you happy, risk it. 

Life's too short and happiness is too rare." - A.R. Lewis

With every season of life comes change and we have some coming in 2019 but they exciting! And so today we write the first of the next 365 pages for 2019!

Whether you are a goal setter, create a vision board each year, make new years resolutions, I encourage you to not take life for granted, to look up from your phone and see the beauty around you, to love hard and forgive even harder, be kind to others, respect others, encourage one another, see the good and experience something new.

Thank you for reading about our year and for all the love!

"Winds of Change"

It has been so long since I have posted. I am not sure even where to start. Todd is officially a Journeyman Lineman. He topped out in May and we attended his Graduation Banquet in October. What a journey it was! But, wait the journey isn't over. We are MOVING! Yes, you heard me right. After 8+ years in the Surprise area, this Saturday we say goodbye. This has been a hard transition, because this is one of those situations,  where we had a plan of what we wanted and Todd and I prayed that God would do his will and send us where we were supposed to be. I think I read this quite a few times:

Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future. "

Well Globe, AZ wasn't exactly what we had in mind, and to find a house and move in 3 weeks, HOLY CRAP! Through all of this we have been blessed every day, we found a house with the help of a wonderful friend, Amy. We have had help packing our house (thank you Stacy and Donald)! Thank you to all those that are helping us this weekend, Todd's family, my family and the Hockman family. Nothing will be quite the same, this is a new adventure. So many things you don't think about, new church, new gym, and holy cow I know where nothing is in the East Valley! However I have already found an archery range close by and an Oregano's exactly 1.7 miles from our house in Mesa!!

I think Jimmy Buffet said it well, "With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes. Nothing remains quite the same." 

Other than all that craziness, I continue to work as a Hospice Nurse and am loving every minute of it. Todd and I continue to show Justice and Panda in the show ring. They are doing great. Our Brinkly dog is quite the character as well :) she is my protector.

We have had a great 2nd half of 2012, we spent a great vacation in Greer with the Doud Family and had the most relaxing week I have every had.

We recently returned from Disneyland with Black Family, Hockman Family, Tish, Jeremy and Amelia. It was a blast as always.

Up next is Vegas with the Hockman's for Cowboy Christmas!!

And, in the midst of all that a few dog shows with our good friends, the Eden's!

We couldn't be happier and more blessed.

Maternity Preview: Meet the Bowers!

                There is nothing like the love for a child. It is very evident that these two are full of love and joy for each other and they can not wait to share it with Baby Brayden. 

Brayden you are going to be one very loved little man! 

Congratulations to Brian and Kim, only a few more weeks to go!