Find me here...

Since I have {NOT} been such an avid blogger lately I have decided to direct you all to my Simply Holly blog.  I hope to give my business blog a sense of myself and my family and the things that I love and love to do.  SO I hope you enjoy it as much and I do.  I also hope with only one blog to manage I will be able to blog more frequently.  Since I am finally close to family I guess I have less of a drive to blog about all the goings on in my daily life...that is what Facebook is for anyways right?

Up North

Pure Michigan. What more can I say about our 4th of July weekend. We joined the Hill's at a cottage on the Lake (Michigan that is) just around the bay from the Mackinac Bridge. It was a weekend full of sunshine, campfires, and boat trips. and believe it or not it was free of family drama! We had a great time! This weekend reminded me how much I love Michigan summer, how much I hate mosquitoes, and that nothing really says Mackinac like pounds and pounds of fudge!We were going to drive under it but the water was getting a bit rough so that's as close as we got...

On another less rough boat ride... although she was quite sleepy, she could barely sit.

Let's play, let's play!!

Like my morning hair?

This was our attempt at being artistic...hmmm

There are many more pics I would like to post but blogger is being dumb and the photos are taking forever to load, so maybe another time.

Lilly Update...10 months old! Still nursing like a champ and she loves cheerios. She started crawling seems like only 2 weeks ago and now she is standing up on the furniture and walking everywhere with the help of Greg and I! She just signed "thank you" yesterday with no coaching, and she likes to wave and say buh buh buh buh.. (aka bye bye) She is shy around new people, and refuses to smile! But when she is with her mommy and daddy and her newly found family she is as smiley and giggly as can be! Can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring it seems like she is learning so much every day!

My God is flippn' awesome....

Man, I just need more time in my day!  Well, today after work (since now, at work is the only time I will get on the computer to update the rest of you) we get to go sign the paperwork on our second house.  The house on Beechmont was a flop after the Appraisal came back 12K under the purchase price.  But God has been good and we will hopefully be closing on a home that is bigger, with more land, and more potential than the first! It is just such a long process and I still have this feeling that I have cash flying everywhere and I am seeing no fruit of my labor!  It is so fun to pay 2 months rent on a town home in southern Florida that you are NOT living in {sarcasm!!!}  But I still feel so blessed.  I know not all of you are believers who read this but I can not express enough how much God has blessed us! If I was to learn anything in the past 4 years about my faith it is that God is mighty and when you give him reign over your life {aka-stop trying to control your life which if you know anything about me you will know this is a huge task} you will be continually amazed at his abundance!  

Some people may look at the recent events in my life and think wow, that is funny how things work out so perfectly. But....I know better.  It is my prayer that some of my closest friends and family who do not yet call Christ their savior will see His goodness soon!  I can not imagine how I could have gotten through all the crazy ups and downs of my life's journey thus far {I'm talking soap opera Jerry Springer good} if I did not believe with all my heart that I am here for a purpose and my God is going to work all things out for the good of those who love him! 

Let it rain...

It has been so beautiful here in west Michigan these past few weeks, that is when the sun decides to shine in between these bouts of rain and storming.  The trees are green and where I get to drive in my day there are beautiful open fields.  It may seem silly, but I have been away from it long enough to appreciate the open roads, the grassy fields, the big green trees, and the bright blue sky.  I love being able to open the house up and feel a fresh rain breeze blow through.  Thankfully my allergies have not yet begun to spoil things for me either.  I feel so blessed that Greg and I were able to live in FL, make friends, experience a new culture and way of life, but I have said it a million times already...It is SO GOOD to be home, I love Michigan.


With my new job there is no "typical day" I have 4 locations I am responsible for, so I get to be somewhere different every day.  Tuesday, I was luck enough to be in Allegan.  I went on a site visit with one of the electric lineman crews.  They were installing a new service to a home in Saugatuck, right on the lake, on a big bluff.  The sun was shinning, the water was so blue, the house was GORGEOUS, and I was getting made fun of because it was in the 70's and I still had jeans and a light jacket on.  I don't care what they say there was a chilly breeze coming off the water.  I still have some FL in me.

Lookey Lookey

Anyone want a house?  WE DO! Under contract getting the inspections etc. out of the way but here is the sneak peek.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3049417247-4322-Beechmount-Ave-Portage-MI-49024#item-7

new routines...

I am in the process of trying to get myself into a routine.  Some locations start at 7, some 6, one at 7:30, it is hard to get into a good morning routine, and just when I think I might be onto something Lilly decides she wants to be up all night or not go to bed at a good time.  Things are still in transition, but we are so happy to be back in MI.  Greg is doing good with daddy daycare.  The kiddo is usually is fed, dressed, and happy when I get home what more can you ask for.  Not sure why Lilly is being so fussy going to bed at night if she is teething? does she dislike all the change? is she just not ready to stop playing yet? Greg and I are not sure what to think, in FL we would lay her down and she would be asleep within minutes, here, it has turned into quite a process.  I hope she can settle into a new routine soon, as I hope we all do.

 Soon we will be onto stage 2 of this whole move....FIND HOUSE. Very ready for stage 2 :)

 I promise a PPE (personal protective equipment) photo is coming Eric, just have not had a good time to take one.

Rain Rain...I need a nap

So, Week one day 3...I'm pooped.  Between the move, getting up before 6 every day this week, and Lilly deciding that she is not to go to sleep before 10PM everyday it's been hard to get a solid 8 hours of sleep in.  The job is really seeming to be something that I can do a good job at as well as enjoy!  I am very happy about that.  The world of occupational athletic training was not one I had ever envisioned myself in before now, and I think it may just be a great fit.  I am the Occupational Athletic Trainer for Kalamazoo, Allegan, Overisel, and White Pigeon Consumers energy sites.  Which basically means SW MI is mine along with a lot of driving.  The gas and electric guys seem great and are all for the most part happy we are there for them.  I get to arrive at their facility when they arrive which is different for each facility but is between 6-8am.  I will lead them in a wellness teaching and pre-shift stretch routine, after that my day is up to me I can stay put in the training room or go out on the job with the guys/gals along with my hard hat reflective vest and safety glasses and see what they do on a daily basis.  I think the job will be different every day and I am up for the challenge. The hardest part so far has been getting up and out before the sun! But I only work 8 hours a day and NO WEEKENDS and that couldn't make me happier.