Happy April, Friends!
We’re right in that sweet spot of spring before the heat and humidity roll in, and I’m trying to soak up every bit of it. I’ve been loving getting outside for runs, working in the garden, and just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine whenever I can. How are you making the most of this beautiful season? The photo above was taken at the cutest little flower and wine bar we stumbled into while in Springfield, IL for my half marathon. I’ll be sharing a full race recap and a bit more about this charming city next week!
One – Latest Happenings
We had such a lovely Easter! My mom snapped this photo in her backyard after we went out for lunch, and even though the lighting was a little harsh, it’s one of those memories I’ll happily take.
After church, we headed to Flemings, one of our favorite spots, for a special Easter lunch. I enjoyed a delicious cocktail along with a surf and turf, plus some family-style sides that made it feel extra special. It was such a nice, relaxing afternoon, and I even snuck in a little nap afterward.
It may look like we ate our way through April… ha, ha! We always make it a point to grab a fish fry during Lent, and the one at Assumption Church is hands down our favorite in the area. I can never resist their fried shrimp basket!
My dad turned 86 (!!) this April. After everything he’s been through with his health, each birthday feels like such a meaningful blessing, and we’re so grateful to celebrate another year with him.
Two – Latest with the Teens
Nathan participated in his first hackathon weekend at school, and his team took 1st place! I’m so proud of him. They’ll be presenting their project at a symposium later this month, which is so exciting. I wanted to share a little more about it in his own words from LinkedIn (if you’re interested in all the fun AI details!).
Last weekend, I participated in the hackathon run by Maryville University’s Computer Science club. At this hackathon, single or small groups of students worked together to develop a project which would be presented in front of the other participants, as well as the judges, on Sunday afternoon. I was on a team with Maryville University students Hadi Khan, Vincent Steele, and E’Sabel Merriweather. Over the weekend, we developed EagleEye: a program designed to give users important road traffic information by applying computer vision techniques to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s network of traffic cameras spread throughout the state.
EagleEye uses Yolo26 Nano, masking, and user-defined functions we created to calculate statistics such as the percent of the road that is covered by vehicles, how many vehicles are stopped, moving slowly, and moving quickly, and how bad traffic is using a numerical and text-based rating system, all displayed in an easy-to-use UI. I am very proud of my teammates and what we were able to accomplish during this hackathon. It was amazing to see all the unique talents all my team members brought to the table.
After the code deadline passed and all projects were presented, we won first place! I am so grateful for this award and thankful for all the hard work the team put into this project. Every member of the team worked so hard for this, and I am so thankful for their dedication to the project.
Along with the team, I would also like to give a special thank you to all of the members of the Computer Science club, especially Daniel Lai, Aubree Pitman, Isaiah Grant, and MacHa’i Daughrity, who helped run the hackathon and gave all of us the opportunity to challenge ourselves and learn through this experience. I also want to thank Professor Maurya for her timely and thoughtful feedback on my questions and project ideas for the hackathon. Participating in this hackathon was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful for the team and everyone else who made this hackathon possible.
And Miss Autumn has been busy with theater! She did such a beautiful job with her tap solo in The Importance of Being Earnest. She worked with a choreographer for several weeks to prepare, and it really showed. I’m so proud of her! The entire production was fantastic!
Three – Social Fun!
I didn’t realize it had been six weeks since I last met up with the girls for our Saturday morning runs at the park! My half marathon training really picked up toward the end, and I had hoped to join them the week before my race… but it was pouring. So it felt extra special to finally be back out there running together again post-race.
What’s next? I’m jumping into a 4-week cycle with my coach to train for a 5K. It’s not my favorite distance (and definitely not my strongest), but I’m excited to challenge myself and see what I can do.
The only catch… the race doesn’t start until 9:00 a.m., which feels really late 😅 I’m crossing my fingers it’s not too hot or humid by then. But honestly, knowing there are tacos and margs waiting at the finish line should be all the motivation I need, right?!
After the 5K, I’ll be taking a little break from coaching for a couple of months. I’m looking forward to a more laid-back summer with some fun running goals mixed in. I already have a few ideas and can’t wait to share them when I post my Summer Bucket List next month!
One of the ladies in my core group gave her testimonial at one of my recent Bible study openings and she is such an inspiring woman and servant of Christ. She is one of my favorites in my core group.
Four – Books
Shop This Book:
Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want by Maria Baltazzi PhD MFA
I picked up this book on the recommendation of my running coach, who said many of its principles can apply to running. She was so right. It is a great reminder that running, and really life, is not just about PRs and paces. It is about enjoying the journey, working through setbacks, and most importantly, keeping it fun.
In this motivational read, author Maria Baltazzi, who worked as a producer and casting director on Survivor, shares how to find more joy and balance in everyday life through eight “Happiness Essentials”: Faith, Love, Health, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Peace, Detachment, and Abundance.
I did a lot of underlining in this book. When I flip back through it, there is so much wisdom and practical advice that makes it one you could revisit again and again over the years. Each section includes reflection questions, along with her own answers, plus “Snapshot of Abundance” exercises. I did not personally do the photo exercises, but if you enjoy that kind of creative reflection, you would probably love that part.
Overall, this is such an uplifting and thoughtful read, especially if you are looking for a mindset shift that can carry over into running, your goals, and everyday life.
Shop This Book:
This book was SO good. I listen to most of my books on audio while I’m running, and this one had me doing the ugly cry not once… but TWICE.
It follows a woman returning to her hometown and being pulled back into a complicated past filled with love, loss, and long-buried secrets. The story slowly unfolds in such a powerful way, and you can just feel everything alongside the characters.
The first line of the book… WOW. The ending… DOUBLE wow. This one is emotional in the best way. The characters are so strong and memorable, and it really sticks with you long after it’s over.
A must read!
Five – Latest Finds
I’ve been making a Mediterranean-style plate for lunch lately, and I found the BEST clean-ingredient hummus from Baba’s… I’m officially hooked. The flavors are so fun and actually taste amazing. So far I’ve tried the Garlicky Caramelized Onion and the Dilly Dill Pickle, and both are SO good.
Now I’m already eyeing what flavor to try next because I can’t get enough. Anyone else obsessed with a good hummus moment like this? I don’t think I can ever go back to Sabra after this!
Shop Jellycat:
Brian surprised me with the cutest little Jellycat tea bag and I’m obsessed! I just love the tiny ones… they make me so happy. I already have the pickle and the coffee cup too, and now they’re all lined up on my tall mirror in our bedroom. It’s such a fun little display and makes me smile every time I walk by!
Shop Plant Cover:
I always plant pea seeds in my raised bed every spring and I’ve never had an issue with squirrels… until this year. They decided to dig everything up and snack on my plants.
I ended up finding these pop-up raised bed covers on Amazon (you get a set of two), and so far they’ve been working really well! They also come with metal stakes, which keeps them nice and secure even on windy or stormy days. I’m really hoping this keeps my peas safe this time!
Hope you all have a great weekend!
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