April 2026
Things seemed to really pick up in April. I’m not sure if it was coincidental or if I intentionally just gave myself more to do. April marked one year since our baby, Elliott, went to be with Jesus. However, it was also a time of celebration as we celebrated seven years of marriage. The weather warmed up, the sun came out, and I was reminded that it is all part of God’s plan. We may not always understand the why, but we can always trust WHO has all things under His control. I didn’t want to spend too much time looking back. Spring has arrived, and it is a time of renewal and hope. It is a time to focus on the positives and encourage myself to keep going. I can praise the Lord for He has been good to me. He has forgiven my sins and allows me to continue to learn and grow each day. Isaiah 43:18-25 reminds us, “ Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing…for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise…I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Therefore, I will praise the Lord for all He has allowed me to do as I strive to reach my goals for His glory.
It seems like a lot of things got started in April. I started my spring planting. I have some seeds planted, and maybe some are starting to grow. (It really is hard to determine if they are plants you want or weeds coming up.) This has definitely helped my goal of getting outside more. I have been checking on my plants, pulling out crab grass and other weeds, and trying to get something to grow. I’m not great at gardening, but I am hoping to get better. I have more to plant in May. If nothing else, it is getting me outside more, and I do have garlic growing. We also started a Jr. Ranger contest with Elijah. He has always enjoyed working for his Jr. Ranger badge at each of the state parks. Patrick found a Jr. Ranger contest online and knew it would be just the kind of thing for him. We have been sharing his voting site (https://jr-ranger.org/2026/elijah-d834) with friends and family, and he made it through all the cuts in the month of April. We have one month to go to see if we can get him to the end. We also started considering a campaign strategy for Patrick’s run for Wilson County Commissioner. There has been a lot to do, but it has also been fun.
Our state park goal is off to a good start. We finished April with our seventh park visit. We packed four parks into two days as we spent a Friday and Saturday at some of the parks along the NC coast. I’m not much of an outdoor person, but I have enjoyed the time together as a family. I am learning not to hate the outdoors quite so much. My competitive nature comes out when we have a goal, and two of them have me even considering sleeping in a tent for some of these long weekends. I realized that we have the equipment for camping, a campsite at a state park is significantly less than an Airbnb or hotel for a night, and it would help us meet our goal of going to all the state parks while also staying within our budget. Save money and crush goals…that is what motivates me to overcome my disdain for sleeping on the ground…with dirt…and with bugs. I enjoy helping Elijah with his Jr. Ranger book and encouraging him in those endeavors. It has also been rewarding to see what Enoch can do. He was late to start walking, and we have pushed him to walk as much as he can at the parks. He has been getting close to a mile unassisted! That’s pretty good for any 3-year-old. I have enjoyed pushing myself as well as we walk through sand, up cliffs, and longer distances. It helps me meet my exercise goal in a fun and enjoyable way.
I had a busy April, and I feel like I accomplished a lot of things. My favorite part of April is celebrating my anniversary. I savored some time with my husband, eating out, talking about the past seven years of marriage, setting some goals for the future, and enjoying time together. It is great to be married to someone who is also your best friend. We don’t enjoy all of the same things all of the time, but we like to be together. We will put up with the differences in order to spend time together. Thankfully, we do have some of the interests, so we can have time that we both enjoy. If you are single, seek to marry someone who is your friend. Marry someone you enjoy being around. They don’t have to like all the same things you do, but some common interests are nice. If you are married, continue to cultivate your relationship. Everyone changes over time. Make those changes for the better. Seek to learn and know your spouse. Take the time to go on dates and spend time together, even when life is busy.
April was busy. There were times that were sad. However, God is good, and April was a great month of spring renewal. We are working towards our goals and seeking to glorify God in our lives. That is the most important point. It doesn’t matter what we do or if we meet the goals we set for ourselves. What matters is that our lives bring glory to God. I was able to spend quality time with my family and friends. I was able to point others to Christ. That is all that truly matters.