Hail to the Chef

Well the Minnesota Vikings might not have a GM or coach as of today, but thank god the Swedish Chef Mafia do. That's right, you're not only looking at the GM and coach of this stellar fantasy football team, but the new Superbowl Champion!

Boom! I knew I had to have a bit of good news eventually in 2022. And here it is on Day 10. Finally.

Actually, after losing in the championship game last season, I didn't have high hopes of returning. But this time, through weird flukes of backup players picked up after injuries, I somehow kept plowing through. I even had a 7-game winning streak at one point.

So with an 11-3 record and playoff victories, I will claim the coveted traveling trophy. Just as soon as I get back to the office. Which may be awhile yet. Still, I look forward to taking it from the guy who beat me last year and who I beat in round one of the playoffs this year. 

Not that I have a competitive bone in my body.

So there's my good news for the day. Hopefully not for the whole week. Still waiting for God to answer prayers for the two loved ones in serious conditions. Good things come to those who wait.

She says as she hoists the invisible trophy over her head!

#SwedishChefMafiaRules

Indoor Recreation

 

Days like this are perfect for enjoying winter. From inside, that is.

I did venture out to go to church and the grocery store. And that bright sun sure is misleading. Of course, it would help if I wore a coat or gloves or both. But you know me. If my exposure is less than a minute, I'll be fine with my long sleeves.

For our indoor fun, we watched football – could only catch the scores on the ticker for the Vikings game so we were glad we ended our season with a W. Even though it is the end of the season for us. We'll see how quickly we get a new coach. 

We ventured outside briefly when we went over to Jim's sister's house to deliver her birthday gift.

Oh yes, definitely something warm! Perfect for lazing on the couch to watch her favorite athlete Tom Brady or read a good book. If you see Sherry tomorrow, wish her a happy birthday! (Unrelated... Anyone else need a blankie? My hands don't know what to do with themselves now that Christmas is over!!)

For other indoor fun today, we watched golf – glad that stayed close and interesting – and played a hardcore game of Scrabble. Jim claims he's rarely played that in his life, but he kicked our butts. Mamie came close to catching him but Carter and I were left out in the cold. Well, just the super losers' column!

Capped off the night with some hot chili and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. Yum if I may so myself.

It was definitely a good winter's day. From the inside looking out.

Gonna get colder. Be careful out there! 

Patience is a Major Virtue

Interesting phrase I saw today. A good reminder (if I'd listen) for being patient when it comes to God answering our prayers. 

It was another day of praying for some loved ones who can't seem to catch a break. We're impatient. We want more than survival. We want to see improvement. And of course we want that now.

But we'll wait. And patience to our prayer list!

In the mean time, I just distract myself with taking pictures. Went to a dance recital today that a handful of friends' daughters were in. It was a great distraction. From the littles on up to high schoolers, they were all so talented. It was fun to watch – even without my favorite dancer who aged out/graduated last year!  

Managed to get a few decent photos but lighting is a nightmare. It's dark and then there are so many colors of spotlights. Every picture looks like it could have been taken in a different place. Oh well, that's just me being picky. It was good to get out of the house and see some friends.

Now it's back to watching golf – and football – and I guess trying to uncover some virtues. #patience

Can't Seem to Pardon the Interruption

When the temps rose just past the single digits today, it was a perfect excuse to stay in tonight. I mean we could have watched basketball in person, gone to dinner with the kids in person, or they could have gone out on the town in person.

But nope. We stayed in our bunker on Blue Jay Drive. In person.

And watched guys in Hawaii just to stay out of the bunkers on the golf course. 

For the record, we also watched the Assumption basketball game on TV since it was live streaming. And we had a nice dinner together. High recommended the fish fry from The Chatrbox. The 4 of us gave it 8 thumbs up!

So why we are we interested in prime time golf? A couple reasons beside staying in from the cold.

First this tournament is sponsored by my employer. And secondly, I wrote the script for this video that was televised right before the Golf Channel's interview with our CEO. So I was jazzed about that. I had Carter watch it just so he knows his mom is famous. Behind the scenes famous. But still famous. Ha.

And the third reason was that we needed the distraction. This has been the world's longest week – and I'm not quite ready to pardon the interruption of our lives. Interruption and disruption.

The Hedberg Hotline to Heaven (that what we're calling our family's prayer efforts this week) was busy again today as the two people we love and were praying hard for on Monday needed our attention. One was readmitted to the hospital and the other is undergoing another surgery (not 16 hours this time). So we're praying hard again that God helps the doctors use their skills to the best of their abilities to help these guys with their serious conditions.

 

I feel like the joy of Christmas was months ago already. We'll find joy again. And peace to go along with our hope.

And we'll guiltlessly use golf, basketball, or deep-fried food as a distraction.

Not all Super Heroes Wear Capes

Super heroes come in all shapes and sizes – and ages. Today, our personal super heroes were wearing winter coats instead of capes.

While hubby and I worked, Carter and Mamie braved the single digits for us and removed our snow. And the neighbors' too.  I knew there was a reason God gave us kids! Well, slave labor and many other reasons. We were very grateful.

But the real super hero of the day is a little boy named Malcolm, who has touched thousands of lives from Wisconsin Rapids to across the globe. It's amazing how even the smallest of humans can open hearts in the biggest way. And today marked the end of his earthly journey.

Read his story here: I definitely couldn't tell his story better than they do.

Just hug your kids while you have them – whether they shovel your driveway or not.

Rest in peace, little hero. 

The Road Home

We never stop worrying about our kids, do we? So when it was snowing and blowing all day and we knew our boy and his girlfriend were coming up from southwest Wisconsin, we urged him to text when he was hitting the road this afternoon. 

Just so I knew when I could officially start worrying, of course.

We probably only got 4 inches tops here in Wisconsin Rapids and lesser amounts south. But "the kids" still encountered slippery, crappy road conditions (the pink ones above) once they got off the interstate. They made it by 8 p.m. Late dinner, but they made it safely so that's all the matters.

Now it's just plain cold and windy. But we have a strapping young snow shoveler in the house!

I had to run to town after work to buy a Powerball ticket. (So if you never hear from me again, you'll know why.) It was actually only the first or second time this winter I wore my winter coat. I mean I have it in car if I'm driving somewhere at night – just in case – but a vest or just sweatshirt is usually sufficient for running in and out of gymnasiums or the store.

I feel like one of those Midwestern memes where it has to be below zero to wear a coat. And yep. That's what's coming. 

Like it does every winter in Wisconsin. Duh. 

Since our companywide return-to-office date has been delayed again (thanks, omicron), I guess long underwear and layers will be the "business casual" attire in my office the rest of the week. 

Be careful out there. Even tough Midwesterners should probably wear layers. Or at least throw your jacket in the back seat. Then no one has to know you caved.

When Miracles Happen

Pardon my language, but 2022 is starting off to be quite the shit show.  I'm emotionally exhausted and it's only January 4th. And I'm only experiencing the roller coaster ride virtually. People we care about have front row seats and are just trying to hold on.

I need to remind myself that where there is hope – even the smallest amount, there is faith. And where there is faith, miracles happen. 

It sounds trite, but I believe this to be true. I must. Or why would I spend so much time praying?

As we transition from one year to the next, our hearts are hurting for those who are hurting even more. We have a friend who lost his father, a friend who lost his son, and a whole community who lost a beloved soccer coach. And that's just the tip of the 2022 iceberg.

But in this same time frame, we've also seen miracles – after endless hours of praying, that is. 

A neighbor adjusted wonderfully to a critically needed kidney transplant. A friend survived a freak stroke and was home within 2 days. Our close friends heard the news today their college-age son is cancer-free! Someone we love survived 30 days in the hospital over the holidays and is home. Another someone we love survived 15 hours of emergency surgery yesterday and into the wee hours of this morning.

To all of these, we say thanks be to God. The road to recovery will be long for all of them. But they're still here among us. And we'll still keep praying for them.

You and I know we don't always get the answers to our prayers that we want. People die expectedly and unexpectedly. But God sends human angels to give us hugs of comfort. We don't understand the "why" of most of the tragedies in our lives. And we probably never will.

It's frustrating. It's devastating. And it's out of our control.

That's especially challenging. Somehow, we need to find the strength to keep hope and faith alive. And look for miracles – big and small – in our everyday lives.

They're there. We may have to wipe away tears to see them, but they're there. 

I pray they'll keep coming. For all of us.