Monday

Sitting in my chair in the front window with my Bible study and cold brew in the morning is one of my favorite things, and it’s very easy to convince myself to get out of my warm comfy bed when I remember that’s my next stop. Though I haven’t kept up the routines of smoothies or exercise in the mornings like I had hoped… one out of three new habit goals isn’t bad. There’s always tomorrow, Lord willing.

A dear friend and her sweet baby came to visit this morning. She and her husband live in Mexico now. I met her through a mutual friend at a church organized Bible study. I can always tell when someone’s a goodie, and she’s a goodie. The kind of person you meet and think- we should be friends. When she and her hubs moved, they transformed their home into an Airbnb and we manage it for them. Whenever they’re in town, we make it a point to hang out. This time was even more special because their sweet new baby was in tow. She brought bagels for the whole team, and we talked for hours in the sitting room of our office, while the baby slept in the store room. Great way to spend the morning.

I remember Jack running up and down the long hallway of the home we lived in at the time, and now when I hear Pete running down the hall, I get that same smiley feeling. I love it. Everything about a little boy’s big feet joyfully plopping down a wood hallway, only to reveal themselves wearing a Spider-Man costume, Mandalorean mask, or hardly anything at all, just makes my heart burst.

Ava and I swung by my mom’s for a homemade cup of coffee to-go and the three of us drove around Hanford and Laton to look at some real estate. I’d love to be closer to the kids’ school, but the more I look at what’s available, the more I love my home. It was a fun adventure to drive around some country roads I’ve never been down, hanging out with mom and Ava.

I was standing in my room and I saw Alec, age 15, and Pete, age 4, drive by my window in Pete’s Jurassic Park battery powered Jeep. Alec was driving and Pete was hanging on the back. The kids are loving having Alec here for a few days.

I finished work early and came inside to make lunch, clean up, and hang out with the kids. Lunch was quesadillas and avocado. Dinner was orange shrimp and ramen noodles. It was nothing fancy, but the kids ate both meals and that’s a win. In fact, there was no dinner left, and no tears… maybe a first in Herrera history.

I’m really enjoying keeping up with the Airbnb Facebook group for our Central Valley. I’m a “community leader”, listed as a group expert, and I absolutely love playing that role. I even bought a hat for the occassion.

After dinner when everyone had settled in, I took a long bubble bath and listened to my Ree Drummond book, then climbed into bed. I realized I’ve read eight books this summer, and I’m pretty proud of myself for it. My trick is- I listen to the audiobook versions, and I do it in the morning when I’m getting ready, when I’m in the car by myself, and pretty much anytime I’m alone.

-Ava’s mom