PHIL & SAL
Ok, here's the thing. We have nothing to complain about - ever - no matter what happens. We have so much to be thankful for. We had a great year, good and bad. It's never a dull moment at Sweetlove Farm, but we wouldn't want it any other way. We love it out here and life is good.

Sally is in her 8th year at Callahan Creek Advertising and Marketing Agency in Lawrence, KS, the last 3 years serving as their User Experience  (UX) Designer. It is her passion and she loves every minute of it. She is so thankful to be working for a great company. Phil continued the first half of the year as a stay-home dad, caring for Solomon. When the Fall school year rolled around, though, he became redundant, as Solomon started full-time school! He is at peace, though, out on the farm, caring for his sheep and laying hens (see more in The Farm album). And recently, Phil started part-time work at the bike shop (the same one he's worked at off and on for almost 25 years!). Just when we think he's out of the cycling world, he gets "pulled back in" - he can't deny cycling is his true mistress!

The highlight of Phil's year was training for and completing the Dirty Kanza, a 200-mile gravel road ride through the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. It was especially grueling this year as we'd had a tremendous amount of rainfall in the spring prior to the ride, causing a great amount of mud, grit and deep ruts along the route. Placing 68th out of 428 overall (so proud of him!), he has called it one of THE most amazing things he has ever done in his life. To this day, he is emotional when he describes the experience.

Phil & Sally, what are you thankful for this year?
  • Our beautiful, amazing kids
  • Good health
  • A good home and food on the table
  • Great friends
  • Loving family (who are also our friends!)
  • Great jobs
  • Each other
What are your favorite things?
  • Quiet "No Device" Sundays
  • Our morning coffee together (especially on Sundays)
  • Cuddles with our kids
  • Baking and cooking real food 
  • Exercising over her lunch hour - swimming and rowing are her favorites (Sally)
  • Sunday morning gravel road rides or daily rides through the roads of Jefferson County, KS (Phil)
  • Napping
  • Special outings to our favorite restaurants
  • Our [ever-developing] hand-built house
What are your highlights of 2015?
  • The Dirty Kanza in May in Emporia, KS
  • Our biennial family trip to Burgenest (North Carolina) to be with our dearest friends from Phil's college years
  • Enjoying the Kansas City Royals' run to their first World Series Championship in 30 years!
  • Progress on the house (our bedroom door!)
  • Evening swims at our local pool this summer
  • Visits from Sally's brother, Matt, and his family from Boston
  • A couple trips to the Omaha Zoo (oh that Sloth moved both times!)
  • A second annual trip to Chicago for Sally to attend a fantastic UX training conference (and, as a bonus, getting to visit with her favorite little brother, Jake and his wife, Sam, who live in Chicago).
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