COVID Diaries - Week 1

Hello quarantined world! We hope you're staying safe and smart out there, amidst the lung plague.

In the midst of the craziness throughout the world, we (anna and I... uncle giggy) decided to capture some of our favorite adventures while hiding from the ghost of wheeziness.

Each memory along the trail reveals some of our favorite joys in life, and has been a true grace to share with miss anna over the past few weeks. We hope our memories bring you great joy, some good laughs, and perhaps help you reflect on the simple graces in life that truly matter.

- Its me now, (anna). Thanks for being here, friends. Hope you have fun takin a peek through my lens this week. If you are not quite sure what is happening in each photo, not to worry! We (GREG and I) will be using our ever-engaging commentating skills to give you some insights as to what is going on.

Let us begin.....

G: This is anna... She's even pretty in shadow form

A: ^ Suck up. It worked. This is me. Just felt right, ya know? Anyway this seemed like a good 1 to start with.

G: Churches have been closed for the past few weeks, but you can't stop Jesus. Thanks to the modern interwebs we can now livestream the Mass every day. It has been a joy to attend church every morning from the living room. Plagues can't keep Jesus' graces from spreading!

A: Umm.. basically what he said. This is our fearless leader, Fr. Rocco. He's the best. Lots of people are gonna get to Heaven because of this guy.

G: This doesn't happen every day...

A: Ubi et orbi... say that 3 times fast. Also, look it up. Graces upon graces happened this week. Thanks, other fearless leader (Pope Francis).

G: So this new album just hit the charts! I'm not sure about the music, but dang this recliner chair is comfortable!

A: I can attest, the music is the literal best thing to ever happen to a girl during weird Lent/quarantine. Check it out, ok?

G: This handmade guitar strap goes wherever me and the strummin go! Lots of notes ring through that leather strap... Not to mention it carries Jesus' words from the bread of life discourse in John 6.

A: These are some fun lil blips of moments I see a lot. If you leave Greg alone for more than 30 seconds he will have found his guitar and be pacing and playing. Its the best :)

G: Quarantine stache... C'mon people... isn't it great?!? miss anna hates it, but she still kisses me every now and then.

A: "Tomorrow I am gonna shave!" he said.... Aaaand this is what resulted.

G: I call this one, "The Essentials". The Rosary to reflect on the Mysteries of the Gospel, and a fine Whiskey to accompany the prayers. It's a small taste of Heaven on earth.

A: I call this... "man, the light in this dining room rocks!" Also, this has truly been a beautiful lil routine and its full of graces and earthly goodness and what is not to like about that?

G: Anyone care for a dram? This is the beginning of my quarantine collection. An eclectic array of whiskies from various regions, each with a unique style. Wish I could share, but you might have the plague, so stay away!

A: I can't comment too much on the flavor profiles, but every time I cry my mom says, "There goes the quarantine collection!" So, there's that!

G: We're so blessed to have a heavenly mother who loves each of us so dearly. Mary Queen of Peace, Pray for us!

A: This is my favorite piece of art in my room - handmade and such a good reminder of Momma's tenderness. Love that lady. You should really get to know her.

G: Can't separate Jesus and Mary. Although our adoration chapels are closed right now, we are blessed to have live streamed adoration of Jesus.

A: Prayer life looks a little weird for me right now. Rather than sitting in His presence in the Chapel, I am learning to encounter Him in more humble things like the daily rosary, online live streams, time in quiet, and even my little sufferings (like momma, here.) It is doing some crazy things to my heart.

G: We call this, "having a virtual relationship". We face timed with annas family one afternoon they we making beignets (AKA... little benitos). Such a joy to see their smiling faces and share some time in their company. Sadly, I did not get any little benitos. I love those little pastries.

A: This is Joe, eating a lil benny. This is Isaac's high quality photo of the little bennys. Miss my family lots but man, they are weird enough over FaceTime to really fill a girl up with joy.

G: Cooking together has become a favorite activity of ours.... or at least mine. I like to eat... give a fat kid a break. This dish was pad tie... who the heck knows how to spell that? Anyway, its delicious. Topped with some home roasted almonds and lime citrus... Golly! Imma go find some leftovers now.

A: He ate 3 portions of the leftovers for lunch... They are all gone. But I do love cookin with this kid. He is the King of making his own sauces. Not a bad trait to have in a fiancé...

G: Nothing to see here... Just a man tryin to learn some dance moves... Gangsta style...

A: Almost pulled his arm out in one of these moves... we survived. Then we danced around to The Git Up. Classic.

G: Back to the essentials... I suppose I'm a frequent flier. Is there a rewards program for that?

A: One of these pics of Greg blew up on Unsplash... now hundreds of people have this pic of his face and him drinkin' and prayin'. You Catholic ladies of Unsplash, he's cute... but taken.

G: I'll be famous one day... 1 Step closer to the top.

G: One Word: TIGERKING!!! Not for the faint of heart. But sure entertaining. Joe Exotic is the armpit of society... but an armpit with a killer mullet and sweet sweet wardrobe. Plus tigers... tigers are cool.

A: This is the kind of keep-you-on-your-toes white trailer trash America was needing in this moment. And She didn't even know it.

G: I guess the sky is pretty cool, right? Right? Anna takes cool pictures of the big mysterious blue thing dwelling over us day and night.

A: Felt like Spring for the first time in a while and the light was too good. I ran around with no shoes on late for Bible Study (pictured below) because, LOOK AT IT. God loves me through the sky a lot. It's our thing.

G: This was a girls night for anna... I wasn't allowed to be there. Pretty sure I was at home visiting "The Essentials" again...

A: Girls B-Study... Such a gift to me right now. In studying Humanae Vitae, we have been learning so much about the dignity of marriage and God's plan for it. Gets me hyped (@Greg).

G: Anna keeps forgetting that my blog commentator name is uncle giggy... Please respect the giggy.

G: If you like taking photos, I guess you'll think this is cool? To me it looks like a wall. But that's just me. You can judge for yourself.

A: He's right it is a wall... a wall THAT BRINGS ME JOY. I like light. That's just the thing about me. The thing about my room is that it has the most FUN light.

A: Also, I haven't forgotten about the name. I just refuse to conform @Greg.

G: Chem trails, motorcycles and panther piss. Sounds like a fun day to me. Every now and then a motorcycle needs a facelift. I decided to vinyl wrap my bike to give it a modern/retro feel. Did it work? Eh... kinda. Even if it didn't my mid-work dance breakout was a crowd favorite.

A: This is Greg, doin man stuff. I helped kind of. Mostly, I just watched and laughed when he got flustered. I am helpful.

G: Kabob, anybody? I cant tell which is more orange, the sweet potatoes on the kabobs, or my shorts... Let me know in the comments. I won't respond. But seriously, let me know. I might respond.

A: Greg looks like an inside out pumpkin and this was my favorite meal of the week. We are sweet potato masters. It's not an official thing. More like a self-proclaimed accolade to make us feel good.

G: But seriously... respond.

G: Also, We ARE sweet potato masters. Just sayin... respond PLZ

G: I left a note for anna... sue me.

A: I sent it to my mom... she said "What a sweetheart!" She right.

G: Look, its a cloud on the ground! Fancy, eh?

A: I stared at this out my window for about an hour until I realized I could just go out and take a pic of it. Sometimes this grubby lake will really surprise ya. Also, fog is my favorite way to think of the Holy Spirit. So. There you have it.

G: Some people call this art... Looks to me like someone just forgot to make her bed.

A: Says the guy who hasn't made or slept in a bed since '07. This window above my bed in the morning sheds some GOOD GOOD light in the AM. Makes me smile 12/10 times.

G: It's true... I don't sleep on beds... I'm a couch guy... Marriage will be a big adjustment.

G: ^ This is the face of utter enjoyment from a cup of homemade espresso. This awesome manual espresso maker pulls a sweet shot of dirty bean water. That's right... Be jealous.

A: This was a very "Anna" gift Greg got me. He says he isn't good at gifts. He's a liar. But he is also way better at using it, so most of the time I make him do it.

G: Some people might question my masculinity when they see that I turned my espresso into a frozen fru fru... Well... It was delicious, so I don't care.

A: The most bestest evolution I ever did see. Got me droolin. It's too late now for coffee so we gotta keep goin. But this was delicious. Also, Greg, I think he doth protest too much.

G: When you go out in public, always be sure that you bring your safety gear!

A: The most COVID photo I will ever take. What weird times. I haven't thought about hand sanitizer since the 8th grade when you would get the good-smelling ones from Bath and Body Works. Bet their sales haven't been this high since I was in 8th grade. Good for you, Bath and Body Works. What a come-back.

G: Coffee, Car Rides, and Cody Johnson. Also, Cartons of eggs... See how I kept the alliteration? I'm proud of myself.

A: This is called an Anna trip. The only way Anna really likes to do trips. Eggs aren't a necessary element but they don't hurt I guess. Love you @The Howling Cow.

G: Quarantini night! My brother stopped by The Social in Fort Collins and picked up some tasty treats for a saturday cocktail hour on the driveway! Happy Quarantine to yall! Cheers!

A: I gotta give it to The Social. They are some inventive humans, always classing it up, even on the go. Also, isn't it weird that the only rule use to be that you couldn't take alcohol outside, and now it is the rule that you can ONLY have alcohol outside?

G: This is how we do Pre-Dinner at the Hecker household... I love my family.

A: i second that. Also, let's give a round of applause for Mark's motorcycle hair.

G: When Pre-Dinner Turns into Real Dinner. Chili and Cheese Enchiladas. Odd combo... Surprisingly fantastic!

A: This is a view I will have burned into my mind for the rest of my life. Dinner lines at the Hecker's, Greg... slightly anxious and pushing me to get some so he can have his turn, and the look of pure joy as he piles his plate high, his mother shaking her head at him. It's the life, ya know?

G: COUPLES NIGHT!!! This is our new weekly tradition, and golly is it a good one. We begin the night with casual conversation and end the evening with prayer... It's "the essentials". Although My glass is empty here.

A: Couples Night (although I am so excited for when it can be in person again) is the best thing. This week we played a scavenger hunt, and when Greg was asked to go find either a metal straw cleaner or a duster, he brought back a metal stick to roast marshmallows. So...

G: Finally got the bike done. Turned out pretty cool. Its certainly not "professional grade". But it'll do for someone who learned how to vinyl wrap after15 minutes on youtube. Youtube is the best!

A: This feels like a fancy craigslist add... but I dig it. Greg took all the photos himself. What a talented young man.

"I may post it to see how much money people would offer me" - after reading my comment. Savage.

G: Sunday's are for Jesus, and DATE NIGHTS! Every sunday we celebrate us with some form of date... Tonight, it was takeout and trunk picnic. This oughta be a lifetime tradition!

A: Good good good way to round out the week - and the blog. Fried chicken, fries, some bubble water, and the best guy I know on a lil social distancing nature date. What a life.

If you have made it this far... we salute you. We barely made it this far.

Tune in next week for the continuation of COVID diaries - ungle giggy (you're welcome Greg) and anna edition!

Be safe, and do the things that make you smiley with the people ya love lots.

- G & A

G: feel free to respond ;)