Friends

 Nick and his buddies.  Nick is the shortest one out of all of them and it's not like Nick is short.  I've decided his friends are just giants and they all seemed to have grown overnight!  Both of my boys are blessed with good friends.  Nick has gotten particularly close with Chase, a boy who just lives a few county roads from us.  They play basketball and run track together.

We never see Jay anymore.  He's a typical senior - never home, always hanging with his friends.  It's all perfectly normal stuff and I'm sure it's preparing me for the upcoming season in my life where he transitions from high school to college.  I really like Jay's group of friends!  They are a group of about 6 of  them that have been friends since middle school.  Recently I asked Jay which one of the boys was his "favorite."  I know, it was such a "mom question."  He looked at me like I had two heads and said, "Mom, that is like someone asking you which one of your boys is your favorite."  My impression is that these boys have each others backs.  Today Jay and four of his friends went to Chicago to watch a Bears game.  Many of Jay's friends have already turned 18.  I admit I didn't love the idea but I knew if I said No it would only be based out of fear so Jay is at his first Bears game today - having a great time with his boys, I'm sure!!!

What we're up to

I came back from my relaxing girls trip and boom, reality hit.  Nick got the mother load of poison ivy (again).  This kid gets poison ivy every year and he gets it BAD.  He gets it in places where he shouldn't, if you know what I mean, and then it spreads to his entire body.  I took him the doctor because getting a steroid is the only thing that seems to calm the itching and gets Nick some much needed rest.  I got a flat tire this week, my second in three months.  Our concrete patio was poured today.  Mike worked so hard on placing the stones for the patio all summer.  It's super exciting to see it all come together.  Mike makes it look easy but trust me that man spent hours this summer putting stones in place.  It took time, money, effort and incredible patience.  As for Jay he and his girlfriend broke up about a month ago.  He has been spending much of his time with his friends, as most senior boys do, but he's also been good with helping Mike around the house.  Due to our travel plans over the holidays we felt it would be challenging for Jay to find a job right now so the plan is to get through our travel plans and he will find a job in early 2020.  He should have an easier time finding a job since he'll almost be 18.  Be still my beating heart!  Jay has decided not to play basketball this year.  It's bittersweet for Mike and I.  During his junior year when he walked off the basketball court for the last time it was probably a good thing I didn't know it would be his last time.  I will truly miss seeing him on the court but Mike and I completely understood why he made the decision he did.  Last season was less than favorable and it truly brought out the worst in us - never a good sign.  Nick has had basketball try-outs this week and I'm confident he'll make the team.  Certainly going to one boys games this season will be a lot easier to juggle but I will still miss seeing Jay play.  As for me I'm enjoying this time of year but don't look forward to winter.  The signs that winter is coming are all around.  The air is crisp and the leaves are falling.  I'm looking forward to our trips we have planned and I'm truly enjoying every second of Jay's senior year (even though he has no clue what he wants to do next year.....kinda frustrating but understandable).  I am thankful for my mom's good health, my daily laughs with my sister, my sweet friends Mary and Sarah, who have filled a void in my life with Jenny being gone.  We will be reunited with the Ausili's over Thanksgiving and I can't wait!

TN Girls Weekend

 Bless Sarah.  She is so intentional!  This summer she texted Jenny and I and asked that we put a date on the calendar for all three of us to get together for a porch swing weekend in TN.  We picked October!  And this time we flew!  Once again flying spoiled me.  My new philosophy is if I can't afford to fly, then I wait until I can!  Sarah and I flew together and had to give Jenny the thumbs up that we were on our way.  The beauty was all three of aligned our flights so we arrived within five minutes of each other in Knoxville, TN! Jenny's sweet dad, Wayne, was our Uber!

 Jenny bought us our own Yeti cups for our cocktails, of course!  Every night we would fill them up and sit on the porch swing (see below). We would cover up with a blanket and talk and laugh!!!

 One day we wore our Waco shirts (yes, we are dorks) and went for a beautiful drive on the Foothills.

 Sarah is obsessed with Myers Briggs.  While porch swinging she quizzed Jenny on a Myers Briggs test!

                                                 Views of the mountain.  I love TN!

                             We went shopping at our favorite shop, Roost, in Maryville, Tn.

 On Friday we went to the spa.  I got a Swedish massage.  Sarah got a deep tissue and Jenny got a hot stone.  We loved it!

 There is a story with this picture.  We wanted to make it look like we had been hiking.  Notice me all hunched over and Sarah with her walking stick.  In reality I think it just looks Sarah is pulling a corn cob out of my butt.

I have the best girlfriends!  I don't know what I'd do without them.  It has been hard for Sarah and I to have Jenny being so far from us but it makes being reunited that much sweeter. I have compared it to when we pull away from God and we come back to Him.  He must be so happy to have us back.  That is how I feel about my girlfriends.  I love them dearly.  Until next time!

All About Nick

For weeks I kept telling myself I needed to devote some blog time to Nick.  I've blogged a lot lately about Jay because he's a senior and things are a changing with him but Nick has things going on that are pretty exciting also.  First off this boy is entering his 6th month of no soda and no sweets!  Kid you not.  In May he decided he was done with soda and done with sweets.  He hasn't given an inch.  When he and I were in FL in June I tried to tempt him with a churro dipped in chocolate.  He was having none of it.  Who knows whether or not he'll eat cake for his 14th birthday.  His will of iron is like Mike's so my bets are on No.  These days Nick is playing football and fishing.  When he's not playing football, he's fishing.  I thank God that we live where Nick has access to a lake.  Fishing is truly his passion and as Mike says, he's darn good at it!  Football was met with some mixed emotions this year.  Nick has played but I haven't sensed that he loves it.  I keep telling him to hold on until high school but whether or not he plays next year remains to be seen.  One of Nick's greatest strengths on the field is his sportsmanship.  I see it over and over and again.  He helps a teammate up or another player on the other team.  He provides encouragement when needed.  This season we carpooled with another player who is 3 years younger than Nick.  I loved hearing their conversations.  Nick encouraged this boy and told him the "ins and outs" of football.  One of Nick's greatest gifts is encouraging others.

The pathway to somewhere

Yesterday Jay and I went to visit SIU.  Here's the thing.  One can look at this picture and assume many things but here's the truth, this picture is of a 17 year old boy that has absolutely no clue what he wants to do when he graduates high school.  The visit we had yesterday was very fruitful in that it cemented a few things: Jay is not ready for a four year university.  I believe that socially and academically he would struggle.  He agreed.  As the day progressed the more I thought he would be better served to start out at a junior college (like his momma did) but by late last night and today I'm not even sure that's the right fit for him.  It's a very confusing time for Jay and us, but Jay has to make this decision himself and for himself.  Mike and I can't do it for him.  Yesterday I saw so many kids who seemed to have it all together.  It was kinda annoying, just saying.  My dear friend, Sarah, who is an academic advisor at our local university reminded that there are a ton of kids walking around her campus who have no idea why they are there or what they are doing.  Jay is the square peg that doesn't fit in the round hole.  I certainly don't want him walking around any campus wondering what he's doing.  My prayer for him in the months to come is that he finds his way, that he hones in on something that he enjoys, and feels natural to him.  I know it's there.  I witnessed it first hand this summer when he got a job making more than "the other guys" and by the end of the summer had received a $3 raise and was also working on jobs by himself because he proved he was a hard worker and could be trusted.