My current season of life

 I post this picture to not only document where Nick is in his recovery but I promise it also goes along with my blog title.  First, Nick is doing well.  We were told last week that he's pretty much healed but because not even a broken leg can slow Nick down, the doctor wanted to keep his cast on another 2 weeks because a set back at this time is very real and potentially devastating.  We were told his injury could have been disastrous.  God's hand of protection was clearly over Nick. Two more weeks will ensure more healing and less chance of a set back.  He is due to get his cast off June 23.  He has done remarkably well.  Today (see picture above) he went with his friend, Chase, to watch him compete at the state track meet.  Nick took off this morning with Jay's Yeti backpack.  He wanted to make sure he could handle his own cooler as he didn't want to burden Chase's mom with carrying around his cooler.  Somehow Nick has managed to do life quite well on one leg.  Jay worked a half day today and took off this afternoon to the Ozarks for his yearly summer trip with his boys.  His new mattress arrived today, another reminder he will soon be moving out and the house will be even quieter.  On this Friday afternoon after a long week at work I am satisfied and content, it's just me and my dogs.  I also have to pinch myself that I've arrived at this season of my life.  I'm finding many nights my boys are coming and going.  I remember many summer afternoons not that long ago when I would be picking up a pizzas and the boys would be back and forth in the yard, riding their four wheelers, fishing and building forts in the trails.  I read one of my blog posts this week from a few years back (because again most nights tend to be relatively quiet for me).  Jay was in middle school and Nick was in elementary school.  I commented that it was a sweet season in life.  My boys were independent but it was before they could drive so as a family unit we were together - a lot! I savored the busyness those summers brought with two boys, knowing full well it would end before I could blink and sure enough, it did.  But here's the thing I have enjoyed every season of parenting - it's true.  I have loved this past year with Jay.  God has blessed me in getting to connect and know my son better as a young adult.  Then just being around Nick is well.....just that.....Nick is Nick and he's pretty entertaining.  Tonight I wait for Mike to come home and it will just be the two of us.  I imagine we'll grill some meat, he'll probably have a whiskey drink later and I'll have a cocktail with him.  We may venture out to our patio eventually but it will be a quiet night as we wait for one son to get home and the other son to arrive safely to his destination.  Slowly but surely Mike and I are finding we are right back to where we started - just the two of us.  

My weight loss journey continues

 As of today I have lost 17 lbs.  Four more pounds and I will reach my goal.  I'm bound and determined since Hawaii is right within my sight.  I started this journey March 7.  Three months later I can tell you what is working for me and what is not working for me and whether or not I'll be able to sustain long term some of the new habits I've formed.  There have been stretches when I didn't lose a pound.  In fact I went from May to June and lost nothing.  I'm still intermittent fasting some but since I want to keep the weight off and sustain long term, I don't want to I.F. the rest of my life so I've relaxed some what in that regard. One of my favorite food network personalities, Ree Drummond, recently lost 43 lbs.  She wrote an excellent blog post about her journey this week.  I did much of the same thing she did except for one big thing.  She gave up alcohol for four months!  Four months I tell you!  I gasped.  That is one thing I haven't given up.  While I try not to drink every night, I still have my sparkling water and vodka.  I got a new activity watch for my 10 year anniversary at work - A Garmin Venu.  I love it.  It tracks everything and I've really enjoyed learning more about my activity and tracking what I eat through each day.  I still eat a huge salad almost everyday at lunch with my favorite Bai drink (coconut or orange flavored).  The salad is the bulk of my calories for the day (575-600 calories) but it keeps me full until about 5 or 5:30 when I have a protein smoothie.  I'm starting each day with a 30-40 minute walk and I also strength train.  I still use You Tube to educate myself on all things eating and working out.  And I still take my apple cider vinegar gummies religiously.  All in all I feel so much better, physically and mentally.  Who knows I may keep going even after I reach my goal weight but for now my focus is on my last 4 lbs. Wish me luck! 

Jay's first concert

 Jay is an adult now so I try to always be mindful of that but at the same time he still lives with us so I try to pick carefully what I choose to blog about him.  This is one of those occasions I felt was important enough to document.  Covid took a lot of things from Jay.  It took three months of his senior year.  It robbed him of a high school graduation and follow up parties with friends.  It managed to rob kids of normal things like dating, going to concerts and really all things you do at 19.  Jay managed to make the best of a challenging situation.  For his 19th Birthday I bought him concert tickets for a three day outdoor venue in June.  I was confident by June things would be "back to normal" and Jay could experience what it was like to go to a concert - hearing the music, laughing with friends and enjoying a good time in a relaxed atmosphere.  On Thursday Jay took his girl, Gabby, to the concert and last night he returned with friends.  He had a blast.  I even got some texts from him from the concert! Jay told me it was so nice to do something different this weekend.  This is how life should look at 19! 

TX Girls Trip

Sarah and I headed to Texas over Memorial Day weekend to see our girl, Jenny.  It was an added bonus that Faith and Curt were home for the summer.  We got to spend an abundant time with the entire Ausili family.  We laughed, we toasted our cocktail glasses, we ate, then we ate again, we sat by the pool and then we'd go to bed (where I tend to sleep awesome in TX) and then we'd do it all again the next day.  It was an entire five days this trip and I loved it, although I felt bad leaving Nick with his broken leg, however, he seemed to do just fine without me.  He figured out how to fish in his kayak with one leg.  Nothing seems to get Nick down for long. 

The really wonderful blessing of this trip was spending time with Faith.  She is my daughter I never had and I love everything about this girl.  She is beautiful, kind, down to earth, funny, smart (oh so smart!) and is a good daughter to Jenny.  She also enjoys it immensely when we have cocktails together - truly a girl after my own heart.  She invites Sarah and I into her life and shares her thoughts, dreams and opinions with us.  Since Sarah and I are boy moms it truly is a rare gift that Faith has given to us.  

 On Thursday after our flight we hit the Stockyards at Fort Worth and got to see the Longhorns and we did some shopping.  The trip renewed my spirt and filled my cup.  What a blessing these women are to me!