Mike comes to IL

 Mike Ausili was at our house this weekend for a visit.  He flew in on Saturday and stayed that night.  He has work in Bloomington through Wednesday.  We plan on seeing him one more time before he flies back to TX.  We had Sarah, Mary and John out on Saturday and we had such a good time.  The weather was absolute perfection and the company was even better!  What a wonderful weekend.  

Fishing is Life - for Nick anyway

Nick's fall season of fishing is in full swing.  He loves it!  Our boys are doing pretty good too, considering it's their first year and first fall season as a team.  

                                                        Nick and Jackson! 

One Year Later

 It was during this week one year ago that I reached my goal weight.  In March 2021 I started my health journey.  Six months later I met my goal weight.  Fast forward to the present day.  I've managed to maintain and even lose another pound or two.  I'm not sure I've ever kept weight off after losing it for an entire year.  What changed?  I'm 48 years old, that's what changed.  I don't have time to be messing around with this anymore.  My mother was a type I diabetic by the time she was my age.  I also know there are no guarantees in life.  I can try to do my very best to maintain my weight, exercise and eat right and still get some crap disease.  Recently my friend, Erin's, mother in law passed away.  Becky was a few years older than my mom.  She was a kind woman who never smoked or drank in her entire life.  Like ever.  But she still got stage four lung cancer and passed away this summer.  My goal is to simply live each day the best way I can.  A few things that have worked for me is structure and routine.  I get up and walk everyday.  I allow myself to rest on Sundays but because I've established such a routine it feels weird to not walk on Sundays so I do.  I also strength train.  Nothing major but I do spend about 10 minutes a day getting into positions that aren't so appealing but get the job done.  Years ago Mike bought me a stand up desk for work and I swear by this thing!  I spend 90% of my day standing up.  Apparently spending your day sitting down is now being compared to smoking, that's how bad it is for you.  I take a handful of supplements everyday.  Many of which I probably don't need but I take them anyway.  During the work week I make myself a huge (and I do mean huge) salad about 2 or 3pm which usually sustains me through the evening.  I love my salads.  I really do look forward to eating them everyday.  I suppose I should set new goals for myself  in order to keep challenging myself but that's not me and at this point in my life I'm pretty darn comfortable in my own skin.  I want to feel good about myself and live each day with the intent of being the best version of myself.  

The Boat Project

Our boy Nick is in full boat project mode right now.  Of course Mike is helping him, even though initially Mike complained that all this boat would do is cost him money.  He's probably right but Nick has really done a good job in budgeting and paying for what he needs for the boat.  I'm enjoying watching the two of them together each night as they collaborate on the project.  

Last night when they tore the floor up they found these old signs.  The signs were used as "carpet" in the boat.  Who knew? 

 

Labor Day Weekend

This was our 2nd year going to Michigan over Labor Day Weekend.  Kim and Taylor couldn't join us this year so Betsy's sister, Mary, came and Erin D. joined us.  I cannot express how much I needed this weekend.  The summer was rough and honestly as I started August I wasn't sure if I would be able to break away or not but it happened!  I rested and laughed with these girls and it was just what I needed to restore myself mentally and physically - although physically I have some work this week to undo some of the damage from the weekend.  Just saying.  

This is Laura and I out in Lake Michigan.  We had a private beach and the water was lovely.  Cool at first but great once you got in and got use to it.  

Me, Erin and Laura.  On Saturday night we went out for dinner and hit a few breweries.  

Here's the six of us on Saturday night.  Calli, Laura, Mary, Erin and Betsy.  What a great weekend with an awesome group of women.  
 

My Stock Tank

Anyone who knows me knows I have hounded Mike for a pool for years.  His answer was always a hard NO!  I must admit his reasons were valid.  He would end up taking care of it and fixing it.  He didn't have much confidence in me cleaning it everyday.  The expense of maintaining it, not to mention the electric bill, were all the reasons Mike thought a pool was a terrible idea. During one of our conversations Mike had a slip up.  He said the only way I was getting a pool was if it were an animal troff.  At the time I blew his comment off but then I went away for a girls trip over Labor Day weekend 2021.  Leave it to my girls to find a loop hole.  My friend had recently bought a stock tank but at the time hadn't gotten it installed.  My interest was peaked.  

I came home from that trip and reminded Mike of his animal troff statement.  I proposed my stock tank idea.  I think Mike thought I wasn't serious but he is a man true to his word.  In April I purchased the tank and all the supplies.  Mike faithfully went and picked up the tank for me.  He dug a trench for the electrical and installed the pump for me.  He even built a deck around the tank and named my flamingos Berta and Jade.  Apparently Mike thinks flamingos are trashy so he made a fake cigarette and stuck it in Berta's mouth.  Only Mike would construct a fake cigarette that hangs from my flamingo chlorine dispenser.  It does provide good entertainment, however.  

This summer wasn't the summer I had envisioned because I've been so consumed with my mom but my stock tank is everything I wanted it to be.  Jay and I use it often.  Mike and Nick, not so much. It's been easy to clean and I've been devoted to cleaning it daily which given the size of the tank takes me all of 5 minutes.  Sometimes during my lunch break I'll go out and float for 30 minutes.  It's been good for my mental health and I'm truly thankful to my dear husband for being such a good sport about it!
 

Nick's big purchase

 If I haven't blogged how proud I am of Nick lately, well here's the blog.  At the start of the summer he scored a job that he loved.  Within a month his employer gave him a raise.  Nick went to work faithfully all summer.  At work he made friends, socialized and learned a skill.  I think given what is going on in our current culture his employer was beyond impressed with Nick.  He showed up on time.  He worked hard.  He caught on to things quickly and he conversated (oh how he conversated) with his coworkers.  It sounds like basic common sense, right?  But in this day and age it isn't.  If an employer can find a 16 year old like Nick who is ready, willing and able to work, it's a big deal.  One of Nick's many gifts is his ability to relate to people.  He can strike up a conversation with just about anyone.  Of course it helps if that person enjoys fishing or anything outdoors.  Ha.  But seriously he's easy to talk to and always has a plan which is the point of this blog.  Nick's plan was to save every penny this summer and after he paid for his own gas (which by the way, we experienced some of the highest gas prices this summer) he had enough money to purchase his own fishing boat.  He bought it exactly a week ago.  It's a project which is typical for our family.  As Mike said, "My kids buy something and it ends up costing me money."  However, Mike is a good dad.  He and Nick are making plans on what needs to be done and Mike went out this morning and purchased gravel for the driveway where the boat will be parked.  My prayer for Nick is that God uses all of his talents and abilities for His glory and that one day Jesus meets Nick out on the water and Nick experiences all of goodness that can only come through knowing and loving Jesus.