Almost August!!!!

I can not believe where the summer has gone. My bosses just left on their annual trek back to Wisconsin and it seems like it’s too early in the summer for that to happen. I haven’t taken any real vacation from work this year because I have been saving my time off to be in Virginia in order to meet the newest little lady in my life shortly after she makes her appearance in the world. I’m so beyond excited to meet Eliza Mae and to see my son hold his whole world in his arms. I was originally going to be be there when Jen was in labor because that’s what Gabe wanted but after thinking and worrying about it over the last few months I’ve decided to go in the week after she arrives. Jen said they will be keeping her in the hospital for at least 2 days and everything will be so new and different to the new parents that I thought it would be better to come after they got home and I could be of more help. I was worried that I would take my vacation around the due date and she would either come early so I would miss her or she could come late and I wouldn’t be able to stay and spend time with her. As much as I want to be there to meet her right after her birth and I know Gabe wanted me to be there at that time I think the decision to go a few days after they get home will be better. They will have some time together getting to know their new little family and I can come and help when Jen needs to sleep or shower. And I can help clean and make food, I mean after all what is the point of your Momma being a chef if she doesn’t cook for you when she comes to see you right?

I feel like my summer is just in this holding pattern while everyone around me takes vacation, including my husband. He gets around 5 weeks or more a year and during the months of August to April he really has no time available to take off due to his many job commitments, but come the summer I’m always glad to see him take a few Monday and Tuesday’s off. He has been able to do that all of July and couple of times in late June. He’s been able to take his float out and go fishing, go golfing and even went on a trip with friends up to Flathead Lake for the annual whitefish bite. What we haven’t really been able to do is take any time together other then a few stolen Sunday’s. Next year we will take a little time for ourselves and maybe make a trip out to the Northwestern coast, I’d love to go back to Lincoln City, Oregon. I haven’t done much extra cooking or baking this summer because I’ve been so busy and I do miss it. I’ve been to the Farmer’s Market a few more times this summer but haven’t been really inspired by anything. We are getting close to huckleberry season and while I’m not fond of them myself, I feel like getting my hands on some fresh berries and playing around with some different jams and pastry ideas. I’ll have to see what strikes my fancy.

Other than being busy this summer I also took a break from Facebook. I felt like I was taking to much of my life looking at what other people of have been doing and not enough time living my life. I have to say I don’t miss it. I talk to Jen and Gabe pretty regularly on video chat and if anyone else need’s me they can email or text me. I haven’t cut anyone off but I just haven’t been around on social media as much, it’s no one’s business any way how my life is going unless I decide to tell them. Speaking of that, I’ve been working really hard the last year on my weight. When I was getting close to my 40th in 2014 I was really heavy, I mean I weighed in at the doctor’s on Jan. 14, 2014 at 369 pounds. It was time to do something about my weight. I let her put me on a weight loss medicine which helped me lose 120 pounds over an 8 month period. Really it was too fast. Once I went off of the meds I slowly gained most of the weight back in less than 4 years. Last year I started on my own following a nutrition program called the 2B mindset from a nutritionist named Ilana Muhlstein, her webpage is www. ilanamuhlstein.com, and have taken off 65 pounds. It wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always pretty and I put a few pounds back on over the holidays/winter but I’m pretty happy about where I am right now. I still have more I’d like to lose but I feel so much better this summer than I did last summer. Denny and I puppy sat my boss’s 11 week old Wire Haired Pointing Griffon last week and weekend and I enjoyed letting Frank the puppy pull me along on our nightly 2+ mile walk. I could actually keep up. I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer and being able to enjoy doing more as I feel better. I’ll never be small, I’m just not built that way, but taking off another 50 or so pounds will make my quality of life better and I’ll be able to enjoy my new soon to be here grand baby as she grows. I have enjoyed 45, it’s been a great year so far and I feel like I’m in a really good place in my life. Things are peaceful and good. I’ve got family that loves and adores me and doesn’t judge or bring me down. New life will be here before I know it and my son is happy. What else can I ask for? Enjoy life as it comes and ride the waves of both happiness and sadness is my motto these days. I’m open to the love that my family gives and I know I’m worthy of it. I still have moments of sadness and regret, I mean who doesn’t? And I freely admit I miss my Mom sometimes, but not the person she is now, I don’t know that person. I miss the Mom she used to be, but missing her doesn’t get me anywhere so I push that away before I let it too far into my life. I guess what I’m saying is that while life may have regrets, don’t live constantly thinking about them. There is that saying that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Figure out who is each of those to you and take the lessons they teach you and move on.

Enjoy your time and hug those closest to you as often as you can♥