Around the Home

Labor Day weekends for us, have looked different the past 2 years. The first I landed in the hospital for the weekend with heart failure and last year, in the ER, with you guessed it, heart failure. Shortness of breath, fluctuating heart rate, and symptoms, have made the last few years fairly memorable this time of year. In a strange way, I have dreaded September the past 3 years even because it always seems like something goes wrong and I land in some sort of medical facility. But with it being September 7 and no sign of needing any sort of heart care in the near future, is relieving and refreshing. Last year at this time, I was unable to walk a block. This year, I walk to school 3 times a day and am able to do so with ease. I take 2 mile walks almost every day (when the schedule allows), and I’ve been able to keep up with the busyness of life.

Brings tears to my eyes to feel as good as I do. I can’t help but wonder when that next shoe is going to drop, but until then, I am milking this for ALL it’s worth. Of course not trying to over-do it because that indeed will send me into heart failure. But I’ve been able to enjoy all the activities that the new school year brings, start working again, and enjoy being outside. PRAISE BE TO GOD. I went from having a handicap sticker a year ago to walking everywhere and getting my own groceries. What a year it has been, in such a humbling way.

With that said, life has been absolutely crazy in all good ways, but I also know I haven’t been blogging like I used to. I’m hoping to slowly pick it up again as the weather turns and I figure out a rhythm with work and Mazy in school. But it makes me thankful to be able to live a life of activity! We have maximized the use of our pool and spend every hour we can out there not only as a family, but with others. Now with the weather turning here in Michigan though, we are fearful we won’t be able to keep warm and may have to close it soon. But even if we do, we know we lived it up to the fullest! Anyways, here is what’s been going on the past while:

Mazy looks up to our youth group kids so much! Even though sports seasons look quite different this year, we were thankful Mazy could sneak in a pic with one of her favorite divers:

Mazy started playing rec soccer and is LOVING it! It has been fun to watch her learn and want to get involved in something, such as soccer. We offer what we can to her and let her decide what she loves, and so far soccer is a huge hit:

Mazy goes from the soccer field to wanting to paint her nails:

We’ve had an extra pup with us the past 2 weeks, Maggie’s sister, Millie. Those 2 were THRILLED to be back together and it didn’t matter where one was, the other was always close by. Even if it meant using a scale as a pillow:

Last weekend we went on a fishing charter with some friends of ours on Lake Michigan. It was supposed to be stormy, but the storms didn’t start rolling in until later that night, so we were able to squeeze in some fishing on that beautiful night:

Our friend got one!

This one came in at around 23 inches and 8 pounds!

And then the storms started rolling in, so we started to reel in the lines:

Then we thought we caught another, so it was my turn to reel one in. Welp, sure caught something…just a rat’s nest of copper line with an ole lure on the end of it:

I mean if anyone was going to reel in a strange catch, it’d be me. That’s just how my life rolls:

This cutie just makes my day, every day:

We tried a new “garden” this year by planting along our deck and pool fence line. And I must say, it’s been a success! Tomatoes, beans, jalapenos, green peppers, and herbs. Mazy LOVES helping me pick the harvest which is one of the big reasons I wanted a garden: