Goofy

My phone has an app that tracks healthy behavior,  our lack of it.

It's funny how a little encouragement can motivate me to be more active. 

The phone nags if you don't get 65 minutes of activity. 

There are also step count challenges offered and I rather enjoy those. 

Last month I missed completing the challenge goal by several thousand steps. 

So I ranked about the midway point of those who signed on.

Some people must walk about 4 hours a day to get all these steps.

Maybe they are mostly mail delivery folks on foot?

This month I'm off to a good start.  

But where this gets goofy is that the challenge has awards at milestones/stars as you rack up the steps. And sometimes, a timer pops up on the star.  Then the message says, you must achieve this goal by midnight to get the star.

And by 'getting the star', I mean a text message from the phone saying Good Job.

The bottom line is that by midnight Monday night,  

I needed to hit 25000 steps for the September challenge.  

So, I walked 3.5 miles Monday morning thinking that would do it. 

That was not enough.

Well, I ended up at Wal-Mart at 9pm walking the aisles until I earned the star. 

But I got the goofy star.

Big birthday bash

Great party for the birthday kids Anders, Stella, Ruby & Jens.

Jack & Gage got away before we took the photo, otherwise all the first cousins were there today.
Last day of summer weather and it was perfect today.

Back: Emily, Milena, Megan, Anders, Stella and August 
Front: Elliana, Ivan, Jens, Ruby, Owen & Jude

It's okay

I read something today about grief that resonated with me.

Basically, it said it is okay to feel sad for a day, a month, years, whatever feels right to you.  

Losing a loved one is not a cookie cutter deal, each one learns as they go through a loss.

  

I have several friends who have recently experienced a loss in their lives.  

I hope that they find their way without pressure to 'get over it'.  

2016 in Colorado

I still feel sad about Dad and Ev.  I was thinking about it this weekend as it is the anniversary of Ev's stroke.  She lived 5 days after a major stroke event and it was the saddest 5 days of my Dad's life.  I remember clearly our daily phone conversations and how hard it was for him.  He sat by her bed and stayed there at night the whole time.  He was not interested in eating, sleeping or leaving.  He just wanted to be there with her.  

Dad said something that I hope I never forget.  He said that he was at the point where he accepts what had happened, realized he can't do anything about it and then just needed to get the right attitude about it.  

I've thought of this many times over the past 3 years.  

And I think I have been successful in getting the right attitude about losing both Ev and Dad.  But it was no easy journey.  Nothing anyone could say made me feel any better and I was very angry at first, replaying every step of Dad's care and finding fault with much of it.  I continue to be disappointed with the hospital care Dad received after his surgery, that probably won't change, but I have accepted that Dad had a wonderful 92 years and truthfully, without Ev, he would have struggled and he would never have felt the joy of those previous 25 years with her.  So, I am sad but glad for his life that ended without prolonged illness, sadness or pain.

Having said that, I know I will feel pain and sorrow every year at this time as I remember how quickly their lives changed and ended.

I miss you two, 

I think of you everyday, 

I miss your laugh and your wisdom.

And it's okay.

I'm lucky to have had you in my life as parents and best friends.

Football Fun

It was a beautiful night at the Luck Cardinal 'Nest'.

I love seeing the kids play at home, the red jerseys are stunning, and make for good photos.

This was an exciting game, the score flip flopped several times and often back to back.

In the end, the Cardinals were the victors and we walked away smiling.

Great nephew Jack #8

Jack gets the tackle (acting like a wheelbarrow)

I am enjoying this football season so much more than I expected.

I'm already making plans to get there next week.

Go Cardinals!

Nighthawks and football

Watching football at Luck as the Cardinals played the Red Raiders of Bruce.

Jude was decked out in his UND gear, as cousin Noah's first season game was on Friday night too.

 Jude was proudly wearing the green.

 I don't know any other 3 year olds who intently watch football.

I have trouble keeping my focus on the field.

I caught myself taking moon photos, & watching the many nighthawks in the air.

 I was wishing a Nighthawk would fly in front of my view of the moon,

but that didn't happen.

There are lots of Cardinal football photos coming 

but here's one of Jack as he was waiting for the whistle.

It was a good game and a nice win, but more on that later.

Wait a minute

I know it sounds trite,  but didn't I just turn 21? Obviously not.

Today in the mail the proof,  this is my Medicare year. 

There are many decisions to be made in the next 90 days effecting health care.  

I guess I would not give back any of those years but I would like to have things slow up a little now.
Just for a few minutes anyway.  

Waiting

I headed to Luck for football on Thursday afternoon.

Along the way I saw this Cooper's Hawk, patiently waiting.

I guess the mailman was late.