2022 resolution check - 6 months

How has half the year gone by already? Ack!

Every two months, I check in to see how I'm doing on my New Year's resolutions. This year I'm changing the way I score. I'm supposed to be working throughout the course of twelve months so the scoring should reflect that. I'm scoring from 0-2 in the hopes that by the end of the year, I'll have completed the tasks with at least a score of 80 out of 120!

Let's check-in at six months:

• To finish several projects I've started and haven't completed, including staying on Tom until we have completed our will - Okay, I worked on my blog project, tightening posts and correcting grammar. I also berate the husband on the will thing. That counts because I'm "staying on Tom." Score: 2

• To establish a daily business routine with hours and keep to it - Uh, can't claim this one because June was a wash. But I was on vacation so... Score: 1

• Begin a healthy eating/workout regiment - Yes! I did this one! Score: 2

• Create my author's website and increase my author's social media presence - Nothing on the website, but I've kept up with the social media presence. Score: 1

• Have a monthly dinner calendar, so I'm not struggling to know what to cook at night - Yes! This has worked out well! Saves me tons of time and hassle. Highly recommend. Score: 2

• To finish my mess, that is book one. Finish book three. Edit both. Learn the self-publishing industry - Haven't finished book one. I'm struggling there. Without it, I can't continue to book three. But, I have taken tons of classes on self-publishing. Score: 1

• Eat weekly meals at a table and not in front of the TV - Yes, I'd say this one has been fairly good. Score: 2

• Go on several girl trips - Uh, YES! Score: 2

• Purchase birthday cards and prepare for sending out at the beginning of the month - Ugh! Why do I believe I can conquer this one? Score: 0

• Get back to blogging on my personal site. - I'm trying! Score: 1

Total For Two Months: 14 out of 20 

Total Thus far: 36.5 out of 60 - Better than halfway, right?

Welcome Oleg's famiy

The rest of June was spent readying things for Oleg's family. Once the United States started the Uniting for Ukraine program for war refugees who have left Ukraine, Oleg began working to bring his family from Poland. His job started a fundraiser, my BILs sponsored the family, and my MIL lent them the use of her home. 

Oleg received word before our Indiana trip that they had been accepted, so once we arrived home, we got to work! My MIL had already moved into her new home, and my SIL had tidied the old house, but we had to move furniture and clean. 

Sofie and Darcy did the heavy lifting one day. Madison and I cleaned another. Darcy and I shopped for needed items, and Oleg and I shopped for groceries. It took over a week to get everything in shape, but we were ready on time.

Darcy and Oleg went to the airport for the pick-up. Maddy, Tom, and I waited at the house. It was a very emotional introduction and welcome, to say the least. 

We are very thankful they are here. My heart is packed with gratitude for those who helped, from the financial donors to friends and especially Tom's family. Thank you for opening your wallets and hearts to a family who left everything behind. We love you all. 

Indiana summer vacation 2022

My brother and his wife have a lot of wildlife for suburban homeowners. Susan has several bird feeders in her backyard tree. To keep the squirrels from taking from the birds and knocking over her feeders, she sprinkles seeds on the ground for them. This is more ingenious than any attempts I've heard from squirrel haters. 

Every year a pair of robins (probably not the same) builds a nest in Susan's front door wreath in anticipation of the birth of their children. This means their dog cannot sit on the front porch, and no one can use the front door. However, we took pictures every day of the sequence of events.

I received a tour of the newly renovated country club where my brother works. We had seen the start of this in 2019 before the pandemic, and it was fantastic to see the finished product. Apparently, my brother is loved.

We ate out often, although my brother did grill steaks one night.

Darcy took the train to Chicago to meet Sofie for the basketball tournament on Thursday, leaving Oleg with us. While she, Sofie, and Tom's Chicago family were watching games and playing tourist, Susan and I took Oleg to visit Notre Dame.

I bought him a shirt to commemorate the occasion. It will go nicely with the one he bought from Donut Bank. Then I bought one for Gabby's husband Noah because she said he'd never owned one. He isn't a fan of logo T-shirts, but he was a good egg and wore it on Oleg's last day. 

Oleg headed back to Florida on Saturday...

...and then there was just one. Me with these goobers.

We walked twice a day. I visited Gabby and Noah's apartment. I accompanied Susan on her Uber driving route with Ollie as my backseat companion. We had lunch at the club. I took on several neighborhood players on the backyard basketball court behind Rusty's house (okay, I didn't really do that, but I did talk a good game about doing so). 

I spent a lot of time sitting outside on the back porch, enjoying the cooler weather, and when the baby birds flew the nest, I did so on the front porch. Oliver was always by my side. 

I also took a lot of pictures of Susan's flowers. And of nature. I love Indiana nature...and grass. That's one thing I miss living in Florida--soft, rich, green grass.

My brother took time off. He walked every morning, coming into my room if I wasn't up, opening the blinds, and he walked in the evenings. He entertained us as usual, peeking into the windows when mowing and playing a broom guitar while cleaning the garage. I beat him in several hands of cards. I also told stories to his employees about how he tormented me as a child.

Monday afternoon, Darcy and Sofie arrived from Chicago. Sofie got to experience two nights with my family, and then we packed up and boarded the flight back to Florida. 

It was a great trip packed with family, fun, and food. I'm glad I could make it back after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Damn COVID. Let's hope it isn't that long until the next visit...