Tuesday, February 28, 2012

You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to!

Three years ago this May, my family, along with my husband's parents, and his two sisters and their families, were involved in a very horrible accident. Last week, my brother-in-law was featured in a news video for their local Fox t.v. station. It's difficult for me to watch, but he's so inspiring that I felt I should share. We're all VERY proud of him and his enduring strength!

(I do want to note, at the end, the reporter said there were no other life threatening injuries....only minor injuries. This couldn't have been further from the truth! My father-in-law, who lost his leg, not his arm, almost died, as did my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my son. Their injuries were EXTREMELY serious, so her comment touches a nerve. All did survive and are doing well today.)

Boat-blast survivor: 'Life goes on': MyFoxTAMPABAY.com






TAMPA - If optimism were a drug, Mike Atherton would be addicted.

"It's not the end of the world. Life goes on. And you make the best of it," he explained as he recalled the moment that changed his life.

Atherton came perilously close to dying in a boat explosion back on May 9, 2009, in Tampa Bay near Beer Can Island.

Fourteen family members were on board his father-in-law's Sea Ray cabin cruiser. Paramedics rushed all of them to the hospital, but Mike's injuries were the worst. His mind blacked-out for a month before he woke up.

"For a long time, it was, 'Why did it happen, what happened, how did it happen?' Inconclusive. It's just been one of those things, well, I'll probably never know so you try to put it behind you," said Mike.

Mike is a triple-amputee as a result of the explosion. Modern prosthetics, marvels of engineering, replace his legs and left arm.

He's a dedicated husband and father whose life changed in an instant.

"Like my son started calling me Transformer Shark. That was my nickname, you know, right away. As soon as I got my prosthetics I became a Transformer to him."

How could something so life-altering happen? Investigators speculated perhaps a spark ignited fumes from the boat's generator but never found an answer.

Buoyed by desire and strength, Mike wants to remain the man he was before the accident -- in body and soul. With the help of a personal trainer, Mike puts himself through a twice-a-week grueling workout.

He'll walk, then squat, and spread himself on the gym floor and do one-arm push-ups. That's the last exercise he does during the one-hour workout session. He's determined to push on.

Mike worked as a lineman for Progress Energy near dangerous power lines, often in the worst of weather.

"I thought, if anything, I'd get electrocuted and shocked, hurt at work, climbing poles and digging holes."

Now he spends his days helping his kids Maddie and Quinn with homework, preparing family meals, and picking them up at the school where his wife works as a teacher.

Mike receives disability income, but don't dare call him disabled. A water fanatic since he was a boy, Mike's mission was to always get back on skis.

"I've got a set of water legs. My goal was to do it standing up again."

And he did. Done deal. Up and on the water after two years of building the physical strength.

"My goal for this next year, hopefully in the spring, is to try a pyramid standing up again."

Mike Atherton. Always the optimist.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

scatterbrained day

I'm having a very scatterbrained day today. I think it's because we have nothing planned this weekend, so I don't know what to do with myself first! Got my cleaning done yesterday, so my main level doesn't look too bad.

Hmmmm.........What are my other options?..............

I've got some signs that I need to finish up for etsy that I'd love to work on, but it's always hard doing projects like that when my kids are home.

My lower level is in desperate need of some TLC. Could start that.

My laundry/storage room is a wreck. We're debating on whether or not to put our house on the market, and the thought of anyone seeing that room panics me! That will definitely be an all day project, that I don't necessarily feel like tackling, but it needs to be done.

It's a gorgeous day, so I could take my dog for a long walk.

Our yard and garage need some tidying. Okay.....I could do that.

Could do some online house hunting. We've got the itch. We had debated on buying that lake property I had previously spoken about, but a really cute house popped up for sale not far from here. We're looking at it tomorrow, and I think it may be a little small, but it looks gorgeous, and is giving me all kinds of other ideas. Hmmm....possibly build?..........

Could work out.........yeah.......we'll see how that goes.

Could do some thrifting! Nah. I'd rather do that when my mom can come along. She's the only one who appreciates the "treasures" I find. :)

Pinterest?!!! Of course I'll sneak that in at some point.

I told you I was scatterbrained. I need to pick one thing and follow through.

It's a gorgeous day. I think I'll walk the dog.

:)
Have a great Saturday!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Courage

Saw this sign and really loved it's message.


Have a great night!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I want a place on a lake to call my own.............................

It's been such a mild Iowa winter, and I really shouldn't have reason to complain about the cold, but it's been a dreary, chilly day, and quite frankly, I'm tired of it. Instead of sulking, I'm thinking forward to summer, and my dream of owning some lake property. My husband and I have our eyes on a place. I hate to talk about it, because I'm afraid that it won't happen, but I can't stop thinking about it, and what it could be in the future. Right now it's just a lot, but it's got a little boat house, and some great lake side decks.



The inside of the boat house leaves a little bit to be desired,(You'd think they would have tidied up a bit before taking the pics!), but I totally see it's potential.
(Nice empty Captain Morgan bottle! Geesh!)
Oh, if I could only get my hands on this!

Yea.....I need a door.

(We're a water skiing family. That's water to drool over.)

Of course I've been turning to my dear friend Pinterest for ideas.
First of all, I'd gut the place and start completely over. I think I'd take everything out, and put up crisp white bead board from wall to ceiling.

I'd do lots of open shelving and fun lights.

Would be awesome to incorporate some bunks. It is after all just a boat house. The cabin on the lot would come later!

How fitting it would be to use an old washtub for the bathroom, or kitchen sink.

Plenty of space for a tent on the dock!

And this would be cute in there!

The ideas keep on coming! Now we'll just have to wait and see. And if we are fortunate enough to purchase it, I'm definitely going to blog about my little adventure. If however, we don't get it, I'm sure there will always be another to dream about!