I Try Not to Watch the News

I am not in Chicago, but another similar Midwestern city.  And, like Chicago we have had a recent spate of shootings.  I absolutely WILL NOT talk politics on this blog or any of my social media.  In fact, i really don't like to discuss it at all - it seems like the current 2 party system we have in America is dividing us more than ever. 

Yesterday was voting day.  Yet, after work I walked 5 miles and then went home and fixed us smoothies, showered and fell asleep without watching the results.  It is a scary time in our nation and in the world.  When I watch or listen to too much news, I get really negative and consumed with worry.  Worry is something I have plenty of naturally.  So I instead focus on the positive (the helpers, as Mr. Rogers said) and I try to pay attention just enough to know the issues and be informed. 

I feel sadness for the old people, the people who fought for what freedoms we cherish and I feel bad for the young people and the disadvantaged.  The helpless animals.  And then I remind myself that God is in charge.

As with things that happen in one's individual life...I do believe the things that are happening all around us are happening for a reason.  So, I try to focus on the similarities.  I feel better when I smile at a stranger who seemed rude, maybe they are having a really challenging issue in their life.  The person who cut me off, maybe they are dealing with something bad.  The person who disappointed me - maybe it had nothing to do with me at all. 

I am not a big believer in astrology or stuff like that, but I did find this interesting.  Friday the 27th was a blood moon and supposedly the last week or so we were supposed to be able to see Mars clearly (we can't here in the city - the sky is too bright from lights).  DH is way more pragmatic than I in such matter (no way he would even give it a 2nd thought).  However, DH was a cop many years ago and he swore (as do first responders, ER doctors/nurses and teachers) that when there was a full moon - they know by peoples' collective behavior.  So, what does that mean?  I don't know.  The moon does control the tide, after all. 

Anyway, here is a little snippet I read about Mars retrograde:
..."Pisces and Pisces Ascendant: All Mars retrograde cycles affect you in the areas of personal finances, income, possessions, comfort, and values. These areas might be ambiguous now, or cause for concern and anxiety for the time being. Reassessing these matters becomes necessary. This is a good time for taking a hard look at your budget. It’s also a time for understanding how the management of your personal resources impacts your confidence in general."
  -credit to Astrology Café

This is funny to me because we are 1)  living in an extended stay hotel and 2)  we have 2 meetings with 2 different financial advisors.  Do I ascribe some power to this?  No, not actively.  Maybe passive interest.  Anyway, have a Wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV). 
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I forgot to mention that I sold a pricey pendant that I had made few years ago.  It was never my style and I would never wear it.  So, I made $526 on it, $420 after PM cut.  I am putting it toward my Roth for 2018.  I am happy to have it gone.  Sometimes just a small step toward something, builds momentum (saving for retirement).  My husband is through with his accumulation, but I am really not.  I am 13 years younger than my husband and although we could be able to live frugally on his retirement till I get my social security in 15 years, the reality is that things happen and I need to continue to plan and accumulate just in case.  If something happened to him prior to my getting SS, I would have to go back to work and I am fully capable and willing to do that.  I am giving time now for spending it with him, prepared to go back to work at an older age and likely a more difficult task (difficult to find anything at all at an older age/longer break in employment, difficult to find anything rewarding that will not be at least partially physical (standing, lifting, carrying) and difficult because I will be older and out of the routine.  But it is a chance I willingly take to spend time with DH now while we are still relatively young and in good basic health.
P.S.  My  dog is better, he has a kidney stone and we are giving him special food and started him on heart meds for his heart murmur.  So, if the expensive food does not help dissolve the calcification, he will be as strong as he can with his heart, for surgery.  I also caved too and begged my Dr for steroids.  All the stress of moving, selling the house, the dog being sick, worry over my grandmother and my cousin etc just had me doubled over in pain.  I took one dose and immediately felt better.  I am truly going to focus on going totally healthy eating, but while we are back and forth moving and living out of boxes/extended stay hotel, I just want this plan in place so that I can function.  I cannot afford to be flat on my back now.  This fall, I will vow to never eat fast food again, if I can just get through this time of transition.  I was so sick last night I just sat down and had a good cry and immediately felt the release...March is almost over and we are gonna make it out alive if it kills me!

House Guests

So, during this illness/emerg surg with my cousin, her family has really rallied from around the country flying in, texting, FB posts, etc.  It is really heartwarming.  Her two nieces, my 2nd (or 3rd?) cousins have stayed at my house.  We have had some great talks and quality time helping prop each other up.  We have seen positives in my cousin battling cancer, in becoming agreeable to patch up some of her estranged relations.  I have spoken with her directly about God and dying.  My heart is heavy but full.  I am tired.  I know my husband would like to get his house back (and our 3rd vehicle).  But my dogs and my kitty (and me) will sure miss these 2 awesome gals that have added so much texture to my life and I am positive will add in the future.

Life is so precious.  In other news, a 77 year old neighbor died from the flu this past Saturday.  I do not know if she was otherwise in good health or not, prior to the flu.  We had mild warm weather the entire weekend and now it is turning ugly.  It is noon on Monday and the last Monday of the last January of the last winter I will live in Missouri, God willing.  Oh no, one more January Monday - the 29th.  I need to remember to be grateful for today.

Hug your loved ones.  I gave my Granny big hug on way home from hospital yesterday, stopped to see her.  She looks tired.

A Break Already?

My longest break from blogging so far.  Busy working on a project at work.  Finished and did annual HCA on mine and DH to get $50 x2 on cards for prescriptions.  Then did online CE for insurance license and got that renewed.  Paid one other license.  Now I am ready to go home. 

I enjoy reading blogs.  I read a blog called A Cup of Jo and she asks everyone what they learned in 2017.  I like the post and I like the comments.  Some of them were inspiring.  I had a bad day yesterday, had a sort of disagreement with someone I was helping out.  I understand this comes with the territory, but it is still hard.  Is not my battle to fight...it is hers.  I just clean my side of the street.  I answered Jo's question as follows, still somewhat full of my new year's vigor which was almost extinguished in one tense conversation.  I have to learn not to let these things interfere with my joy (my word of 2017).

What did you learn this year?  A Cup of Jo
I learned that we are all connected in humanity and we are all of nature and essentially looking for the same things...shelter, water, food, safety...  By reminding myself that first and foremost I am a creature of nature and some things can be explained by science (I get depressed when my body is troubled, bad news accumulates in me and causes problems, I have tides and waves, even if I am not perfect I am still loveable (and loved), I am still learning, I still want to learn.  The more I learn, the better off I am.  The more I learn, the more open I am and the more open I am, the better I can learn to love others.  The more I love others, the more I can receive love back.  The more love I am capable of, the happier I am.  The happier I am, the more of service I can be and the more of service I am, the more I reflect the love and grace God has shown me through his son, Jesus.  P.S.  it's not always about me.