Don't You Just Love Befores and Afters!?

"My heart is related to my relationship with my creator...That means my heart is attached to truth, wisdom, strength, healing and so much more. It demands that the messages filtering through my heart must first pass through my faith."
Suzie Eller, Proverbs 31.  Yesterday Amy Carroll wrote about elbow room we get when we lose something.  Something changes and we have room for growth.

I am essentially a Before and an After.

Something changed for me yesterday.   I was so tired after trimming our 2nd wisteria arbor, that I could barely make it to dinner my my dear inlaws.  But I muddled through (Mexican food, yum).
I have been gradually cutting more meat out of my meals (health and budget) and so I was starving last night.  We ate dinner and I was asleep on the couch 9.30pm!

This is a huge time of change for DH and I.  We have room to make some changes, some growth.
Some changes I have gone through previously in life have left room.  When my mom and my DLH SCG died, I had room to grow, for sure.  When I got my degrees...when I figured out children were not in my future...when I adopted pets...when my Dad died...

I am learning that if I remember I am not the center of the universe,  I can listen and let my faith guide my heart.  Right now, I am mostly getting to know myself,  which might seem weird to someone reading.

But my entire life I have stayed busy and employed many distractions to avoid looking inward.  But as I was falling asleep again after I got off the couch, brushed my teeth, washed my face and put my lotion on...I realized how blessed I am to get to know my DH more during this shift of life.

He quickly offered to drive his folks to the other side of the county Monday for a Dr appt.  His folks relieved to accept the gesture, him quick to offer and myself completely in agreement.  I just love my in laws so much.  And I am blessed to have them.

What changed to give you elbow room?  What are you learning lately?

More Shopping...NOT for Me

I bought my DGM 3 new tops yesterday and took her a yummy cookie and 4 fresh tomatoes.   She is doing well.  I think it made her happy.

Had a project this week that gave me anxiety for the week leading up to it.  I gave a speech last night to my coffee drinker friends.  It went fine.  I love the reflection this project brings.

Along with the reflection comes the nerves...and body aches...and heart burn.  I slept poorly all week...until last night.  I slept till 10 this am!  I never do that at my house, but here at hotel, I just sleep.

Much of my pain came from sitting in a poor chair at work.  I made a slight adjustment in the seat angle to alleviate the pressure on my sciatic nerve (my right foot was painful and numb Monday and Tuesday).  Then Wednesday and Thursday my low back was on fire.

I rarely have low back pain anymore now that I do yoga, but I have not been for 2 weeks.  The anxiety caused by doing something hard is good for me.  It pushes me.  Makes me grow.  It was a lot to gave anxiety pain and physical pain from sitting in the same week...coincidence?

Sometimes pain shapes perspective.  Over time that perspective evolves into something beautiful.   I believe everything that happened to me happened for a reason, softened my sharp edges and brought me to where I am now.  And I am in a great place.

Have a great weekend!  We are here in the city this weekend.  Going to play golf tomorrow,  do that is exciting.