Well I Have Been Lazy Posting

Not really sure what has kept me away.  Maybe I am just busy running here and there, little projects around the house.  Nearly every day either gymn, yoga or a hike.  I hiked Tuesday 6 miles with the hiking club.  It was a chilly 27 degrees when we started out.  We took photos of frost flowers and ice cycles.  The official hikes are finished till spring but the members continue to hike almost all year here and post "impromptu hikes".

I was feeling really good about taking off a few pounds up and even right after Thankgiving.  Then I guess my awareness strayed and I took my foot off the accelerator and I feel I have gained a few - too scared to get on the scale.  I will continue to restart my determination and continue to put effort into looking for recipes that utilize veggies and lean meat and try to continue to avoid sugar.  I have not had much sugar, but I did get a little lax and have enjoyed some potatoes, corn and flour.  When I take these out, I know I will lose, it is just really a focus and intent that I have to really strive for.

This weekend will be difficult, my sister and I are driving to the city to see our Granny and our aunts.  We will pick up lunch for Granny.  I will just commit to something like Panera instead of burgers/pasta and we are doing a Mexican restaurant with the aunts, but they have a wonderful vegetarian fajita that I LOVE.  Then Sunday we are beyond excited that my sister's friend gave us Chiefs football tickets and after that a concert - so it will be a full day Sunday.  Monday we drive home and the weather is not thrilling me - chance for rain/snow.

So I will be back here next week.  Hope you have a great weekend.  What holiday fun are you all out there planning?

Rain Idea, Day 5

Yesterday we put up couple bird feeders.  I have an Ace Hardware coupon, I will get some bird feed today.  We try to get big project stuff at larger town big stores, but try to give day to day grocery and small project needs to local Ace Hardware and Grocery stores.  This morning I had to take the pup to get her last booster shot.  Appt was at 8:30.  I woke up at 8am and realized suddently.  It took me 10 min to get ready and dressed, out the door.  I was still there in 5 min.  Our vet is literally 4 miles tops.  In the city we drove 35 - 45 min.  This is such a treat.  In 7 weeks or pup has gained 10 pounds!

Sat night,  rain falling ..gave me an idea...for a rain chime.  I quickly googled whether something like that existed.  Our bedroom windows are on north and east sides, in NE corner of house.  Our bed is between 2 windows on north side.  The north side of our house is a tall pitch with no gutter, so the water drips down and is loud.  I like it.  I also like that our bedroom is the coldest part of the house.  At City House, bedroom was hottest corner of house and we had vaulted ceilings which magnified the temperature disparity.

There are such things as rain chimes.  You can google.  I am not sure how to attach a picture of a google image search.  I will try.  They are basically a line of metal objects (small bowls or baskets/chain that gathers the rain and channels it downward, amplifying the sound of water.  I am going to be on the lookout for old brass candle holders at the thrift store.  I found a tutorial on You Tube.  I am going to have it/them empty into a rain barrel.

Coming this spring!  Have a great day.  Today I am gong to relax and fix us something healthy to eat.  We are both feeling like kids the day after Halloween binge.  We will still have cake for breakfast once in a while.  But that needs to be the occasional treat, not the norm.  Then I think I am going to plant my other 2 mums and gradually begin my shift to Christmas décor.  Help DH get his hunting trip packing/prep finished.  Walk the dog, if the weather allows.

I am having a little stomach nausea going on 3 days now after my flu shot.  Figuring this is normal.  I have only had the flu shot once or twice before.  Don't remember.

I was on the phone with a family member for an hour this morning, catching up.  I have a few family members that are struggling with physical, mental burdens right now.  It is heavy and I pray for them.
I am grateful that I have a day to day walk with God and I can go to him for support.

Stories from the Vault - Postponed

I referenced a couple of stories about my experience with strangers while driving - 2 of them I can think of off the top of my head.  I will write about them tomorrow.

Today, I want to write about 2 families on my mind...I posted a LONG post.  Then came back and curated considerably. 

Relative with stage 4 cancer diagnosis.  She is doing amazing.  Mass in her lung is gone, as are the other tumors in liver, lymph nodes and couple other places.  It is a miracle! 

She can barely breathe, so tenuous her understanding and comprehension.  She says she will celebrate at her 1 year mark...So amazing. 

On the other hand...her son is in his 20's.  Did not know his father.  He is very smart, but just no "gumption".

Relative had some issues in her life, she will be the first to admit.  But she always worked hard.  She had a great father.  At one point she was very successful in her career, making over 6 figures.  But after some relationship issues, a big geographic move and some job insecurity...ended up essentially scraping by job to job, no savings left, and barely kept her house, which is pretty run down and too big for her to properly care for. 

Well, when she got ill.  Her family has tried to be supportive.  We all tried to be there for her and J her son.  We all tried to gently comfort J while simultaneously encouraging him to "man up", the brothers tried to mentor him.  The problem is...we are all located distantly, busy working/caring for our families and have not been around him enough to naturally foster such personal relationships.  It is hard to "start" now from many miles away.  Any ideas?

At one point, she even encouraged us via group text to not let him feel abandonded, should she die.  I have tried a couple of times, not really knowing what to do and not getting any response in return.  What can I do now?  I admit, I feel distant partly because I just don't respect his bad choices.  But I do sincerely pray for and want the best for them both.

Well, evidently now the son and his mother had a falling out.  She explained that after he left in a hurry, she inspected his room and found it covered in trash.  Items she found troubling.  She even texted me pictures - it was shocking to me.  Mom wants to sell this house that is too big and get moved into a smaller place but she worries about J.  J meanwhile is just piling trash in his room and not helping enough.  I told her (gently and with great emphasis on the disclaimer) - I HAVE NO CHILDREN - that she needs to cut the cord for his own good too. 

So, clearly this guy has issues...it is really sad. 

Another sort of related topic...I have a family member whose husband was in a bad car accident recently.  Likely his fault,  their only car.  He is similar in affect to J, smart and wants to tell you how smart he is, sort of anti society.  Well he was hurt badly.  I think the passenger and the other driver are OK. 

Many issues about accident I wont go into...What if S and JD have no money saved up for emergencies?  Oh, these poor choices.  These 2 examples are not isolated...it is sad and scary. 

Lord if someone is hurting today, please visit them and embrace and comfort them.  Amen.

Did I mention that neither J or JD have any spirituality - no experience in nature, no meditation/solitude, no exercise, no artistic outlet.  No humility, I guess.  I think my gumption came from humility, which unfortunately came from humiliation - my father's way of cultivating obedience.  But does it have to come from there?  Do we have to feel small before we can see the big picture?