Day 10, Wellness Challenge

Today for the wellness challenge, it is get rid of 5 things you don't need.

I have been mercilessly cleaning out extra physical stuff as we have been here, retired 2 months and one week.  I take about a car load a week to Goodwill.  I even went throught my Christmas decorations early and donated my last big tree last Monday.  I need to go through my crafts chest next.  But, there is not much left.

I am going to do the Home Organization Challenge in January with Bowl Full of Lemons blog/FB page.  I want to streamline my cleaning and organizing in a fun, useful way.  That would be in a group sharing with others.

I also plan to find a church and start going Sunday Mornings.  I still enjoy my daily devotional and Psalm 31 materials, but want a little more.  I do want to share a very special photo of a painting today.  My Granny did this and dedicated it to the memorial of my grandfather.

Dr. Tony Evans:  "Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to come in order that He might provide the pathway to You, for me and all those who trust in Him. Thank You for the multitude of blessings You have given to me over the course of my life. Please gently nudge me and remind me if I start to get so busy that I forgot to honor and worship You with my thoughts, words or actions. You are the reason for the focus of this season, and I want to remember that throughout this month. I worship You, Lord, for You are holy, powerful, restoring and the source of my very life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

Amen.

Have a great week.  The things I am doing without today are 1)  worry, 2) fear, 3)  judgment, 4)  doubt and negativity.

This Is Me! Day 19

This was from my Proverbs 31 Ministry devotional Friday...
"I lay in bed, eyes wide open. Everything around me at rest, except my mind. It's racing once more, reminding me that the darkness that is night, is not the only darkness that can rise. There's another that can fill our hearts and minds. Anxiety. Guilt. Regret. Those are my bedtime companions. The foes of a soul not at rest."
  -Katrina V. Wylie

The phrase that caught my eye:  "boundaries are not burdens" they are gifts.

Especially helpful after my trip back to family in the city this past weekend.

Just ran to the store and stocked up.  I may have to go again to help with DH family dinner Sat.  But I got my shopping done and got what I was planning to fix and bring.  Sat night SIL told me that her mom told her she is not doing the majority of the holiday meals this year.  And SIL said she and I are doing, and that Christmas dinner might be at my house.  Sure would have been nice to have been privy to this discussion.  I told DH and he just shook his head.  Seems like a bad year to change everything, why not wait until SIL is retired next year.  Oh, well.  I will just roll with it.

I will talk more about my anxiety later.  Not ready yet.  I am still dealing with adjusting to my new life in retirement and the huge money adjustment that goes with that.  I know everything will work itself out.

Just one foot in front of the other.  I will send some of that energy out in yoga tonight. 
Have a great Monday!  Day 19 and I am grateful for yoga.

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!

Rest

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?m=1
My friend at work has a funny saying "crank daddy out a hit".  We were just talking this morning about activity level, health and how sitting at work all day 8 - 12 hours a day is not good for us.  It takes years to build up strength and endurance.  I walked with my girlfriend last night, T.  We were reflecting how long it has been since it was nice enough outside in this long Midwest winter.  Our usual 4 miles was harder last night.  We also discussed our yoga over the past 6 years and how we see progress being made.  But it has taken 6 years!  And this morning my work friend and I were talking about how just the last year of overtime has sapped us!  Years to build up, months to lose.  But, the important take away is that it is NEVER too late to start.  If nothing else, working out benefits my state of mind.  I think it will be more easy to fit in and more important than ever to continue this in retirement.  My DH has been eating a little bit better and walking more with golf and he has lost 12 pounds in 3 months.  Funny thing is, our doctor told him his sodium was low, so to drink less water.  What?!  That is crazy, but makes sense because he and I have been obsessed with water and I think it is because of 3 things:  1)  our Y*@i tumblers.  I love them!  2)  we gave up diet soda and 3)  this sort of goes together, but I think he and I both are more sensitive to salt/medications may be making us thirsty.  Either way, good news...unless there is some underlying problem I need to worry about...too late, I worry proactively.  We are really focusing on getting our required sleep every night with these last couple years of hard work on both houses, at our jobs and with my health condition.  So, here's to not worrying...not worrying that this weekend will AGAIN be cold and rainy and so we still will not be able to paint our deck...not worrying that my dogs health is tenuous and they will get sick again...not worry that my DH has underlying health issue...not worrying that I will soon be moving away from my 99 year old dear grandmother...not worrying that we won't sell our house soon enough...or fast enough...No, I refuse to worry.  I will focus on gratitude, rest and turning it over to Him...and lunch and a movie with my 2 aunts on Sat.  Life is good!

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!

Can This Day be Over Already

So, we had a great visit to another state to visit family and go to a relative's wedding.  The wedding was beautiful, the bride was stunning...Saw so many relatives, far and near.  It was just a great trip.  However, it was also tiring. I drove 8.5 hours Thurs and 9 hours back Sun.  We did take a 30 min detour and pop in to my retirement home on the way back yesterday.  My Uncle got to see my RH and we checked in on the tile work in progress. 
I think I am really going to love it.  Looks really nice with the cool gray and white of my bathroom.  The tile is warm yellowish beige tones.  Warms up the room.  My contractor complimented my choices.  I think all he has left to do is grout and clean up.
It was great to get home to my DH.  He stayed home with the doggies.  He was not thrilled at the prospect of being in the car with my VERY hard of hearing aunt and uncle.  And repeating one self over and over, practically yelling is tiring, but I was honored to be able to drive them and take care of them.  They have done so much for my sister and I.  Letting us come stay with them in the summer, showing me how much they love me, etc.  GREAT people. 
So, DH had dinner ready for me when I got home.  He even did grocery shopping and did some packing!  I was so proud of him and so glad to be embraced in a comforting hug.  Seeing my cousin's lovely young daughter and just all the reminiscing just made me tired and emotional.  So, I just chalked it up to that...then I relized that today is the day my Dear Belated Husband died in 1993 at age 32.  So, I have that making me blue, it is cold a raining here, so that adds to it...it is Monday, eta.
Except those things are not the main source of my emotion today...Our older dog, he is about 11 years old...well he is just not doing well.  He is declining in movement and sleeping a lot, but he still eats and drinks and gets around pretty good.  Well, DH said he has begun intermitten yelping once in a while.  DH thougth at first he was just dreaming, but he did it 3 or 4 times after I got home last night.  I was convinced he waited for me to get home and would not make it through the night, but he did and DH took him to vet today.  I missed 2 days next week, so it is hard to miss this week, but I am leaving early because while he is at the vet having tests, I am just sick to the point of distraction.  I realize he is getting older and I accept that dogs have a much shorter life span that I would wish...but I am really upset thinking it is so near and worrying that he is in distress.  Also, I told my DH I really am going to be devastated when he dies not matter what/when...but the possibility of it being so soon and before we move to Arkansas breaks my heart into a million pieces.  I see the pain in DH eyes too.  So, we have to be strong and grateful for every second with him. 
Wish us luck.  I will try to be back tomorrow.  Have a great Monday.  My lovely cousin is off to her enchanted honeymoon, where I bask in the happiness of my cousin - its her daughter and she is so happy.  I am going to hang on to that, because they are both special to me. 

Need to Bounce

This is when I really wish I had someone who would read my blog.  Maybe if I can figure out how to post photos and do more commenting on other blogs.  But, my phone is not working very well and my pc at home finally seems to be working better (maybe).  So maybe I will try again.  My Samsung phone is  almost 2 years old and it is not holding a charge and is super slow.  It is ridiculous.  I am going to get one final smart phone upgrade, but I am going to try the WalMart plan $55/mo unlimited.  Most of my apps and stuff is google based, so I should be able to get it all transferred.  I am a little nervous about all my contacts.  I will have to go to Walmart and scope it out before I pull the trigger.  My Verizon contract is up 1/27/18 and I can't wait!

I am very tired this morning.  I am so happy to have a calm, regular week after crazy last week.  Went to good yoga session last night.  Went to sleep easily last night 10pm, was very tired.  Then I was wide awake 3am.  Could NOT go back to sleep.  Now I am super tired.  My mind is restless worrying about my cousin, her mom and my DGM.

On another note.  No more houseguests unless they are neat and come stay because they want to see me.

Happiness

100 days of happiness! 

Ideas, concepts, trends, a dance, a song...go around on the web.  Like 40 days of lent cleaning out your house instead of giving something else up led me to a really great FB group that are all about organizing. 

Then organizing led me to decluttering and decluttering led me to minimalism and that led me to be more aware of what I am focusing on in my life.  I will never be a true minimalist, but then, I don't want to be.  But I would like to have less clutter and stuff to worry about, esp as I prepare to move into a smaller home and move toward retirement. 
 

100 days of happiness is something I saw on another blog and I may be a few days late, but I'm in! 

Why wait till November to think more of what I am thankful for?!  100 days approx till the end of the year.  Can't believe it.  I am happy today for a life that is slower, a little more conscious and more focused on what I have, rather than what I am lacking. 
 

I had to send a difficult email today to a colleague in another state for some free lance work he had me do.  I was a little puzzled at his request in the first place, for an envelope.  Everything in this state is done online, so the envelope really does not matter, but in his state it does.  And the client is in his state.  I was really upset that I cannot find the envelope but once I fessed up to him and sent the email after checking and rechecking my entire house (my house is in various stages of packing and moving). 

I felt better that the email was over.  Pressed send, then will deal with his response.  It is what it is. 

He responded.  Said don't lose any sleep, but if I find to send to him.  Well, there it is.  Oh well.  He may never ask me to do any more free lance, but things happen.  I am happy today that I am not going to let it ruin my day, just like I did not let a fall in the puddle walking in to work ruin my Tuesday. 
 

Have a great Wednesday!