.... when it's your blog and you messed up the settings.
A big
THANK YOU
to Kimi and Jeremy for fixing my image so I look really good.
Monday, June 24, 2013
JUST SPRINKLE THE LAVENDER
I don’t recall where the lavender
bush was when I was growing up, but I always associate the smell of lavender
with my Granny, Jean van Blerk O’Flynn
Madden. I think she must have used
Yardley’s lavender soap because when I smell that, I think of Granny.
For the past couple of years I
have been harvesting from the largest bush of lavender that grows in my front
garden. I’ve planted a couple of other
bushes and this year, for the first time, I may be able to harvest one of the newer
bushes. I’ve made sachets in the shape
of hearts and strawberries. I have yet
to decide what shape and fabric to use this year, if I make them at all.
I discovered a jar of lavender in
Target’s spices section the other day and bought it, just in case between my
own lavender buds and a jar of Good Earth Lavender, I can make a ‘batch’ of
sachets. I just love, love, love me some
lavender to inhale deeply, but you won’t ever catch me eating or drinking it in
anything. I know that probably is a bit
narrow minded for foodies, but I seriously think I would feel like I was eating
soap if I were to consume it in a lemonade or shortbread.
Lavender came up in a
conversation with my mom last week. I
had taken Mom and Dad out to the Christmas Tree Store so Mom could pick up a
couple of rugs she had seen in their weekly ad.
The trip for the rugs successfully completed, icy drinks from Taco Bell
purchased, Dad was chomping at the bit to get his new library books and head on
home.
The Library on our Main Street in
town sits right next door to the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna. It’s a lovely setting for a graveyard with
blooming trees, plenty of green grass and, of course, the lovely old church,
established in 1763. Quaint, old,
peaceful.
Mom and I got to talking as we
waited in the car for Dad, a soft breeze blowing through the windows of the
car. I should probably get my name of
their checking account. Yes, good idea,
I keep meaning to do that. What about
the money for their funerals? Where did
they keep the paperwork and would it be easy for me to identify when the time
came? Mom and I just voiced our thoughts
back and forth. My sweet sister-in-law’s
father passed away recently and that’s close to home. Health issues with my parents have made my
hyper-sensitive to the subject, hence the conversation Mom and I were
having.
Funerals aren’t inexpensive which
lead to Mom and I discussing what we would want when the time came. I hadn’t really thought about it too much for
myself but then and there, I kind of made up my mind. We both decided the cheapest box available
was just great. We didn’t need anything
fancy, it was going to just rot after all.
I have been a blood donor since I was eighteen and put myself on the
registry for bone marrow as well. My
driver’s license shows me as an organ donor, so I’m pretty much spoken for on
several levels. I thought just kind of
fluttered through my head and out my mouth,
“I
think I should just have my body harvested for whatever is needed, then they
can cremate what’s left and the kids can sprinkle me over the lavender in the
front garden.”
Mom thought about that for a
moment then said that she didn’t think that sounded bad at all. We had, over the years, joked about the fact
that if we ever got really unable to function properly etcetera, that we should
be taken to the vet and put down, then be buried in the back yard. That joke became even more doable since
moving to New Jersey because of the wet land behind the house. We laughed about the backyard burial, but
then chatted pretty seriously about being ‘sprinkled’ over the lavender.
If the earth is going to be
cleansed by fire, it seems like we’d be saving not just money but a little bit
of time by going the cremation route.
And I do love me some lavender …
Friday, May 24, 2013
The Month of May, Merry and Not So
May
has been beyond busy. Right before we
left for Arizona on May 7th, my dad went and the first of two
surgeries for basal cell carcinoma on his top lip. It was a beast of a place to have the surgery. The process takes two days and is called Mohs
surgery. The first day they remove the
skins cells layer by layer until they have clear ‘margins’, as in, there are no cancerous cells evident under
the microscope when they check. They will
slice layer upon layer until the clear margins are evident. The next day the wound is closed with either
staples or stitches. Poor dad was so
swollen and lost quite a bit of weight because he literally ate through a
straw. We had to change his dressing
twice a day and it was very painful.
Thank
goodness for Marco and members of the ward, namely Shari McAlmont, Karen Williams, who kept an eye out for my folks for
the ten days we were gone. I took mom to
the doctor the day before we left because she was having severe pain in her
right chest and back. Shingles, most
likely brought on by the stress of worrying about dad. Good grief, just miserable for both of
them. Luckily, or not, Jamie, the girls,
Kris and myself were gone, so the house was quiet.
We
were in Phoenix for Karen’s graduation from Arizona State where she received
her Master’s in Criminal Justice and Human Rights. We also were able to meet her friends, her
Bishop and professors too, so that was really fun. Josh, Candy, Noah and some very dear friends
The Salvatore’s and Lisa Johnson,
all were there too. It was great. I especially loved having time with Josh,
Candy and Noah since I had not seen them in almost two years. That’s just too long for this Nana!
We
did some fun things together, besides just ‘hanging out’, talking, (we talked a lot) and eating together. We were kind of spread out, staying with various
and sundry friends of the family. The
one day we went to a place called Arcosanti.
Arcosanti is an experimental town that began construction in 1970 in central Arizona, 70 miles north of Phoenix, at an elevation of 3,732 feet. Architect Paolo Soleri, using a concept he called arcology, started the town to demonstrate how urban conditions could
be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth. It’s hot,
dry and dusty there but inside the very stark, cement like structures, it is
quite cool. They make bells there out of
ceramics and metal in all shapes and sizes to sell to help fund the center that
is there. We brought one home as a
memory of our trip and gave one as a gift to Karen’s friend who kindly housed
Kris and myself for the ten days we were there.
We went to Sedona after Arcosanti. It was so much cooler up there and there was
finally greenery! The sandstone red
rocks are quite spectacular. It’s kind
of a mixture of old western cowboy and retired, country-club living. Lots of little stores selling items crafted
by Navajo people. We made sure to find a
store that sold work crafted by local people and not sporting the ‘made in
China’ label. It’s a tough environment
for the indigenous people and they deserve to earn what they can in this
economy. A lot of the people we talked
to travel from Flagstaff to sell their wares in Sedona.
Karen and I had a conversation about how sad it
was to see that with the colonization of North America and all that entailed,
the indigenous people have exposed some of their most sacred things in order to
make a living. For us it would be like
selling replicas of those things we consider sacred.
We found out from friends of Karen’s who visit Sedona regularly, that
the best place to buy silver and turquoise jewelry, dream catchers, pottery and
such, was at a Dairy Queen, just outside of town. We went there and sure enough, there were
these big concrete tables with beautiful crafts being sold. We bought ice-cream and a beautiful beaded
hairclip for Jamie.
Eliana had her fourth
birthday whilst we were in Phoenix and we had a birthday party for her with
friends from California that now live in Arizona. Some of her aunts, uncles and second cousins
also drove up for the day, which was very kind of them. The birthday party was rainbow themed and all
had a great time visiting and the children playing with each other. It was somewhat chaotic in the house where
Karen lives, but her roommates are just wonderful and had no problem being
invaded by a hoard of partying Mormons!
Nothing like chips, salsa, fruit platters and Funfetti cake, with a piñata
thrown, in for a good time to be had by all.
One damper that we had
was that Gabby got really sick and Jamie ended up taking her to the local
children’s hospital where they diagnosed her with pneumonia. Poor
little thing was either asleep on Jamie or myself or sweating away in bed. Eliana started getting sick on the Friday we
left to come home. Thank goodness none
of us adults got sick.
We ended up leaving
Phoenix at three in the afternoon and didn’t get home until dawn the next
day. When we were about to land in
Newark, we had to circle for almost an hour because a plane before us had to
land on its belly because the landing gear didn’t come down. We started to get low on fuel so they sent
us to Philly where we refueled and then headed back to Newark. Karen had flown in just ahead of us. Karen had gone home with our friend who had
come to pick us up, took our friend home then turned around and came and picked
us up. Whew! It was quite the trip and considering we had
sick babies and a pregnant mama with us, we did really well and the girls were
little angels.
It was Stake
Conference weekend when we got home so poor Kris got a couple of hours sleep in
and was off to the stake center. I
helped Karen to get her final things put together as she had to fly out of JFK
airport the next day for Mozambique.
Kris was also involved on Sunday so it was up to me to drive Karen to
New York to catch her plane. I was less
than happy about driving but we didn’t have a choice. Yeah, it wasn’t so bad and since I’ve done it
now, thanks to a great GPS, I can do it again no problem. Karen got off safely and soundly and
hopefully you are receiving her emails with her adventures in Mozambique.
We came home to
beautiful blooming azaleas, rhododendrons and lilac. The difference between NJ and AZ is stark to
say the least. Our peony bush has tons
of buds and our hydrangeas look like they will be spectacular this year. All the beauty of the earth plus rain and
wind and having to turn the heat back on again!
Talk about weird weather!
Along with the
weather, my poor mom has an awful case of bronchitis. Her shingles are still shingling and her
bronchioles bronching and the poor sweetheart is just worn out. Dad had his second surgery on Wednesday and
now sports a lovely cut with fourteen staples holding it together. He’s wrapped and bandaged all over. This bout of experiences has left both of
them weak and drawn. We pray for good weather and better health.
Our wonderful rain and humidity brings
accelerated growth of grass, so I’m back to mowing and gardening again. Sigh!
Actually, I love seeing things
spring to life again, I just wish I didn’t have to mow every five days! No rest for the wicked!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Stuck - appointments and other stuff.
I'm stuck. It's the same three or so pounds that come and go, come and go. Makes me think of the Lady Antebellum song, Stuck on You. One line is, "You and me baby, we're stuck like glue." That's how I feel about the poundage. We've been playing the same game for, oh, three weeks now? Hmmmm, not amused.
I had to do some real thinking about what it could be. Maybe I have to change up what I eat a bit, not stick to the same-old same-old. Or, and I didn't want to even entertain THIS particular idea, but it's probably a true thought - it's the Diet Coke.
Last week was stressful, as was the week before. My schedule seemed to be full of somethings that were really nothings, but even though I was busy, the weeks draaaaaaagggggggeeeeeedddd by. Ugh! Hence, an over indulgence of the diet drink kind. Just FYI, the best bang for your buck is Taco Bell's extra large Diet Pepsi. The end.
I think I participated in my obviously not overcome addiction every flippin' day of the week except Sunday, and that's just because of the keeping the Sabbath day holy; no shopping. Although, can a drive through be considered shopping? Okay, that's really trying to split hairs, but it breezed through my brain for a second.
With all this stuckedness that I'm in, I have hit the time of the year when I have all my annual appointments. Yippee skip, off to the Wellness Clinic for m' annual squishing of the boobs and bone density scan. I have a dental appointment, and eye appointment and, thank goodness, a hair appointment. Now if I could just find the pennies to justify and pedicure I wouldn't feel so crummy about the tummy tire! And let me not forget my ENT appointment for 'chronic allergic rhinitis'. Yucky sinuses, gicky throat and stuffed ears = no bueno.
The tire erks/urks? me something fierce. Should be incentive enough. We'll see how strong my resolve is when I go into Target for laundry detergent and my nonfat cottage cheese. I may just automatically glide by the snack stand with hand and $1.92 outstretched......
So with the mammogram thing. You can't put on any deodorant, powders or lotions. Can I say how weird it is to have that part of my routine cut out. I kind of didn't know what to do with myself and had to think my way through what I usually do. Creatures of habit ... not always the good kinds.
My dad would say I'm rambling about now, but hey, my blog, my thoughts, whatevs and I think Rebekah is the only one who reads it anyway (thanks for that, friend - I miss you and your amazing family). Conference. Need I say more? Another amazing friend (yup, I have more than one) did this
http://mycomputerismycanvas.blogspot.com/
I had to do some real thinking about what it could be. Maybe I have to change up what I eat a bit, not stick to the same-old same-old. Or, and I didn't want to even entertain THIS particular idea, but it's probably a true thought - it's the Diet Coke.
Last week was stressful, as was the week before. My schedule seemed to be full of somethings that were really nothings, but even though I was busy, the weeks draaaaaaagggggggeeeeeedddd by. Ugh! Hence, an over indulgence of the diet drink kind. Just FYI, the best bang for your buck is Taco Bell's extra large Diet Pepsi. The end.
I think I participated in my obviously not overcome addiction every flippin' day of the week except Sunday, and that's just because of the keeping the Sabbath day holy; no shopping. Although, can a drive through be considered shopping? Okay, that's really trying to split hairs, but it breezed through my brain for a second.
With all this stuckedness that I'm in, I have hit the time of the year when I have all my annual appointments. Yippee skip, off to the Wellness Clinic for m' annual squishing of the boobs and bone density scan. I have a dental appointment, and eye appointment and, thank goodness, a hair appointment. Now if I could just find the pennies to justify and pedicure I wouldn't feel so crummy about the tummy tire! And let me not forget my ENT appointment for 'chronic allergic rhinitis'. Yucky sinuses, gicky throat and stuffed ears = no bueno.
The tire erks/urks? me something fierce. Should be incentive enough. We'll see how strong my resolve is when I go into Target for laundry detergent and my nonfat cottage cheese. I may just automatically glide by the snack stand with hand and $1.92 outstretched......
So with the mammogram thing. You can't put on any deodorant, powders or lotions. Can I say how weird it is to have that part of my routine cut out. I kind of didn't know what to do with myself and had to think my way through what I usually do. Creatures of habit ... not always the good kinds.
My dad would say I'm rambling about now, but hey, my blog, my thoughts, whatevs and I think Rebekah is the only one who reads it anyway (thanks for that, friend - I miss you and your amazing family). Conference. Need I say more? Another amazing friend (yup, I have more than one) did this
and this
She did other quotes from conference and they'e free downloads on her site mentioned above. I think my house is decorated with a lot of Colette's printables. Anyway, I digress, conference. I loved it. I missed a little of the afternoon session when I nodded in and out of a restless nap. The rest, however, was inspiring and I actually think I will do what I always say I will do, and re-read the talks I heard that really spoke to my soul. Elder Holland, Elder Bednar's mmmmmmm, those two are the only ones that immediately come to mind, oh, and the one from the brother about his wife. The marriage talk, yeah, definitely deserve re-perusal.
A scattered post for sure, but that's how my brain is today. I keep having to look at my calendar on my phone to make sure I'm doing the right thing on the right day. Look at me, I just blasted out a post in 20 minutes before I have to be pushed prodded and poked. Go me.
Friday, March 1, 2013
I'm not good at.....
I'm not good at this blogging thing. Well, I can write and all, but I am simply AWFUL at the settings.
So that's why my blog looks weird and the written part is all long
The end.
So that's why my blog looks weird and the written part is all long
and super skinny
and the font
is not
too creative.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Example
The Savior is the best example for how one should lives ones life. Through the scriptures, words of the Prophets and seeing others live truly Christlike lives, we too can begin to emulate Him and gradually work towards that goal of being "perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48)
On this earth I have examples that are right in front of me that help me by how they live their lives or some of the choices they make and even very every day things they do that influence me and make me desire certain things. Some of the things I want to do are really basic, others may have more far reaching affects.
One of the things I want to try is to 'journal' through blogging. A large number of friends and acquaintances write consistently and well, noting their families or personal achievements, latest home project or the latest crafting idea they've worked on. Their blogs are replete with pictures, captions, pins, and links. They are works of art that can be later printed and bound in amazing books for their posterity.
The best example of this is my friend Colette. Her family's journey through this last year, as her husband battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma, was epic. Her term of phrase and ability to paint a picture through her words was a trip that I was privileged to be part of. Now, after all the year brought to their family, Colette had her 2012 blog posts made into a hard bound book. A family year book! How cool is that? Her example of getting a year of her life bound into a book, I want to do that!
Another friend, Sara, said a prayer at our Stake choir practice last Friday. I love Sara. She calls things as she see them. She's practical, kind, loving and says the most beautiful prayers. I want to say prayers the way she does. I thought about that. I can wax lyrical with the best of them when I so choose, why on earth can't I do that in prayers without the vain repetitions that I think we all tend to fall into during prayer? I think Sara said something along the lines of asking that we would find beauty in the music that we sang and that it would be a testimony to our hearts. I THINK that's what she said, but even if she didn't, just by thinking about being more thoughtful about my words and what I really want to say to my Heavenly Father is a great thing. All from the example of someone who doesn't know she set one.
My husband is one of THE most charitable people I know. He's an eternal optimist and would do anything for anyone. Yeah, not me so much. I have a hard time with people who seem to do/say/act the same way over and over. There's been a situation within our family ranks that has very much had me feeling less than charitable to say the least. If there wasn't the life of a child involved, I may feel a bit more charitable toward the adult involved, but as you can see, not much. Anyway, without divulging anything, I read this post on Facebook and it socked me in the face. I had to do some serious pondering and repenting and deciding to try to not be so critical of this certain individual. My heart was softened to a larger degree. I still have to work on things, but the example of our prophets and apostles is something I wish to follow.
I love my children, they are amazing human beings and a huge example to me. Each of them has done things in their lives that have amazed me. They have all shown courage, faith, determination, tenacity, tenderness, resourcefulness, patience, intelligence and a terrific sense of humor in their comparatively short lives on this earth. They have testimonies of the gospel, a love for the scriptures and are just plain good human beings. I want to be like them.
February is the love month, being Valentine's and all. Have you noticed how many kids say Valentime's? I love all the hearts, the flowers, the RED and the PINK. I love me some pink. This is something I really enjoy, a quote from Winnie the Pooh (A. A. Milne) that I got as a freebie from http://www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/. I love Pooh's example.
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On this earth I have examples that are right in front of me that help me by how they live their lives or some of the choices they make and even very every day things they do that influence me and make me desire certain things. Some of the things I want to do are really basic, others may have more far reaching affects.
One of the things I want to try is to 'journal' through blogging. A large number of friends and acquaintances write consistently and well, noting their families or personal achievements, latest home project or the latest crafting idea they've worked on. Their blogs are replete with pictures, captions, pins, and links. They are works of art that can be later printed and bound in amazing books for their posterity.
The best example of this is my friend Colette. Her family's journey through this last year, as her husband battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma, was epic. Her term of phrase and ability to paint a picture through her words was a trip that I was privileged to be part of. Now, after all the year brought to their family, Colette had her 2012 blog posts made into a hard bound book. A family year book! How cool is that? Her example of getting a year of her life bound into a book, I want to do that!
Another friend, Sara, said a prayer at our Stake choir practice last Friday. I love Sara. She calls things as she see them. She's practical, kind, loving and says the most beautiful prayers. I want to say prayers the way she does. I thought about that. I can wax lyrical with the best of them when I so choose, why on earth can't I do that in prayers without the vain repetitions that I think we all tend to fall into during prayer? I think Sara said something along the lines of asking that we would find beauty in the music that we sang and that it would be a testimony to our hearts. I THINK that's what she said, but even if she didn't, just by thinking about being more thoughtful about my words and what I really want to say to my Heavenly Father is a great thing. All from the example of someone who doesn't know she set one.
My husband is one of THE most charitable people I know. He's an eternal optimist and would do anything for anyone. Yeah, not me so much. I have a hard time with people who seem to do/say/act the same way over and over. There's been a situation within our family ranks that has very much had me feeling less than charitable to say the least. If there wasn't the life of a child involved, I may feel a bit more charitable toward the adult involved, but as you can see, not much. Anyway, without divulging anything, I read this post on Facebook and it socked me in the face. I had to do some serious pondering and repenting and deciding to try to not be so critical of this certain individual. My heart was softened to a larger degree. I still have to work on things, but the example of our prophets and apostles is something I wish to follow.
I love my children, they are amazing human beings and a huge example to me. Each of them has done things in their lives that have amazed me. They have all shown courage, faith, determination, tenacity, tenderness, resourcefulness, patience, intelligence and a terrific sense of humor in their comparatively short lives on this earth. They have testimonies of the gospel, a love for the scriptures and are just plain good human beings. I want to be like them.
February is the love month, being Valentine's and all. Have you noticed how many kids say Valentime's? I love all the hearts, the flowers, the RED and the PINK. I love me some pink. This is something I really enjoy, a quote from Winnie the Pooh (A. A. Milne) that I got as a freebie from http://www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/. I love Pooh's example.
.jpg)
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
No Resolve Here
I just really don't do New Year's Resolutions. How sad is it that I have to admit that I'm not big on setting goals, mainly because of the fear of failure. Must be something to do with being a passive-aggressive personality (according to some of my children). I don't know, but whatever the reason, I've already failed myself in that regard.
My son-in-law, Marco, challenged me to give up Diet Coke and any and all artificially sweetened drinks for the months of January. It's has been 21 days since the big DC nectar has passed these chapped lips. I also finally decided that I was tired of being overly fluffy (aka overweight) and rejoined Weight Watchers. Yeah, it's only taken me six years of living in New Jersey to decide that this is where I'm living, my husband is always going to be in some work or church position that keeps him more away from home than in it, and I can't eat my way out of discontent.
So, for not setting goals, I'm working on two biggies. Well, one biggie, as in the poundage, and the Diet Coke, which shouldn't be a biggie, but kinda is. I have to say, it's amazing what losing 6lbs. in two weeks will allow one to do. I used to paint my own toe nails all the time, but for the last year have not and instead relied on a sweet friend or a local mani-pedi place to help me out. Nothing like a belly getting all scrunched up and making you breathless to have to relinquish having perpetually perfectly painted piggies. I painted my own piggies this past week , a lovely pink, my favorite color. That’s right, with just six unwanted pounds down the drain, you TOO can have pretty appendages! It made me happy, in case you couldn’t tell.
I am actually a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and kept off a considerable amount of unwanted weight for nigh on twenty years. Then we began the process of moving across country. For six months we were a separated family, bi-coastal, different cultures, different ways of living, and it was beyond stressful. Between late night runs to visit Karen's friends at our favorite (and greatly missed place), stressing about selling our house and having Kris gone
for what seemed FOR. EV.ER., old friends returned to hips and thighs.
Then came the actual change of address, getting lost just about every time we left the house and then having Kris become bishop of our ward, the poundage made its way up the body. Before you could say, "Animal style, hold the pickles" it was 2013 and way, way, way, weigh too much was added to the fluffy frame.
Deciding to lose weight 'for reals' isn't something you just take on one day and succeed at. It's a definite mind game and an inner strength that just makes one have the ability to say, "I can do this now. I am ready and I shall succeed." That, and having to buy a bigger pair of jeans, not being able to easily scale the gates put up for wandering grandchildren, and not wanting to see my silhouette. So I signed up for online accountability. Amazing what having to pay to record what gets shoved in the old cake hole will do for motivation.
I realized that what I done over the last six years was give up my old habits of things like not eating mashed potatoes (I just eat them plainly boiled), not eating any desserts unless it was something chocolate and only on weekends, not eating ice-cream (only non-fat frozen yogurt) and of course, PORTION CONTROL! I also reacquainted myself with cheese, 2% milk and gravy. Lots and lots of gravy.
One has to realize that undertaking all the bad habits of the past results in an even high price the older you get. This time around, and almost twenty years older, menopausal, not nearly as active and miserable, the weight shows up around the face, on and under the arms. Everything flabs and flails. Joints hurt, sagging is predominant and sweat is never ending. It's just NOT a pretty sight or a comfortable existence. In order to reverse all of that I took the leap.
My folks are getting older too, almost 84 and 80, my grandkids are increasing in age and number and I need to be able to take care of and keep up with all and sundry. I don't want to be the grunting, sweating, waddling Nana. I want to be the fun, get down on the floor (and be able to get up), dance in the kitchen Nana. I can't be unhealthy and take care of my parental units, especially if they end up being bedridden and totally reliant on me.
I'm excited for February 1st to savor the bubbly, cold Diet Coke I shall celebrate with. But there will be new rules. I am not going to be consuming the liquid 24/7. Not that I did before, but I did drink way more than has to be healthy. I love Zero Water and regular water (we have GREAT water here in our little borough) so I'll be good to go. I shall reserve the DC for out-of-the-house.
Maybe another non-resolution I can make is to record more of the daily goings on in my life. We shall see. I can't be overly good at doing this kind of thing or Marco will start asking me to make other 'deals' with him. I don't wanna do that!
My son-in-law, Marco, challenged me to give up Diet Coke and any and all artificially sweetened drinks for the months of January. It's has been 21 days since the big DC nectar has passed these chapped lips. I also finally decided that I was tired of being overly fluffy (aka overweight) and rejoined Weight Watchers. Yeah, it's only taken me six years of living in New Jersey to decide that this is where I'm living, my husband is always going to be in some work or church position that keeps him more away from home than in it, and I can't eat my way out of discontent.
So, for not setting goals, I'm working on two biggies. Well, one biggie, as in the poundage, and the Diet Coke, which shouldn't be a biggie, but kinda is. I have to say, it's amazing what losing 6lbs. in two weeks will allow one to do. I used to paint my own toe nails all the time, but for the last year have not and instead relied on a sweet friend or a local mani-pedi place to help me out. Nothing like a belly getting all scrunched up and making you breathless to have to relinquish having perpetually perfectly painted piggies. I painted my own piggies this past week , a lovely pink, my favorite color. That’s right, with just six unwanted pounds down the drain, you TOO can have pretty appendages! It made me happy, in case you couldn’t tell.
I am actually a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and kept off a considerable amount of unwanted weight for nigh on twenty years. Then we began the process of moving across country. For six months we were a separated family, bi-coastal, different cultures, different ways of living, and it was beyond stressful. Between late night runs to visit Karen's friends at our favorite (and greatly missed place), stressing about selling our house and having Kris gone
for what seemed FOR. EV.ER., old friends returned to hips and thighs.
Then came the actual change of address, getting lost just about every time we left the house and then having Kris become bishop of our ward, the poundage made its way up the body. Before you could say, "Animal style, hold the pickles" it was 2013 and way, way, way, weigh too much was added to the fluffy frame.
Deciding to lose weight 'for reals' isn't something you just take on one day and succeed at. It's a definite mind game and an inner strength that just makes one have the ability to say, "I can do this now. I am ready and I shall succeed." That, and having to buy a bigger pair of jeans, not being able to easily scale the gates put up for wandering grandchildren, and not wanting to see my silhouette. So I signed up for online accountability. Amazing what having to pay to record what gets shoved in the old cake hole will do for motivation.
I realized that what I done over the last six years was give up my old habits of things like not eating mashed potatoes (I just eat them plainly boiled), not eating any desserts unless it was something chocolate and only on weekends, not eating ice-cream (only non-fat frozen yogurt) and of course, PORTION CONTROL! I also reacquainted myself with cheese, 2% milk and gravy. Lots and lots of gravy.
One has to realize that undertaking all the bad habits of the past results in an even high price the older you get. This time around, and almost twenty years older, menopausal, not nearly as active and miserable, the weight shows up around the face, on and under the arms. Everything flabs and flails. Joints hurt, sagging is predominant and sweat is never ending. It's just NOT a pretty sight or a comfortable existence. In order to reverse all of that I took the leap.
My folks are getting older too, almost 84 and 80, my grandkids are increasing in age and number and I need to be able to take care of and keep up with all and sundry. I don't want to be the grunting, sweating, waddling Nana. I want to be the fun, get down on the floor (and be able to get up), dance in the kitchen Nana. I can't be unhealthy and take care of my parental units, especially if they end up being bedridden and totally reliant on me.
I'm excited for February 1st to savor the bubbly, cold Diet Coke I shall celebrate with. But there will be new rules. I am not going to be consuming the liquid 24/7. Not that I did before, but I did drink way more than has to be healthy. I love Zero Water and regular water (we have GREAT water here in our little borough) so I'll be good to go. I shall reserve the DC for out-of-the-house.
Maybe another non-resolution I can make is to record more of the daily goings on in my life. We shall see. I can't be overly good at doing this kind of thing or Marco will start asking me to make other 'deals' with him. I don't wanna do that!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
We fall and trip sometimes.
One thing that I have to live with every day is the possibility of one of my family members needing me in a way that I can't always be there for. Other times, I'm there, the need isn't dire, the deed not demanding, but it's a way to help them out.
Case in point. Jamie has cabin fever, and I don't blame he. After the birth of Eliana Jamie lasted maybe two weeks before we made a trip to Target. The weather in California in May being as different as January in New Jersey, made this possible. Taking a baby out even in a California winter is SO different than in New Jersey. Jamie's pediatrician and midwife have both said to avoid taking her where there are large numbers of people, to mention nothing of the sometimes frigid temperatures. Anyway, we have had our little trips to the store, just for a break, and such was to be the case on Thursday.
Kohl's has a great post-holiday sale and we had 30% off, warranting a very necessary trip. You know, you get in the mindset of what your day will go like. Didn't happen quite as we planned. Marco left for work early Thursday morning as usual ... with the car seats in his car. No problem. I'd run over to the school and pick them up, but first I'd have to go over to the hospital to break my friend out and take her home.
Now, anywhere else, this wouldn't be a big deal. Eleven miles to the hospital, from there seven miles to my friend's house and from there to Marco's school, 14 miles then another 14 miles home. A total of around 45 miles took me almost 2 hours. TWO HOURS! I loved the scenery, don't get me wrong, and I do like to drive, but when Retail Therapy is at stake, well, you know. A literal trip and a trip in our plans.
We took another trip on Friday to Sam's Club, my folks, Eliana and I. It was a big trip, lots of items, lots of loading and unloading, and as my mom gets out of the car and closes her door, I notice her wince and make a face. I watched her limp away into the house as I got out of the car to unload the trunk, thinking not much of it since Mom always limps. After about four trips to the car and back to the house, Jamie says, "Have you seen Granny's leg? She's bleeding everywhere!" Sure enough, Mom had caught her leg on the edge of the car door as she back up to close it using her bum (her hands being full) and her thin skin ripped open and blood was pouring down her leg. Jamie took care of her very competently whilst I finished up the unloading and putting away. I always wonder if we are going to have to have a trip to the doctor's to get stitches!
But wait, I'm not finished. Saturday was our first wonderful day of snow and we didn't have to go anywhere. Kris cleared the driveway, the cars and did a few errands etc. Daddy hadn't had a very good night and was feeling somewhat shaky, a common state with his nearly 83 year-old body. We regularly threaten Mommy and Daddy that they are NOT to go out when the weather is bad and there's a possibility that they could slip.
Why Daddy decided that, despite being shaky, he should go out to the garage and do his usual one hundred steps on the elliptical. Unbeknownst to him, there were boots on the step out into the garage and Daddy, not thinking there would be anything there, stepped into one of the boots and went flying. He gashed his arm on something and fell on his knees, badly grazing one of them. Mommy informed me after the fact and she had cleaned him up.
Life is one big trip with lots of falls along the way, literal and figurative. I'm not always good at handling either, and at other times I handle them spectacularly. As time moves on, the literal falls that Mommy and Daddy take are harder for them and me too. Obviously I don't suffer the pain and stiffness of the recovery from their falls, but it scares the crud out of me and makes me feel like I'm not nearly as vigilant as I should be. Should I be up way before them to make sure I'm all dressed and ready for the day, just in case? That "Just in Case" looms over me some days more than others. Should I remove all the rugs that we have lying around? Should everything be lighted 24/7? Which fall will be the last one? And within the year, we're going to have a little one learning to crawl and walk which presents a whole new trip!
All of that sounds kind of dire, but it's the kind of thing that goes through my mind often, especially when I'm trying to go to sleep and I'm going over the day. I'd rather be taking a trip into dreamland.
Case in point. Jamie has cabin fever, and I don't blame he. After the birth of Eliana Jamie lasted maybe two weeks before we made a trip to Target. The weather in California in May being as different as January in New Jersey, made this possible. Taking a baby out even in a California winter is SO different than in New Jersey. Jamie's pediatrician and midwife have both said to avoid taking her where there are large numbers of people, to mention nothing of the sometimes frigid temperatures. Anyway, we have had our little trips to the store, just for a break, and such was to be the case on Thursday.
Kohl's has a great post-holiday sale and we had 30% off, warranting a very necessary trip. You know, you get in the mindset of what your day will go like. Didn't happen quite as we planned. Marco left for work early Thursday morning as usual ... with the car seats in his car. No problem. I'd run over to the school and pick them up, but first I'd have to go over to the hospital to break my friend out and take her home.
Now, anywhere else, this wouldn't be a big deal. Eleven miles to the hospital, from there seven miles to my friend's house and from there to Marco's school, 14 miles then another 14 miles home. A total of around 45 miles took me almost 2 hours. TWO HOURS! I loved the scenery, don't get me wrong, and I do like to drive, but when Retail Therapy is at stake, well, you know. A literal trip and a trip in our plans.
We took another trip on Friday to Sam's Club, my folks, Eliana and I. It was a big trip, lots of items, lots of loading and unloading, and as my mom gets out of the car and closes her door, I notice her wince and make a face. I watched her limp away into the house as I got out of the car to unload the trunk, thinking not much of it since Mom always limps. After about four trips to the car and back to the house, Jamie says, "Have you seen Granny's leg? She's bleeding everywhere!" Sure enough, Mom had caught her leg on the edge of the car door as she back up to close it using her bum (her hands being full) and her thin skin ripped open and blood was pouring down her leg. Jamie took care of her very competently whilst I finished up the unloading and putting away. I always wonder if we are going to have to have a trip to the doctor's to get stitches!
But wait, I'm not finished. Saturday was our first wonderful day of snow and we didn't have to go anywhere. Kris cleared the driveway, the cars and did a few errands etc. Daddy hadn't had a very good night and was feeling somewhat shaky, a common state with his nearly 83 year-old body. We regularly threaten Mommy and Daddy that they are NOT to go out when the weather is bad and there's a possibility that they could slip.
Why Daddy decided that, despite being shaky, he should go out to the garage and do his usual one hundred steps on the elliptical. Unbeknownst to him, there were boots on the step out into the garage and Daddy, not thinking there would be anything there, stepped into one of the boots and went flying. He gashed his arm on something and fell on his knees, badly grazing one of them. Mommy informed me after the fact and she had cleaned him up.
Life is one big trip with lots of falls along the way, literal and figurative. I'm not always good at handling either, and at other times I handle them spectacularly. As time moves on, the literal falls that Mommy and Daddy take are harder for them and me too. Obviously I don't suffer the pain and stiffness of the recovery from their falls, but it scares the crud out of me and makes me feel like I'm not nearly as vigilant as I should be. Should I be up way before them to make sure I'm all dressed and ready for the day, just in case? That "Just in Case" looms over me some days more than others. Should I remove all the rugs that we have lying around? Should everything be lighted 24/7? Which fall will be the last one? And within the year, we're going to have a little one learning to crawl and walk which presents a whole new trip!
All of that sounds kind of dire, but it's the kind of thing that goes through my mind often, especially when I'm trying to go to sleep and I'm going over the day. I'd rather be taking a trip into dreamland.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
In search of a perfect definition.
This past Sunday, November 7th, it was Kris's turn to conduct during the Fast and Testimony Meeting. He bore his testimony, as is customary for the member of the Bishopric who is conducting. During his testimony he told of his love for me, among other things, and what he said made me feel that I needed something to describe 'the essence' of Kris.
The obvious choices, in saying who Kris is, is son, husband, father, papa, and Bishop, mentor, hard-worker, son of God and so on. He is loved by so many, and rightly so, but I've never felt like I could express adequately how I feel about who Kris is. Then I read this article by Brother Johnston. The italicized portion is what I feel perfectly describes my sweet husband. I have much to live up to with the lofty perch he places me upon, whilst I truly believe he deserves the one he sits so modestly upon.
"Last Friday, Clive Romney, his wife, Bonnie, and bass player Rob Honey trekked north to perform for our little band of brethren in Brigham City, Utah. Clive, engineer and conductor of the group Enoch Train and a celebrated songwriter, gave us a taste of our own medicine. He sang about shared pioneer heritage.
One song, a haunting little ballad he'd just penned, has stayed with me for days now. It tells of a pioneer wife who was going through hell but kept seeing bits and pieces of heaven.
The woman isn't in denial. She acknowledges the suffering. She's no Goody Two Shoes.
She simply chooses to see the stars, not the darkness.
She chooses to taste the sweet within the sour and hear the masterpiece, not the missed notes.
I think the ability to do that — to feel joy behind the pain — is a spiritual gift, right up there with healing and preaching.
And the people who have that gift live in a world vastly different than the one most of us know. It is world where goodness lies hidden inside of everything — like maple syrup in a tree.
And Clive's song quickly had me bustling to my bookcase for a book called "Here and Now" by the Christian moralist Henri Nouwen.
Nouwen and Romney are singing the same wonderful song in harmony.
Nouwen writes:
"Joy is not the same as happiness. We can be unhappy about many things, but joy can still be there because it comes from a knowledge of God's love for us. … Often we discover the joy in the midst of sorrow.
"Joy is contagious, just as sorrow is. I have a friend who radiates joy. … He doesn't deny the great sorrow that surrounds him, nor is he blind to the agonizing sights and sounds of his fellow human beings, but his spirit gravitates toward the light in the darkness. … There is nothing sentimental about him. He is a realist, but his deep faith allows him to know that hope is more real than despair."
Nouwen ends by saying he used to get distracted by the clouds instead of looking for the sun. Then he realized it was the sun that allowed him to even see the clouds.
So with the gentle pioneer ancestor in Clive Romney's song. Her story both broke my heart and made my heart soar.
Clive says when he records the song he'll send me a copy.
Maybe I can learn it and sing it for others.
It seems to be the kind of thing the woman in the song would want me to do."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
My Happy Chum
I've been typing up the poems of my great-grandmother, Kitty Friend, and I thought this one was sweet.
MY HAPPY CHUM
The sun rising with flaming gold
Illumined the dawnlight grey,
And with a strength re-born
In the joy of morn
I hailed another day
And as forth to my daily toil I fared
It seemed that the joy of my heart was shared.
Oh the gladness stayed all through the hours
And made each task a delight,
What mattered to me,
Any difficulty
when Life was so wondrous bright?
for aye it seemed that a Comrade strode
Keeping in step along the road.
The setting sun has disappeared
In a glory of Rose and Pearl,
And in sweet content
As the daylight went
I watched nights' wing unfurl;
For I knew, when eventide was come
I had walked with God, my Happy Chum.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Because we don't give up ... maybe.
I really struggled with my last entry, and what a cute one it was too! The pictures ended up all over the place, except on the blog. Kimi tried to fix things for me, because she's kind like that, and a few others have given me their two cents worth. I appreciate it and all, but some of the two cents make no sense to this techy-challenged brain. I'm not going to give up, though, because my grand children are too dang cute and the pictures Kris took were even cuter. Plus, the stories that go along amuse me and should do the same for you. So, here goes, again.
I got really adventurous, something that happens to Nanas, I have found, and went on line to www.thelongthread.com There was a pattern for capes for little heroes and heroines that I thought I could manage sewing. Brinkley's favorite color is green, his favorite shape is a square and so, of course, I had to meet those requirements. The above picture shows the results of my efforts. It's wonderful that these are such little ones because they don't do quality control!
We were with the kiddos from Tuesday night until Saturday afternoon before we had to take off so we could be back home in New Jersey in time for Kris to be at his Bishopric meeting at 6:30 in the a.m. (we got home at 2:00a.m.). The following picture was how we felt at the end of each day. Kris is taking the picture so you don't get to see him, but he would have looked the same if I had taken the picture. Well, he wouldn't be a 'platinum blond' like me, but you get what I'm getting at.
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| Caelen Glenn loves her some bath time. Her hair is so blond and fine that sometimes it's hard to see she even has any. This bath time we decided to show off the spectacular do created with shampoo and her sweet smile. |
As women, we have a thing about our hair, what we do with it, how much we have of it, how it looks on us and so on and so forth. For those of us who have the pleasure of bathing our little Caelen Glenn, we have absolutely cannot, will not and do not shy away from creativity with hair. We were taking care of the kiddos whilst Kimi and Jeremy escaped their real lives in Canada, eh, and this was the first night of bathing. What is there to resist? Water, soap, and THE cutest little face to show off the do.
Caelen has this thing about capes. Brinkley has this soft, athletic-themed throw that his Grandma made him, and Caelen has Kimi tie it around her shoulders. She will usually yell, "Away!" and off she tears down the hallway, blankie flying behind her.
Caelen has this thing about capes. Brinkley has this soft, athletic-themed throw that his Grandma made him, and Caelen has Kimi tie it around her shoulders. She will usually yell, "Away!" and off she tears down the hallway, blankie flying behind her.
Brinkley's favorite color is green and his favorite shape is a square. Yup, met those requirements. Notice how Brinkley's baseball cap matches the colors of the cape. Purely coincidental, but it almost looks like I used the Piperlime Accessory wall very wisely. (Nota bene: reference made to Project Runway, thank you very much.)
The park we were in in Olmsted Falls was an old quarry and there were cute little stone benches, old grinding discs, tables and pathways all through the forest. How cute are these two as they took a moment, a very brief moment, to sit and check out the scenery. It was a super hot day and their little cheeks were soon rosy, I was drippy and soggy and Kris was doing a fantastic job of chasing the kiddos and taking awesome pictures.
There was a little local fair going on and the fire department had a fire engine that the kids could sit in. Brinkley wasn't overly sure about it at first, but as soon as Kris hiked him up there and started taking pictures he was all for it. There was also a little movie set type house set up that the kids could shoot water at to put the "fire" out, but Brinkley wouldn't have any of that.
One of the local stores in downtown North Olmsted sold old organs (the musical kind, of course) and various other bits and pieces from the past. They had this cute little train going round and round so we decided to go inside and check it out. They also had air-conditioning, which was a HUGE plus since it was a brazillion degrees outside and I was one soggy mess. One of the first things both kiddos wanted to do was touch the train, which would have resulted in it derailing. We began the "hands-behind-your-back" indoctrination, lesson #1. Brinkley may be more inclined towards the "hands-in-your-pockets" method, since he has pockets and likes them a lot.
They have the cutest little library right next to the park we were visiting and Brinkley wanted to go in. I was not about to argue since the place also had air-conditioning. Kris was the most adventurous of the two of us wanting to visit any and everything and whilst we tried to read to the kiddos, they were way more interested in us playing with the toys they had in the children's' section.
We were with the kiddos from Tuesday night until Saturday afternoon before we had to take off so we could be back home in New Jersey in time for Kris to be at his Bishopric meeting at 6:30 in the a.m. (we got home at 2:00a.m.). The following picture was how we felt at the end of each day. Kris is taking the picture so you don't get to see him, but he would have looked the same if I had taken the picture. Well, he wouldn't be a 'platinum blond' like me, but you get what I'm getting at.
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