I Hope I Am On The Mend

I started writing this post and put it down for some reason and when I was brushing my teeth to get into bed, I remembered that I hadn't finished my post. So, I guess I am not completely healed as I am still a bit tired and loopy. 

I had several family members and friends call and ask how I was feeling today. I guess the word got out that I was sick as I haven't posted being sick on social media or anything. Most of my family doesn't read my blog so they didn't know I was sick. I have just taken care of myself and am grateful I am feeling better. However, once they hear my voice, it is clear I am sick.

Last night I got the best sleep of a week and only woke once with a weird dream. I still had some wheezing in my lungs and did a breathing treatment today. I felt a bit more energy today, but not enough to do much. 

I am hoping that I will be back to normal by Monday. Have a great weekend and a blessed day!

Blessed With Good Friends - Feeling Better

I blogged early yesterday but got so tired that I guess I forgot to hit post. I went to bed mid day and woke at 11:30 p.m. I forgot that I didn't post or write in my journal. I stayed in bed and was able to get back to sleep for a few hours. However, both times I was able to get into a deep sleep, I had nightmares. 

One of the nightmares was my youngest grandson and he somehow had climbed into a crawl space attic and fell through the ceiling and was saved by one of my brothers and ended up being OK, but it made me stressed enough to wake up. 

The second one was one of my best friends was watching a neighbors house and saw some robbers going in and she confronted them and they took her in the house and were four of them. In the dream, I was running around to all the neighbors in a rural area trying to get someone to help her. I woke up super stressed! 

I am grateful that I was able to get some sleep finally more than ten minutes at a time, but still wonder how much energy I can have getting little or bad sleep. 

I had enough energy when I got out of bed at 1 p.m. today to wash all the bedding, shower, and put a fan in the door and opened the windows and tried to air out the house so it was nice for a few hours to be able to feel good enough to get that done. 

I had one of my dearest friends text asking if she could do anything to help me and I was grateful for her offer as I had all my tax stuff together and had ordered ink for my printer. They came, I printed the information and that night I figured I had Covid, so the tax stuff has been sitting on my counter for days and I need to get it done. I asked if she would be willing to drop it off at the accountants for me. 

She asked if I needed any groceries and I was so glad that I had purchased extra food the other day when I just felt I should. I usually go to the store every day or two and pick up ripe bananas as I won't eat them if they start turning brown at all. 

I also have craved cool food due to my throat being on fire, so mint ice cream as it opened op the tight chest. I know dairy products are not good as they create mucous but it felt so good on my throat and chest. 

I mentioned maybe three bananas and a half gallon of mint chip ice cream, and being the kind people they are, she and her husband dropped off the tax information and brought twice as much of the bananas and ice cream for me. 

I ate on of the bananas immediately and didn't realize how much I enjoy eating one each day as I haven't had one in a week or so. It was so nice of them to do that for me. I feel grateful that my girls have been checking up on me and several friends asked if they could do anything but Julie has asked how I was doing a few times and offered to help me. I have mentioned her a few times over the years but just really love her so much. She was the first person to come up and introduce herself at church when we moved to this town and stayed with my father before we could find a home. She is just that type of person! 

She is really one of my best friends of life! We were able to work together in our woman's group leadership for a few years as well. I am so blessed!

Have a Blessed Day!

I Somehow Missed A Day - Obviously OUT OF IT

I am more out of it than I realized. Somehow, I missed hitting publish on my last post. So, today, I get ready to write my next post, realize at that point that I didn't have anything posted yesterday. 

I write my post for tomorrow and it is midnight and I think, I need to put my sheets back on my bed and I'm feeling tired. I get ready to get off the computer, and I begin to think about what day it is, and realized that I totally missed an entire day of blogging, not only forgetting to post one day, but didn't even write a post for a day and didn't KNOW that I missed a day completely. 

I remember that in my feverish, flaming throat flips in the night, I thought, "I forgot to write in my journal." However, I didn't think, "I forgot to blog." I was just in a pain filled dark place. I think that in the 11 years I have been blogging, this has only happened one other time. 

I will be very excited to feel better! I think I am getting better and hope that I don't do what many have done by getting a bit better, and then taking a dive. It will be nice to have this over. 

Have a blessed day! 

I've Officially Had them All And More

I was finally able to get more than five or ten minutes sleep at one time early this morning as my throat stopped hurting as much, but the headache returned, the eye sensitivity is back and fairly consistent for a few weeks as well as my vision has been more blurry. I did have shortness of breath today and actually did a breathing treatment today as the mucous is so thick. 

I noticed some more taste issues, but had less fatigue today, but that could be due to getting a little more sleep last night. I still didn't have much energy to do anything because of shortness of breath. I just kept trying to deep breathe. 

The headache has started to get worse tonight and my gums have been really sore for three days along with my neck and throat. I have also had more of the sharp shooting pains throughout the body. It has been a good day in some ways but bad in some ways. 

These are the symptoms on the CDC website of Covid:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms."

I am SOOOOO grateful for that thought that I needed to make chicken stock. Today I had three mugs of stock and pineapple I had cut up. It was nice to be able to have food ready to just pour and heat. God is so good to me! 

I am hoping I can get some good sleep tonight and feel like I can breathe a bit better tomorrow. 

Have a blessed day!

I'm Fairly Sure I have COVID

 

I started having some weird symptoms about five days ago. My eyes were red and irritated and felt like they did when I had measles. 

Four days ago I woke up with a horrible headache. I took some medication and the headache got better, but I still had it most of the day. 

Three days ago, I woke up with a back ache in my right shoulder. I couldn't move for hours in the morning. I also started having little short pains like blood not getting to an area. I also had weird feelings on the roof of my mouth. When I would drink, it would feel like something was loose in the back of my mouth, and my tongue has felt like I burned it on pizza or something for about a week or so. 

I then started having a sore throat which came on VERY suddenly. It was hot and sore and no matter what I took, it still felt sore. I was up most of the night with pain in my neck. 

Last night I couldn't get warm but was feverish. I had on wool slipper,s sweats, a heated blanket and was still cold. I was awake every few minutes with neck pain and more head cold symptoms. I also woke in clammy sweats a few times.

I climbed into bed at 8 p.m. and woke about noon but woke every few minutes when I would take something to try and numb it. By the time I got out of bed, I had sharp pains throughout my body and my neck was so sore it hurt to move my head or open my mouth. My neck lymph and groin lymph are swollen and hurt. 

I love that God takes care of my needs. I purchased 2 whole chickens a few days ago as I wanted to make chicken broth! I must have known that I was getting sick before I got sick. I made a roast yesterday and then boiled down the chicken for the broth today and felt much better after drinking some. 

My nose is now dripping, my throat, mouth, teeth, and neck are really sore. I hope I can start feeling better. 

Have a blessed day!

Whopper of a Day - Migraine and Service

My day started early with a call to get boxes of food to distribute, but I was fighting a migraine and it was rough most of the day!

 I distributed boxes of food in the morning and then filled my car with cases of items the food bank has overages of and was distributing those most of the day. 

Yesterday, I also distributed most of the day. Usually when I distribute, it is perishable items that we can't fit in the freezer or fridges. However, I had 2 cases of about 12 different items in my car and would just have people get a box or bags and "shop" around my car. 

At lunchtime today, we went to the senior center who opened their doors for lunches after a year of drive through lunches due to Covid. One of the workers from the food bank was sharing information about how they can apply for a federal program if they make under $1300 a month for a few box of food a month. She also shared how a single person can make just under $2000 and still get help from our food bank giving them another box per month. 

Once they finished lunch, they "shopped" around my car and then I distributed from my car at different spots around town to bring awareness to the food bank and was able to help a father who had just gotten custody of his daughter was put into foster care after she was taken from her mother a year ago. I helped a woman whose husband is in jail and she is working a few jobs trying to support her family. I helped a woman who thought she didn't qualify by making more money that allowed but I was able to show her that she qualified. 

I met a Hispanic mother of 2 who has friends that are undocumented and I gave her directions to the food bank and the hours we are open and asked her to share with them where and when they can come get food without prejudice as we recently heard that some children were going hungry due to fear of deportation. We are looking for ways to reach out to them. I was grateful I was led to meeting her. 

It is amazing how many people I got to meet or talk to just because I had a car of food to give away! 

I was grateful at days end that I started feeling better in the afternoon and hope that I can sleep in as I am exhausted! It has been two very busy days! 

Have a blessed day!

Neighborhood Service Project - Lot Clean up

A few weeks back, I felt like I should contact my neighbor whose husband passed away a few years back to see if I could help her in her yard. 

My neighbor had a huge garden and gave me produce all summer long every year. Since he passed away, and the year before his death, he didn't garden and his plot has been sitting empty and his tools are rotting in the shed. 

I asked another family in the neighborhood if they would help me clean off the garden lot and they said they would. I wish I would have taken "before" photos of the lot, but as usual, I didn't think about taking pictures until we were almost finished. 

I felt very sad when my helping neighbor hit his head on the swing set and got a small cut on the top of his head that alarmed his children as head cuts bleed lots. We got it cleaned up and sanitized and then finished off the lot and it looked great! 

The owner of the lot appreciated the help as that area has been in shambles for years. My favorite part of the night was when their four year old threw a fit at home saying she wanted to come help me! She kept saying, "I want to help!" so I would show her how to rake, carry bricks, drag sticks, put stuff in the garbage, etc. I loved when I looked over and she had the rake upside-down and she was dragging it around. It was so funny! 

I loved that they got all seven children out there at some point to help! I have great neighbors!

Have a blessed day!  

Can You Tell Me What This Is - Interesting Pottery Find

Last week I was shopping at a second hand store and I saw this cute little "thing" and asked all the employees at the store if they knew what the pot was. 

I thought about it holding toothpicks, but they would fall out the sides and there is no way to make them come out of the mouth. When I asked the employees, they said the exact same thing. It was funny! 

I had to buy it just to see if I could find out what it is used for as it is so unique. 

I am wondering if one of my friends on here can tell me what it is and what it is used for as I have no idea. I can't read the potters name very well either. 

It amazes me that potters work so hard on their items and then use symbols, stamps or messy signatures to sign their work making it hard to attribute the work to them. I don't know why as if I took the time to create something, I would want to take the credit for the item. 

If you have any ideas, please let me know in the comments! 

Have a blessed day!

Catching Up on Jewelry Videos - Lots of Silver and Some Gold

I need to catch up on some jewelry videos. I have over 50 videos that are uploaded on YouTube and need to be posted, so I thought I would post two videos today to try and catch up some. 

I don't buy many jewelry bags anymore, but got a few good bags in the past few months. I am glad to get another two videos published. 

Have a blessed day!

Stoning Ourselves - Sometimes We Are Our Own Worst Enemy

I was sitting in church today when I got a feeling that I should share some things that I have been working on recently. After church, I outlined a video and recorded the video sharing things I have done, and am still working on improving about myself, and how I talk to myself. 

In the video, I suggest that we throw stones at ourselves regularly by the things we think and those words we say out loud about ourselves. 

I share ideas on how to be kind to ourselves, and stop negative self talk and behaviors. I share how we would never say things to others that we tell ourselves daily. We don't treat ourselves like we would a friend or our family. 

We are often more kind to others than we are to ourselves. I make several suggestions about how I have been working on talking kinder to myself, putting up reminder notes through my day so that I can break the cycle of negative talk. 

I start my day by singing some positive "songs" while I get ready and have noticed since I have been doing that, I do less self talk and have been laughing more throughout my day! 

It is a path and I am working on accepting myself how I am, rather than judging myself as I have judged myself in the past. It is nice to be happier with myself. 

At the end of the video, I share a song written by Michael McClain called "Gentle" and I link the video here as I think you will enjoy hearing it. 

Here are the lyrics to GENTLE:

Like a gentle wind can blow the clouds from the sky,
Like a gentle touch can ease the pain of goodbye,
Like a gentle smile embraces empty souls in lonely places,
We should be more gentle with ourselves.

[Verse 2]

Like the friend who gently builds us up when we're down,
Like a gentle kiss can turn our world all around,
We've been hurt by others often,
We've forgiven and forgotten,
We should be more gentle with ourselves.

[Bridge]

Life can be hard but
we need not be so hard
on ourselves,
If we will see

[Verse 3]

Like the Shepherd leads his flock with gentle commands.
With his gentle voice that only hearts understand.
One thing we can know for certain, He has borne the awful burden
so we can be more gentle with ourselves.

Have a blessed day!

111 and In God We Trust Week

I had the best days this week! I had lots of errands to run and at my first stop the other day, I parked in a spot I have only park in a few times in the 20+ years I have lived here. 

All the other spots were taken so I had to park in that different area. As soon as I opened the door, I knew why I had to park there, there was a penny just on the ground as I opened the door. I didn't even get out of the car to take the picture!

I got to the next store where I was purchasing a goodbye gift card for my friend who is moving, and when I was checking out, there was a coin on the ground. 

I went to the next store and was buying a balloon to tie onto the treats to go with the gift card and found another penny at checkout. 

I went to the goodbye party my bunko group had for her, and loved that my hosting friend bought me some gluten free rolls for the turkey salad. It was a good night. 

The other day I spent a few hours researching something I read about that helps return normal flora to the gut and found while researching that there is a patented process for a specific type of the product, and it happens to be called De111! 

I ordered them and laughed when I saw the order number started with a 111! The order ended up being placed on the 11th as well!  

I fell like God is letting me know He is in the details of my life in several ways! Reminding me to trust in Him with the coins, and letting me know He is in charge and maybe my health will get better soon!

Wouldn't that be wonderful! I feel so blessed to have reminders in my life to Trust in HIM and also that he is mindful of me with the 111's!  

Have a blessed day!

Ordering a Photo Print is Cheaper Than Buying a Print Cartridge

I bought a pair of Birkenstock sandals online. There was some confusion on the sizing on the particular site where I purchased them. I needed to mail them back. I got an email with a label to mail them back. 

I don't use my printer very often and I purchased three cartridges online but each one only lasted for one printing.

I spent a long time today trying to get either of those two cartridges working and none of them worked. I wondered if there was a place in town to print things but I couldn't think of anyone who may have a printer. 

I was busy helping a neighbor and then went to Walmart to buy a new print cartridge but the cheapest one cartridge was almost $30 So for a $5 shipping label, I would have to pay $30 to print the label. I asked one of the photo printing ladies for help and she suggested that I print the label as a photo as they have 4 x 6 pictures on sale for $.09 each. 

I pulled up the label from the company and took a screen shot, then printed it out and it was a dime verses $30. I think it should be illegal for the printer companies to charge so much for the product. It is almost cheaper to buy a new printer!

So, I thought I would share that idea as it was much cheaper than printing it myself! 

Have a blessed day! 

Happy Anniversary - 11 Years Old TODAY

 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 was the first day I blogged. My first post was titled:

"You are Lucky." "No, I am BLESSED"

I can't believe I have been blogging five days a week for 11 years! It doesn't seem like it could be that many years until I start looking at my first year of posts. The girls were so young. It is amazing to go through all the years and see how my life has changed. 

I am so glad my friend Sara shared her feelings with me about thinking I should blog. I didn't know that I could keep up writing with all the other things I had and have in my life. I wondered if I could fill the pages having things to write about thinking things would have to be "crafty" or "Pintrist" worthy.  

In the end, it turned into more of a family journal and a way to share many ideas that I have come up with or a place to put my favorite recipes and other recipes people have shared with me. 

It has been a wonderful journey and I am grateful to those of you who have come along for the ride. 

Here is to another 11 years! Have a blessed day!

Great-Grandma is Turning 99

My wonderful Step-Mom's mother is turning 99! They planned a big party for her and she had family from all over the U.S. come in for the party. I painted my toes with "sprinkles" for the occasion. They also didn't want gifts, so I bought a flashing light crown for her to wear.

Because of Covid, they didn't invite the grand-children as they didn't want to expose her but they invited her children and their children. 

I was SO tired getting up for the long drive and if it had been anything else. I would have canceled being so tired, but I LOVE these women who are the glue to our wonderful family. My mother was a talented amazing women. My step-mother is so focused on serving others and planning and implementing so many activities for our family, I always say that my dad sure knows how to pick amazing women! 

They had a wonderful meal brought in. She was born and raised in Hawaii so they had a Hawaiian restaurant cater it. One of her grand-daughter did a wonderful job decorating. Her oldest grandson did a slideshow of her life. I don't think I have been to that town since picking Princess Five up after her mission nearly a year ago. 

It has been a long time since I have taken that type of a road trip. It was a long day, however, I LOVED the entire day! I also was able to visit with my closest cousin while growing up for a few hours. It has been some time since I have been able to visit with her one on one. It was great to spend time with her. 

I was so glad to be able to visit with Great-Grandma. She has been in quarantine and we haven't been able to see her so it was nice to visit with her. She is blind and nearly deaf and has been in independent living doing all her own laundry and self care. She is so amazing and kind and she has always been so thoughtful of our needs. I feel so blessed to have her in my life! 

Have a blessed day!

National Slow Looking Day At Museums - It Was A Great Day With Princess Two

I had to take a road trip through Princess Two's hometown this week. I called and asked if I could spend either the morning, or the evening with her. 

She said she had plans in the afternoon and may have plans in the evening, so I asked if I could take her to breakfast or lunch on my way through. I offered to go shopping for an hour or two as well as anything else she wanted to do. She sent me a link to an article about a national "slow look" museum day! 

I LOVE art and often stand in front of a painting studying the symbolism, strokes, painters mindset, and all the little details of the art. Here is a link to me visiting the Norman Rockwell exhibit. I have enjoyed the Carl Bloch exhibits they have had over the years there as well. 

I went to look at that link above and laughed when I saw that we had almost the exact photos and that when I got into the car to head on my road-trip, the odometer in the car was at 111.1 and didn't remember that it was the same when I drove up to the Normal Rockwell exhibit. There were so many similarities on this trip! What are the chances of that? Also we had the rainbow above us made out of string and it made me feel like my mother was with us as she LOVED Art, there was one painting in particular I know she would have loved. Also, I was able to visit her grave on this trip and was able to put some flowers on her grave, so I did feel her with me much of the day!

We loved the visit to the museum and since it was "Slow Looking Museum Day" they gave you a gift at the end of the day. We got a print of one of my favorite paintings ever! It is by Carl Bloch and is Christ Healing at the waters of Bethesda! I love that it shows Christ going to the absolute most pitiful person who is unable to do anything to help himself and Christ was not overlooking the least. Princess Two picked a card of another amazing print they had of an artwork there. They also gave out mini magnifying glasses.

I think the grandchildren are going to love the mini magnifying glass as I have a few "I-Spy" and "Wheres Waldo" books they can use it with! 

We then went to one of our favorite Thai food places for lunch. We visited as we haven't in a very long time. I haven't traveled much at all during Covid and have missed connecting with my girls. It was such a lovely day! I got a fortune that said, "A day without a smile is a day wasted." I believe that! 

I am forever laughing at myself as I do silly things at home and find things that others don't funny. Last week, we were playing a game around the campfire and my nephews wife was so funny in her hints to him and was overly obvious and I just started laughing until I was crying and no one else thought it was funny. I laughed and laughed and went into my trailer and kept laughing for a few more minutes by myself. I love to laugh and smile! 

I wish I had more time to spend with Princess Two, but feel that we used our time together well! I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful person in my family! She is a one of a kind person! I would have a huge hole in my life if she weren't in it! 

I hope you are so blessed to have someone in your life that brings God's light into it!! She really is a light to the world and I am grateful I can call her mine! 

Have a Blessed Day!

Another Long Day But Feeling Blessed

I woke early and filled my car with boxes of food and distributed them. I left and didn't get back home for about 7 hours and then left again and then back home exhausted. 

I wanted to go to bed early, but as usual, I get busy doing things and don't get to bed early. I love that I get to help others by distributing food from various sources. Today the boxes were heavy and my back was a bit sore, but it was great having a car to take the boxes around and having people show gratitude for my taking time to do that. 

I went to a second hand store and found a few games and puzzles that I think my grand-kids would like and while opening one to make sure the pieces were there, there were a ton of pennies in the box with the game. I asked the manager about it and he said if I found them, they were mine. I just love when I find money as it always reminds me to trust in God. Here is a link to the first post on that. 

I also have a good friend moving. I am so sad she is leaving but she is headed to be near her kids and grandchild. She is cleaning out her house as it sold in a weekend. She has shared some things with me that her children didn't want and she gave me a Dyson Vacuum. I had no idea how expensive those are until I was at Home Depot today. They are $300 to $600 so that was very generous of her. 

I feel very blessed today being able to help others and having others bless me, and then having a reminder to trust God in so many ways. All the pennies in the photo but 2 were in that box of the game. Hopefully, it is telling me that lots of changes are coming soon! ;-) 

As I am typing this, I am listening to the latest American Idol songs as I usually have something playing in the background. I have had the entire hour and 12 minutes playing and am just about finished writing this post and the last song on the show was sung by Deshawn, a 19 year old contestant and guess what he is singing? Yes, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow!" I just thought that was funny as I was writing about "Changes, trusting in God, and being blessed". Here is a link to what that song means to me. It is a reminder that my mother is watching over me.  

Have a blessed day!

An Unexpected Night Around The Fire

I went to our annual family Easter camp-out for the first time in five years. 

My girls all left on Friday to go home as they had obligations. Much of the family would be staying through Saturday, but since my girls were going home, I wanted to leave. 

I started to get packed up but had the feeling I should stay. I visited and played games around the campfire with many in my family I hadn't had any contact with for some time. 

I was able to help a niece that was needing somewhere to sleep. I was able to visit with her in the trailer for a few hours and we gave each other foot rubs which was really nice as I don't get them all that often anymore living alone. 

I am glad I listened to that feeling and got to catch up with my niece and visit with others. I was able to get home safely on Saturday. 

Have a blessed day!