I found myself at a funeral today... I went with my husband to support his longtime friend who lost his wife... I did not know the woman. I had not been to a funeral since mom died in February. I was sitting there minding my own business when I was overpowered by a cascade of emotions! Sneeky things...emotions! Just as I think I have some control they smack me upside the head once again. In keeping with the idea of counting blessings at ALL times I am trying to count these...

• Able to feel emotions at all
• had a mom worth remembering
• have a car that will get to a funeral
• have a husband to go with
• have someone to be with my son Andy so I can go
• 
  

There...that is how i get started counting those blessings and praising GOD for each and every one! 
How about you? 
What are you counting as your blessings today?? 

birthday #53

ok... I have lived through another Birthday... now to be middle aged I will have to live to be 106! This is doable...right?
To take inventory...
1. still weigh too much, 2. grey is increasing, 3. wrinkles are increasing, 4. seeking simplicity and seem to be gaining on it...hence the grey increasing (no more dye), 5. children are grown up men now, 6. grandbabies growing...3yr old informed me she is NOT a baby! another one starting school in fall...
Goals?
1. Andy's independence increase
2. Increase my health earmarks
    a. blood pressure continue to be normal
    b. stamina continue to increase with Victoza
    c. cholestrol continue to decrease
3. continue simplification of homestead
4. develop stream of income
5. not dwell on weight loss but on health increasing...

a new joy filled year?

A new year and what will it hold... lots of hugs and grandbaby kisses... laughter and prayer... looking for joy where it can be found... I know sometimes we have to search for these simple things... some days they are harder to find than others... the world here is covered in snow and much is hidden just like the joy is sometimes hidden in our life... it takes determination sometimes to find it... a choice to seek the joy in our little lives... the taste of a strawberry, the breeze on a hot day, the snore of the one you love beside you, giggle of a child on the phone, "I love you" long distance from someone who means it... tiny things in this HUGE world but all can bring joy into my little life... I will search for these things and FIND them this year...

perfect rest? yes, if my mind is set on GOD...

sister's love...pure perfection... decisions...decisions...decisions...

Setting priorities is a ways a challenge...

When my boys were little it was easy... They were first even when they didn't think so...they were... Now there are grandbabies and parent needs that are a part of the mix... I want to be helpful and available for them all... only kink is they are 1100 miles apart!!! So now I am working out logistics to be there for them all... I have a partner in all this. He is quite strong and knowledgeable, and available anytime I need a shoulder to cry on or a new idea or just to know someone is in this situation with me... no it is not my sweetheart (his is all those things as well). It is my GOD... He is always there and can watch over all my little family here and afar and keep all them tucked under his wing of protection. He is always ready with a new idea or plan if I will take the time to let him whisper it into my ear... I just have to remember that he is willing if I am ready. He can protect them all and lead them when I am not right there...he is... I often wonder how others do it all without his support...it must be so hard... well I will go get busy.

you be blessed today...

simple life?

pics show simple contentment at it's best...imho

where is my simple life? Hidden behind all the stuff my life holds... things, projects, plans, people... simplicity disappears behind life... so it is time to dig it out...

• set priorities
• purge unnecessary projects
• plan for simplicity
• ease away from the draining people (embrace the uplifting ones)

priorities... family, health(physical, mental, spirituial), food, clothing, shelter...that looks like a good place to begin... focus on these priorities...if it does not contribute to these things then ease it or throw it out of my life...

be blessed today

naming property???

grand baby #6 chad took this pic of grandma laughing...he is 5...

this is mom & dad a few years back...

Years ago I was looking for a name for my property. I knew it came from GOD... just too many coincidences fell in place for it not to be a true blessing. I remembered a verse that says "GOD inhabits the praise of his people". I wanted him to be welcome and live at my place so it became "praise place". This has been the name of many physical places since then, and the name of my ministry, but truly I think it is the name of my heart. We will be moving once again and I know I will carry the name with me. It is interesting how a place will get a name. My dad lived in an area that the kids all called "rainbow" because of the HUGE rainbow bread sign on the tiny local store in that community. Where my parents live now...mom named "rainbow's end". I need to get busy today...taking a few more steps to get ready to move... be blessed today

still mowing

grandbaby #6 chad and grandma resting in outdoor swing (bed mode)

Today my sweetie put a running board on our old van "bertha" (name provided by my son). Now I can get in from both sides!! While he was doing that I took on the mowing chore... (he made this suggestion...he is trying to keep me moving) I did it all without taking a break... (mind you we live in a trailer park...not much lawn) I am 43lbs lighter than my last mowing blog was written... I did work up a sweat (or glistened) but I did not have to go sit for a while to rest before I finished... I am getting stronger... I still have MILES to go before I reach optimum health but I am making progress... in a book I wrote years ago it said over and over...Progress not perfection... I need to practice what I preached... this pic is from our most recent visit with Chad... we were resting after he took grandma for a walk... he grabs my hand and pulls me all the way...to see every animal, leaf, and especially any worms that my cross our path... *:)

doctor report 7-09

me and my sweetheart...
he is still here even if I am falling apart at the seams...haha...

Yesterday I went to see a new doctor. He seems to be thorough and I like that. Wants to run blood tests and wrote refills for meds and made lots of notes as we talked. So for those of you who do not know. Here is my list:

• arthritis...hips, spine, shoulders, knees
  
• fibromylagia...all over, more than anywhere else...haha
  
• edema...feet and legs
  
• spurs in spine and knees
  
• morbid obesity...haha
  
• incontience...shush...don't tell

Now he wants blood to see if there is more... ain't life grand...

I know life is quite grand. Wonderful in fact...In spite of the fact that most of these problems have plagued me for over 20 years I still feel life is wonderful... I must just always remember to count my blessings and to praise GOD for each one... that is how I cope...

song stuck in my head...

this is one of my blessings...grandbaby # 8 miss zoe

old song...
"i am blessed"
"i am blessed"
"every day that i live i am blessed"
"when i wake up in the morning"
"when i lay my head to rest"
"i am blessed"
"i am blessed"
i guess this is one that is easier to sing sometimes than others...
i know if i can get this one stuck in my head my day always goes better...
what song is stuck in your head today?

doctor visit...blessings?

Today off to see the doctor... great fun... I have had such a setback since my other doctor moved. I ran out of meds about 3 weeks ago and my body has quickly began to suffer. So here we are with a chance to fix all that. It is always a challenge to start over with a new doc. I need to convince him that I am a partner in my health care and not just a patient. I know more about this old body of mine than anyone. I need him to work with me not on me. Sometimes a doctor cannot see past the weight to know there may be other factors at work in my body. The weight is just one of the symptoms...not necessarily the cause. I have fought these battles for 20 years now and get tired of it from time to time...but I cannot give in or give up. I already tried that once and it just made things worse.So once again I seek someone with more education than I have to help me "get all better".

I pack up another box yesterday. My bathroom bookcase is just about empty. Just my jewelry boxes remain. T-my DIL is getting excited about all the plans. This is a big move for all of us. It will take a year of more to get us all moved and settled. It is a long way from Ohio to Texas...and moving 13 people will not be easy... I am ready to return to our neck of the woods. I do so look forward to being in the country again and building a life to share with my children and grandchildren. Of course having my sweetheart beside me and parents close is going to make things all fall into place. I am looking for blessings from this day forward. We have had enough trial...it is time to receive good and not evil, blessing and not cursing, and joy not sorrow... I am ready to sit in peace and enjoy the blessing of GOD...

peaceful morning

peaceful morning seems to equal getting up before anyone else and having quiet time...

so coffee is ready for James... Andy is still curled up in bed and probably will be till his aide arrives... e-mail all checked... and now to decide on my project for today...

I did get the bottom shelf packed in the bathroom yesterday and went to the beach a sat a bit with James... then we spent some time on our swing in the yard...

we are still hashing our our plans about moving... we think the decision to keep the van is final... now to do some final prep so it can make the 1100 miles journey to Texas from Ohio... seems it needs a new radiator... we will begin the hunt for a radiator deal today...

why simplify...

This is it the beginning...

In the beginning was the word...

That was a good start for one author if I recall...

I am trying to find simplicity...

Downsizing has been a chore... from 3 houses to one... from one with 3 bedrooms, a full basement, and a double garage to a mobile home... now possibly to a few rooms or a cabin in Elysian Fields, Texas...

So what am I hoping to accomplish?

Maybe in ridding my life of stuff, I will make more room for life...

a ride to the water, or a walk on a mountain, or even a hug from a grand baby...

in order to do these things I seek to simplify.

Life can be so busy and things rob us of our peace, of important things we need... not necessarily want... but need...

Do I need... shoes? (not in my house...but yes at the store...)

a hat? (on the Ohio beach or in the heat of the Texas sun... yes)

a big house? a chicken? a goat? a cat? a dog? land of my own?

These answers will be so different for each of us... and have even been different at different times of my life... for now I will just take one step at a time...and right now that involves fixing breakfast for James and me...