Saturday, March 23, 2019

Happy on a Spring Day

Today is a beautiful Spring day in the UP.  The sun is shining, the temperature is in the 40s and 50s and although there is still lots of snow on the ground, it is still a beautiful Spring day.  I decided to take this Spring feeling and list the small things that make me happy.  During the winter months, the list of things that upset me gets pretty long but when Spring arrives, I find my spirits lifting and appreciating the small things in life.  So here it is...

10 Things That Make Me Happy

1)  Spring breezes coming through the open windows after a long winter

2)  That first cup of coffee in the morning

3)  Cuddling and talking to my pets

4)  Starting a book and realizing I won't be able to put it down until I'm done.

5)  My blue cuddly blanket still warm from the dryer

6)  Phone calls and text messages from my children

7)  New journals whose blank pages are inviting me to write

8)  Watching the same movie over a dozen times and still enjoying every minute of it

9)  Chocolate ice cream with crushed pretzels mixed in

10) Sitting on the porch on a summer morning listening to the birds call

Friday, March 15, 2019

3 Reasons I Am Still On Facebook But Don't Want To Be

I don't particularly like Facebook and since last year, I have been deleting posts, videos and pictures I have saved.  I am considering seriously of deleting it altogether, however I still have reasons to stay on it.

1.  Communicate with family.
I have a number of family members who, for a number of reasons, I do not communicate by     phone with often.  Facebook is an easy way for us to connect even if it is just to say "Good morning. Have a good day.  Love you".

2.  Keep up on the news of my former school.
I am a retired teacher and Facebook is a way for me to keep updated on what is happening in my former school. There is a school website but Facebook lets me see what individual colleagues are doing as well as keeping up with former students.

3.  Groups that focus on my interests.
I belong to a number of groups on Facebook that relate to interests and pasttimes of mine.  However, I have been paring these down as well.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Decluttering for Lent



This is a reprint of my post on February 18, 2016.  On this Ash Wednesday of 2019, I begin with my 4th annual decluttering for Lent.  Although most of what I decluttered in 2016 were clothes in my closet, I have also gone thru other rooms in my house as well as in the garage to declutter.  Amazing what one can find that is no longer being used but in good condition for someone else to use.  It is my hope that this post will inspire others as well.



Lent, for me, is a time to not only give something up but also to give something to...to an individual, an organization, a community, etc.  Normally, during Lent I would give twice as much to my church in the Sunday collection plate.  But this year, I decided I wanted to do something different.  Giving money is great but how easy that is...open your wallet, pull out the money and drop it in the basket.  Out of sight, out of mind.  It gave to someone or something but it did nothing for me.  Lent is when I should be learning about sacrifice, about appreciating the sacrifice Jesus made for us by experiencing one of my own.

While trying to get some inspiration on how to "give something" for Lent, I came across a post from a woman who chose to combine giving with decluttering.  She took a large trash bag and beginning on Ash Wednesday and each day thereafter, she put an item of clothing from her closet in it.  At the end of Lent, the bag of clothes would be donated to an organization that would see that the clothes go to people who need them.  Now you might say what does decluttering have to do with sacrifice.  Well, have you ever looked thru your closet and said, "I can't get rid of that.  I will wear it one day" or "When I lose 5 pounds that will fit again" or "That will come back in style soon".   Then you choose not to get rid of anything and clothes hang in your closet never to be worn again.  Decluttering the closet is like decluttering our lives.  Jesus wants us to focus on what is important in our lives not on the clutter.  He sacrificed His life to show that nothing else is more important than the life He gave us.  When He asked Peter and the apostles to follow Him, He told them not to bring anything.  They did not need anything but Him.  He is not asking us to totally get rid of everything, He is just asking us to share what we have so that we can follow His teachings better.  So, I have begun this Lent declutter project.  To my surprise, I am finding that it is not as hard as I thought it would be to declutter my closet and each time I put a piece of clothing in the bag, I pray and remind myself just where my focus should be.

Dear Jesus,
Just as I declutter my closet
one article of clothing at a time,
Help me to rid my mind and heart
of all the negativity and unimportant stresses
that take my focus off You.
Help me to focus on what You gave us
because of Your sacrifice on the cross
and help me prepare my mind, heart and
soul for Your coming on Easter morn.

Friday, March 1, 2019

Where I Am 2 Months In

Here it is the beginning of March and I am looking at both sides of where I am in 2019 so far.  First, Let's look at the plus side.  Days are getting longer which means, hopefully, that spring is coming.  My youngest son has a new girlfriend and it seems to be going well.  He's quite happy and she is a nice girl whom we like.  Our oldest son and daughter-in-law are doing quite well in their jobs and their first year in the new house.  My husband and I are surviving the winter with a minimum of frustration and the medical problems that have been plaguing the two of us have returned to a more manageable state.  Physical therapy has done me a world of good with my balance and I find that I can move around more with less pain. On the negative side, there is so much snow outside my door that it is like living in a snow tunnel, roofs around the city are collapsing under the weight of all of it and more is on the way.  I am developing the winter nutsies and want this season done quick.

As for my goals for 2019, I have accomplished a few so far.  We have worked on getting our credit rating up and it has been rising steadily.  We have put away a nice emergency fund which we have wanted to do for awhile now.  I have been able to get my body on a routine of sleeping at least 7 hours a night.  This is a major step for me since in the past I have only been able to manage 4 hours.

Not bad for only 2 months in of the new year.  I am optimistic for the days ahead.