FINDING JOY IN THE MUNDANE

IN A LOT OF WAYS MY JUNK ROOM IS LIKE THIS OLD ATTIC FULL OF THINGS JUST WAITING FOR ATTENTION.  These illustrations have more order than my messes in the junk room.

I believe that there is light at the end of this tunnel and I will keep on task of getting organized and downsizing.  Oh, what a wonderful time that will be when I am in maintenance mode.

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE...I will REJOICE and be GLAD in it!!!

How can an old woman like myself find joy in the mundane of going through huge boxes of paperwork that have been sitting for over 5 years?  How can I go at this with enthusiasm knowing it will take hours of time going through all of it sorting through mixed up papers?

I had an epiphany of sorts the other day, when it registered and soaked in deep that we still had possession of all the letters, cards and receipts, etc. that the fire didn't destroy.  Some of the things do have smoke stains on the edges, but no odor due to all being ozoned.  

I had started yesterday sitting in the JUNK ROOM going through boxes and pictures for several hours.  Today, I woke early and started in again.  Letters, cards, photographs, certificates, newspaper clippings, school programs, children's artwork, my childhood artwork, hubby's sketches, obituaries, funeral programs,  knick knacks, etc.  I came across a small drawer that belongs to a Civil War Plantation Desk we have that I knew was in one of the boxes, just didn't know which one.  It was a YES MOMENT with great enthusiasm.  It is like long lost relatives finding each other after years of not knowing where each other were.  This baby drawer has been reunited with its mother.  This is a bit of an exaggeration, but it makes me happy to be able to say this that they are reunited.

I came across receipts from when we ordered our Ethan Allen furniture back in 2000.  I pitched fabric samples and pictures of furniture that were destroyed in the fire.  Items have been replaced and I have no need of this paperwork anymore.

I shook my head saying, "I think I kept everything."  I'm alright with keeping instruction manuals of appliances, old tax statements, achievement certificates, artwork, pictures, drawings, ribbons...this sort of thing.  I can get back to being organized once again.

Grouping things together for children and grandchildren will become a delight once again as I manage to give each child a yellow envelope to hold individual pictures, cards and invitations in them. YELLOW ENVELOPES are the way to go for keeping these items.  With my children, each child had a file box and I still have these.  I went through an accordion folder book with more papers for my husband, children and self.  The folder book had become too thick and had a smell to it.  I took the papers out and placed in a plastic basket then when time permits, I'll put in YELLOW ENVELOPES.

I came across newspaper articles that my Father.in.law had mailed us of various subject matters. I can't pitch these right now.  They will go into a labeled YELLOW ENVELOPE.  All the loose papers can find their way to a YELLOW ENVELOPE for keeping for the time being.  At least the things will be in some kind of order.

I can pat myself on the back for the amount of paper and old magazines I have pitched.  The garbage/trash bags are becoming OBESE.  This is a fantastic thing for someone like me that has KEPT almost way too much.  It's a lot of paper to handle.  I did go through two large boxes of old receipts.  After I finished looking at each paper receipt, it got easier to pitch the unimportant ones.  I think I handled hundreds of pieces of paper.  I did smile at some of the purchases.  We ate here and here, were blessed to purchase groceries here and here, shopped here and here, paid this medical bill here and here, etc.

I have never starved and truly have not done without necessities.  I may not have had the best quality of things, but I never really did without.  Some things had to be waited upon, but I never did completely without.  God has seen me through and my husband has been faithful in much.  I tried to be resourceful and efficient in much.  Still I can see where I could have done better and should have.  I know I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself, when I should have been rejoicing that I have been taken care of.  Praise the LORD and my hard working hubby.  

Once again, I went down MEMORY LANE as I looked at certificates that we were given through the years.  Old pictures that I thought had already been boxed up and put away....more were found.  What a treat this will be going through when I do another round of looking at pictures.  I know I need to give my kids more of their childhood pictures.  

More sleeving will be done for letters and drawings so I can put them in notebooks.  I'm not done, but I am further along than I was yesterday.  

I sat in the sunny room and worked pretty fast for 'ole me.  Some enthusiasm was back.  This is wonderful.  I'm not dragging my feet today.  I have cleared out quite a few cardboard boxes and have many more to do so the excitement may wane, but for now, I feel like my blood is pumping and I can work faster than I had been.    

It amazes me how quickly the week went by.  I stayed busy each day and I know this contributes to helping make the time fly.  I can hear some birds chirping outside with the Sunday temperature being about 52 degrees.  We should have pre-SPRING temps this week before another wave of chill makes its way this direction.  I'll do my best to soak up some rays of sunlight and breathe in FRESH AIR. 

How can I find JOY in the mundane?  It helps if I pray about my true feelings and allow the LORD to minister to my weariness.  He is faithful and a new boost of energy flows through me. It's with HIS HELP that I can get through this ordeal that I am going through.  It helps to have some JOY while doing this.  JOY.

I came across a personal letter that my cousin Denice wrote me quite a few years ago.  She had such beautiful handwriting.  She had sent me a book that I had forgotten about.  She died last July in a horrific automobile accident.  I did cry on this one find.  I miss her and it is partly why I have this urge to get organized that has caused me to get after this long put off task.  When I get in the car to go somewhere I am reminded that she and her husband were on a outing to go see their children when they were in this accident.  I'm not fully relaxed when driving.  

It is with HOPE and JOY that I can forge ahead to get organized and downsized.  It needed to be done long before today, but it is what it is and away I go making a memory about the time spent going through boxes up in the JUNK ROOM.  After I had been up there for a few hours, my hubby joined me and together we chatted about what we were finding.  This was special in itself.  

Finding JOY in the mundane becomes a uplifting time.  I need to get back to it as I have hours of more work to do on this day.  It helps to admit and allow myself time to do this knowing that it cannot be done all at once.  I can only do so much and I'm doing it.  

I'm moving my fingers, hands and arms.  Wiggling my toes and feet.  I can still see and think.  I can reach and stretch.  Turn my neck.  I'm breathing in and out as I sigh and laugh then cry while going down MEMORY LANE once again.  May the LORD fill me with JOY and I can recall oh so many good times that I have had as a child, a young adult, a woman, a wife, a daughter.in.law, a mom, mother.in.law, and a grandma, friend, daughter, sister, granddaughter, Aunt, sister.in.law, niece, cousin.  Many different hats I have worn and I hope to wear a few more before my time is over here on planet earth.  

This is the day that the LORD has made...I will rejoice and be glad in it.

~d  

Why I Eat 4 Eggs Daily and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO

ANOTHER DAY...

I have been somewhat overwhelmed by the messes about my property that I need to deal with, but this evening I gave THANKS to GOD that all the pictures, letters, cards, and receipts I have to go through putting into some kind of order are still in my possession and weren't destroyed by the house fire.  After our 2016 house fire, every ounce of order I had was undone.

For six months after the fire, we still didn't know what would return to us that was saved and cleaned by Service Master who was hired to handle our belongings.  I had no idea what we'd get back.  Today, we still are going through boxes.  It amazes me that 5 years has passed and we are still going through things and working at getting organized again.  I had forgotten that after the fire, we made a move and when the 650 boxes were returned to us, we had to put these boxes in storage.  When it came to moving into our present HOME, the upheaval moved with us.  

After so long of continual working on retrieving what we had, I couldn't continue to handle all the emotions attached to what we lost.  I had to take a very long break and I did.  I inch along making sense out of each box.  I am hopeful that I will see the day when this is completely behind me.  

Tonight, I thanked God that the boxes I am going through to make some sense out of, are still something I have ownership of.  Not everything was destroyed.  The pictures, letters, cards and receipts I have to sort through will be sorted through and I can decide what to do with these now.  SO it is with a lighter heart that I forge ahead and go head on into continued tidying.  I think I will be able to go faster with this task now.  Hallelujah.

A huge emotional hurdle has been jumped.

This past week is coming to a close as the week-end is here.  It's been a cold one with snow, wind and chilled to the bone weather.  Today, I ventured out and went to pay some bills in various communities, go thrifting and eat out.  Did quite a bit of driving as the roads were good to travel on. 

Before we left HOME, Hubby boxed up 5 small Christmas trees from our WINTER WONDERLAND and loaded them into the car as we would donate them to God's Storehouse along with a large box of things I had gathered to get out of the house.  We had Lunch at SugarCreek and a steamer from MJs.  A utility bill was paid, a mortgage payment made and a Natural Gas bill paid.  We donated the trees and box of goodies then did some shopping at God's Storehouse.

They were extremely busy and again I had no shopping cart until I had been in the store awhile.  I had to have one of their peanut butter cookies.  I found another 1930's Federal Glass Madrid Amber Dinner Plate for $4. 

 

Hubby lifted up a Churchill Company Blue Willow Chop Plate for $5 that is a fit for my present China.

A cute Cookie Jar caught my eye.  A Cracker Barrel Chicken Cookie Jar chirped for $5.  

AFTER we made our purchases, we sat in the car to check what these items sell for on the internet.  We did well.  

Onto Natural Grocers where I bought a darker shade of lipstick and blush.  Rounded up vegetables and fruit.  Off we went to eat supper.  By this time I was fading and needed to be Home.  

I'm hoping that I rest well tonight and tomorrow I will spend a full day going through boxes and making a dent in what needs done.  I pray that I make huge progress.  Hubby plans to continue to paint in the Dining room.

EARLIER in the week, I stayed busy shuffling cook books, going through old receipts and loose papers, sleeving old letters into sheet protectors.  THURSDAY was a pleasant day for me spending some time with my new Grandson.  He's a keeper.  I enjoyed our visit.

THIS WEEK-END I will return to eating more apples, veggies and avoiding sugar as best I can.  I have done horrible with eating too much sugar and chocolate.  I confess.  My episode where my blood pressure dropped so low, made me nervous.  I've settled down and can return to concentrating on a healthier way of nourishing my body. 

The world is full of chaos, isn't it?  For now, I can have a haven that I am thankful for.  Not all are as fortunate.   

ON A VERY SERIOUS NOTE:  What has happened with the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia?  On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest, marking the largest escalation of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014.  2014.

The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing war primarily involving Russia, Belarus, and pro-Russian forces on one side, and Ukraine on the other.  Armed conflict began in February 2014 in the wake of Euromaidan, centred on the status of Crimea and parts of the Donbas, which are internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

The start of the 2022 invasion began on February 23rd.  When this happened, I asked my Husband if it were a satanic holiday?  He checked and said, it was Russia's DEFENDER OF THE FATHERLAND DAY.  Putin gave a speech that the Ukraine has no right to exist. 

According to President Trump, Putin is a genius.  

God is still on the THRONE 
and prayer changes things.  Praying.  

  ~d~

     

WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THIS???

DAY DREAMING IS NECESSARY WHEN REDOING A ROOM.  SO I am day dreaming.  This room will eventually be redone.  Gutting it is in progress.  A new vanity has been purchased.  Some plumbing has to be done so all of our ducks are in a row.

A different ceiling and light fixture will go in.  Floor removed and redone.  Something different for the walls.  New fixtures along with a clawfoot tub.  New vanity, toilet and new tile floor. Sanding and painting.  Whaalaah.  A masterpiece will show up.  

AS WE GEAR UP TO REDO OUR COTTAGE, I continue to gather ideas of what to do and how to do it.  This isn't the first time I have revamped a house.  Some I didn't even own, but redid.  I guess I grew tired along the way of having spent so much time and effort into remodeling.  Along LIFE'S road, I had to rest quite frequently.  Mostly living in amongst the messes as the redo took place.  Not for everyone.  I did and it made me tired.  

This go round, we're living in a nice house while redoing the COTTAGE.  Still we have things to do to this nice house.  My main work right now is thinning out our belongings, going through old papers and receipts, coming up with decorating ideas, usual cleaning and tasks.  With age and health issues, I am not completing what needs done very fast.  Which gets to me at times. 

This week, some of the Christmas trees used for our WINTER WONDERLAND will be boxed up and donated away.  I'll be boxing up silver-plated metal ware to group it at the COTTAGE along with old cookbooks.  Then I'll box up some of my nice china that's stored in Grandma's Hutch so the piece of furniture can be shuffled to the other side of the Dining room as Hubby is getting ready to paint the other side of the room where the hutch presently sits.  He's just about done with the one side and I love it.  It looks really nice with the new chandy that's hanging in there.

I'll be taking inventory of my china, so I know exactly how many pieces I have in the BLUE GARLAND China set that I bought from the grocery store when my kiddos were babies.  Each week I would purchase pieces that were discounted as many people did across the United States. At the time I had no china and this was a real treat for me.  As the years passed, I'd come across additional pieces at thrift stores and sometimes I'd purchase the extra.  After awhile my set grew. AND NOW...I wonder if I'll keep it as I don't use it.  sigh.  My china is about 45 years old.  Shall see, but for today I'm thinking about what to do with this lovely set.

WINTER WAS BACK TODAY AND IT BOTHERED ME.  Sigh.  Spring will eventually get here, but this year it seems like it is taking too long.  My old age doesn't like this cold weather at all.

TIME TODAY ALLOWED ME SOME FREE TIME ON THE INTERNET and I came across this remodeling video.  Lifted my spirits.  

Decorating ideas were found for a Kitchen.  Will share.  These actually encouraged me to keep on keeping on.  I like how this turned out ALOT.

From this to this beautiful Kitchen:

First comes the gutting and clean-up.

The sanded floor is original and refinished.  New ready made cabinets, new hardware and appliances makes a lovely Kitchen for someone.

Makes me hopeful that our COTTAGE  can be freshened up and make a sweet place for us to live as two old peeps needing a easier place to take care of.

Blessings,

~d

THE PERFECT STORM

HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO THE DOCTOR ABOUT A MEDICAL EPISODE THAT HAPPENED TO YOU being diagnosed by a Physician Assistant saying this medical oddity was caused by THE PERFECT STORM making the conditions just right for what happened?  

A few years back my Husband experienced what we'd end up calling cluster migraines which was brought on by what the medical personnel explained as a multitude of physical conditions coming together making the right atmosphere to create what happened.  

Also known as THE PERFECT STORM.  

In my humble opinion, I consider this to be kind of a cop-out for nailing down having some weird episode that the medical field does not want to dive into.  If it happened numerous times then the doctor might dive in to investigate more in depth.  Thankfully my dear husband has not had another one of these horrifying episodes.

Saturday night would be my turn for THE PERFECT STORM.  Sounds like a juicy soap opera, doesn't it?  I've been dieting, which means cutting back on my caloric intake and drinking hot Matcha Green Tea.  It wasn't up until to a few days ago that I ever drank Matcha tea.  I like it very much with it's mild taste.  I had no trouble drinking more than my three cups a day when I was drinking 5 or 6 cups instead. 

Matcha Tea is suppose to be good for a multitude of health conditions like combating high cholesterol, high blood pressure...Matcha is high in a catechin called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is believed to have cancer-fighting effects on the body. Studies have linked green tea to a variety of health benefits, like helping to prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and even encouraging weight loss.

After reading up on the health benefits, I was willing to give it a try and I found that I really liked it's mild flavor.

I misplaced my medical cuff for taking blood pressure so I didn't know what my blood pressure was for a month or so.  I take medications to lower my hypertension.  Since I have lost weight, my dosage may need adjusted.  

BACK TO THE PERFECT STORM.  After 4 days of seriously lowering my caloric intake with drinking Hot Matcha Tea, I didn't know what my blood pressure was THEN I took a hot shower.  

Dum-de-dum-dum dummmmm.  THE PERFECT STORM TOOK PLACE.  I just know it.  I finally did something PERFECT.  Hot showers and baths are known to lower blood pressure.  

Shampooing my hair while in the shower, I had been under the hot water probably 10 minutes when I started getting light headed.  I did my best to wash the shampoo out of my hair before climbing out of the clawfoot tub.  

Standing by the sink, I started losing consciousness.  I unlocked the bathroom door and called for help.  Then I became extremely nauseated about to lose my cookies.  This bluntly said would be vomiting.

Hubby came as I was passing out and I grabbed ahold of the toilet to upchuck.  And upchucked I did...three times.  Sick to my stomach, I could hardly speak.  Holding a cold cloth to my forehead my husband held me as I leaned over the toilet giving praises to the porcelain princess.  With my head lowered I know this helped get blood back to my brain preventing completely passing out.  

I'm not sure how long I leaned over the tank before standing up straight.  When I thought I could go back downstairs to my recliner to sit, I did to cool off.  It's then that I decided to find out what my blood pressure was.  Found the wrist Blood Pressure Monitor.  BP was low at 92/52.  Too low for me. 

Drinking some 7up for the nausea, I ate some salty chips with French fried onion rings hoping to raise my BP.  By bedtime BP was slightly higher.  In the morning it was still lower than I wanted.  

Hubs went to get AT HOME CO VID TEST as I was still nauseated.  I had read that Co vid can cause sudden drops in blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea.  Both taking the test, we were both NEGATIVE.  Hurray.  Will do again in 24 hours. 

This PERFECT STORM prevented me from going to visit the Historic Beecher Bible and Rifle Church for church services.  Will give it ago on a different Sunday.  I thought it best to stay away from people and needed to get to feeling much better before venturing out.

By noon on Sunday, I wasn't nauseated and wanted to get out into the sunshine.  The Spring-like warmth of the day lifted my spirits.  Took a drive and bought some Girl Scout Cookies.  This will help with not having enough calories for the day.  Grins.

Going to the COTTAGE to dry three loads of towels, I took paperwork that needs shredded. Hubby sat up the new paper shredder and went for supper.  Deciding that I wouldn't diet for the day, I ate two chicken enchiladas, some beans and small amount of rice.  I planted some Coleus in a large urn and watered the Geraniums that are wintering in the COTTAGE.  We watched a couple of television programs trying out the antennae to prevent having a cable bill.  This was fun among the disarray at our feet at the COTTAGE.  

We took some measurements to see if the door on the pantry could be used as a different closet door.  The Pantry door will need shaved some, but will work on the closet.  The Pantry door is made of panels and I like the look of it better than what the bathroom closet's door is made up of. The Pantry door matches the Bathroom doors.  I plan to have no door on the Pantry. 

I believe my storm was caused by having low blood pressure.  I will continue drinking Matcha Green Tea, just not as much.  I'll avoid taking hot showers lowering temp to warm. Mystery solved.  

THE PERFECT STORM was an awful ordeal.  Awful.  Scary and I hope to never experience this kind again.  No storm to me is perfect unless it's decorating.   

Day dreaming is necessary when remodeling a small COTTAGE.  These thoughts contribute to what will happen.  In other words it becomes THE PERFECT STORM.  I'd rather have this kind then one of fainting.

On the way back to the Main House, I happily ate my fair share of Girl Scout Cookies.  Mint Chocolate...my favorite.  I needed the calories!

Grins,

~d

 

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalms 107:29 - He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

JOINING Diary of a Stay At Home Mom's HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY.

https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2022/02/happy-homemaker-monday-02212022.html

THE WEATHER: GORGEOUS AT 72 DEGREES.  I HAVE THE FRENCH DOORS OPEN LETTING FRESH AIR INSIDE.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE: 3 PUSHED EGGS WITH 3 PIECES OF THIN BACON.  SIPPING HOT MATCHA GREEN TEA.  INTERMITTENT FASTING.  DIDN'T EAT UNTIL 11.  LUNCH AT 2.  SUPPER BEFORE 7.

ON MY READING PILE: PILES OF VARIOUS PAPERS NEEDING FILED.  

ON TV:  OLD TELEVISION PROGRAMS, 80 DAYS AROUND THE WORLD, 1883, THE GILDED AGE.

ON MENU:  LOTS OF ORGANIC RAINBOW CARROTS, ORGANIC SOY-FREE EGGS, AND OATMEAL WITH FRUIT AND NUTS.  SPRING WATER.

FROM THE CAMERA:

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE:  DON'T LOOK AT THE MESSES.  LIFE IS BETTER NOT LOOKING.

TO DO LIST: BOX UP OLD COOK BOOKS AND METAL TRAYS, FOLD LAUNDRY, DO PAPERWORK.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL:  PROVERBS 21. 

MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD IS WHAT I AM DOING

Blessings to you today,

~d

PSALM 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

LIFE LESSON ABOUT EATING TOO FAST

I MAY BE SLOW AT MANY THINGS, but eating isn't one of them.  Seems to be a super power of mine that I shouldn't use every meal.  It's very easy for me to gobble up my food as I shovel it quickly into my mouth as if in a race.  Easy peasy.  This shouldn't be what is easy to do and think it's healthy.  It isn't.

I have intentionally sat a phone that displays digital time beside me as I eat a meal.  I am retraining myself to sloth along while eating. I'm not in a race with anyone to see who finishes the meal the first. This weight loss sport isn't a sprint...it's a marathon.  Go the distance. 

   

The winning will be in losing weight in a healthy way.  The winning will be that I have deliberately slowed down while eating and now taste the flavors more fully.  The taste buds are in the mouth, not in the stomach.  

I started doing this when eating organic soup as the only item on the meal ticket.  Timing myself, I allowed a spoonful of organic soup every minute.  I didn't allow myself to take another slurp until the phone's digital clock had changed to the next minute.  I figured if I take a full 20 minutes to eat 2 cups of soup, then I should get about 20 spoonfuls.  When it's been 20 minutes and there's still soup in the bowl, I WIN.  I eat the rest being a WINNER in this 20 minute challenge.

Today as I ate cooked Rainbow Carrots and sliced cucumbers, I sat the phone beside me and began to eat.  In between the minutes, I sliced the carrots into thinner slices and nibbled on the cucumbers.  Then sipped some Hot Matcha GREEN Tea.

This deliberate discipline in eating slower by taking smaller bites is working.  I can be proud that I won this challenge I gave myself to eat slower and deliberately taste each bite all around in my mouth.  Wowzer...it can be done.

I was suppose to have three boiled eggs and an apple for Lunch, but  after struggling the last two days of not getting the cucumbers and carrots eaten for the day, I switched the menu up some. No eggs for Lunch.  Instead it's cooked carrots and cucumbers where an apple will follow for a snack in the afternoon.  Supper will once again be a bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with Ceylon Cinnamon, walnuts and fruit.  With the cold weather, the hot oatmeal not only satisfies my hunger, but it also becomes comfort food warming my stomach on a cold day.

Learning this last year that changes can take place with the results being better, I forge ahead.  I stepped on the scales and to my amazement 5 more pounds have come off of my fluffy body.  Praise the LORD and congrats to the 'ole woman in the dark blue housecoat.  

Here's to change and learning more about living a healthier LIFE.

~d

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Genesis 1:29 - And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

FRIDAY HERE I COME!  Tis the week-end.  PTL.  I love Fridays. Movie night and time to unwind.  No popcorn for me this Friday night as I am on a restricted diet for the next 8 days. The diet is going very well. Praise the LORD.  Here I am on day 3.

I have noticed that when I have eaten quite a bit of sugary foods that I wake with very dry eyes in the mornings.  A symptom of diabetes.  It's like an experiment to me to see how the eye dryness improves upon not having sugars, grains, dairy and meats.   

Dry eye syndrome is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It happens because of high blood sugars. When your blood sugar is high, it can cause nerve damage in your eyes which, in turn, can lead to decreased tear production. Additionally, high blood sugar can cause inflammation throughout your body.

Okay...how does the day look?  Blue skies lift my spirits.  One day closer to SPRING.  A little pun on words would be SPRinG into action.  grins.

PLANS for this day include placing print outs in sheet protectors.  This is taking some time as the sheet doesn't open easily taking more time and making it a little more challenging than a quick fix.  

Dirty towels need laundered meaning a trip to the clothes dryer over at the Cottage.  While there I will shred papers.  Call it a day and return HOME to eat supper and watch a movie.  When I'm alone at the Cottage, it is a unique time to pray out loud having fellowship with the one that holds my future.

Somewhere in this week-end, I have to put time into organizing and shuffling through boxes that need attention up in the junk room. Playing some music will help with this task.  Dedicating a day to this task will surely make me feel better.  

It seems like a never ending operation going through the boxes knowing I have this junk room to whip into shape and then a garage over at the cottage awaits plus the carriage house and the basement.  I need a crew to give orders to.  Instead, I am the crew.  I may be slow, but I'll eventually get there.  

Buckling down to make a dent 
in this never ending story,

~d

NO SNOW...JUST COLD

WOKE TO NO SNOW.  Only gray skies and chilly temps of 19 degrees.  Am I disappointed?  A little.  Last night I psyched myself up before going to sleep about waking to a fresh layer of powdery snow covering everything within sight.  No such luck.  I'll get over it. Surely, I will.  It will be rather cold today, all day.  Bah-hum-bug.

Yesterday, I forgot to pay the utility bill.  Completely zoned out about it.  So, it'll get paid today with a late fee attached.  I was trying to recall how I could forget.  What was I doing that would occupy all my brain cells to where I wouldn't even think about it?  I'm either getting really good at A) relaxing to the point that the bills don't bother me in the least or B) I'm slipping.  

B) Slipping.

In an attempt to make LIFE more care-free, I forgot.  I had no recall about this bill until this morning when I read it is the 17th.  Oops...yesterday was the 16th.  Bill overdue.

I need to NOT FORGET certain things without anxiety about them.  I'll always have expenses as long as I'm alive.  We all will.  Still, I have to do better than to forget/forgetting.  Not earth shattering or life threatening...I'll write the check out and deliver it today.  I can slip it in the mail slot and they will receive payment with a late fee.

There was a time that I was never late on any of my bills.  Always early or on time.  To completely forget makes me wonder if I'm entering into a phase of life where I am more forgetful?  I must sit down and write all the checks out in one setting at the beginning of the month and have them ready to go.  I believe I must do this.  I just haven't gotten to where I am doing this.

No worries.  Forge ahead and accept that I must do business matters in a different way. Continue on old woman and be more diligent.  Reviewing how my day went yesterday.  

HEALTH JOURNEY.  DAY ONE on a food program different than what I'm use to. NEW DIET!  Another attempt to lower my weight.  Very restricted and easy menu.  I got through day one alright, but could tell at bedtime that I wanted to pop food in my mouth.  I talked myself out of it, drank some water and went to sleep.  Slept like a rock.  I successfully had a very low cal day!  Pat myself on ze back.  

After tallying up what I had eaten since Sunday, I needed to have a very low cal day.  I was victorious in having that kind of day.

DAY TWO started and I slowly ate three organic soy-free scrambled eggs made without oil or butter along with a mug full of hot Matcha Green Tea to drink for Breakfast.  Meal number one in my tummy

Lunch will be in the afternoon.  3 hard boiled eggs, an organic apple, and Matcha Tea.
Snack:  Carrots and cucumbers.
Supper:  A bowl of Stoneground Scottish cooked oatmeal sprinkled with Ceylon Cinnamon, 1/4 cup of walnuts and a handful of strawberries and blueberries.  No tea.  Water.

Tonight's Supper will be similar to last night's Supper:

Evening snack: Apple and Hot Matcha Green Tea.

Tomorrow I will rearrange my menu having cooked carrots with cucumbers to the side for my Lunch.  Two days in a row I have not been able to eat as often or as much as the diet suggest. Today, I didn't work in the veggies of carrots and cucumbers in between the meals for snacks.  I also doubt that I will have my second apple this evening as I am full from Supper.  Shall see. Another victorious low cal day.  

The incredible edible egg, organic apples, carrots, cucumbers, oatmeal and Matcha Tea are the staples in these 10 days.  Simple and easy to do.  The hard bit is actually doing it.  10 days will go by rather quickly and then I will step on the scales and see if the magic took place.  

Onto a DANIEL DIET also the COLOR WHEEL FOOD PLAN.  This is when I will flood my body with a variety of vegetables and fruits.  It has been eye opening to me eating a variety of vegetables and fruits that I seldom ate when growing up.  I have to say, this is a healthy way to dine.  I can eat simple and stay entertained at the same time.  

Slowly and throughly chewing each morsel from a small plate.  This is an unhurried time that I have deliberately orchestrated to eat in slow-mo laying my utensil down more than not.  Actually not continuously eating one bite after another until the meal is gone is a conscious choice to not shovel in.  I make the decision to eat slow.  Taking my dear sweet time when eating doesn't come natural to me.  I have to work at slowing down. 

Reclaiming order at our estate and entertainment.

I continue sleeving paper in sheet protectors so as to make some notebooks to have on the shelf about inventory.  No walk today.  Movie tonight.  

I watched the 4th episode of The Gilded Age, A Long Ladder.  The scenes in this series are so short, I cannot drink in all there is to see while in the highly decorated rooms or what the fine upstanding people are wearing.  I can only imagine how many hours of labor went into each clothing article.  With the scenes being so short, there has been a great deal of time and expense that was put into each scene.  This technique of short scenes is suppose to keep ones interest where the mind doesn't wonder.  Instead, I cannot soak up all the details that interest me and I become flustered.  Moves too quickly for me.

Perhaps this is intentional in the minds of the creators to keep me on edge and flustered knowing that I will more than likely rewatch the episode.    

There is nudity in this episode.  If the scene where the hired hand gets into bed with Mr. Randall unannounced to him as he is sleeping, were shot from a different angle, the same message could have been conveyed to the viewer without frontal shots revealing so much skin.  I suppose the producers are appealing to the masses that want to see flesh.  An adult themed series where young children should not be viewing.        

Also watched THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE.  A 2021 Drama/Romance movie.  

In the 1970s, Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband, Jim, rise from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Tammy Faye becomes legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, financial improprieties, scheming rivals and a scandal soon threaten to topple their carefully constructed empire.

    

This movie has a pretty good portrayal of Jim and Tammy through the years with their costuming and their impersonations being spot on.  The Actress Jessica Chastain imitates Tammy Faye's singing style and personality very well as Andrew Garfield has Jim Bakker's voice down pat. Both were very convincing to lil 'ole me.  

There were a few things in the movie that I question happened such as when they implied that a very pregnant Tammy Faye at 8 months was sexually active with another man other than her husband...I wasn't sure what to think.  

I don't question that at one time she interviewed a HIV homosexual man.  She did.  This man is still alive today, but she passed away in July 2007. 

Did Tammy Faye do a program about sexual dysfunction and pumps?  We'd check about this and she did indeed do such a program.

When I lived in Texas, I watched in real time on television the true drama unfold when a crying Jim is escorted to a car with handcuffed hands hidden under his jacket.  I'd read about this PTL dilemma when it fell apart.

In the movie, there is a scene where Jim interviews Colonel Harland Sanders who was a member of the Table Mountain Masonic Lodge #124.  A few years back I watched this 1979 interview on YouTube.  Still there to watch.

After the movie, I tuned in to the YouTube video where Jerry Falwell talks to the PTL audience. Noticing a multitude of hand signals by JF surprised me.  Was Jerry Falwell a player in the world of a secret society or freemasonry?  I wondered.  So I checked it.  He was indeed a freemason. 

I was curious why so many churches say nothing about the evils of Freemasonry...I think I know why.  Now I get it.  Because a church says it's a christian church, it isn't necessarily one.  So many Freemasons have infiltrated the churches filling high level positions like they have been encouraged to do by the freemason's teachings.  It is easier to deceive people when the leadership is on a agenda different than from the teachings of Jesus.  There is a push to not focus on being born again and many churches leave out that Jesus is the way to the Father.  There's a concentrated effort to support that all religions lead to heaven when it is through the Lord Jesus, the only begotten son of God that saves us, gives us salvation and eternal life when we accept Him as our savior.          

~d

 

John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Ephesians 5:8 - For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 John 1:5 - This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Psalms 27:1 - (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?