FIFTY!!

So I am officially half a century old today!!  FIFTY!!! 

It seems crazy!  I don't feel fifty.  

It's been a great fifty years so far!  

In honor of my fiftieth, here's fifty things that have I've done, things about me, and things I have learned these last 50 years.

1. Been married 31 years to the same guy!!  haha! 

2. Most stuff doesn't matter, but the things that do matter-really matter.

3. Lived in lots of places. I think we've moved 15 (lost track!) times! 

4. Raised 3 kids and now have 4 grandkids!!

5. Dance (or hoop) like no one is watching.  It's so liberating.

6. It's never too old to learn new things.

7. I've been to 36 countries in the world!  That's 14.3% of the world!

8. I love going to places that aren't your typical "touristy" places.

9. I'm an accomplisher..but I'm learning to relax and chill.

10. Reading God's Word is life changing.  Especially reading the whole thing through quickly.  

11. Make a decision.  It's ok if you make another decision later.  Just move, go, do something.

12. Friendships only thrive if you water them. A text, card or call goes a long way.

13. Take the picture.  Be in the picture.

14. Enjoy the moment.  Even if you don't post it on social media, just enjoy the moment you are in, don't be in a rush to go to the "next thing".

15. You'll make mistakes.  Learn from them.  Be humble.  Accept correction.

16.  I've been keto now over 5 years.  It's a lifestyle that I love.  It's helped erase my heartburn, made me think clearer, and kept my weight down.

17. Love grows where you water it.

18. I love traveling.  I'll be glad when I can go overseas again. (dumb covid)

19. What you put into your body is important. Physically, spiriturally, mentally.

20. Who knows how many books I've read.  I wish I had a list! Sometimes I'll start a new book and think...this sounds familiar!  (because I've already read it!)

21. I've sold all our stuff so many times.  (because of all the moving) Stuff is stuff and you'll always have a lot of it.

22. I usually struggle with exercise but I love hiking and walking and really enjoy yoga and aerial yoga!

23. When someone asks you to do something new or go somewhere new.  Give it a chance.

24. I didn't think I could do aerial yoga at all, but my sister is a great encourager!  I actually surprise myself with the things I do!

25. I rarely wear makeup but I love jewelry.

26. The need to impress others wanes as you get older, and get more confident in who you are.

27. Give someone that compliment!  

28. I'm a natural blonde.  Never colored my hair.

29. My hair is fine and thin...makes it hard to curl, but super easy to get up and go.

30. Skirts are my thing.  Been wearing them now over 20 years.  I love how they make me feel feminine and they are good for twirling and dancing.

31. Being best friends with your spouse is awesome.

32. Looking forward to the next 50 years!  I wanna be that funky, hooping, crazy grandma.

33. I love hats!!!!!

34. Coffee, coffee, coffee...and tea.  Yes!

35. One of my favorite things to do is go listen to live music on the weekends with Larry.  Hoop and dancing!!  

36. When meeting someone new, ask them about themselves.  And listen.

37. I'm loving this stage of my life.  Being a grandma, retired, rv living.  ummmm yes.

38. Take the love language test.  It's how you show love to others and how you feel loved.  I'm service and gifts.

39. If I'm cleaning, I'm either showing service or really upset.  ha!

40. I like music of all kinds.  Bluegrass, classical, rock.. pretty much anything!  But I love the 50s music a lot!

41. It's ok to be in pajamas at 6pm.

42. I want to learn to embroidery.

43.  Love playing backgammon with Larry.  I'm so glad my dad taught me how.

44. It's so exciting to see your kids as adults!  To see them grow and learn and thrive!

45. When someone presents to you a new theory or idea.  Don't immediately dismiss it.  It's a great opportunity to research what your own beliefs are.

46. You become the thoughts you feed yourself.

47. You are never too old to change! 

48. I started learning the ukulele last year.  I've been practicing every day.  It's so hard to strum and sing at the same time!

49. I don't like to cook.  Larry's does all the meal making...thankfully!

50.  Turning fifty sounds old, but old is only a state of mind. :)

The GOOD of 2020 Year in Review

We all know what a weird year it has been.  So for this year in review, I'd like to tell you all the GOOD things that have happened this year. (in no particular order)

We got to go to Amsterdam before everything shut down! (one of my bucket list places!)

Fun girl/sister trip to Cabo!

We had a beautiful kitchen/bath/floor remodel

Lots of great aerial yoga classes with my sister!

Took a trip to North Carolina to see family!

My sister took me on an adventure course!  Terrifying but fun!!

So many fun concerts, outdoor music, hooping times!

I turned 49!!!😜

I learned a little bit of the ukulele!  So I can learn new things! haha!

Got to vacation in Dominican Republic!

I had my 2nd grandson born (my 4th grandchild)!

Many trips to go see grandkids!

So I guess it wasn't such a bad year after all!  Like the old song goes, "You've got to accent the positive and eliminate the negative and latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with mister in between." 🎵

Here's to a great 2021!!!!  

🎉🥳😘💗🙏

Lamentations 3:23-24 

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I hope in Him!”

The number one rule of womanhood

 The number one rule of womanhood is you never ever ever ask a woman if she's pregnant.  NEVER.  I mean, even if the baby is coming out...don't even hint at it!

We were hiking yesterday and I let this lady ahead of me.  I said "Go ahead, I'm slower".  She said "You're pregnant right?"  

😕😟😠😭😡😢😱

Larry quickly said, no but we have 4 grandkids!  HA!

So the rest of the hike, that's all I could think about.   I eat really good, I exercise every stinking day.  I close all my rings on my apple watch so faithfully.  I guess I could use the excuse everyone else is using right now...pandemic??  I really don't know. I've gained a few pounds but geezzzzzz.

You see, I've birthed 3 kids (granted it was 24 years ago-but still).  That poochy belly is my badge of honor.  It reminds me of the amazing body that God has created.  My body stretched to an enormous size.  And out of that misshapen body, I now have my 3 beautiful grown adult kids now and now my grandkids!

That pooch shows me that I'm not perfect.  I still have work to do.

That pooch reminds me to watch what I eat and to keep on exercising.

But this is my body.  

Words hurt.  I've dealt with hurtful words my whole life.

Words can also change someone's life for the better.

So women,  if you feel the need to say something to another woman, please just say "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!"

Or "I Love your hair today!"

Or anything along those lines.   You have no idea where someone is in their journey.  Having babies makes crazy bodies.  But they are beautiful.

Let's be an encouragement to one another at all times.  But especially now.

Remodel in progress!

So we've never really lived through a remodel before.  We've remodeled houses before but we haven't lived there when it was being remodeled.

This time, we are actually living in the 800 square feet AS it is being remodeled.  Now that is crazy.

I like order, organization, everything in it's place.

And right now -- everything is NOT in it's place.  It's pretty much a big dusty mess. 

But that's ok, because I know when it's all done--it's gonna look amazing!!

It's kind of like life really.

Life isn't always neat and tidy.  There's problems, broken relationships, hard decisions, fights, arguments and sadness.  It's a big mess at times.  

But we don't just live in that mess.  

There is construction going on.  

There are things being torn down, and things being rebuilt.

New features being added!

And if we can just get through the process...it'll be a beautiful when it's done!  

We work on ourselves, we let God work in and through us.  It's not pretty, it's a little messy and kind of cramped.  But imagine the finished product!

Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Yay!!!  I don't know about you but I need to be made new....

And I can't wait to see my new condo!!  (and put everything back in it's place! hahaha!)

 

Don't worry be Happy!

This year has been weird.  I'll admit, I have fought some depression at times.  Sometimes the heaviness of everything going on around us is hard to bear.

So what do you do when the sadness sets in?

Things to avoid:

Social media- sometimes the arguments are just too much. take a break or limit your time on it.

Sugary foods- I know it feels like you need "comfort food" at this time, but the sugar will just leave you with empty calories, more weight and an unfulfilled need for more.

Negative people- limit your time around the people that drag ya down or are always negative (this coming from an Eeyore-too! Yikes-gotta work on it so much!)  You can be an encouragement to them (and they probably need it!) but it's easy to slip into their negativity.

Being inside-Get out and get that Vitamin D!  Sometimes, just sitting by the pool, or taking a walk around the block will really boost your spirits.

Laying around-the more we lay around, the more we want to lay around!  Getting moving can get your blood flowing and get your mind in a better place. 

Things to do:

Get up and dance!

Sing loudly!

Hoop! or do your favorite hobby!

Yoga! or stretching or moving or walking or Aerial yoga even! (my sister teaches it!!!!)

Smile, even when your face doesn't feel like it. 😁

Eat well.  

Self care.

Read the Scriptures!!

Take a shower, change the sheets, make the bed.

Start a grateful list and put it where you can see it everyday.

Call someone.

Do something for someone else.

Take vitamin c, magnesium, good multivitamin, probiotic, cod liver oil  DAILY!

His Mercies are new EVERY MORNING!!  Thank you Lord!  Every day the sun comes up, it's a new day.  There's much to be thankful for!  Just look around you!!

A Happy place

Do you have a happy place?  A place where if you are feeling down, you can go and feel your soul get a little lighter?

Of course, my hoop is always my happy place.  I love dancing to live music out and about.  But it's been a few weeks since that's happened. 

Seems like I've been down lately and my happy place to go is my balcony.

We live on the 3rd floor right by a canal.

I bought this basket swing chair about a year ago and it was the best purchase ever!

There's something about swinging.  Maybe it takes me back to my childhood.  Some of my greatest memories are swinging at my grandparent's house (on the porch swing drinking tea!)

I also love looking at my little garden.  I have all kinds of herbs, flowers, and aloe vera out there.  It just makes me smile.

The garden has even gotten so big that it's peeping out through the railing.

My balcony is my little slice of relaxation.  

I can go out there and close my eyes, pray, think, cry.

Even when the sun is shining down on me...it's a nice place to sit.

Everyone needs a happy place.

Where is yours?

20 Difficult things to do

Things that are difficult that they never tell you (in no particular order):

1. saying goodbye
2. learning new habits
3. being the bigger person
4. keeping your mouth closed/or not commenting
5. walking away
6. changing the saying on the letterboard
7. knowing when the avocado is ready to eat
8. when/how to help or not help
9. self care
10. getting the perfect weather to fly a kite
11. what to do when things don't go your way
12. striking a match from a matchbook
13. learning what truly matters
14. knowing when to let go and when to hang on
15. how much to be involved
16. unclogging the kitchen sink
17. hanging up a picture when the hanger is in the middle of the picture
18. saying I'm sorry
19. loving with no return
20. not buying stuff at Target

When things don't turn out like you thought they would

Life has so many twists and turns.  You are going along just fine, you think your life is on this certain trajectory and then boom... something changes.

And then there's the times that you expect something to turn out a certain way...and it just flat out doesn't.

Expectations can cause some major anxiety and a lot of disappointment.

I live in Eeyore world.  I always see the rainy cloud, the glass half empty blah blah blah.

But I'm married to Tigger.  Thank the Lord.

He can see the positive in almost everything.  Even the bleakest of the bleak, he can pull something positive out.

I remember many many moons ago, he came home unusually early from work and said "I have good news and bad news."  Which would you like first?  Well, me-I want the bad news first.  He said "I lost my job!"  Ok, how you gonna pull some good news out of that one??  Then he said, the good news is we get to go home for Christmas!  He turned a sad situation, into a happy, family time.

Rarely does life go the way you expect it to.  I generally get disappointed at the people around me, including myself.

But it's all in the perspective.

Is my expectation the "right" way.  Maybe it is, but maybe there are other ways.

Sometimes I just gotta go all Elsa and Let it Go! Let it Go!

Do you have a Tigger in your life?  Everyone needs one, or needs to be one for someone else! 

Life's tough.  There's gonna be disappointments.  People won't always be or do the things you'd like.  

I can only change myself.  I can only work on me.

And that's a lot of work!

Are you having a holly jolly Christmas?

It's the most wonderful time of the year..right??  Well why is everyone in such a grumpy mood?  Especially parents to their kids?

We were out yesterday doing Christmas-y things.  Seeing the pretty trees and lights and enjoying the season.  I went into a restroom and a mom was yelling at her little girl, then I went out and a mom was yelling at her kids to "not smile that way in the picture".  Geez.

Momma, I know you are frustrated.  You feel like you have to do all the things for the holidays and make it "special" for everyone.  And you are at the end of your rope.  But please don't take it out on your kids.  They have feelings too.

What do you want them to remember at the holidays?  You getting all the things done but being a complete grumpy pants about it?

Enjoy the season!  So what if the cookies don't get made, or the gifts bought or wrapped.

Stop and sing a song, do the Charlie Brown dance, play a game.

Make some positive memories with your kids.

When you start to feel anxious or frustrated.  Stop, breathe, smile, pray.  Let it go.

Christmas will come and go and what will be left.  The paper will all get thrown away, the cookies all eaten. And what will be left?

The memories.

Make some good ones.  Treat others (your kids) the way you'd like to be treated.

Love them. Kids are people too.

After all it is the most wonderful time of the year.

A Grandma again!

Being a grandma is absolutely one of the best things I can think of right now.  My kids having kids!  It feels really surreal.  Like, didn't I just raise yall?  Weren't yall little just a minute ago??  And on the other hand...it seems like soooo long ago!

But it's a neat feeling to see your kids having their own families.  Seeing our family grow, not only in size, but in other ways too!  Learning different parenting thoughts and styles from my kids, learning the love of a grandma.

So my son and daughter in law just had their first baby--my THIRD grandbaby!

Of course, I want to post all the pics and splash it all around social media.  But I will restrain.  I just went through and took all the pictures of my other grandkids off social media etc.  It's a big bad world out there and I want to protect my kids and grandkids' privacy.

So, just know, that I am loving this stage of life right now.  Enjoying the empty nest, the grandkids in all their different stages- newborn, crawly baby and busy talking toddler!

And even though I don't post everything, I'm still having fun and loving this stage of life!  God is so very good and I am extremely blessed.  So thankful.

2019 Starting off Great!

So, last year was a tough year.  But already I've gotten some good news this year and that makes me happy!

First of all, the year started off amazingly as my new little grandson, Auryn Bearheart! (pronounced OR-in). And he is the sweetest little Bearheart!

He is just the sweetest cuddliest boy!  And Annabelle just loves him!  She is so sweet and kind to him!  

Grand kids are just more than I ever hoped and imagined!  

And--more good news-- We are going to be grandparents AGAIN!!  My son and his wife are expecting their first in November!  I'm really in shock as I have 3 grand babies!  This Grammy gig just keeps getting better and better!

We also just bought our anniversary trip!  We will be married 30 years in November!  THIRTY!!  That is definitely something to celebrate so we will be going to Croatia in August!  Can not wait to see all there is to see there! Like this 👇👇

Plitvice Lakes National Park

And one other thing that is silly really--but I got a new dishwasher!  You know you are a grown up woman when stuff like this makes you happy 😊.  It's the little things, right!  

So hopefully this trend will continue!  I'm thankful for the blessings and Praising God in the storms too.

How's your year going so far??

When it rains, it pours

My oh my! We are only 8 weeks into 2018 and already there's just been so much.  When it rains it pours, for sure. And it's literally been raining in the Dallas area for weeks now with no end in sight.

Maybe it's because I tend to be an Eeyore, but this year has just been a lot to handle thus far.
It started off with Larry and I both getting very sick.  It really put us under for almost a month!  In the midst of that my mom passed away.

Then I got a mysterious rash on my elbow that grew suddenly!  I had to go to urgent care for that one.

Oh, and there was a flat tire on the entrance ramp to the highway one morning on my way to work! Fun times for sure.

So then, Larry will probably have to have surgery on a torn muscle in his arm.  He hurt it last year and even through months of physical therapy and lots of tlc, it is still causing him a lot of pain.

And then we almost lost Larry's mom.  She was (and still is) pretty sick, was hospitalized and is now in need of getting some full time care.

We are navigating these new waters as we look at our options and see what's available.
Meanwhile, family members are all pitching in and helping take care of this Godly woman who has poured her life into so many people.
It's new territory.
It's a lot to take in.
Praying that the Lord will guide us with each new step.
And I pray that this year gets a lot lighter.
Maybe I should learn to dance in the rain.

Stuff

So, the issue of stuff is on my mind as of late.  You know, our beloved household belongings that somehow multiply over night it seems.  Where does all this stuff come from?  How is it taking over the house? and the garage and every single closet!

Well, I'm a big fan of cleaning out the clutter!  To some people it comes naturally, others have to work on it, and unfortunately some people just never get it.

But the question comes to mind, and the thing I've been thinking about lately is being a burden to my kiddos after I die.  Who is going to have to come in and clean stuff out to sell the place etc?  My kids! It's already such a burden to deal with funeral arrangements, close accounts, etc etc.

So how, you may ask, do we keep the clutter down and not leave such a burden of STUFF to our kiddos?

Well, here's a few things I do to keep the clutter under control:

When I buy something new I try to get rid of at least 2 other things.
I always have a bag ready to add to for donation to a thrift store etc.

If you are completely overwhelmed, start with a drawer.  Dump everything out on the table or some place where you have room to work.  Clean out the drawer and decide what exactly you want to use the drawer for.  Then put only the things back that fit into that category.  Whatever is left, you will need to decide if it goes into another place or if you can give it away.

Ask yourself these questions:
Have I used this in the last year?
Do I have something else that will suffice for the use of this item?
Is it costing me more to store it in my house than if I could go buy one? (your home is so much $ per square feet--how much room does the object take up in your square footage?)
Would I use this in the next year?
Am I saving this "Just because I might need it"?
Might I really need this at all?
Do I want to leave this for my kids to go through?  And will they want it? (don't assume--ask them!and then don't be offended if they don't want it.  It was important to you but may not be to them and that's ok)

Next, you can do a closet! Then a room!  Then the garage!

In all our moves, I've paired down, sorted things and given lots away.  One question I always ask myself is "If I had to pack this in a Uhaul, haul it across the country, unpack it --would I still want it when I got there".   That has actually been a good measurement to the things I really like.

So, how about it?  Spring is just around the corner.  Spring cleaning anyone??

It's been a while

Hey all!
It's been a while since my last post.  Seems like life just keeps going.  Faster and faster at times it seems.

To catch up, we got to go on an amazing trip to the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, & Poland back in the first part of September!  It was absolutely wonderful! Got to see so many pretty sites and countryside. We also got to learn a lot about the history of the Baltics and how they were occupied by different countries and how they eventually got their freedom!

I need to write an entire blog post about this grand adventure in the near future!  Mental note!

Then we got to take a quick trip to see my Godson in Pittsburgh for his birthday!  Those are always fun little trips!

In October, my son got married!  It was a simple, sweet ceremony and very beautiful!  

I'm also enjoying visiting my granddaughter!  I wish they lived closer but for now I'm loving going down and seeing them each month!  She's growing so quickly and is just an absolute doll!  I love seeing my daughter and her husband be such great parents!  It's kinda surreal but I love this stage of life.  

So that about catches you up!  Now it's Thanksgiving time and there is much to be Thankful for!  Sometimes things aren't exactly how you would plan it or do it but that's ok.  Learning to be thankful for each season.  Learning to trust and rest in Him.  God is so good.