Electricity - what an interesting subject for a blog! :)
A few days ago, I joined a class on recognizing and expressing Gratitude...every day for 28 days. Each day I make a list of ten things/people I am grateful for. For some reason I thought of electricity. Most of the time, we take electricity for granted....it's there, it's working!
POWER! Power to run this computer. Power to heat and cool ourselves and our food. Power to view shows from around the world on television. Power to light our way. Power to operate machines that clean, open doors and lifts us in elevators. Power to cut and dry our hair. The list can go on and on.
It's important now and then, to take a moment when we are using and enjoying these POWER options to say "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Vacation Day!
Workers that world around know the excitement of the "vacation day!"
Having been retired for over five years, many people still working have told me, "You're on vacation every day now." Well, technically yes, but figuratively no. There are things to do and places to go.... doctor appointments, church commitments, lunch with friends, grocery shopping, etc. It seems like our calendar has at least one commitment every day.
The other night I looked at my calendar and saw that there nothing planned for the next day. [Side note, I have to look at my calendar as I don't have a work schedule to remind of which day of the week it is. I know, such a tough life.] My first thought on seeing the empty day on the calendar was "vacation day." Where did that thought come from? I wonder, is that really what retirees call their nothing-planned days now? I doubt it. What is a good term for retirees to use?
Regardless, the feeling was good! There may or will come a time in my life when I have many empty days on my calendar. Until then, I will excited by my "vacation days," retired or not!
Having been retired for over five years, many people still working have told me, "You're on vacation every day now." Well, technically yes, but figuratively no. There are things to do and places to go.... doctor appointments, church commitments, lunch with friends, grocery shopping, etc. It seems like our calendar has at least one commitment every day.
The other night I looked at my calendar and saw that there nothing planned for the next day. [Side note, I have to look at my calendar as I don't have a work schedule to remind of which day of the week it is. I know, such a tough life.] My first thought on seeing the empty day on the calendar was "vacation day." Where did that thought come from? I wonder, is that really what retirees call their nothing-planned days now? I doubt it. What is a good term for retirees to use?
Regardless, the feeling was good! There may or will come a time in my life when I have many empty days on my calendar. Until then, I will excited by my "vacation days," retired or not!
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Where did it go?
Where did it go? When I say "it" I mean our money. Three years ago, we sold our home in Texas and moved up to Wisconsin and put a good chunk of money in our savings account. It seems like that account is decreasing too rapidly. Enough of a decrease that I often think (usually in the middle of night tossing and turning), "Where did it go?"
Last night was one of those tossing-and-turning nights. I wondered how I could determine where did it (money) go? Then I remembered that I often take photos of our trips and travels, so I got up at 1:30 a.m. and started looking at photos to determine where did WE go in order that IT has gone?
As I reviewed photos, I suddenly remembered trips that the memories had receded into my brain. I added up the days of trips and travels and found that WE did go.... a lot! In fact about 30% of the time in three years (45 weeks of 156 weeks), we have been traveling and exploring the world. It's not cheap to travel, that is why many people are limited in doing so because of work schedules and/or finances.
We were gone six months traveling to, from and within two warm-winter climate states, Arizona and Alabama. We traveled 10 weeks outside the USA - Panama Canal, Central America, Sweden, Europe, Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. The other weeks were spent in Colorado, Michigan, Milwaukee, New York City, California, Hawaii and numerous long-weekend trips around the Midwest. Traveling by car, bus and airplane and staying at hotels.... it all adds up. Can't forget all the sightseeing fees and expenses.
Wow! It was good to be reminded of how lucky we have been to see and do so much. So, where did IT go? IT went to new experiences, explorations, sights, and lots of photos. IT may go, but the memories will increase and be stronger than ever. No one can take that away from us.
Last night was one of those tossing-and-turning nights. I wondered how I could determine where did it (money) go? Then I remembered that I often take photos of our trips and travels, so I got up at 1:30 a.m. and started looking at photos to determine where did WE go in order that IT has gone?
As I reviewed photos, I suddenly remembered trips that the memories had receded into my brain. I added up the days of trips and travels and found that WE did go.... a lot! In fact about 30% of the time in three years (45 weeks of 156 weeks), we have been traveling and exploring the world. It's not cheap to travel, that is why many people are limited in doing so because of work schedules and/or finances.
We were gone six months traveling to, from and within two warm-winter climate states, Arizona and Alabama. We traveled 10 weeks outside the USA - Panama Canal, Central America, Sweden, Europe, Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. The other weeks were spent in Colorado, Michigan, Milwaukee, New York City, California, Hawaii and numerous long-weekend trips around the Midwest. Traveling by car, bus and airplane and staying at hotels.... it all adds up. Can't forget all the sightseeing fees and expenses.
Wow! It was good to be reminded of how lucky we have been to see and do so much. So, where did IT go? IT went to new experiences, explorations, sights, and lots of photos. IT may go, but the memories will increase and be stronger than ever. No one can take that away from us.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Mother's Day
Today is Mother's Day. A day we honor all types of mothers....natural, step, adopted, foster, expectant, grand and god-mothers. Our church pastors kindly included "women of faith" in the honorees today too. When I saw the title of today's sermon, "Scars," I was rather surprised. But the pastor went on to speak of all the times mothers have been hurt due to being unheard and disrespected, creating scars on a women's heart. Mothers wanting their children to grow up to be fine, upstanding Christian men and women. It doesn't always work out that way and the mothers pray and cry for their children, young and adult.
I am a godmother to two nephews, an honor I received many years ago. I was probably chosen more for being the aunt who's is never having children than my spiritual and Christian being. Did I fulfill my responsibilities or obligations of being a godmother? Did I send them birthday cards every year? Not always. Did I make sure their parents were taking them to church? Not always. Did I pray for them regularly? Not always.
Was I a good godmother to them? Not always. I was often the mean aunt when I was disciplining them. I was the absentee aunt, who lived far away and did not attend their activities. I am guilty of neglect. I am sure many women are familiar with the thought and feeling that "I'm not doing enough." This often leads to guilt. Yes, guilt creates scars on the hearts of women too. Scars aren't always what someone else has done to you, but what you have have not done for others, especially your children or in my case my godchildren.
There was a redeeming message today.
I am a godmother to two nephews, an honor I received many years ago. I was probably chosen more for being the aunt who's is never having children than my spiritual and Christian being. Did I fulfill my responsibilities or obligations of being a godmother? Did I send them birthday cards every year? Not always. Did I make sure their parents were taking them to church? Not always. Did I pray for them regularly? Not always.
Was I a good godmother to them? Not always. I was often the mean aunt when I was disciplining them. I was the absentee aunt, who lived far away and did not attend their activities. I am guilty of neglect. I am sure many women are familiar with the thought and feeling that "I'm not doing enough." This often leads to guilt. Yes, guilt creates scars on the hearts of women too. Scars aren't always what someone else has done to you, but what you have have not done for others, especially your children or in my case my godchildren.
There was a redeeming message today.
My job is to plant the seeds of faith and God's job to grow the seeds of faith.Yes, there are things I have done that would be called "planting the seeds of faith." And yes, God did His job to grow the seeds of faith. I am so blessed to be able to say that these two nephews have grown to be fine, up-standing men of Christian faith. Thank you God for doing your job. Thank you MOTHERS for doing your job with all the children of the world...planting the seeds of faith.
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