Relax

Fun day!!  Not doing much.  Coffee and donuts at 9.  Before coffee I played pool.  After C&D we played pickle ball.  We ate lunch out on the deck.  Nancy went to Home Depot to check on flooring for her bedroom and get tiles for alcohol painting.  We biked 6 miles around the park.  Dance at 7.  Nice time!!!   It was a little chilly all day.  Missy, Anabel and friends went to ISU gymnastics on Friday when there was no school.  Luke and Karen are in Jimaca with Goldsmiths. 

1W

Friday fun

It is a little chillier this am.   We left for the island about 9:30.  Jane and I visited thrift stores, then we 4 headed to the art center to pick up Nancy's winning prize.  Next off we went to HEB.  At home Denny had fixed left overs for lunch.  That was a good thing because Nancy was so starving that she got a cup of Mexican corn at HEB and ate it on the way home.  Truthfully, it was not the best.  Denny put in 5 window shades for Gail and Bruce.  The fish/shrimp meal was at 5.  We visited at J&J's.  Denny went to bed by 9.  Me???? I am up working on this blog and watching TV with Nancy.

Gail's  5 shades in place

1 W

I saw this post on Facebook.  It makes sense to me.

Blog from Holly Butcher  1990-1/4/18

It’s a strange thing to realize and accept your mortality at 26 years young. It’s just one of those things you ignore. The days tick by and you just expect they will keep on coming; Until the unexpected happens. I always imagined myself growing old, wrinkled and grey- most likely caused by the beautiful family (lots of kiddies) I planned on building with the love of my life. I want that so bad it hurts. That’s the thing about life; It is fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right. 

I’m 27 now. I don’t want to go. I love my life. I am happy.. I owe that to my loved ones. But the control is out of my hands.

I haven’t started this ‘note before I die’ so that death is feared - I like the fact that we are mostly ignorant to it’s inevitability.. Except when I want to talk about it and it is treated like a ‘taboo’ topic that will never happen to any of us.. That’s been a bit tough. I just want people to stop worrying so much about the small, meaningless stresses in life and try to remember that we all have the same fate after it all so do what you can to make your time feel worthy and great, minus the .....

I have dropped lots of my thoughts below as I have had a lot of time to ponder life these last few months. Of course it’s the middle of the night when these random things pop in my head most! 

Those times you are whining about ridiculous things (something I have noticed so much these past few months), just think about someone who is really facing a problem. Be grateful for your minor issue and get over it. It’s okay to acknowledge that something is annoying but try not to carry on about it and negatively effect other people’s days. 

Once you do that, get out there and take a freaking big breath of that fresh Aussie air deep in your lungs, look at how blue the sky is and how green the trees are; It is so beautiful. Think how lucky you are to be able to do just that - breathe. 

You might have got caught in bad traffic today, or had a bad sleep because your beautiful babies kept you awake, or your hairdresser cut your hair too short. Your new fake nails might have got a chip, your boobs are too small, or you have cellulite on your arse and your belly is wobbling.

Let all that .... go.. I swear you will not be thinking of those things when it is your turn to go. It is all SO insignificant when you look at life as a whole. I’m watching my body waste away right before my eyes with nothing I can do about it and all I wish for now is that I could have just one more Birthday or Christmas with my family, or just one more day with my partner and dog. Just one more. 

I hear people complaining about how terrible work is or about how hard it is to exercise - Be grateful you are physically able to. Work and exercise may seem like such trivial things ... until your body doesn’t allow you to do either of them. 

I tried to live a healthy life, in fact, that was probably my major passion. Appreciate your good health and functioning body- even if it isn’t your ideal size. Look after it and embrace how amazing it is. Move it and nourish it with fresh food. Don’t obsess over it. 

Remember there are more aspects to good health than the physical body.. work just as hard on finding your mental, emotional and spiritual happiness too. That way you might realize just how insignificant and unimportant having this stupidly portrayed perfect social media body really is.. While on this topic, delete any account that pops up on your news feeds that gives you any sense of feeling ,,,, about yourself. Friend or not.. Be ruthless for your own well-being. 

Be grateful for each day you don’t have pain and even the days where you are unwell with man flu, a sore back or a sprained ankle, accept it is, but be thankful it isn’t life threatening and will go away. 

Whine less, people! .. And help each other more. 

Give, give, give. It is true that you gain more happiness doing things for others than doing them for yourself. I wish I did this more. Since I have been sick, I have met the most incredibly giving and kind people and been the receiver of the most thoughtful and loving words and support from my family, friends and strangers; More than I could I ever give in return. I will never forget this and will be forever grateful to all of these people. 

It is a weird thing having money to spend at the end.. when you’re dying. It’s not a time you go out and buy material things that you usually would, like a new dress. It makes you think how silly it is that we think it is worth spending so much money on new clothes and ‘things’ in our lives. 

Buy your friend something kind instead of another dress, beauty product or jewelry for that next wedding. 1. No-one cares if you wear the same thing twice. It feels good. Take them out for a meal, or better yet, cook them a meal, their coffee. Give/ buy them a plant, a massage or a candle and tell them you love them when you give it to them. 

Value other people’s time. Don’t keep them waiting because you are shit at being on time. Get ready earlier if you are one of those people and appreciate that your friends want to share their time with you, not sit by themselves, waiting on a mate. You will gain respect too! Amen sister. 

This year, our family agreed to do no presents and despite the tree looking rather sad and empty (I nearly cracked Christmas Eve!), it was so nice because people didn’t have the pressure of shopping and the effort went into writing a nice card for each other. Plus imagine my family trying to buy me a present knowing they would probably end up with it themselves.. strange! It might seem lame but those cards mean more to me than any impulse purchase could. Mind you, it was also easier to do in our house because we had no little kiddies there. Anyway, moral of the story- presents are not needed for a meaningful Christmas. Moving on. 

Use your money on experiences.. Or at least don’t miss out on experiences because you spent all your money on material .... . 

Put in the effort to do that day trip to the beach you keep putting off. Dip your feet in the water and dig your toes in the sand. Wet your face with salt water. 

Get amongst nature.

Try just enjoying and being in moments rather than capturing them through the screen of your phone. Life isn’t meant to be lived through a screen nor is it about getting the perfect photo.. enjoy the bloody moment, people! Stop trying to capture it for everyone else. 

Random rhetorical question. Are those several hours you spend doing your hair and make up each day or to go out for one night really worth it? I’ve never understood this about females 🤔.

Get up early sometimes and listen to the birds while you watch the beautiful colours the sun makes as it rises.

Listen to music.. really listen. Music is therapy. Old is best.

Cuddle your dog. Far out, I will miss that. 

Talk to your friends. Put down your phone. Are they doing okay?

Travel if it’s your desire, don’t if it’s not.

Work to live, don’t live to work. 

Seriously, do what makes your heart feel happy. 

Eat the cake. Zero guilt. 

Say no to things you really don’t want to do. 

Don’t feel pressured to do what other people might think is a fulfilling life.. you might want a mediocre life and that is so okay. 

Tell your loved ones you love them every time you get the chance and love them with everything you have. 

Also, remember if something is making you miserable, you do have the power to change it - in work or love or whatever it may be. Have the guts to change. You don’t know how much time you’ve got on this earth so don’t waste it being miserable. I know that is said all the time but it couldn’t be more true.

Anyway, that’s just this one young gals life advice. Take it or leave it, I don’t mind! 

Oh and one last thing, if you can, do a good deed for humanity (and myself) and start regularly donating blood. It will make you feel good with the added bonus of saving lives. I feel like it is something that is so overlooked considering every donation can save 3 lives! That is a massive impact each person can have and the process really is so simple. 

Blood donation (more bags than I could keep up with counting) helped keep me alive for an extra year - a year I will be forever grateful that I got to spend it here on Earth with my family, friends and dog. A year I had some of the greatest times of my life.

..’Til we meet again.

Hol 

Xoxo  January 2, 2018

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Bike Ride

We got a cute pic this am showing Anabel's Christmas shoes.  We went to the bike trail.  Dennybiked 22 miles I went 14.   Bruce and Denny went from the trailer park to the battle ground trail.  Jane and I put our bikes in our cars and met them at the aqua center.  We biked north with Denny toward the battlefield.  Nancy went to play bridge.  I played pickleball, then pool.  Denny and I washed windows.  We fixed mango, avacado, shrimp salad and garlic rice.  I went up to play ponytail.  It is REALLY windy.  Denny cleaned the trailer while we were playing games.

Bike 22 miles

Wash windows in the trailer

Put up the new shade in the big bedroom.

4W

Happy Birthday, Mandy

We sure love our baby girl, Miranda!!!  Hope your day was wonderful!  It was great to Facetime with you and Jason.  You bring laughter into our lives.  And Jack is amazing!!!

 

I had my devotions and then went back to bed until 8.  At 9 I went down to play pool, 10 ladies were there.  Denny started spraying the trailer.  He got the ceiling of the car port and the roof overhand,  Nan fixed a lunch of leftovers.  It was beautiful out on the deck while we ate.   Denny said it might be a double "worth it" day. I transplanted Nan's 2 and my lisianthus.  Hopefully they will grow.  I read a book in the sun at Gail's.  Nancy has ordered some furniture for her bedroom.  Jean and Jane stopped over for a while.  I read at night and then we went to the luke-warm tub.  A quick stop at J&J's before calling Mandy and going to bed.

Sprayed the trailer
Started to spray the dock
Got the coffee pot for grill
3W

Mexico!!

I got up too early.   Then went back to bed after devotions.  I went to play pickle ball from 8:30-9:30.  Then a quick shower and Gail, Bruce, Nancy, Denny and I went to Progresso.  We had a great time.  We walked around and then ate at the Red Snapper.  Denny's tamales were the best!!!  They do a great job of shining our shoes.  We were home for a while and then at 5, I went with Gail, Jan, Jean and Nancy to yoga downtown.  Plus 4 others from the park.  When we got home Denny had made supper for us.  Wonderful,  Grilled hamburgers, Garlic rice, and a wonderful salad.  Jean came over for a visit on the deck after supper and Nancy watched Wisconsin BB.  Luke, Karen and Rose are in Jamaica.

Trip to Mexico

Ordered coffee pot and Tordon

3W

Happy birthday Matt!!! 41

Thank you Jesus for my son, Matt.  I am so thankful he is in my life!!

Walked 2 3/4 miles in am with Gail.    I went back inside and was kinda tired and so I went back to bed until 8:30am.  You got to love Saturdays!!   Around 9:30 Denny and I went to Lowes and got projects for the trailer.  When we got home I finished fixing ham balls for the potluck and of course Guacamole.  :)

I went to the jam session about 2.  Denny worked on his projects. I rode 5 miles on the bike around the park.   Potluck was at 6.   Good food and good visiting.  Great google hangout with Matt and Becky.

Got supplies for projects at Lowes.

Project #1   Finished putting new shower head and hose sprayer in small bathroom

Project #2&#3   Finished putting 2 grab bars in small bathroom

Project #4  Put grab bar in our bathroom

Project #5  Changed shower head in our bathroom. 

Sat at computer desk and paid bills
W    W

Beautiful am Breakfast on the deck

Well, my muscles hurt a little from stretching in yoga yesterday, but it is a good hurt.  Gloria and John came down for breakfast before church, Denny fixed food on the grill: fried bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast, coffee and I squeezed grapefruit juice.  After church we went to 77 Flea market.  Denny used the time to take many steps.  6,000 in fact. We bought ingredients for pico and guac. Tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, jicama, and avocados.  The pico and guac we made tasted great on jicama slices on the deck with the sisters.  I took a short nap.  At 6-7 we face timed with Jack during his feeding and bath, with Rose, et all at a restaurant at bed time, and Jensens as they drove home from Creston.  We went to Jan and Dave's for cake and ice cream.  Another great day in the Valley.  Denny is thinking that there are so many games to play he doesn't have time to get his project done.

Now it is hard because there are too many games and things to do, No time to do projects!!

W