Matters of the Heart-and Lungs, Part 34

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Yes, I thought I needed to change the title a bit, since RSV is mostly a lung problem, even though it affected Ben’s heart somewhat as well.

Actually I could’ve added other areas being affected as well.

After being released from the hospital after the bout with RSV, and as happy as we were to have him home, it still didn’t mean he was well. It just meant he didn’t need to be in the hospital anymore. There’s a difference.

Although in his mind he was able to go back to work on Monday, his body was nowhere near ready. He was still exhausted, and just not feeling at all like himself. So he made the decision to take the week off to get his strength back.

Which was a good decision.

And because of the insulin shots they had to give him in the hospital because of the steroids he was being given, we also decided to get a glucose monitor for him due to his still being on the steroids making his blood sugar shoot up way in excess of 400, which is certainly not good.

But we had quite a bit of trouble getting the machine to operate properly. Neither of us had ever used one, and the directions were really difficult to understand. The help line actually was a huge help, but he still had trouble getting enough blood to register on the strip. And he was still not starting to feel much better.

Monday he also found himself having “brain fog” which we were told was common with RSV. He couldn’t concentrate, or remember things I’d told him, which was really starting to scare us both. Fortunately it only lasted a day.

We saw his pulmonologist on Tuesday and he prescribed a rescue inhaler for him, which was fortunate. But the doctor was pleased overall about how he was coming along so far, and reminded Ben it takes awhile to get over this virus. That’s for sure!

But Ben still wasn’t able to figure out the glucose monitor until Thursday. And he was still exhausted every day by the afternoon and still coughing quite a bit, even with heavy duty cough syrup.

Finally on Thursday he was able to get the glucose monitor to work. Only to get a blood sugar reading of 435. Not good. He tried again and got 421. Definitely not good. He called his doctor and the after-hours nurse told him to go to the hospital.

Here we go again.

The ER was busy of course. They took vitals, bloodwork, and then we waited. And worried. When we were finally called back to a room, his blood sugar was still high, so the doctor ordered fluids to try to get it down, explaining the steroids in combination with water pills for the fluid around the heart drove the sugar up, but the fluids should help get it down. Well, that would be better than another insulin shot!

And after five hours in the ER we were finally sent home, after the fluids lowered the blood sugar to a safer level.

Friday he was feeling a bit better and found out his doctor had called in a new prescription for blood sugar medication. Things were looking up.

Until the pharmacy called Saturday to tell us the Rx was written for 2.5 mg and the medication only comes in 5 and 10 mg, and the doctor’s office wasn’t open until Monday. We got that problem solved by cutting the pills in half.

Then we found out the inhaler he uses, which of course had only enough puffs left for two days, was out of stock in every pharmacy in the area because the manufacturer was limiting quantities. And his insurance wasn’t allowing our pharmacy to fill it as a generic until the doctor rewrote the prescription. Mind you, this is for the man who just got out of the hospital with lung issues!

Good thing he has the rescue inhaler!

So today will be a test. And hopefully he’ll pass and be well on his way to recovery.

More to come when his pacemaker needs to be replaced, which hopefully will be several months down the road.

Until then, we’re believing he’s going to stay well for a long time!

Each Tree Has a Story, Part 12

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After the foyer tree, we really didn’t expect to need/get another one.

But remember what I was saying about our shopping experience the day we saw that ombré tree that’s now in our foyer?

Well…here’s the story. This year it seems like Santa Claus is everywhere. And not just in his typical red suit and big old toy bag.

This year Santa was arrayed in any number of different outfits. I immediately found one dressed in a flamingo tropical shirt with shorts and flip flops, a straw hat, sunglasses, and of course holding a margarita in one hand and a sandy looking Christmas wreath in the other. Perfect for our flamingo themed Florida room. So in the cart he went. 

Then I saw a beautiful Santa in a pink velvet suit with matching toy bag. He’d be a perfect addition to our living room decor and our pink and white angel tree. We had to have him as well. 

The whole Christmas department at Home Goods was filled with Santa Clauses! I kept looking at them all, sort of like I used to do when I was a little girl looking at all the dolls in the toy store at Christmas.

And then Ben told me he had an idea. Which actually involved buying several more Santa Clauses. We found one in a beautiful royal blue and silver cape. One was in a teal colored suit with beachy accessories. And we already had three at home from last year.

And then there were two of them that could either sit or stand, so they joined the other Santa’s in the cart. I wasn’t sure what he had planned but I knew one thing.  Santa Claus was definitely coming to our house! Several of them, in fact!

He finally told me sort of what his idea was when we got to the car. And I was very much in favor of it! In fact it was one of his best ideas yet, but don’t tell him I said that.

And then, a few days later back in one of my other favorite decorating stores, we found another Santa that had our names written all over it. A Santa Claus in a red suit with a gold vest carrying a wine bottle and grapes with a sign saying “I love cooking with wine…and sometimes I put it in the food”. And it just so happened I needed a new decoration for the buffet in our dining room…and he looks great there!

So what do all the Santa Clauses have to do with another Christmas tree? It’s really quite simple. Ben designed a beautiful display on our foyer ledge, incorporating all of the Santa Clauses we bought. Two of them are resting on each side of the display, and the others are standing either in the snow or riding in the two white sleighs we added.

And you see, with all those Santa Clauses on the ledge, they just HAD to have their own Christmas tree!

So we used that as the centerpiece for the design. One with snow on it, of course!

What do you think? Did he do a good job?

Each Tree Has a Story, Part 11

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Last year I kept saying I wanted to get a tree that I could hang nothing but our collection of family photo ornaments on. I just didn’t know what kind or where I’d put it. My husband thought I was crazy, of course.

But then this year as we were walking through Home Goods after making some Christmas purchases we really didn’t need, that were actually HIS idea (although I didn’t argue), we saw a beautiful slim shiny beige and peach ombré tree that was absolutely stunning! We didn’t know where we’d put it though, so we reluctantly left it behind as we left the store with our purchases.

Of course the whole way driving over to our next destination we were both thinking about that tree and wondering where we could put it. And as luck would have it, both of us came up with an idea about the same time that was just about the same. That almost never happens!

He said we’d go get it the next day, and of course I reminded him they only had two in the store, and if we didn’t get it now we might miss out!

So he reluctantly drove back to the store and we ended up with our new ombré tree! That was supposed to be decorated with all of our Christmas photo ornaments. We immediately put it in the foyer where we both had thought it would fit. And it did. It was perfect!

Unfortunately after looking at it, we realized the photo ornaments would be too heavy for it. So scratch that idea! But it looked so perfect by the staircase next to the table holding a bunch of family photos, we couldn’t return it.

So the next day I began the search for the perfect ornaments and actually found them at Home Goods’ sister store Home Sense that had just opened a couple of weeks ago not far from our house. The tree is beautiful and actually is the highlight of our entrance way. The picture just doesn’t do it justice!

The problem is, we still need something for the photo ornaments, but right now they’re still spread out between three other trees. I guess we’ll worry about that again next year. 

We didn’t really think we would end up with any more trees this year, but….

Remember my saying we’d bought a lot of items at the store we really didn’t need but we got them anyway? Well, it seems like those purchases turned out to require another tree.

More to follow on “Each Tree Has a Story Part 12”, to be published on December 7, 2023.

Matters of the Heart, Part 33

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As I said previously, I’m sure you’ve all seen the ads about RSV. And a lot of us ignored it, even though we’re in the age category that RSV can really be dangerous. We’d talked about getting the vaccine, but hadn’t gotten around to it. We had time. Until we didn’t. 

But when he started having severe breathing problems to the point of him having to be transported to the hospital, we knew it was serious.

By the time medical help arrived to transport him, his lips were turning blue and so were his fingers. Fortunately we’re very close to the hospital and got there quickly, although to me it didn’t seem like it. He was put on oxygen and started slowly to get some of his color back but still having breathing problems.

The bottom line is, evidently the RSV triggered his asthma and other breathing issues. There was fluid in his lungs and around his heart most likely aggravated by the RSV as well. He was put on IV antibiotics, and steroids, given a breathing treatment and admitted to the hospital. 

The first two nights he slept maybe a total of four hours, between being constantly monitored by the nurses, taking his vital signs every 4 hours, and giving him breathing treatments as well as IV antibiotics, along with blood draws several times a day. The first day he said they took 16 vials. Now I find that hard to believe, but as sick as he was… There wasn’t much chance for him to sleep. Plus his almost constant coughing didn’t help, nor did the fluid in his lungs and around his heart.

He was continually on oxygen up until the next to last day he was in the hospital. 

They had to give him several insulin shots because the amount of steroids he was on to help calm down his lungs raised his sugar level too high.  

I’d like to share the post he made on his Facebook the first day he was in the hospital.  It really says it all:

“This respiratory infection is fairly new [actually it’s been around a long time but this new strain is different] and highly contagious, too. Deborah and I discussed several weeks ago that based on our age and my complicated health issues we needed to get our vaccination shots.

Well, you guessed it. I was exposed and diagnosed with RSV. I was taken to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital immediately via ambulance and admitted last Sunday, and here I remain trying to clear up this Infection for the past 5 days, and facing more time here till I’m well enough to go home. 

We had no idea that this RSV infection can trigger other existing health issues such as my current lung problems, and particularly certain heart problems. I’m in good hands with all the specialty doctors with all the testing and procedures to clear out this RSV Infection.

Please keep us in your prayers and thank you for all my family and friends for visiting.  Now go get your vaccination so you don’t wind up being hospitalized too.  Love you guys & Merry Christmas!”

After that posting, he had to have restricted visiting hours in the afternoon in order to take a nap to give him more rest. He wasn’t able to walk the halls to try and get his strength back because of the contagion risk, so all the exercise he could get was walking around his room, which wore him out. 

Finally after four days we were told if he could maintain an oxygen level of 90 or above without having continuous oxygen, and if he could walk for 6 minutes without having any,  he could be sent home on Friday.

Fortunately he did make it home Friday afternoon. Although the walking combined with the ten minute drive back home exhausted him, and he immediately fell asleep on the sofa.

He’s trying to rest as much as possible while at the same time trying to get his strength back. It’s a slow process and even just taking a shower wore him out. Going out for a quick fast food lunch (at his request) resulted in his having to take a 3 hour nap when we got back home.

It’s obviously going to take several days, or more, for him to be able to even think about going back to work.

Please, as I’ve said before, whether you have underlying health issues or not, if you’re over 60, get your RSV vaccination, and if you start having any breathing issues get help immediately. Trying to be “brave” and saying you’re ok isn’t the right thing to do in this case. This stuff is nothing to fool around with. And for him, it’s also aggravated his heart issues.

Hopefully with rest and the medication he was sent home with we can soon resume our normal Christmas activities, although they may be a somewhat toned down version this year. We’ll just have to see.

At least he’s out of the hospital and on the road to recovery from this stuff!

We Only Get One Christmas Per Year

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So make the most of it.

Put your decorations up early. They’re yours and if it makes you happy, who cares what others think?

If you want more than one tree, or even more than two or three, it’s your choice. Your decision. Who cares what other people think? We now have ten big ones and four 2 foot ones, after getting a new one this year that we just couldn’t resist.

If you want to bake lots of Christmas cookies, even if you’re not planning to eat them all, make them. You can always give them to friends and neighbors. And if they’re not perfect, who cares?! It’s fun and if it makes you happy, do it.

If you want to help your kids or grandkids make gingerbread houses that you know will never look like the pictures on the box, do it. As long as they have fun, who cares? It’s not like you’re going to eat them, and they’ll be proud of their accomplishments.

Take the kids or grandkids to see Santa, and if you want to tell him what you’d like for Christmas, do it! Who cares!

If you want to wear an ugly Christmas sweater, wear it! Others may decide it’s ok and wear one, too. (And if it has a flamingo on it, that’s even better!)

If you want to wear reindeer antlers or a Santa hat, put it in and wear it proudly!

If you want to binge watch holiday movies with a cup of hot chocolate, go for it! And add extra whipped cream!

If you find a really special ornament you really, really want, buy it! There’s always room for one more ornament on one of those trees!

If you want to give gifts to people you don’t really see that often, and probably won’t get you one, get the gift. If it makes you feel good, why not?

If you want to put Christmas collars on your pet, do it! Or dress them up, do it. And take them to see Santa if you want to. You can even hang up stockings for them and give them gifts. We do.

And if you see a Christmas throw pillow that you absolutely have to have, get it. You can always find a place for another one!

And if you happen to like fruitcake, then eat it! You don’t have to go along with everyone else!

And most importantly, if you want to put a stuffed pink flamingo wearing a Santa hat on your stairs, do it! We did!

Enjoy your Christmas decorating. After all, it’s only once a year!

Matters of the Heart, Part 32

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I didn’t expect to write a Part 32, but sometimes things happen out of our control. Unexpected things. But then again, we don’t plan on serious diseases to rear their ugly heads in our life. 

They just happen. And usually very quickly.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the ads about RSV. And a lot of us ignored them, even though we’re in the age category that RSV can really be dangerous. We’d talked about getting the vaccine, but hadn’t gotten around to it. We had time. Until we didn’t. Three nights ago night Ben developed almost uncontrollable chills, and shaking and wheezing. I wanted him to go to urgent care, but he said he’d go Sunday morning. He actually did call his primary doctor and spoke to a nurse who told him if the symptoms got worse, he did need to go to the hospital, but since he was going to urgent care the next morning he should be OK unless things got worse. 

So the next morning we went to an urgent care. They tested him for flu, Covid and RSV. The results came back surprisingly not Covid or flu, but he tested positive for RSV. But the PA that we saw said, “Don’t worry about it too much. We’ll give you cough medicine, and just take it easy and rest for a couple of days and you should be fine.” That didn’t sound right to us, but we figured she should know, right? 

By noon he was having a bit of trouble breathing, and was coughing more, and starting to get chilled again. He tried to get comfortable, but by late afternoon he was miserable. He went upstairs and I kept checking on him, and by 5:30 he told me he was having trouble breathing and to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital. And for those of you who know him well, know he doesn’t say that lightly.

Of course I was a wreck, knowing his medical history of heart and lung issues. By the time medical help arrived his lips were turning blue and so were his fingers. They immediately started oxygen on him. Fortunately we’re very close to the hospital and got there quickly, although to me it didn’t seem like it. With the oxygen he started slowly to get some of his color back, but was still having breathing problems.

The bottom line is, evidently the RSV triggered his asthma and other breathing issues. There was fluid in his lungs and around his heart, most likely aggravated by the RSV as well. He was put on IV antibiotics, and steroids, given a breathing treatment and admitted to the hospital where he will most likely be for 3-5 days. His breathing is still labored, but at least he’s where he will be monitored and get better.

He didn’t sleep well that night, because lying down made his lungs fill with more fluid. As I write this he’s still having breathing treatments every four hours. They’ve had to give him three insulin shots because the steroids raised his blood sugar level too high.  They’ve done a number of cardiac tests including an echocardiogram, as well as taken a lot of vials of blood for further testing. As the doctors said, there’s a lot going on with him right now, and they have to figure out where to best start treatment. And I’m sure they will.

Please, whether you have underlying health issues or not, if you’re over 60, get your RSV vaccination, and if you start having any breathing issues get help immediately. If you have questions from a medical provider because you aren’t sure about their diagnosis, ask them! This stuff is nothing to fool around with. And for him, it’s also evidently aggravated his heart issues.

We’ll keep you updated in “Matters of the Heart, Part 33”. And be sure to read some of the other posts, which tell the entire story of his ongoing heart and lung issues for the last almost forty years. It’s hard to believe what we’ve gone through in all these years!

Remembering Thanksgiving

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We just finished Thanksgiving 2023. And yes, it was as usual unlike other Thanksgiving dinners we’d had before.

Yes, the menu was still basically the same as with other traditional dinners, with turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and other vegetable side dishes. The turkey was deep fried rather than roasted. But we still had my mom’s cinnamon buns made by my daughter with both of her daughters helping. The pumpkin pie wasn’t homemade, but it was delicious.

Our son-in-law deep fried the turkey while Ben supervised,  and while our daughter took one of our grandchildren to urgent care screaming at the top of her lungs with a bad earache. Fortunately they weren’t busy, and the medicine kicked in quickly, and she was actually able to eat dinner with us  when they got back.

Of course the grandchildren ate only what they liked, with no one forcing them to try anything they didn’t want. After all, it was a meal of thanks; thanks for family, and for all of us being able to be together. Other family members weren’t there, because they were at other family members’ dinners, or were no longer with us. It wasn’t what Thanksgiving meals of years past were like, and most likely never will be again, but it was what it was, and exactly what it should’ve been.

And this year we had our newest grandson having his very first Thanksgiving. He enjoyed little bites of turkey and rolls and mashed potatoes.   And then of course, his mother had to take a zillion pictures of him to remember the day by, including some with his two sisters. Of course by that time he’d had enough and we gave this great picture Ashley titled “It’s my first Thanksgiving and I’ll cry if I want to!” And yes he did! But he’s still adorable!

And afterwards we realized we didn’t even get a picture of all of us together!

No Black Friday shopping this year though. We didn’t want to fight the crowds, and actually I had ordered most of the grandkids’ gifts already and was ready to start wrapping them.

So we did our annual gingerbread house instead, which will be another story, but let’s just say the pre-assembled ones are more than worth the money! At least for our daughter.

As I’ve said before, I do miss the big family gatherings we used to have with 10-12 of us all together, but things change over the years. 

Regardless, we still had so much to be thankful for this year, even though it wasn’t a Hallmark movie channel kind of day. But then again, those Hallmark movies are a representation of what writers imagine holidays should be, and not the way they really are.

But one thing remains the same. Families are important, whether there are two of us, four of us, or in our case this year, seven of us. Keep that in mind through the rest of the holiday season and keep the attitude of gratitude every day. And stay thankful.

I Am Thankful 2023

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On this Thanksgiving Day, I’d like to once again share my list of “thankfuls,” because I don’t think we’re doing that nearly enough these days.

These days too many of us tend to be negative, concentrating on all the things in our lives and our country and the world around us that aren’t going the way that we think they should.

Yes, there are a lot of those right now, but there are a lot more things that are good in our lives, if we only stop to think about them; concentrate on them, at least today, on this Thanksgiving day.

So here’s my list:

I am thankful for the chance to still gather some of our loved ones together. I am thankful for my family, and the love we share, even though sometimes we don’t act like it (just like everyone else I know…let’s be real) or feel like it. But the point is we do love each other. And I’m thankful for that love.

I am thankful for my husband and the life we have made together these past 39 years. We’ve been through a lot: family issues and loss; infertility; successions of career moves; and some serious health issues. We have stood by each other through it all, and we have prevailed against a lot of odds. And we will continue to do so. Marriage is a commitment “for better or worse”.  No one ever said it would be easy, but it’s certainly worth it. And it’s hard to believe we’ve been together over 40 years, and married for 39.

I am thankful for our daughter and son-in-law and our now THREE beautiful grandchildren. As sick as our daughter was during this pregnancy, I am thankful that our little one made it into this world safely, even at 5 weeks early. I guess he couldn’t wait to celebrate his first Christmas, so he decided to make his appearance on December 20!

I am thankful for true friends who love us and stick with us, even though we don’t always agree on certain things. True friends remain friends and don’t drop us because of being on opposite sides of issues. We can still be friends without arguing over ideas that we’ll never agree on. If we can’t, we were never true friends. And unfortunately we’ve found that out over the past several years, but I am grateful for the years we did have together.

I am thankful for my health. As I grow older every year, that is one blessing I continue to be ever so thankful for. Because so many others my age are not as fortunate. And I am thankful that despite all the medical issues my husband has been through since our marriage, he continues to maintain a positive attitude and also continues to come through each medical challenge with flying colors! 

Along with that, I am thankful for the availability of excellent doctors and medical care, especially as it pertains to my husband. We are blessed with some of the brightest and the best in their fields, and as we age, and new diseases come against us, that’s extremely important. Some may not necessarily agree with our medical choices, but we are thankful we have those choices and are able to utilize them.

I am thankful for the home we have lived in for 30 years now. Yes, it’s showing its age, with some wear and tear, but it’s our home, and it holds an abundance of family memories that we hold dear. Even though our house went through some issues of its own this year, we made the best of it, and it’s still our home, even with some new unplanned changes in decor. We don’t know how long we will continue to live in it before we decide to downsize, but for now we’re still here, and making more memories every day.

I am thankful for a job that I really enjoy; one in which I am respected and able to use all of my past experiences in real estate to improve the performance of my department. Although I’m at retirement age, and actually a few years past it, I’m not ready to stop working yet, and I have the opportunity to continue to do what I enjoy and get paid for it, and work for a wonderful company with lots of great people.

In a similar situation, I’m also thankful that although he’s technically semi retired, my husband is still working a 30+ hour week, enjoying what he does as well, and like me, working for a great company who appreciates him.

I am thankful we live in a country in which we are still free to express our opinions and maintain our right to free speech. Although we have a politically divided country right now, I still have hope that we can overcome our differences and once again become a country united for the good of all of us, and not a country trying to see who we can get back at for perceived wrongs and doing nothing but criticize and threaten those disagree with us. Because if we continue on the divided path we are currently on, what kind of country will we be leaving our children and grandchildren?

And above all, I am thankful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed on us; the things He has walked us through, and the things He has protected us from. It’s been another challenging year, but we continue to remain strong and positive that our family will continue to also retain our strong love for each other no matter what challenges we may face.

May God continue to bless us all, both on this Thanksgiving Day and in the coming months and years.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Reflections 2023

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I always tend to get a bit nostalgic at this time of year because there’s so much emphasis on family and the things that tradition tells us we need to emphasize during the Thanksgiving season.

How about those of us who don’t have the “traditional” family unit? Whatever that is any more.

In our case, that’s sort of, kind of, true.  Our family has shifted quite a bit, and the closeness of years long ago is no longer there. It doesn’t mean we love them any less, but we love in a different way. 

Family dynamics have changed, and we no longer have actual physical gatherings with all of those who are still in our hearts. It’s a way of life, whether we like it or not.

Our traditions have changed. Around our table will be our daughter and son in law and this year there will be THREE grandchildren. Maybe others. Who knows? Of course, Ryan most likely won’t be eating turkey, but I imagine he’ll try a bite or two. After all, today he is officially eleven months old! Where has the time gone?

Our meal will still be the traditional turkey and trimmings, and this year our daughter will be able to eat what she wants. Last year she was so sick with her pregnancy she had really couldn’t eat much of what she wanted.

But I can’t help but look back on Thanksgivings some 20 or so years ago before things started to change, and yes, I still long for those days again.

But then I stop to think about all that’s happened in the intervening years, and I realize I really wouldn’t want to change much of it. Certainly I’d still want my mother with us, but I wouldn’t want the friends we’ve met along the way to no longer be with us. I’d not want to give up my daughter and her husband and our precious grandchildren for anything in this world.

Unfortunately change happens. Change is inevitable. Families evolve and change as family members move away or sadly, pass away. And our holiday traditions evolve as well. Friends who can’t spend holidays with their families join with us at our Thanksgiving meal, traditional or not.

Friends become the family we choose for ourselves. And that’s ok. Because we no longer live in the world as it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for what we have. For those we love. A time to fellowship and share with others and allow them to share with us. For me, I am thankful for my husband’s continued heatlh, and for our daughter and son in law, and as I’ve said before, especially thankful for our grandchildren, and very thankful that baby Ryan, although coming into this world five weeks premature, is healthy and happy (except for the teething of course,) and the best Christmas gift we could ever have had. We’re so looking forward to sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving with all of them.

And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Sharing and giving thanks for the blessings we have.

And we have many. Sometimes we forget just how many because we’re all too often complaining that things aren’t the way we think they should be. And we almost overlook the things we should be most grateful for.

And if we stop and think about it, we can list a lot more things to be thankful for than things that we think are wrong in our life.

Try it. Be honest with yourself.

And you’ll see what I mean.

Toddler Shoes or Grownup Shoes?

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Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t put one foot in front of another any more? Almost like you were a toddler again, trying to walk in those strange new things on your little feet that your mommy called shoes. But you just didn’t have the strength to do it? Or maybe you just didn’t have the desire…or the motivation.

Maybe it felt like your feet were stuck in a huge glob of glue, holding you back, and just the act of pulling your foot out of that sticky mess in just to put it down a few inches ahead took more effort than it was worth.

What good are shoes if you can’t walk in them?

But every day is a step towards your goal. It may be a tiny step, and you may not even begin to see where that step takes you, but it’s a step forward.

Each day you take another one, and another.

The trick is not to take one backwards. Which can be very tempting, especially when you don’t see those steps taking you anywhere.

Think about what happens when a child starts walking. They try, very tentatively at first, holding on to something, and try to put that little foot in front of the other. It’s only a half step, but they try. And usually fall.

But they keep trying. Half steps. Tiny little steps. Not getting very far at first. But they keep trying. Because they don’t ever think they can’t do it. They just keep trying because instinctively they know it’s how to get ahead and make their lives better!

They keep trying, a few steps at a time. And when they fall, they get back up and keep on trying. They have no preconceived idea that they can’t do it.

And one day all their hard work pays off as they stand up, take those steps, and not only walk, but run!

They never look back. They don’t go back to crawling again instead of walking or running. Because they know the best way to get where they’re going is putting one foot in front of the other and plunging ahead.

So what about us? Why is it so hard for us to sometimes put that one foot in front of the other? So hard to start moving ahead to where we’re going? Or where we want to go.

Like the toddler starting out walking for the first time, we fall down. But sometimes instead of getting back up we decide to just stay where we fall. Because it’s easier than putting forth the effort it takes to get moving again.

We say we want to, but it’s just so much effort. It’s easier to stay stuck in that molasses and go no further. And watch everyone else move on; move ahead with their lives.

It’s easy to think that, “They don’t know all the struggles I’ve had. How hard it’s been. How difficult life has been these past few weeks/months/years. They haven’t had to go through all that….”

Really? Ah, but how do you know? You just didn’t see their struggles, their battles to put one foot in front of the other and start moving ahead again. You didn’t see them falling down time after time and fighting to get back up and keep on going.

You see, we all have our struggles. From time to time we’ve all gone though those individual battles, and some of us probably will again.

But we all come through it the same way. By getting up each morning and putting that one foot in front of the other, and forging ahead. It may not be a quick journey, but as long as we keep moving forward, nothing can stop us.

Nothing can stop you. Tomorrow morning, get up. Put your feet on the floor and put one foot in front of the other. And keep walking.

The journey of a thousand miles always starts with a single step.

Where is your journey going to take you?

Sometimes You Have to Accept…

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…that the people you thought were your really good friends really aren’t.

…that the people you thought would always be in you corner don’t really care about being there.

…that although they think they care, many times they’re just too busy to be that person you need.

…that true friends don’t always have to agree with everything we believe in; but that those disagreements should be put aside for true friendship.

…that when you really need a shoulder to cry on or a hand to help you up, it may not be there from the people you expected.

…that true friendship sometimes comes from those we least expected.

…that true friendship doesn’t expect anything in return for that friendship.

…that we’re not always the friends we need to be to others.

…that sometimes apologies are needed by both sides.

…that acquaintances are not the same as friends. Acquaintances can become friends, and friends can become only acquaintances.

…and that some day it may be too late to try to rekindle a friendship that has long since gone by the wayside.

Treasure your true friends; if they leave, then they were only friends for a season. If they stick by you through good times and bad times, and don’t desert you if they make new friends, then they are friends forever.

Mother Nature Has the Best Box of Crayons

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Around our area this year, it seems the leaves have been turning colors a bit slower than usual.

Not that I want the cold weather to hit, but now that Halloween is over, and it’s already November, well, I guess it’s time. After all, November in our household marks the beginning of Christmas decorating. And since we have a total of 12 trees, it does take a bit of time.

But once the leaves start changing, and the fall flowers arrive at the garden shops, it’s time to start looking at and appreciating Mother Nature’s fall box of crayons.

And what an array of colors we find!

We tend to think of fall colors as just leaves turning colors on trees in varying shades of orange. But there are other colors as well.

And that’s certainly a big part of it.

But there are also pumpkins. And they’re not just orange. They’re white, yellow, speckled, and even blue! The first time I saw a blue pumpkin I thought it was fake. My husband didn’t like it at all, but I thought it was great. And so did the squirrels who decided to chew on it since we put it on our front steps with the other pumpkins. And don’t forget the decorative gourds which come in the most original and unusual shapes.

And then there’s the Indian corn. In a huge array of colors from orange to white to varying shades of blue and purple! Last year we also bought several ears of this colorful corn to put outside with our pumpkins. The squirrels enjoyed them as well.

This year we didn’t put out real pumpkins or corn.

But leaves and pumpkins aren’t nature’s only colors of fall. There are also stunning fall flowers. In beautiful shades of yellow, purple and orange. Pansies are one of my favorite flowers and I already have several pots of them on our deck. Mums are very popular as well, and are my husband’s favorite, but they don’t last as long as I’d like, even though I’m very careful to water them daily.

And don’t forget the fall apples. They’re available in all kinds of varieties and colors. And they’re all delicious, and can be found in luscious pies and apple dumplings!

Yes, Mother Nature has a box of crayons that are incomparable to anything we can come up with in a lab or by mixing paint on a palette. The beauty of nature and the majesty of the Creator continues to amaze us on a daily basis. 

We could never put together a box of crayons that could compete with these.

Don’t you agree?