Friday, December 30, 2022

My One Word for 2023

The end is near!  No... Not in some cryptic "person on a street corner with a sign" kind of way.  Tomorrow we'll see 2022 come to an end, and then we're moving on to 2023! 

For many people a new year means a new set of resolutions. For me it means a new word.  One word which is my focus and guide for the year. 

That word for 2033 is Explore.

Explore: to investigate, study, scrutinize, or analyze look into, to become familiar with by testing or experimenting, to search into or travel in for the purpose of discovery.

But, here's the thing...

As I began considering the word Explore and how it might take shape in the year ahead, something didn't quite feel settled. As if something was missing. At first I thought perhaps I had the wrong word.  I kept getting clues and signals that the word for the year was Explore. Yet, that feeling of incomplete didn't go away.

Then, one morning during my quiet time, I had a thought that changed everything.  

Perhaps a year of exploration isn't meant to stop at just one word. What if each month had its own word? A new word to explore each and every month.

Suddenly, it seemed as if all the pieces had clicked into place. That idea of one word for each month felt right. It was new and different. But also exciting. 

So, my one word for 2023 isn't just one word at all. While the word for 2023 is Explore - each month of the year will also have its own word.  I am not choosing all twelve words in advance. I trust that the word for each month will come to me according to where my focus needs to be and what I need to explore each month.

Do you set resolutions or make goals for the new year? Do you set a word as a focus for the year? Or do go in without any expectations, just waiting to see what the year brings?


Thursday, December 29, 2022

Thankful Thursday: December 29, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Packages mailed

Kisses from my husband

New space heaters

Baking Christmas cookies with the grandkid

Jackets for the dogs

Every day I am given

Wrapping presents

Finding a bag of Christmas candy I had forgotten about

A surprise gift

Baked goodies from the neighbors

A quiet night before the busy weekend

Family gathered for Christmas

Games that make everyone laugh

Christmas morning

After Christmas deals

Christmas dinner leftovers

Toys that keep the dog entertained for a long time


Thursday, December 22, 2022

Thankful Thursday: December 22, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

My dog making me laugh 

A cute Christmas dress

Reaching my reading goal for the year

Picking up holds at the library

Coffee

Presents to wrap

Planning for Christmas break with the grandkid

Remote start to warm up the car

Breakfast out with my husband

Dreams for the future

Cute boots

Frosty mornings

Sunshine on a cold day

Christmas cookies

A warm house

Doggy snoops


Thursday, December 15, 2022

Thankful Thursday: December 15, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Blasting Christmas music in the car

Peppermint patties

Scheduling a Christmas trip to Biltmore Estate

All current orders complete and shipped

It's been a good year 

Productive days

A cup of hot tea

My husband making the morning coffee

Homemade pizza night

Opportunity to help others

Cute Christmas earrings

Delivery workers/drivers

Time to sit and crochet

Christmas shopping done

Simple, nutritious meals

Ending the day with a Jameson and Ginger


Monday, December 12, 2022

December Thoughts on Abundance and Scarcity

Throughout this year of 'Abundance', I have come to realize how much of my life has been lived with an attitude of scarcity.  The fear of "not enough".


Always thinking that there's just not enough. Believing, somehow, that if someone else is getting something: time, attention, affection, praise, love, friends, readers, sales - that somehow, there won't be enough left for me.

That I'm not enough. Not pretty enough, smart enough, talented enough, strong enough, or good enough. The belief that I am not enough to deserve or to earn the things I want or need for myself led to a lot of resentment, anger, jealousy, and self doubt over the years. 

Instead of living a life focused on abundance, I have allowed myself to believe it is one of scarcity. Like Eve, surrounded by a beautiful, lush garden, yet tempted by the one thing she couldn't have - I found my attention constantly drawn to what I thought I might be lacking. 

The cup was always half empty.

It's an ugly truth. One I didn't - I don't - want to acknowledge. But there it is. And the only way it can ever change is if I take a long, hard look at it.  Examine it for what it really is. Stop looking for the empty holes and instead focus on the promises God made about the abundant life he planned for us.

That he came so we could experience a full life (John 10:10)

That He has plans for us to prosper. To give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah

How, if we lean on Him, He can do so much more than we could ever even imagine (Ephesians 3:20)

That our confidence will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:35)

If, like me, you have bought into the lie of scarcity for too long - it is time to let it go and grab the abundance!


Thursday, December 8, 2022

Thankful Thursday: December 8, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Lunch with my son

Vegetarian chili 

December 

Christmas table setting

The perfect table runner 

Christmas shopping almost done

Fixed the Christmas lights by myself 

Dinner out with my husband

Christmas movies

Finding the perfect Christmas gift 

A big pot of homemade soup

Being married to my best friend

Lunch with my daughter

Orders completed

Leftover soup and sandwiches

Towels fresh from the dryer 

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Thankful Thursday: December 1, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Help cleaning up

Christmas cactus blooming 

My husband fixing dinner

Cinnamon rolls

A perfectly cooked turkey

Thanksgiving day

Leftover pumpkin pie 

Black Friday shopping with my daughter

Christmas movies

Christmas tree

Quiet Sunday morning

Christmas decorating almost done

My husband picking up my prescription for me 

Bedtime

Dental insurance 

Christmas cards


Thursday, November 24, 2022

Thanksgiving Thursday: November 24, 2022

 Happy Thanksgiving!!



I Am Thankful For:

An unexpected gift

Sunrise

Dublin, Ireland

"Fresh" Guinness

A beautiful day in Ireland

Friendly and informative tour guides

Irish whiskey

Edinburgh, Scotland

Making it to the top of Arthur's Seat

Visiting Edinburgh Castle

Riding a train through the English countryside

Big Ben... Parliament

Visiting Westminster Abbey

Riding the "tube"

Visiting the Tower of London

A safe journey home

30 years of marriage

Waking up in my own bed

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Thankful Thursday: November 10, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Another year of life

Texts and messages from family and friends

Buds on the Christmas cactus

When it's so foggy, it feels as if the rest of the world has vanished

A downy woodpecker at the suet feeder

Free birthday coffee from Starbucks

A last minute Etsy order

My husband cooking a steak dinner

Peppermint mocha oatmilk creamer

A summer-like day in November

Sun breaking through the fog

Chocolate

Election day

Lunar eclipse

Pink clouds

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

November Thoughts on Abundance

As my year of focusing on 'Abundance' joins the month most often associated with gratitude, I find myself thinking about how the two go hand- in-hand.


As I have spent the past 10 months thinking about, reading about, and learning about abundance - I have come to believe that you can not experience true abundance without gratitude. 

If you are not thankful for the things that you have and are not grateful for the abundance in your life - it is never going to feel like enough. It doesn't matter how much you have. It doesn't matter how rich, full, or satisfying your life is.  Without gratitude, that abundance will always feel more like scarcity.

On the other hand,  if you live life with a thankful heart, full of gratitude for the things you have, it can always feel like an abundance.  No matter how little you may have, if you are thankful for it - it will always feel like plenty.

When we are grateful, we aren't focusing on the things we don't have. We are too busy being thankful for what we do have.  This focus magnifies and increases it in our hearts and minds.

Do you have a gratitude practice, such as writing in a gratitude journal or keeping a gratitude list, to help you focus on your abundance?  Tell me about it in the comments!






Thursday, November 3, 2022

Thankful Thursday: November 3, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Snoring doggies

A comforting meal

Watching Dr Who

My husband working at home for the day

Warm Autumn days

Fridays

Blue birds on the cable behind the house

Making myself laugh

Snacks and a scary movie

The Monster Mash song

Silly, cheesy jokes

A small, family pre-birthday dinner

All my wonderful birthday gifts

A big, long hug from the grandkid

New lipstick

Dinner with my dad and step mom

One more birthday gift

The last piece of cheesecake


Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Currently: November 2022

November is going to be an excellent month!  Can't you just feel it?  This is always my favorite month of the year, but it's going to be extra special this year.


Working On: Getting my Etsy shop ready for the busy holiday season.  I'm taking a short break for the first few weeks this month before things get hectic.  I need to get everything ready for the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sale.

Celebrating:  November is always a big one for celebrations.  Today is my birthday. The Big 5-3!  Of course there's Thanksgiving.  And the Man of the House and I have plans for celebrating our wedding anniversary this month.  Thirty years deserves a big celebration - don't you think? 

Wanting/Needing: You know what?  I can't think of a single thing!  Unless it's a few extra hours in the day to take care of everything I need to be doing this month. 

Eating: It's officially soup season!  Which means I'm cranking up the slow cooker and enjoying all the soups, stews, chilis and gumbo.  It makes my heart - and my tummy - happy!

Loving:  I think it's pretty obvious by now that I am loving just about everything about November

Goals for November:

  • Set up Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale for Etsy shop
  • Post Bath and Body items from Etsy to FB shop
  • Decorate for Christmas

What are your plans for November? Share in the comments!





Thursday, October 27, 2022

Thankful Thursday: October 27, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Pumpkins on the front porch

Soup for lunch

Late nights

Frosty grass

Dogs "digging" in the leaves

Orders completed

One pan dinners

Lofthouse cookies

Babysitting

Making Thanksgiving plans

Texting with my dad

Deer grazing in the yard

Faith

Falling leaves

Halloween shirts for the dogs

Plans changed

Cute pictures

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Thankful Thursday: October 20, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

An abundance of Etsy orders

Falling leaves

Houseplants

A new hair cut

Opportunities to be helpful

Iced coffee

Walking through crispy crunchy leaves

Feeling a little better about the situation

Marking things off the vacation prep list

Beautiful Autumn leaves to look at while stuck in traffic

Scary movie season

Finding a great pair of boots

Flu shots and Covid boosters

Counting down the days

Sunday coffee

Warm Autumn days

Catching my mistake before it's too late

Late night crochet

A blustery day

A warm home to shelter from the cold

Getting caught up

Monday, October 17, 2022

What No One Told Me About Menopaus: Puberty - The Sequel

This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my personal experience. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

Your body is going through all sorts of changes that you may or may not understand.  Your hormones have you feeling all out of sorts.  Your emotions are up one minute, down the next, irrationally angry and then weepy.  You might be growing hair in unexpected places.  Your skin is doing things you've never seen it do before. 

Sounds like puberty. Right? Well, hold on to your hat - because I'm actually describing perimenopause!


You remember puberty, right?  That time of change as your hormonal changes to get ready for the years of menstruation, ovulation, childbearing, and adulting.  Perimenopause is the time of hormonal changes as the body prepares to stop ovulating and menstruating. If you think about it - it's sort of a second puberty. Just in reverse.

Let's compare the two...

In puberty,  breast changes occur as hormones cause the development of milk ducts and mammary glands.  The breasts will typically increase in size. During perimenopause, the lack of estrogen causes those glands and ducts to shrink.  This can lead to breasts losing some volume and becoming less firm... and sagging.

During puberty, body hair begins to appear under the arms, in the genital area, and on the legs.  In menopause, hair may become thinner, or could possibly start appearing in areas we didn't expect (or want!) such as the face.

Young women may experience acne as a result of hormonal changes and an increase in sweat and oil production.  Midlife women can experience the same thing - years after we thought we were done with it!  On the other hand, our hormonal changes may instead cause our skin to become dry and itchy. 

That increase in oil and sweat production may also cause a young woman to experience increased body odor.  The same thing can happen during perimenopause.

Puberty is when menstrual cycles typically begin.  They may begin having monthly periods right away, or their cycles may be irregular to start.  In perimenopause, we can also experience irregular cycles.  They may become shorter at first, or they may be longer.  You will probably begin skipping periods altogether.  Eventually, the cycles come to an end. 

Young women going through puberty may experience moodiness and emotional outbursts.  Perimenopause - well... same!

Whether it's puberty or menopause, some of it is amazing, some of it is frustrating, and some of it is messy - the important thing to remember is that it's all just a natural part of life. And whether your symptoms are minor or you are struggling with severe symptoms, help is available if you need it. 


Thursday, October 13, 2022

Thankful Thursday: October 13, 2022

 



I Am Thankful For:

Lunch with my sister

Baby clothes

Halloween socks

New bee earrings

A beautiful fall day

Halloween socks 

Picking up the grandkid from school 

Car crochet 

My husband 

Celebrating his birthday

A lovely afternoon at Biltmore 

Family 

A cozy bathrobe 

Dog costumes 

Colorful Autumn leaves 

Texts that make me laugh 



Thursday, October 6, 2022

Thankful Thursday: October 6, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

New goals

Clear blue Autumn skies

Unexpected free time

Coffee

A crockpot full of chili

Cute dog shirts

The calm before the storm

A comfy sweatshirt

Dodging the worst of the storm

October

Homemade chicken pot pie

Finally getting to sleep

A quiet afternoon

Homemade tomato soup

Peaceful moments

Autumn sunshine

Fall wildflowers


Thursday, September 29, 2022

Thankful Thursday: September 29, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Snuggles from my puppies

Starting a new baby blanket

Laughing at myself

The first day of Autumn

Thursday night football

Halloween Oreos

Fridays

Staying up too late to binge the rest of a season

Weekends

Pretty nails

Perfect Fall days

Starting another new crochet project

The Panthers finally won a game

Fall candles

I am (mostly) healthy

Late night reading


Thursday, September 22, 2022

Thankful Thursday: September 22, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Cooler nights

Pumpkins

That one puffy white cloud in a blue sky

A good dental checkup

Spending time with my sister

Foggy September mornings

I am enough

Sushi

Laughing with my sister

An evening with a "chick flick" and junk food

Late night conversations

Saturday mornings

My husband preparing dinner

A sunset walk at Biltmore

Football Sundays

Sleeping in a little

Hearing the "cha-ching" of an Etsy sale

Chocolate

The smell of freshly clean laundry


Thursday, September 15, 2022

Thankful Thursday: September 15, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

A day that feels like fall

Comfort foods

Fresh cut grass

Pumpkin spice

Falling leaves

An organized cabinet

Big cup of cold water

Planning for a visit

Brownies

Exploring in the rain

New experiences

Time spent with my husband

The first game of the season

Aloe

Fall decor

A healthy meal

Home

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Thankful Thursday: September 8, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

The entire past month

Silly dog videos

Planning for fall

Waking up to a chilly morning

No itchy eyes

Cooler days

Apple season

Pumpkin cream cold brew coffee

Spending time with my sister's family

A car ride over the mountains

Shapes in the clouds

Rainy Sundays

Planning for trip to Edinburgh

Lazy mornings

A weekend of cook outs

Pancakes

Family

The rain stopped

Online shopping

Texting with my sister while shopping


Friday, September 2, 2022

Currently: September 2022

August was SUCH a great month!  

Last month got off to a beautiful start when we were told that grandbaby #2 is expected to make an appearance early next year.  Y'all know that I adore being Oma - and now I'll have another grandkid to love on and spoil! 

The Man of the House and I did a little traveling in August. He had a conference for work in Washington, DC. I tagged along and did a little solo sightseeing until his conference let out for the day when we could explore the city together. I adore wandering around museums, so all the different ones available in Washington made me feel like a kid in a candy store. 

We also made a weekend trip to Nashville, Tennessee to catch the Titans playing an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. We have a goal to watch a professional football game at every stadium. We made it to two in 2019 before having to take a break for a couple of years (thanks Covid). Oh, how much I have missed watching games in person! We explored Nashville some while we were there.  Downtown has very much a "party city" feel to it. But there's also lots of history and interesting things to see.  Who knew that Nashville has a full-size replica of the Parthenon? I sure didn't!

In fact, after all the joy, fun, and excitement of August  -  I'm kind of sorry to see it come to an end. But, I am equally excited to see what September has in store!

Working On: Planning for the last three months of the year.  I've got to get my Etsy shop ready for the holiday season.  We have got a big trip planned for later this year, so we're working on plans and the itinerary for each city we'll be visiting. 

Celebrating: This month is my youngest nephew's birthday. Football season starts.  And I'm very excited that I get to see my baby sister and hang out some this month!

Wanting/Needing: Is it too much to ask to find a cute pair of boots that are waterproof and comfortable for lots of walking? Preferably ones that don't cost a small fortune?  I certainly didn't think it would be so difficult. 

Eating: Recently, I have been eating a lot of oatmeal for breakfast.  I have it with protein powder, hemp seeds (for fiber and more protein), walnuts, berries, and a sprinkle of oatmeal. Delicious and packed with nutrition. 

Loving: That it's September!  Fall is almost here.  Football season is starting.  Soon the leaves will be changing and the air will be cooler.  I love everything about fall.

September Goals:

  • Post new lip balm holders to the Etsy shop
  • Create Thankful and Sunday post templates for the 4th quarter
  • Set goals for the 4th quarter
  • Clean out the spice cabinet
  • Clean out pantry


 




Thursday, September 1, 2022

Thankful Thursday: September 1, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Lunch with my grandson

Eye drops for allergy eyes

My husband making me a cup of coffee

Safe travels

Time spent with my husband

Museums

Silly texts from my son

Long walks on the National Mall

Art galleries in beautiful old buildings

A fresh salad

Going home

Dinner with my daughters family

Experiencing a new city

Getting back to my routine

Hints of fall all around


Thursday, August 18, 2022

Thankful Thursday: August 18, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Sunshine breaking through the fog

Smores

Things that make me laugh

Dreams

Sinus pressure went away

New Etsy orders

A picnic dinner

Live music

A stunning sunset

Preseason football

A lazy Saturday

A beautiful morning for a walk

My husband making dinner

Seeing a baby deer

Back to school season

Planning for trips


Thursday, August 11, 2022

Thankful Thursday: August 11, 2022

Yesterday was my dad's birthday.   I am thankful that we live close enough to get together regularly for lunch.  I am grateful that I inherited his love of history and reading.  And I am incredibly thankful that he is still with us, especially after his health scares over the past few years. 


I Am Thankful For:

Prayers answered

Goals achieved

Max's ear infection cleared up

Iced coffee

Surprise packages in the mail

Beautiful summer days

Fresh baked muffins

Hugs from the grandkid

My husband smoking a pork roast

A beautiful morning walk

Planning itineraries for our trip

A good talk

Happy dogs

Flowers growing well on the front porch

New library books

Rainy nights

Planning early for the weekend

Fresh perspectives

Monday, August 8, 2022

So far, So Good!

August is off to an extraordinary start! The first week went just so well. tAt this point, I'm only expecting more great things from August. 

Most of my positive feelings about how August is shaping up so far is because we got confirmation that our second grandbaby is due in February of next year!

Am I a little excited?  That would be a complete and total understatement. I don't think I could be anymore excited. 

I adore my grandson so much.  Being Oma is one of my very favorite things ever. And finally, after ten years, I'm going to have twice the love to share!

I accomplished all of the goals I set for the first week of August. That's always a good feeling and sets a nice tone for the rest of the month. And I'm ready to conquer a few more goals this week!

  • Write 3 blog posts
  • Add 4 new listings to Etsy shop
  • Photograph more new cloths for Etsy shop
  • Ship open orders
  • Sort 1 box of inventory for Etsy shop
How is your August going so far?




Thursday, August 4, 2022

Thankful Thursday: August 4, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Baby bears in the yard

Baking pull-apart bread with the grandkid

Someone else emptying the dishwasher without being asked

Unexpected free time

Frosted coffee

Excedrin

Finishing a book

Husband getting home from work trip

Getting an early start

Pretty flowers

A new washer and dryer

Thunder

My husband making breakfast

My husband smoking the pork loin for dinner

A new month with new goals

The best news ever!

Finding an item I had previously passed up on clearance for 75% off

Monday, August 1, 2022

Currently... August 2022

Once August hits, I find myself thinking ahead to Autumn. Wondering exactly when it's ok to put out my fall decor, thinking about pumpkin spice everything, looking forward to football season, and dreaming about comforting soups and stews. 

Too soon? Maybe.  Probably. There's still plenty of summer left to savor.

But, after the extreme heat we had to endure during July, I'm guessing that I am not the only one who is already longing for the crisp Autumn days to come!

Until they arrive, let's enjoy what August has to offer!

Working On:  My health.  The husband and I have been walking 2 to 4 miles with the dogs every Sunday (weather permitting)and I am slowly trying to increase my activity levels during the week.  I'm also getting my nutrition back under control.  We'll discuss this in just a minute.

Celebrating: August is a quiet month for celebrations. My dad celebrates his birthday on the 10th.  I'm also going to go ahead and say that I am celebrating a few personal experiences that are going on.  But, we'll talk more about those later this month.

Wanting/Needing:  As I'm trying to increase the stock of ready to ship items for my shop, I find myself needing a different way of storing and tracking my inventory.  I'm considering a couple of different options, but haven't decided yet what is going to be the best way of managing things.

Eating: I have been focusing on lean protein, lots of fiber, and nutrient dense fruits and veggies. It's been amazing to me how a few simple changes can help you feel fuller and reduce snacking.

Loving: Our Sunday walks. I love getting out in the sunshine and fresh air, watching the dogs explore a little, and - most of all - spending the time with my husband.

Goals for August:

  • Update blog appearance and layout
  • Add 10 new listings to my Etsy shop
  • Sort and reorganize 2 boxes of inventory
What are your plans and goals for August?