Reflecting on April - and Ending on a Positive Note

  Y'all know that it has been a rough start to the year around here.  And, reflecting back on  April, it started out with more of the same.

The Man of the House went to California for a work thing the week before Easter.  And the Monday after Easter, he found out that two of the people he had been working with had both tested positive for Covid after getting home.  Fortunately, he tested negative with both an at-home and a lab test. (Thank goodness for the vaccine!)

I had a flare-up of carpal tunnel inflammation, which put me in a wrist brace for over a week.  Our oven started acting up two days before Easter.  We discovered that our washing machine was leaking.  And, worst of all - someone close to us got an upsetting medical diagnosis. 

I am happy to report that things do seem to have quieted down for the last two weeks of the month.  

The Man of the House was able to order a couple of parts and with a little engineering know-how and time, he fixed both the washer and the stove in a matter of days.  So thankful that we don't have to replace two major appliances at once!

I was able to spend time with the grandkid while he was on Easter/Spring break from school.  And he got his third straight A Honor Roll award for this school year. We're so proud of him!

I have been fighting to keep my head in a positive space, despite all the crazy things that have happened so far this year.  As I've said before, most of it wasn't huge crises - but it all starts to weigh on you and after a while, you can find yourself focusing on the negative rather than the blessings in your life.  And, trust me - if you take time to really look for them, the blessings almost always outnumber the bad stuff.

Besides my daily gratitude journaling, I have also tried to take a moment once a week or so to focus on things that I like about myself.   Here are a few of the things that I have come up with:

• My blue eyes
• My curly hair
• My sense of humor 
• My love of reading
• My creativity
• My curiosity

So... to send this month on a positive note - what's something you like about yourself? Share in the comments!

Thankful Thursday: April 28, 2022

 

I Am Thankful For:

Azaleas in bloom

The smell of lilacs

The washing machine is fixed

The perfect Spring day

Ziggy's little doggy grin

Wild violets blooming in the yard

Spring mornings

New growth in my houseplants

Excedrin for migraines

Birds singing in the backyard

A relaxing dinner on the deck

Sipping wine while the sun sets

Cinnamon rolls

Sundays

Dinner cooked on the grill

Spending time outside

The digital library

A nice order for my Etsy shop

The patter of raindrops

Sunshine after the rain

Good books

Sunday Inspiration: Peace of Mind

 

Thankful Thursday: April 21, 2022

 

I Am Thankful For:

Reading with the grandkid

Cute pictures of my dogs

The hummingbirds are back

Driving with the sunroof open

Lemon pound cake

Dogwoods in bloom

A clean house

Joy

My husband arriving home from his work trip

New plants for the porch

Pain relief ointments

My son making a trip to the grocery store for me

Easter morning

Spending time with my daughter's family

The oven is fixed

Leftovers

The peonies are starting to grow

The washer should be easy to fix

Windy days

The sound of my windchimes

Listing to podcasts while I work

That is Just About Enough!

When is enough, enough? Because I am pretty sure that I have had just about enough! Since the beginning of February it has felt like one thing after another. Let's recap, shall we?

Our well pump and pressure tank went on the fritz, requiring a lot of expensive plumbing work.

My dad was back in the hospital for another episode of angina.

My husband broke his foot. 

I caught Covid.

Our son also caught Covid.

I had to have a root canal.

The root canal couldn't be completed because the tooth had too much decay, so now I am scheduled for an extraction and implant.

The same tooth had a chunk break off a.week and a half ago.

I had to have follow-up images done after my mammogram showed changes.

I have had a flair up of carpal tunnel, putting me in a wrist brace for a couple of weeks..

My oven went on the fritz two days before Easter. 

Now, fortunately these things are either minor inconveniences, were easily  and/or well resolved, or both. But when things just keep coming at me like this , it still starts to just feel as if I can't catch a break! 

Do you know what I mean? 

There are so many things in life that we just can't control, no matter how much we try to take care and prepare. Sometimes all we can do is a lot of praying and focus on the things we can control. 

My lists of monthly and weekly goals help some.  They give me some sense of order when life is crazy.

Goals for this week:

• Finish and ship open Etsy orders
• Update listings for dish cloths and washcloths
• Take pictures of new dish cloth sets for Etsy shop
• Write 3 blog posts
• Purge and reorganize shoes

What's on your list for this week?

Sunday Inspiration: Easter morning

 

Thankful Thursday: April 14, 2022

 

I Am Thankful For:

A huge wild turkey in the yard

Sunny days

Music

Mammogram follow-up went well

Lunch with Chris

Dentist appointment was quick and painless

A white squirrel in the back yard

Finishing errands quicker than expected

A new day

A trip to the bookstore

Spring snow

My "baby" sister

New spring pants

Tacos

Sundays

Hanging out with the grandkid

The Man of the House calling to check in

Oreos

All the clean laundry is put away

Breakfast for dinner

Easter lily

Surprises

Y'all, I don't even know where to start. Last week was full of surprises.  Some were not so great. Some were welcome surprises. And one or two were... neutral, I guess.

The night before my follow-up appointment for my mammogram, the tooth that is awaiting extraction and an implant BROKE! I was eating, and suddenly felt something not right in the food so I spit it out. There was a piece of my tooth! It didn't hurt or anything, but there was a sharp jagged edge that I could constantly feel rubbing the inside of my cheek. Of course this happened after the office was closed for the day so it had to wait.  Next morning, before I left for the mammography office, I called and they worked me into the schedule for that afternoon.

My mammogram follow-up went pretty well. The calcifications have increased. But the changes are small and since the calcifications are tiny, they want to continue monitoring them for now. I go back in Six months to see if there are any further changes.

The appointment at the dentist was quick and painless. Since the tooth wasn't hurting or sensitive, she ground off the sharp edge to get me through until the appointment for the extraction and graft. I have been instructed to avoid chewing on it as much as possible, especially tough, hard, or crunchy foods. 

In other news, our yard is once again a hot bed of wildlife activity.  On at least two mornings we have had a huge wild turkey in our yard.  It is apparently mating season and he is looking to impress the ladies. The first morning he was here, he had two females with him (although they didn't seem to be paying much attention to his efforts woo them). 

I was also surprised to discover a white squirrel has started stealing from my bird feeders. I know we have white squirrels in the area. There's a town about 30 minutes from here that is quite proud of its white squirrel population and even has a White Squirrel Festival. But this us the first and only one we have ever seen around our house! It's been here for three mornings in a row, so I think maybe it's going to stick around.

Have you experienced any interesting surprises recently?

Sunday Inspiration: Waste Not

 

Thankful Thursday: April 7, 2022

 

I Am Thankful For:

A relaxing day

Reading outside in the sun

Avocado toast

A nice day for running errands

Starting a new book

A bright red cardinal at the feeder

Spending time with my daughter and grandson

Family game night

My husband fixing dinner

Sunday brunch at home

Walking in the park with The Man and the dogs

The smell of fresh-cut grass

Spring weather

A delicious new recipe that is simple to make

Getting a good night's sleep

My son dropped parcels off in the mail for me

When the storms end

Time for Your Mammogram? 4 Tips to Make It Easier

 Last week, I had my annual mammogram appointment.  And tomorrow I have to go back for more "targeted" images.  I shouldn't be surprised.  More often than not, when I have my screening mammogram there's "something new" on the images and I end up having to go back for diagnostic imaging. You might think I should just be used to it, and mostly I am.  But it also still makes me a little nervous. 

The good news is that if that "something new" ever turns out to be the worst-case scenario, because I am diligent about getting my exams and mammograms - it would be caught early and be more treatable.  Which is exactly the point of regular mammogram screenings.  The American Cancer Society and the CDC recommend starting regular annual breast cancer screenings sometime between the age of 40 and 45 for women of average risk.  Women aged 45 to 54 should receive annual screening. After age 55, women can switch to every other year or continue with yearly mammograms.  

If you are preparing for your first mammogram, here are a few tips to help make it as easy as possible:

• If possible, schedule your appointment for a time of the month when your breasts are less likely to be tender.  If you are pre-menopausal, this is usually about a week after your period.
• Avoid using deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams, or perfumes under your arms or on your breasts. They can contain particles that can be picked up by a mammogram and may cause you to need further screening and unnecessary stress.
• Don't wear any necklaces.  If you do, you will be asked to remove them to assure that they don't interfere with the images.  Leaving them at home means one less thing to keep up with. 
• Wear an outfit with a separate top and bottoms. You will need to undress from the waist up for the procedure and wear a robe or gown that is provided to you.  Wearing a dress or romper is going to leave you feeling even more exposed.

Most importantly, if you do get a call back for more screening - don't panic! An abnormal mammogram doesn't mean you have breast cancer.  Like I said, I am required to go back for more images almost every time.  And, just like for most women who experience the same thing, it has never led to anything.  

Have you had your mammogram this year? 

 

Sunday Inspiration: Commitment

 

Currently... April 2022

I had hoped that March would be calmer, but it was another doozy of a month!  

I felt like I spent most of the month in and out of medical offices.   I had a dental cleaning and an attempted root canal.  It was also the month for my regular labs and well check with my primary doctor, as well as my mammogram.  It was certainly a busy month, medically speaking.

The weather in March was a roller coaster ride.  We've had a little bit of everything.  Warm, sunny days.  Cold, wintery weather.  And some spring storms. Typical early Spring in western North Carolina. You never know what to expect. Even April can be iffy in some years.  

The grandkid has time off from school the week before Easter. That means I will get to spend some extra time with him that week.  I feel as if we have hardly seen each other in the past few months, so I am very much looking forward to this time together!

Working On: I've been working on some cleaning, purging, and reorganizing things around the house. Last month it was the master bathroom. This month I'm going to work on my closet and clothes. 

I am also having to work on some changes to the Etsy shop.  Unfortunately, I am going to have to make some price increases. I am very nervous about this.  I have been putting it off for a while, but with the increasing prices of supplies and shipping, I can't avoid it any longer.

Celebrating:  Let's see... There's Easter, of course.  And my "baby" sister's birthday is in April.

Wanting/Needing: I need some new sandals for summer.  Something cute, but also comfortable and not too flimsy. Or too chunky.  I would love something with a little bit of a wedge heel,  but nothing that I'm risking an ankle when I walk around in them.  And not costing an arm and a leg is a must.

Eating: I have been trying to eat more fish.  Before I would cook fish maaaybe once a week.  Sometimes.  I am now aiming for twice a week. Although often I am still only getting it in once a week.  But I decided that falling short of my goal and getting it once a week is better than none. I am also trying to eat more plant-based meals.  And more whole grains and leafy greens.

Loving: My coffee routine.  I have become absolutely spoiled when it comes to my morning coffee.  Now that I have a selection of sugar-free syrup flavors and my milk frother, I can whip up some tasty treats in the morning instead of the same ol' coffee with half and half.  It's delicious and I look forward to each almost every morning!

April Goals:

• Purge and reorganize my closet
• Read 3 books
• Update Etsy shop with new prices
• Walk stairs every day (April 3-9: 3 flights x 2, April 10-16: 4 flights x 2, April 17-23: 4 flights x 2, April 24-30: 5 flights x2)
• Reorganize cotton yarns

What are your plans for April?