Mindful March!

[Lavande]

Papmom, that is sad news. There is an absolute epidemic going on, heroin is everywhere these days. I think I mentioned before that both YB & our son carry Narcan with them while on duty. YB works on a college campus & has not had to administer it yet. Our son works in DC & he says he administers his frequently - sad. I sure hope your nephew is clean, that is not a place he wants to go.

Cyn, the wind chill was 19 degrees this morning - really bitter!
We had to go to a local nursery this morning to pick up a couple of oak trees we had picked out yesterday - I wasn't dressed for the weather
I hope your doggies are OK. My older dog is really slowing down & not eating her usual amount but she seems relatively comfortable. We all get old, don't we?
I have found the easiest thing to do when feeding the crowd is to go with breaded chicken tenders. I happened to pick up some thin cut tenderloins at the store this morning, brought them home & 'breaded' them with my ground up rice cereal & cooked them quickly in a little coconut oil. The kids & adults love them. (gluten free & cooked in healthy oil).

Let's think SPRING!!!!

[SnoopyC]

Good morning all...

Trying to wake up, have a busy day ahead. We have to think up names for April. April, doesn't that sound great?

Had a fun and busy weekend, now back to business. The weather is supposed to warm up, we'll see. I hope so.

Have a good one.

[dill]

Papmom, I am so sorry to hear about your nephew's GF. Heroin is modern day scourge. Those who deal in it are truly evil, profiting from the misery and weakness of their fellow human beings. They are murderers. I wish your nephew's gf had been found before it was too late. Narcan is a miracle drug, but cannot help if no one is there to administer it. I won't be surprised if the day will come that it will be one of the drugs available in school and institution first aid kits, like epi pens. The answer to the heroin epidemic is education and restoration of core values. How do we go about that as a society? Papmom, did she get started down this road thru addiction to pain prescription pain meds or thru personal experimentation, thinking as as young people do, that she was invincible?

Lav, Has you son ever talked about incidences when he had to administer narcan? If I were a medic I would be in awe of it. It is literally the difference between life and death. I think that there should be an automatic detox ordered for anyone that has been given it. I fear these people are patched up and sent back home.

Cyn, it's funny you should mention that you don't know how Lav and I have the energy to keep up with things when the little ones are in the mix. I was talking with Mr. D's cousin yesterday, alone in the kitchen after a meal and no one remaining but te two of us sitting amid the aftermath of dishes and crumbs. The rest of the crew had gone out to look at something in Mr. D's workshop. His cousin said there was a little mac and cheese on the floor and it appeared to have been stepped in. He bent over to clean it up as best he could with his napkin. It was an effort for him, I could tell. I launched into a long story about how I wished I had the energy for it all, but that little mess was just going to have to wait until I had more energy to deal with it. We both talked about how we are slowing down. Such is life. As Lav said, "we all get old, don't we". Guess we just have to pace ourselves and set priorities. I'm sorry you continue to struggle with you health and dietary issues. It just doesn't seem fair!

Star, the media has such a negative influence on our culture. They do go out of their way to portray Christians in a negative light and to cause controversy and conflict in order to get good ratings. It is not helpful to our society and it is something that really gets under my skin! Christians are people and as such will make mistakes and misjudgments, but the underlying message of Christianity is to love. In my opinion, love is the most important virtue in life, whether you are a believer or a secularist. I like the sound of the kind of books you and your grandson are sharing. I remember how my grandkids too loved the books with things to touch and feel. April names already! April is special to me because the first whole 30 day stint I did long ago at the outset of our thread was in AF April. Maybe we could have an AF April Redux thread!

It's supposed to be in the 50's here today, too. Hopefully we will all get some Spring!

[Lavande]

Good morning friends,

Monday morning it is
No sun at the moment but we are promised a high of 60 degrees today, yay!!

Hope your day is a good one Star!
Greetings to Dill, Cyn & Papmom!

I'm starting out with a trip to Curves, stopping at the supermarket then back to my shop to get some work done on two work projects.
Have we used 'April Achievers' or 'April Abundance' (assuming that spring will actually arrive), ha ha!

Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[treegirl]

Hi all -

Pap, such sad news, sorry for your family and nephew. I had no idea it was such a scourge all over the country -- everyone's comments were an education for me. I have heard that there is a lot of drug use up here in the middle of nowhere, because - well, it's the middle of nowhere. The are not great jobs around here for anyone, really, so the kids get in trouble.

I love April Abundance. Abundance thinking has been a little out of my grasp lately, and I want to put it back in the mix!

Sorry about the cold, Lav. It's snowing here again this morning, which is a little disconcerting. At this point the kiddies around here will not be looking for easter eggs anywhere but in the snow. I almost froze when i went out to reposition the bird feeder. The squirrels figured out how to get on it, and were chowing down. It's now stuck in a 40bag of mulch in a 50 gallon trash bin, surrounded by pots to keep it upright. Pretty wacky looking, we'll see if it works.

Take care all - keep your spirits up - have a great AF Monday!

[papmom3]

so a little update: She has been on life support since Sat nite. If she doesn't go tonite by herself, they will pull the plug tomorrow. My nephew has been with the family almost 24/7, taking on the role of the strong one. I have no details as to whether this was her first time or she was a user. I know the city is rife with bad heroin according to my nurse friend and my boss whose BIL is a firefighter. Its not just in the bad areas either, its in the middle and upper class neighborhoods. I have no idea who was with her when she shot up. It just all so sad and senseless. I've just been told I'll get more detail on sunday. I believe she may have died a little while ago. Arrangements will be made tomorrow.
Please say a prayer for her family and my nephew who shouldn't have to deal with all this at 23.

[SnoopyC]

Good morning all...

Wow, Pap, what a nightmare. I got a call last week and one of my relatives was put in detox and treatment. It is really scary. Drugs/alcohol don't care where you live, your race, sex, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation. As we all know. Alcohol can kill you just like heroin can. My kids have had some high school peers die recently, from heroin. So, it is really bad. So sorry for your nephew and your family having to deal with this.

Dill, I am sick of so called Christians being for hate and discrimination. You are right, Jesus was about love, compassion, kindness, inclusion. He ministered to all people, and the christianity I am seeing, is about hate and we are right and holy, you are wrong and going to hell. When they put it into law, it has gone way to far and needs to be stopped. You will laugh at me, I bought the book for the book club but never read it. It is not an easy read, not written well and I did not connect to the characters so didn't go to the discussion. I mean, the first time you go to a book discussion club,you need to read the book!!! Oh well, maybe next month. I have been really busy with family stuff on weekends.

I have been feeling really tired lately, so glad to have a three day weekend coming up. I am eating healthy this week, and need to get out in the sunshine and warmth the next two days.

Cyn, I get you,this weather is wearing us all down. Spring will have special meaning when it comes and stays.

Lav, having my first cup of coffee and it is GOOD!!! Hope the warm weather we are having gets to you STAT.

Have a good one.

[Lavande]

Good morning friends on this very last day of March ~ finally!!!
It's supposed to snow north of here in the Pocono mountains

Papmom, I will keep your nephew, his girl friend & family in my thoughts. It is so sad that they are all in this situation!
Drugs & AL misuse affect all of us :hug:

Dill & Cyn, are you dealing with these cloudy skies as well?

I need to get myself in gear & get some things done today. See you all next month!!!!
Have a great aF Tuesday everyone!

Lav

[dill]

Papmom, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your nephew, his gf's family as well. Such a tragic loss.

Lav, we had lots of sunshine today, but lots of wind. It felt like an early spring day!

Star, I chuckled about you not getting your "homework" done for the discussion group. I would have sat it out too. But I'm no better. I got the book done the afternoon of our discussion group after "cramming". But I didn't have time to get to the group because of other factors getting in the way! Oh well, next time perhaps. At least I didn't have to read the book twice like I used to when drinking! I'd drink wine while reading, then the next morning I had to re-read it all because I had no memory of it! Geez!

[papmom3]

Missy passed on her own at 6:30 this morning. My nephew posted a gorgeous picture of them both and wrote a beautiful tribute to her on FB. There were definitely issues she was dealing with-I just don't have all the details. My heart hurts so bad for him-that he loved her so much despite the demons within and that he has to go through this and be the strong one. He also went out and got identical tatoos on his hands that she had and took one of her t-shirts that must have been a fav. He posted all this on FB so I've spent the afternoon and evening in tears. I wish I could do something to help him through this besides tell him how much I love and admire him. I'm going to quilt a memory mat using the picture of them both he posted just as soon as I find out what her favorite colors were.
Weather has stabilized for now-might even get to 60 on Friday. but before that, more snow. Of course.
Hope everyone is doing well-GKs healthy finally, everyone getting some regular exercise and looking forward to easter this weekend. Love you all.