March Miracles~March 2018

[treegirl]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Hello all -

Well, I am having a delayed 'hit the wall' from my short night and many many long days... I am having some real "what's it all about" moments, and that's to be expected. I ended up driving an hour this morning to get my car emissions tested (due today, of course), and that was both good thinking time and not-so-good thinking time. Now I am just huddled up in my favorite sleeping bag with a hot pad on my back, contemplating the Universe. Ha! I did actually do my affirmations this morning, but it has been a few days since the last time... I realize that I need to do it EVERY DAY and get up on that positive "wave".

I was given a lovely book a few years ago by my brother. It's about building a meditation practice week by week. Of course I started in January and then... errrr..... but today in the car, having some uncomfortable feelings, I remembered reading this part, which starts with a caution about operating on "default" mode:
"Sometimes people say that they prefer to tune out their experience because it's 'easier' and 'less unpleasant'. The choice is yours. The present moment is the only moment we can influence what happens next - the future- unlike life on autopilot where we are passively carried wherever our reactions take us." And this beautiful part about present moment awareness "paying attention to the breath is a way to shift gears from 'doing ' mode to 'being' mode - present moment awareness. Every time we make that shift we break the cycle of repetitive thinking, and strengthen new patterns of thinking and behavior. That is why it is the repeated action of disengaging from thought and returning to breath that is important. (I love this part) THE BUSIER YOUR MIND IS, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY THERE WILL BE TO PRACTICE THIS IMPORTANT SKILL"

I'm practicing!

Wishing all a good day ----

"I am safe, and all is well"

[Lavande]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good evening friends,

Pauly, my Relizen arrived today so I am all set for month 3 Let's keep it going!!

SK, an all night thunderstorm stinks, sorry!
I hope you caught a good nap this afternoon.

Cyn, geez I just want to come pick you up & bring you here for a little R&R, so sorry you are having a rough time :hug:
WE overachievers will work ourselves until we drop, seriously! That's exactly what happened to me nearly 18 years ago. I woke up in ICU being told I had fallen & fractured my skull - had no real clue how or why. That's why I made some major changes in my work world - talk about burn out
Please don't let yourself get as worn out as I was. You have good skills, apply them to yourself. You have to be #1!!!

Hello Star!

Well I now have three kids sleeping overnight here - that's the first time ever!
My granddaughter's stay was planned. My grandsons are here because their dad got stuck at work.....these things happen. I had everyone tucked in by 9, clean, fed & happy
The boys have to get to school in the AM, my son may or may not get here in time to take them, ha ha!

Better go get some sleep myself. Have a nice night everyone!
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good morning...

Lav, how fun to have all three spend the night. Weird that the boys mother seems to not be in the picture, right? They are lucky to have a grandma who has a big house for all three and willing to be ready for anything. My grandsons are coming over this afternoon to color Easter eggs, boy do they stink in the fridge.

Pauly, glad the Relizin is working for you, I had super bad hot flashes for years and they were so annoying. Hope your day goes well.

Cyn, finding balance is what it is all about, you talk about being too busy, me now quite enough, and meditation and affirmations are always the way to peace and calm. Glad you are thinking about taking care of you.

Skendall, we are having rain all day, spring is really here.

Have a good one.

[paulywogg]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Morning friends,Star,I will color eggs with Louie tomorrow but I agree they do stink! I also don't care for the taste of hard boiled eggs but hubs will gobble them up Cyn,yes don't burn yourself out! I don't like being alone to think,seems I always think myself sad,or mad,or regrets from the past bleh,Lav,fun with the kids yay SK,hope you got sleep,I always sleep great when it rains but I understand that your dog gets upset,Winslow doesn't care about thunder only fireworks freak him out,just recently thought this year,think it's his age,wishes for an easy day for us all

[SKendall]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Cyn, your fatigue isn't helpful is it? Self-care is necessary. Take care.

Lav, that sounds like a delightful evening with the grands.

Good weather today and took Peggy to the duck park, her favorite. Did a little paperwork, and that's it.

[Lavande]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good evening friends,

OK, I admit it - I am tired, ha ha!!!
We had a lot of fun with the kids but exhaustion has now set it. My son arrived at 7:10 & the boys were out the door by 7:20 - they didn't know what hit them, ha ha!
We took our granddaughter out to buy some flowers at one of the Amish growers nearby, then to lunch & we finally got her home around 4:30. Then we turned around & drove straight home. My daughter & SIL had an apt with a guy who is going to do a new roof & siding on their older home so we didn't want to stay & be in the way. All in all, everything went well. The baby chickens are happy out in their new house so that's good too.

Star, my DIL is teaching an evening class this semester, her first attempt at teaching. She doesn't get home until 10:30-11 pm, so I am told. That's too late to keep the boys up when they have school. I'm happy to keep them overnight even if I have to end up driving them to school myself. I hope your egg dyeing went OK, I don't do them anymore.

Pauly, always, always remember that YYOU are in charge of YOUR thoughts!
When you have a negative thought, recognize it for what it is & toss it out of your head. Don't dwell on the bad stuff. Remember the Kill the ANTS

SK, glad yo & Peggy got out to enjoy the nice weather. We almost hit 60 today - woo hoo!!!!

Cyn, your bear video made me cringe, geez!! Here I am complaining about a fox on my deck stealing suet cakes & you have a great big bear helping himself to the birdfeeder, oh boy!
I hope your day was better today & you gave yourself plenty of tie to breathe :hug:

Have a nice night everyone!

Lav

[Snoopy56]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good morning...

Had a good day yesterday, busy and filled with fun. Coloring the Easter eggs went well, my grandson just stuck his hands in the colored water and all the eggs had to have his name on them, he was so happy. So was I. Anyway, my AF time is moving along and I am getting used to sleeping better and feeling better which is a relief.

Pauly, hope your day off goes well, have fun coloring eggs with Louie.

Lav, enjoy your day to yourself, plans for Easter? We have none, it is what it is.

Skendall, sounds like you had a contented day.

Cyn, hope you are feeling better.

Have a great AF Good Friday.

[treegirl]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Morning all -

Thanks for your good wishes. I actually felt better after writing that post, and reminding myself that discomfort is just discomfort, just something to move through. And taking a 2-hour nap really helped! SK, we must have x-posted, I didn't see about your sleepless night because of the storms -- hope you got some good rest after that...

Lav, what a grandchild extravaganza! Glad you made it through all that... I am brewing up an idea about your "reading pillows" something I think could be a wonderful way to help folks give up some items that belonged to a loved one... more on that later. That pic of the fox was amazing!

Pauly, glad that you got some Easter egg coloring in... I haven't done that in years!

Star, same thing - sounds like such fun, and a lot of work! So glad to hear you are feeling better.

SK, hope you got some sleep finally. The dog walk sounds so nice - how are you feeling overall? Yes, the long hours were not a good idea for me, but I am glad that I did it and got thAt project off my desk... and handed over to a 29 year old full-time person who is very relaxed about finishing her part... oh well!

Today I will start up with my organizing clients once again - hallelujah I will be able to move around, that will help me a lot. I still have plenty to do for the other job, but will do it on my off time from clients. A better balance for me.

I think that very relaxed bear was a message for me: sit down and eat, and enjoy what you can while it's there. I actually looked out for her/him last evening, but she was a no-show...

Here's a reminder for us all - shout out to you, Pauly -

" I am not my past-- I am creating my own future". So true!

[Lavande]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good evening friends,

Boy, we started with sun & warmth & ended up with a cold front moving in & rain showers - all before noon, geez!!

Star nice that you & your grandson enjoyed crafting colored eggs together
I actually don't have any plans for Easter either - go figure. Both of my kids seem to be extra busy with work & other things, maybe they just don't feel in the holiday mood either.
It's OK with me & a lot less work, haha!
Today I did some instant pot experiments - hard boiled eggs in 5 minutes - awesome. Then I did pulled pork for sandwiches in 1 hour, delicious. Are you still following the FoK eating plan? I have had great experiences cooking dried beans in the IP & rice & other grains too.

Cyn, I think your bear was a bearer of inspiration for you & for me too. I watched the video again today & am amazed how cool, calm & collected he was just sitting there enjoying his treat.
This week has been a bit unusual for me & I haven't had a chance to work on my pillows. I have lots of ideas floating in my head & will be happy to listen to your ideas. I think they are neat gifts for young & old alike. I'm glad you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, phew. I love to work but prefer to do it at my own pace, right?

Hello to Pauly, hope your day was good!

Hello to SK too

Have a nice night everyone!
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good morning...

Cyn, great to hear you were able to rest a bit and now onto work that is a change and allows you to move around. I know at my last job, forced to sit for hours every day, I ached and started a few health issues too. All gone now as I can move when I need too. I had to rest yesterday from the bad eating on Thursday, I could not believe how it messed me up. I ate two times yestereday, salad for lunch and a small dinner with veggies and slept alot, healing my body. No more chocolate for me this Easter, my system can't take it. Hope you have a lovely Easter, any special plans?

Lav, not sure what to cook for Easter, I have boiled eggs from the egg coloring, so want to use them. I may make deviled eggs for a treat, I don't think that would make me sick. I follow the FOK at home, but when I go out, I don't. I have been having salads when I go out, but we had two celebrations this week, and I ate what I wanted, suffering for it later. I don't want to do that again. I have a new goal, eating well and losing a little weight before summer, a long term goal of mine to feel healthier. Tonight I may make soup and salad for dinner, I have to go to the store later this morning, anyway. My son is home for the weekend, so he wants to come over for something to eat. That is OK with me. I like him out of town, it makes it easier on me. That sounds mean but I don't care, I want peace and for him to live his own life and make his own decisions. If that company does offer him a permanent position somewhere else, it might be good for him to take it. He whines to much to me. I don't want to hear a 32 year old man whine about daily stuff that he created. Really don't want to hear it at all. Wishing you a peaceful Easter. Hey, we had a sunny decent day yesterday, but today back to rain and cold. All next week chilly and rainy, hopefully April showers will bring lots of May flowers.

Pauly, I am sure you have plans for Easter, lucky you. Spending time with the grandsons will be wonderful. Hope Michelle is healing and able to move forward. Breakups take so much time and distance to actually be breakups.

Skendall, hope your weather is mild and you are feeling healthy and strong.

Today I am going to exercise, grocery shop and clean. I am reading several good books all at once so will dip into them too. Very grateful for being AF and for all I have and all the people in my life including all of you. Take care.

[paulywogg]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Morning friends,Star that was a nice post I'm grateful to have you all in my life too,I'm so tired today! Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity,dollar store,laundry,watching the babes,riding with Kell to psy her rent,dyeing eggs,cleaning,getting Easter stuff together,took Lou and his cousin bowling then took Winslow for a walk don't think I went to sleep until midnight (torture) then up at 5:30 to shower,feed my guinea pig,fish and get ready for work,honestly I should just not go,then I'm watching the little ones again later,I love it tho but I'm just tired this morning,will get thru,waves to Cyn,SK and,Lav

[Lavande]

Re: March Miracles~March 2018

Good evening friends,

After seeing how full the moon was last night I figured I'd never get any sleep but I did, that's progress
Nice enough day around here but still too cool for this last day of March.

Star, eating out can really cause some vicious problems with me too, ugh. I often decline an offer to go out for dinner because it' shard to find anything on a menu that fits all my needs, oh well. I hope you feel better quickly! I did end up picking up another turkey breast to do in the convection oven tomorrow - turkey agrees with everyone
I also hope that your son is able to move on & start managing his own business. It must be hard to hear all the whining. I wouldn't have a lot of patience for that myself.
I am trying to take a bit of a break from the political circus this weekend, can't take much more of that crap.

Pauly, you sound like you are supper busy &that's a good thing. It's OK to be tired after a few days of high activity, ha ha!
I hope your Easter is wonderful!

Hello to SK, hope you had a good day.

Hello to Cyn, hoping you've had no more bear sightings.
Last night I forgot to bring in the suet cakes from the bird feeder & this morning it was obvious we had been raided again. Suet cakes gone, lid of the feeder holding seeds was left wide open.
I hope your weekend is quiet & sane.

I made two of these today - delicious
Old World Poppy Seed Roll Recipe - Allrecipes.com
I made them dairy free & used half white whole wheat flour. My grandmother always had poppy seed rolls & nut rolls for the holidays.

Have a nice night everyone!
Lav