Monday, October 25, 2010

A Topsy-Turvy Week!


Haven't had much sleep the last few days. I think it's because of a new medication. Whatever the reason, it's made me a bit loopy, and the fibro fog is a bit thicker than usual this week!  Did I say a BIT thicker! Actually, the last couple of days, it's been thicker than pea soup!

The blessings continue to flow though, so I'm not really complaining! We had several inches of much-needed rain in our area over the weekend, then Monday started out with a beautiful sky. There were a few small puffy white clouds, but it was mainly a clear blue ceiling above us!

Somehow, this topsy-turvy week has gotten me to thinking about some things, like why things happen the way the do. There have been times in my life when I've wondered why is it that the good always die too soon, and the wicked continue to prosper. Well, the truth is, they aren't really prospering, it just seems that way!

When you take the time to really sit down and think about it, you begin to realize just how sad it is. Some have more wealth than they will ever be able to use in a lifetime, while others struggle to have barely enough food to eat.

The problem with this picture is that while the rich have all their wealth, and all the possessions that it will buy, the one thing they may not have in abundance is happiness. There are some things that money just can't buy. If they don't have the Lord in their life, they don't have true happiness. If they don't have true happiness, then life is empty indeed. Think about it - all they have is their riches! How far will those riches really get them, and how long will they last.

Those riches won't buy them good health, or happiness, or life eternal. What they have here - that's all there is. Now what can be more sad than that?!

On the other hand, many of the poor are able to deal with their lot in life because they have the Lord to get them through whatever comes their way. They know that they are just travelers passing through, and once they reach their destination, they will lack for nothing!

What a awesome feeling. What a destination to look forward to. What a wonderful bundle of hope to sustain us on life's journey. There are many transitions that come and go during our journey through life, but if you have a heavenly Best Friend who will travel step-by-step with you, and you have eternal life to look forward to, what more could you possibly want or need?


Sunday, October 17, 2010

Ahhhh . . . Fall


It's that time of year when Fall is trying very hard to peek around the corner, yet Summer is still trying to hang on for dear life! I'm so anxious for the cooler temperatures of Fall to come and stay, and for Summer to go into hibernation for a few months.

I'm one of those who has always had to march to my own music, my own drummer. While others are busily planning winter projects of crafts and baking, and preparing for the upcoming holidays, my mind is slowly transitioning into a season of renovation, followed by a season of rest. It's my slow time of year.

As Spring comes around each year, many are ready to move out of the gray doldrums of Winter and start working on their Spring cleaning at the first signs of greenery. For me, Spring is a lazy time of year, but come late Summer and Fall, I'm ready for new beginnings and ambitious changes before the restful Winter season.

As Fall prepares to show it's face, my thoughts are turning to my own personal Fall transitions. I'm no longer working this year, so have high hopes for a total transition in my home and within myself. Much to my joy, this is the year I have the time to make a lot of the changes I'd like to make. I've spent the Summer months slowly decluttering and downsizing. Nothing major, but just little things that need to be gone. Worn out shirts, books read too many times, old magazines, and all the little bric-a-brac that seems to appear from nowhere, or just kind of builds up when we aren't paying attention.

Since I recently moved, I have pictures that still need to be hung, decorative items to place here and there, and just a changing and settling in of everything in general.

Life is good, and I'm looking forward to a lot of positive changes taking place throughout the coming months. These changes will not only be environmental, but personal also. My spiritual life needs daily attention, and prayer and meditation upon the things that are important in my life - the things that really matter.

The things that really matter are not things that money can buy, or the gifts we share with each other, The important things are the people and experiences that have made us who we are, right down to the very core of our beings. It's about our priorities, our relationships, and most of all, our relationship with God.

Every season has it's special qualities, and for each of us, every season represents something different. For me, I like the peaceful quiet and slowness of the Fall and Winter months. It becomes a time to refresh and re-energize my mind and my body for the busy times ahead. For some, Winter is a time of sadness and doldrums, and they eagerly await the time of rebirth and freshness that is Spring.

Historically, Fall is a time of nostalgia and change for me. Nostalgia for me is a peaceful frame of mind - a time of memories, thoughts of changes to come, and hope for new beginnings in my future. I don't see Fall as a time of death and loss. For me, it is a time of preparation for a season of rest and quiet - a hibernation of sorts - before Spring pops up again, needing all the energy required for rebirth and new growth!

As the leaves change color and fall to the forest floor, I too, will peel off the layers of a busy Spring and Summer. Now is the time to prepare for a quiet settling in for the Winter months. 

Life can be grand in every season, simply because each season has its own rewards. Every season can be what we make of it. Whatever your favorite and most peaceful season is, I hope that Fall will be good to you and bring you much joy!

Life is good, and every day is a blessing!! Enjoy it to the fullest!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Long time gone . . .

 

It's been a long time since I've been here. It seems after my mom died last year, the blog seem to die for a while too. Maybe for a while I just didn't have the heart, but now it feels like the time is right to start again and share the stories and notes about the transitions of my life.

As I sit here enjoying a cup of chamomile tea, I think about all that has happened in my life since I last blogged here. Some things haven't changed. The Lord continues to bless me richly with His constant care and guidance. My health has gone downhill a bit, but life is still good, and every day is a blessing from the Lord! 

He has challenged me, comforted me, corrected me, and led me in the ways that I should go. He's been my Rock - from helping me pick up the pieces after mom died, to meeting new challenges in my life. He is definitely my Rock!

I am no longer working as the manager of the senior apartment complex where I live. I had to step down because of health issues, but I am now the assistant manager with  new "subtitles" of Activities Director and Newsletter Editor. I enjoy both jobs and hope to be successful at both. 

We are trying hard to get some new activities going and liven this place up a bit, but over the last couple of years, it's been hard to get enough people interested in any one activity - other than bingo - to make anything work. Even half of our bingo players are non-residents who come to enjoy an afternoon with us. Everyone enjoys the weekly bingo games though and that's what counts.

Over the last year or so, we have been going through a transition here, where a lot of our older tenants have had to leave because they aren't able to live alone anymore, or they have passed away. We are slowly but surely getting in a younger, or at least healthier, group of residents here, so I'm hoping we can get some things going.

Our new manager is a real asset to our complex and I'm so glad he is here. I couldn't keep up with the job anymore, but when he came on, he hit the floor running and is doing a great job! So many of the changes that I wanted to get done, but couldn't - he has been able to accomplish. That has made me feel very good, because these were things that we as residents needed, or that needed to be done within the complex. I'm so happy to see these things getting done at long last. Our new manager is so full of energy and great ideas. He and I think a lot alike on many things, so our working together is a good match! His wife is a real sweetheart and I enjoy talking with her also.

For tonight, I will stop and enjoy my cup of tea. But I'll be back and share with you more of the "happenings" in my life! May God be with you and bless your life as richly as He has blessed mine!

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1