Another year older

Today I'm another year older, but am I any wiser? 

Birthdays used to be a big deal for me.  After all, it's my day.  I came into the world this day, shouldn't everyone stop and remember?

But now?  I'm just happy if people remember.  And it's not a big deal if they don't.  I don't need the cake and dinner and presents.  (but they are nice!)

  

I'm just hoping, as I age, that I learn something.  And keep learning.  So what have I figured out this year?

There's just no denying middle age!  Bifocals, a root canal, a slowing metabolism, and more and more gray hairs remind me I'm no longer a "young adult".  I don't mind getting older (as if we have a choice!) but it's the body parts not working like they used to that get to me.

I learned I need to be firmly in charge of my attitude and the words that come out of my mouth.  They're the things, no matter the situation, I can control.  As my mom told DH, "You don't have to say everything you think." 

Time and people are precious, things are not.  'nuf said.

Life's not always about doing, sometimes it's just about being.  Being present to others, to the situation, the quietness of God's voice.  More often then not, He whispers.  When I'm too busy I often fail to hear.

There is just so much more I want, and need to learn.  Here's to making this year one to grow on!

PS - Blogger giveaway!  The first five people who correctly guess my age get the presents.  You'll get to pick something from my stash of handcrafted jewelry, purses and bags from my little crafting business. 

Two weeks, no waiting

Jeez, time flies.  It's been two weeks since I last wrote.  Kind of funny, considering my last post.  So much has been going on since then.  Where to start?

I interviewed for another job, one which would have been permanent rather than consulting, and it confirmed my decision in accepting the first.  What gets even funnier on the job front is that another company has been courting me for a third position!  Considering where it is, I was tempted to automatically say no, as my drive would go from 15 minutes to over an hour.  But an over 50% increase in pay and this company's name on my resume. . .hmmm???  Got to wonder.

My dad came over one afternoon and we headed down to a local orchard to get freshly picked apples, and pies, and goodies to take to relatives DH and I were going to be visiting.  The pies were yummy and we're still working our way through the bag of apples I bought.

DH, Jack and I headed down to Tennessee to visit my aunt and uncle for my uncle's 77th birthday.  I think if we didn't bring our dog we might just be turned away at the door!  Jack and my uncle just adore each other.  My cousin came up from SC for the weekend and we were able to spend a relaxing and enjoyable time just chatting and catching up.  My aunt so reminds me of my mom that it's alway hard when we leave.  But, we have their visit in the spring to look forward to.

Oh, and we had such a great welcome home from our trip.  DH took Jack out for his evening potty break before going to bed, and just a few feet from the door, Jack met a skunk up close and personal!  Just what I needed the day before I started my new job.  He still stinks.

Speaking of the job, it's going well so far.  I started last Tuesday and am slowly getting the hang of how they do things there.  It seems that they work at a much slower pace than what I have in the past, and that's a welcome relief.  I have time to learn the business and do things correctly. 

In between all of that, I've been learning to use my crock pot again.  I've made some really yummy meals, and one not so good one.  I finished up some sewing I was doing for Christmas.  Yep, you read that right.  For Christmas.  When I showed DH the finished stockings his response was "Who stole my wife?  She never gets things done this far in advance!" 

So, two weeks later and there's just no time to wait.

2ww

Ask any infertile.  She'll tell you what 2ww means.  It's the dreaded two week wait.  It's the time between peak day and either long awaited joyful news or dreaded disappointment.  I was thinking about that as I was ironing this evening.  How do you explain to someone that you live your life in two week increments? 

I don't remember when I actually stopped doing that.  Life two weeks at a time.  It just happened.  Some of it was a very conscious decision.  This baby thing may never happen, and if it doesn't, what did I miss along the way?  And, in fact, in our case it didn't.  And I'm okay with that.  Really.

Two weeks used to seem like such a long time.  It took forever.  And now?  It flies by.  I've been out of work a little more than two weeks.  The days are a blurr.  I've hiked lots with DH and Jack.  I've done yard work and sewed and read.  I've spent time visiting with family. 

I've activated my resume on the internet job boards and fielded oh so many calls.  I've gone on several interviews and decided what comes next.   In less than a week I'll start a new job. 

And two weeks, no three weeks, will have seemed like the blink of an eye. 

How did that happen?

I've been published

Recently I mentioned in a Quick Takes that a photo I took at the GK Chesterton conference in August is being used on the cover of Gilbert Magazine.  I just got my first look at it.   Here it is in all its glory!

Thankful Thursday (4)

* Time.  Being unemployed has its benefits.  I have time to do things I didn't before.  My sister was in a crunch as she was leaving for a long needed vacation and I was able to help.  Hopefully she and my brother-in-law are enjoying themselves in warmer climates.

* The Internet.  Job hunting is so, so much easier now.  No more searching the newspapers, mailing cover letters and resumes, and waiting, hoping for a phone call.  Post your resume and they will come. 

* Friends.  Saturday afternoon a good friend, C, came over for dinner.  We sat and talked for almost five hours, about everything and anything - faith, politics life.  It was uplifting and invigorating.  And I can't wait to do it again!

* Reminders.  Someone I know had the picture below on her Facebook page.  I like it.

Check out more to be thankful for at The Road Home.

What a difference . .

. . . a day makes! 

Or, in my case, a week.  Two Fridays ago it was miserable here, in more ways than one as you may recall.  It was cold and gray and rainy.  I lost my job and my mind was spinning about all sorts of things.  This past Friday was just the opposite - a sunny, warm, glorious day in which I felt so grateful to be alive. 

DH and I headed to a local park that we had never visited before.  One time we went looking for it, never found it, and ended up several towns away at a path along an old canal we probably never would have visited had we not gotten lost.  Oh, but I digress.  This park was absolutely stunning.  The leaves weren't quite at peak but the colors were beginning to really pop. 

We had part of the park to ourselves for quite a while.  When we hiked the loop through the woods we ran into so many people - the nicest people, happy to be enjoying the beauty around them.  One talked of how she like to bring her grandchildren there.  Another let us play with her eleven year old "puppy".  When we ran into someone for the second time, a man with special needs, walking the loop in the opposite direction, he asked jokingly if he had seen us before.  "Nope.  That must have been our doppelgangers!"

We left the park smiling ear to ear.  Thankful.  Happy.  Content.

Yeah God!

Quick Takes (16)

- 1-

I'm going to be published!  We found out on Monday, our anniversary, that a picture I took at the GK Chesterton conference in August is going to be used for the next issue's cover.  As soon as I get to link to the cover, I'll post it.

- 2 -

Whoever thought planting black walnut trees in the yard was a good idea was nuts.  (LOL at my own silly pun)  Yesterday I raked up six wheel barrows full of those little green balls.  And that isn't all,  there's still a ton more to go.  It wouldn't be so bad if we could actually eat them, but we tried, and they're awful.  Definitely not the good walnuts you get at the grocery.

- 3 -

Monday we drove down to Amish country to go to one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate our anniversary.  Despite its location, the Inn at Honey Run, is one of the most un-Amish places we know.  It's in a beautiful location, elegant, serene.  Even though it was cool and rainy, it was a great time.

- 4 -

I love naps.  In the last week I've taken several.  I've been doing a lot of yard work and usually come in filthy dirty and tired.  A 45-60 minute snooze has been a great refresher.

- 5 -

Hey, speaking of the Chesterton conference, they announced the dates, location and speakers of next year's event.  It is awesome.  I'm ready to make my reservations now.  One of the highlights is the premier of the movie Manalive, which has been several years in making.   In my opinion, that's got to be one of, if not the best, of Chesterton's fiction. 

- 6 -

You've got to read about this brave and wise young man, a student and hockey player at University of North Dakota.  He has what is an unusual, but incredibly insightful message, for young (and old) women.  He gives me hope in our young people.

- 7 -

"Break the conventions; keep the commandments."

- GKC

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Have a great weekend

Answered Prayers

What's the saying?  Be careful what you wish for.  You just might get it. 

I had asked my prayer buddy to pray that I may find financial clarity.  Apparently she was very successful, albeit in an unexpected way.  Late Friday afternoon I was told that I was being let go from my job.  It upset me greatly.  I was hurt and angry.  It felt very personal.

Talking with DH later that evening I came to realize it was exactly what I needed.  You see, I really didn't like the person I was becoming at this job.  It was a place full of gossip, rude language, and some downright nastiness.  As much as I knew I shouldn't gossip, I still did.  As much as I knew I shouldn't engage in petty behavior, I still did.   I knew I needed to make a change but was too lazy to do it.  So it was handed to me. 

I started thinking about things I wanted to do in the time off I might have between jobs.  I really want to make it productive.  I thought this is going to be a great time to address projects around the house and yard, things I need to do for the upcoming Advent season at church, books I want to read, job hunting, etc, etc, etc.  You can see where this is going?  A spinning mind and a terribly unsettled feeling.

Sunday Mass seemed to be designed just for me.  When I heard the second reading it was like a light went on.

Philippians 4: 6 - 9
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.    

During Fr. O's sermon following the gospel, I felt like a spotlight was directed right on me.  He talked about filling your mind with what is right and just and good.  Leave no room for pettiness and evil.   And if someone says "A penny for your thoughts" tell them that what you are thinking is worth much more than that. 

I don't know what is coming next for me, things are still unsettled.  But whatever it is, I'm going to try to approach it with peaceful thoughts.

I Do

Thirteen years ago today I said I do in front of friends, family and, most importantly, God. 

I love you!

Will you let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace
To let me be your servant too

We are pilgrims on the journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through.

How do you quiet the mind?

There's a lot going on here, that perhaps I'll write about tomorrow, but my mind is a buzzin' now.  I'm unsettled, like the weather out my window.  Part of me wants to make lists - things that need to be done, books to be read, steps to take, menus to plan, people to talk to, etc.  The other part of me thinks I should head to adoration.  But I'm afraid when I get there I'll be making those lists in my mind. 

How do you quiet yourself - mind, body and soul?