That magic 7 ....

It's 8.30am on a cool but fine and clear Good Friday.  Maisy is curled up beside me on the bed, I've had my breakfast and am considering getting up.  That in itself is a miracle as Fridays are my day off and I NEVER get out of bed before 9.30am.  I've been awake since 6am. Goodness knows why ... I did try to go back to sleep but it didnt happen.
You might remember an earlier post when I started on a weight loss & exercise programme with daughter Hannah. That was back in September last year. Well, she kept going and I slacked off.  We started at the same weight and probably fitness level. Now she is 16.6kg lighter and is RUNNING every other day!! What an inspiration and I have my motivation back.  I did lose a few kgs at the time and managed to maintain the new weight so I wasnt a total failure .....Now I can report I am down to 79.6kg (started at 85.2 I think) and feeling so much better. I am walking most days and counting calories.  I am not depriving myself of little treats - I had a creme egg last night and have another one to enjoy sometime over the weekend. I am making better eating choices and my meal portions are smaller.  People are just starting to notice - and it feels good!
Today a friend and I are going to tackle some steep steps. We are heading to the Durie Hill steps - lots of them and very steep. It will be hard work and I must remember to take my asthma inhaler.  Then we are off to McDs for coffee and maybe a wrap or something ....
Thanks Hannah for the encouragement and for making me think about what is important. Your little pep talks have been good for me.

What I have learned in the past month

This is probably meant to be a deep and meaningful topic but it's a wet windy Sunday morning, I am still in bed and my thoughts are not that deep at the moment. Maybe they should be as I prepare for church but sorry - it's not going to happen this morning.

So, what have I learned in the past month?  Probably the most exciting thing is applique.  I am a quilter and always looking for fresh inspiration. Well, applique has interested me for years but I have never had the knowledge to know where or how to start and so I have tended to put it in the "too hard" basket. Not because I have been too scared to try but because there have always been so many other projects on my "to do list" that were achievable quickly.



But one day during the holidays recently, my friend and I spent a day together sewing.  She has done lots of applique work and so under her tuition, I got started. Now I cannot stop!  I have two half completed applique projects on the go.  Both completely different to each and both giving me equal pleasure in the creation.



This shows one of the projects I am working on - ably "assisted" by my two cats



I do not want to add these projects to the other four uncompleted ones so am determined to finish them before starting any more.

Oh, and I have also learned that I am fast becoming the mad cat woman of Wanganui .... I only have two but they dominate much of my conversation and time. Wouldnt be without them!

Something that makes me feel better

I don't have many "blue" days. Thankfully they are few and far between these days and generally I am very contented with my lot. The hardest days are when I have had family or close friends staying - and they leave. All of a sudden the house is empty and quiet again and I feel sad.

So, how do I cope on those days and what makes me feel better? Depending on the weather and what else is going on in my life at the time, I do one or more of the following:

• I put on my favourite CDs and play them really loudly while I strip beds and get the house back to normal.
• I leave everything just as it is, grab my purse and head out for some comfort shopping
• Ring a girlfriend and go out for coffee
• Visit one of my four daughters or my parents

I am at my loneliest when I am sad as there is no one else in the house to share the moment with. But I do have two cats and a dog - and they are pretty good listeners and allow me to cuddle them at the same time.

Other things that make me feel better are the spontaneous texts and phone calls from family and friends, the drop in visits, the invitations out, a beautiful flower.

I have simple needs - the company of those I love (and who love me) is all I need to make me feel better.

I must try harder

You would never know that I love to write - not if this blog is anything to go by. I write all the time in my head but it never seems to take on a written format. Maybe I should have one of those small battery operated dictaphones so that I can at least capture my thoughts as they occur.

I have started walking to work at least one day a week (and sometimes more often) and during the 30 minute walk each way, I compose children's stories, sermons, reflective thoughts and, sometimes, poems and song lyrics. When I find the time to start putting these down in writing, it never comes out the same. I find the shower is also a great place in which to be creative. Why is it that I can present a communion message without notes (speaking from the heart) when I am in the shower but become tongue tied and note reliant when standing in front of the congregation?

Anyway, I digress .... it seems I am not the only one to have writer's block. Number four child has a blog [well, 2 blogs actually] which is really readable and I am going to copy her latest challenge which is designed to help break the blockage. Sorry Hannah - hope you don't mind. I have linked to your first post and hopefully anyone interested will be able to find the rest ...

http://hannahsreductions.blogspot.com/2011/01/boring-blogger.html

So, without further ado, here is blog #1 ... What would be found in my purse?

• Hmmm - lots of discarded till receipts - always kept "just in case" - of what I have no idea. But sure as eggs, as soon as I discard one, I need it!
• My wallet of course plus a small coin purse just in case I want to leave the handbag behind and carry something smaller in my pocket.
• Three sets of keys - my house and car keys, and then keys to offices of both of my jobs.
• Cellphone
• Camera - you just never know when you might need this.
• Makeup bag with medical supplies instead of makeup. Asthma medication, hayfever pills, panadol, throat and cough lozenges, breath fresheners, and eye drops.
• A small notebook - very useful for all sorts of things.
• Pen or two (or three)
• Sometimes there might be a zucchini or other vegetable from my garden - but these of course are not the norm :-)

So very different to what I would have had in there even five years ago. There is no doubt that age determines our purse contents.

Will be back tomorrow with blog #2 - what wouild make me feel better.....

Christmas Newsletter 2010

Greetings
Less than two weeks to Christmas and I am only just starting to organize myself. Normally everything is bought and wrapped by the first week of December but this year I am not even half way there. There will be a small window of opportunity on Thursday this week (one Mental Health Day coming up) so I will be off to town with my list and Visa Card at the ready.

I have never been able to work out why the world goes so mad in December. There are school breakups, school concerts, end of year presentations, Christmas parties and the associated babysitting requirements that go with those, end of year board meetings and dinners, family events, work breakups, etc, etc, etc. I have not had a night at home by myself for nearly two weeks now. I am not complaining – I wouldn’t have missed anything especially those events involving grandchildren – but I am looking forward to a blob out night sometime soon.

Highlights of the year that was:-
• A wedding in February – Alice-May became Mrs George Jackson. She was a beautiful bride of course and the couple is now excitedly awaiting the arrival of a wee boy in April 2011 to add to their blended family.
• A baby in May – Little Charlie Houshangi made his appearance in the world bringing my grandchild tally to date to 15.
• A special birthday in June – Mum celebrated her 90th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is doing well and continues to drive, sew and garden regularly.
• An Aussie trip in July – Mum and Dad went back to Australia with my brother Max the day after her birthday celebrations and a week later I went over to escort them back. I managed five days of rest and relaxation – oh and shopping – first though.
• A South Island road trip – In November a friend and I spent almost two weeks in the South Island. We bussed to Wellington, crossed on the ferry, trained to Christchurch and Greymouth and then hired a car to drive down to Invercargill and back up to Picton. It was a wonderful holiday and we are now planning a week or two in Brisbane next year. Apologies to all my South Island friends who I didn't get to visit..... it was whistlestop tour.
• Completing approximately 10 quilts as gifts for family and friends.
• I am sure I have left some other highlights out – this getting older is a “bummer” as the memory leaks just when you need it to recall something.

It’s the family “on-year” for Christmas so there will be a large crowd of us gathering at Alice-May’s – at last count it was 30 and growing!

On the job front, I continue to work two jobs – 20 hours at Labour Whanganui and 10 hours at Community House. Thankfully both are flexible and I enjoy getting out and about in the community and being involved in a wide number of events and issues.

I am still a red hatter and this month was named Vice Queen of our chapter Elegant River Roses. I love spending time with other red hatters and finding the child within … it is rather fun growing old disgracefully 

My garden continues to give me much pleasure. I am not an avid gardener by any means but I enjoy pottering about, clearing weeds and growing things. This year crops include tamarillo, passionfruit, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries (do you notice a theme there?), corn, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, cucumber, egg plant, basil, capsicum, onion and sugar snap peas. There is something special about being able to give others some of the harvest.

All five of my children and their families seem happy and contented (and what more could a mother ask?). Having four of the families in Wanganui is a blessing and one to be treasured and not taken for granted. I am also thankful that I still have Mum and Dad in Wanganui. Although they are slowing down, they are in good health.

As many of you will be aware, I added Molly and Norris to the animal family late last year. Sadly Norris’ adventuring led to his demise in May and we all missed him dreadfully. In November, little Maisy (a silver tabby) joined us and after a week or two of “hostilities” with Mingus and Molly, the three animals have settled down and look to become firm friends. Molly has started eating properly again (after Norris died, she started eating just enough to survive) and there is a new wag in Mingus’ tail.

Well, that’s me in a nutshell. I see many of you on Facebook regularly and exchange emails with others frequently so hopefully there are not too many gaps in this overview of the year.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that 2011 brings you every blessing.

Love,
Barbara

Water, walks and weight

I've been doing a bit of walking lately - and drinking lots of water. Daughter H is trying to return her body to pre baby days and I am following behind in her footsteps. We are similar in weight and height so its easy for me to just copy her - and bless her, she doesn't mind sharing at all :)
It will be difficult for me to return to my pre baby days as age and gravity have kind of taken their toll but I have been assured I can undo some of the damages I have inflicted on myself.
My biggest issue is a lack of fitness. Working in a sedentary job and not being particularly exercise minded has resulted in a flabby body and very little muscle tone.
Before embarking on this weight loss journey a week ago, I weighed myself. I seldom stand on scales as I tend to be an ostrich where my weight is concerned ... as long as my clothes continue to fit, I am usually happy. But I don't like knowing the actual weight because it means I might have to do something about it. What I don't know doesnt hurt me ....
I weighed in at 85.1kg - the same as when the doctor weighed me a year ago.
Miss H is a great fount of knowledge as she searches for information at the slightest provocation and she was able to tell me why my weight has stayed the same for so long. And she has set an exercise regime with helpful hints and suggestions of what to eat so that I don't feel deprived.
But my task for the last week has been very simple - drink 8 glasses of water a day, every day. Nothing else was expected of me but I was encouraged to walk. Drinking the water has been difficult. I don't think I have achieved the full 8 glasses daily but my intake has certainly increased .... and, just quietly, so has my output!
And on the walking side, I have done two hill walks - very steep - and one long flat walk over the past week. I found muscles I forgot I had.
But, it has all been worth it.... stood on the scales yesterday and my weight was ... taa daa [drum roll] ... 84.1kg. Yahoo - lost a whole 1kg so feel inspired and motivated to continue for another week.
That's me on the right .... catching my breath after a steep hill climb while Miss H returned to the bottom to repeat the exercise. Maybe I will be able to do that too one day in the not too distant future.

A wet raining September morning

I had good intentions for today - I was NOT going to open the laptop and spend any time surfing the net. But I have woken to a stormy morning, cold, wet, windy and the thought of getting out of bed and doing something "useful" does not appeal. So, as per usual, I have brought the laptop, my breakfast and coffee back to bed. Molly has curled up next to me and Mingus is asleep on my fallen dressing gown. It's quiet and peaceful.

It's been a while since I last blogged. I think I have made this same statement several times in previous blogs. But for me to write, I need to be in the mood .... I haven't really been in the mood for much recently.

I have faced some "interesting" and difficult challenges recently. I seem to have been gifted with the ability to listen and support others and lately there have been many calls on my time. I can think of at least 6 situations where I have been needed in a supporting role over the last few months. I have had to learn to look after myself or else I would be in a crumpled mess on the floor. Taking care of yourself is not easy for someone with gifts of compassion and mercy. You always feel like you should be available when called on but to do so would seriously compromise your own mental health and wellbeing.

My instinct is to want to rescue those in pain; to make them feel better as soon as possible. God has given me the ability to accept people as they are. I feel their pain and understand their suffering and sometimes I just want to take them in my arms and hold them and cry with them. And to say the things they want to hear. I think there is a time when that is okay but I have been learning that I cannot rush in and take over. There is a fine line between supporting and rescuing and it is hard not to cross that line. I must use wisdom, and discernment if I am to be any use at all. And above all I must speak truth and life if there is to be any healing.

And therein lies the challenge. How do I do that? It’s so easy to rattle off some cliché or scripture of encouragement and say “let go and let God” or “God is the only answer” but what does it really mean? Am I just giving off a glib response and talking Christian jargon? If I wasn’t a Christian what answer would I give? And would it be helpful?

These thoughts have occupied my mind for weeks now. As I reflected on the issue, I began to understand that by drawing on my personal knowledge of God and remembering his promises and the fulfillment of those promises in my own life, God has given me a measure of faith. This still totters from time to time and I often grab burdens back instead of leaving them with him but my grasp on them is not as tight as it used to be.

And when I consider my personal journey – where I have come from and where I am today - my response that God is the answer is the only one I can offer. Jesus is my role model. I am to follow His example – sharing the love of the father and showing love, grace and mercy in a practical way. When I show in my own life by deed and testimony that God is my only answer I am giving a powerful message.

Well, this was a direction I did not intend to go when I started writing this morning. It was going to be a "warm and fuzzy" essay with many references to cats and dogs, etc - maybe that will happen next time :)