tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250514019983634572024-02-22T03:15:47.654-05:00Mrs. B's Brilliant BlogWhatever is going on in the world, in my life, in my mind...whatever!Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.comBlogger763125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-41265234609827102382021-03-17T10:32:00.001-04:002021-03-17T10:32:19.531-04:00Nets<p> A recent devotion I did for our women's Bible study group!</p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><div align="center"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in; width: 6.25in;" valign="top" width="600"><div align="center"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width: 6.25in;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 24pt;"><div><div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4CXGyAVNjMXgotZHe48kTtU5rt72pssCokecjeyvixZTc2tfvCviTVmWe_NZmE2e.WZQh_K4CY_QqQs4_&source=gmail&ust=1616077881164000&usg=AFQjCNH1JxdffTeoLki0PVsgtVriPU-HJg" href="https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4CXGyAVNjMXgotZHe48kTtU5rt72pssCokecjeyvixZTc2tfvCviTVmWe_NZmE2e.WZQh_K4CY_QqQs4_" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #529ff8;">https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/<wbr></wbr>share/<wbr></wbr>4CXGyAVNjMXgotZHe48kTtU5rt72ps<wbr></wbr>sCokecjeyvixZTc2tfvCviTVmWe_<wbr></wbr>NZmE2e.WZQh_K4CY_QqQs4_</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></div></div><div><div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Passcode: ^3qLUpHu</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></blockquote>Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-37929056756302580062019-12-23T13:48:00.000-05:002019-12-23T13:48:21.934-05:00Jesus' Ringtone<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Note: I wrote this several years ago when our church used to publish daily meditations/devotions written by its members. I don't know why I've not thought to share this before!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Merry Christmas!</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Batang",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“When I thought, ‘My foot
is slipping,” your steadfast love O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your
consolations cheer my soul”. Psalm 94:18-19 (NRSV)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Batang",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
friend recently told me about an app that allows you to choose from a wide variety
of ringtones to assign to individual contacts in your phone. I’ve since had great fun listening to some of
the more silly ringtones as I’ve gone about selecting specific ones for each of
my family and friends. Because we are
approaching the holiday season, there are many Christmas carol favorites
available for use and I’ve listened to
many of them; pausing here and there on my own cherished favorites such as <i>“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”</i>
and <i>“The Hallelujah Chorus”</i>
from Handel’s <i>“Messiah”.</i> About this time, I began contemplating what
I’d write for this devotional and I found myself wondering what ringtone I’d
assign to Jesus. Of course, it would
have to be an extremely special one; fit only for Him. Wouldn’t it be so delightful,
I thought a bit wistfully as I continued to scroll through the ringtones, if I
really could? Then I thought about the
people in my phone’s address book and I realized that, in essence, I <i>did</i> routinely receive calls from Jesus
in the forms of my family and friends; people who love and cherish me, who will
always be there for me, and certain folks that I’m certain God has put into my
life for a reason. During the holidays, most
of us take time to stop and count our blessings; the love, peace, and joy that
abounds during the season of our Savior’s birth brings all that we have and
hold dear to the foremost of our hearts.
However, throughout the rest of the year, on ordinary days, we might do
well to reflect that when we get a call from a dear friend or perhaps a long
lost family member, it could truly be Jesus calling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-23500607650250536152019-11-14T11:41:00.000-05:002019-11-14T12:36:58.234-05:00Run, Flu, Listen<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s
early in the morning and I’m doing my usual; the alarm goes off, I hit snooze,
and manage to go back to sleep for five minutes.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Why is it, I always wonder, that I cannot
easily fall asleep at night, and yet, drifting back to never-never land within
5 seconds is doable at 5:45 am?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In any
case, I smack that snooze button three more times before I finally give it up,
get up, and stumble into the bathroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
I’m doing my thing, I remember with a pleasant start that it’s Saturday morning,
and there is absolutely no reason for me to be sitting on the throne when I
could still be slumbering away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost
as quickly as I have this thought, I recall that I’d promised my next-door
neighbor and somewhat friend Chasity that I’d go for a run with her, followed
by a visit to Starbucks and a foray to the local farmers’ market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed like a decent idea the previous
night while sharing a bottle of good Zinfandel and binge-watching <b>“Game of
Thrones”</b>; now, not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
wonder if I could plead having the flu to Chasity and beg off this insanity of
venturing out of my condo at such an indecent hour. I’m
pretty sure she’d be understanding, and it wouldn’t change how she felt about
me, but; I know she’s a Christian, and even though I don’t hold to organized
religion, I can’t out and out lie to someone who does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sighing, I finish up my business and head
towards the kitchen, offering a silent prayer to the God of Coffee that I’d
preset the Keurig machine to turn on at 5:30 am because, you know, in this age
of instant gratification, having to wait 60 seconds for the water to heat up can
be pure torture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Glory!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crap!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing in the reservoir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muttering out loud that it’s unfair that I’m
always the one who has to put water in the stupid thing, I stop and realize I’m
bitching at myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The object of my
complaining used to be my ex-husband, but of course, ex means ex, as in gone
from my life, kaput.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a bad trade, considering;
needing to do piddly chores vs. being married to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still even after two years, old habits die a
slow, lingering death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
ancient cat wanders into the kitchen and gives me his version of stink eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“What’s up with you, Grouchy Mouse?”</i> I
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s apparently not pleased with
being referred to as a small rodent, nor does he seem to wish to listen to me
rant at his ex-dad, so he turns to stalk away, lifting and twitching his plumed
tail as he goes. That’s when I notice
the probable reason for his aggravation; a huge piece of poop stuck to his
furry behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With practiced movement, I
rip a wad of paper towels from the roll on the counter, bend down to grab him
by the scruff of his neck, pick him up, swipe his poopy butt, deposit him back
down on the floor before he can bite me while simultaneously thinking, <i>“I
forgot to get his butt shaved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again”.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
day is off to a fabulous start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
head back to the bathroom to deposit the smelly bundle of Bounty into the
toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I flush it down, I catch a glimpse
of the reflection in the mirror and am confused for a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother is looking back at me, just as
perplexed to be there as I am to see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>“Why is she wearing my ratty <b>‘No Crisis Before Its Time’</b> tee
shirt?”</i> I ask myself stupidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
blink, and she’s gone; it’s only me reflected in the mirror, still half bent
over with my hand on the back side of the toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
just like that, I am old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-88075478363959881462019-09-27T09:45:00.001-04:002019-09-27T17:58:36.137-04:00The Diversity Of Healthy Religion: What We Do With What We Know About God Is Important<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even in the year 2019, there are still people and groups of people; many, many, many, people, who believe in a God who can't wait to throw sinners into the fiery pit of hell, without much thought to the fact that they, too, are sinners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They believe in a God of judgement; certainly not a Universal One who desires all to draw near and wake-up and see what was right before them all along; nor a fun-loving one with a good sense of humor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What would be different if all embraced diversity within religion? There would be no option but to realize that Everything Belongs. There would be a true urge to gather those who don't feel like they belong into the fold. Not by hitting them upside the head with threats of hell (unless you sign up and drink the Kool-Aid), or shaming them into believing (is that even possible?), but to actually share The Good News by showing what The Good News is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do people need to feel that what they think or believe is the only way; the right way?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I find trying to be right and in control is exhausting! It diverts our time into a "waste of time". Time that could be spent in Micah 6:8-ing it: "...do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God". It's kinda hard to be humble when you're fighting to be right. "Being right is not enlightenment", as Richard Rohr says.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What we know about God is this: God is Love (1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:19). And what our friend The Apostle Paul says about love is this: Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As far as I know, Paul wasn't telling people to only love certain people (and, even though this particular passage is used frequently in wedding ceremonies, it wasn't written for that purpose). Heck, one of Paul's most important theologies was that people, through Christ (might I throw in the concept of The Universal Christ), are no longer contained within whatever box they'd been put into by society! So, take "Jew", "Greek", "Man", "Woman", "Slave", "Master", etc., from the year 50-ish CE/AD and insert out current boxes from the year 2019 CE/AD: "Citizen", "Illegal Alien" (he used that one too, I think), "Straight", "LGBTQIA", "Republican", "Democrat", "Churched", "Unchurched", "Senior Citizen", College Student", and, yeah, "Christian", "Jew", "Muslim", Aetheist", etc., etc., etc., how can we read these passages and not get it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We waste our time defending our corner of the sandbox and screaming at others that they are wrong, instead of going out and finding new friends on the playground. I use a childish analogy because we are being childish. Not in the good way of "little children" as in, only those who see as "little children" will get into the Kingdom of Heaven, but in the unreasonable, temper tantrum way of spoiled rotten brats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-60651632441133684442019-07-12T09:32:00.000-04:002019-07-12T09:35:01.512-04:00A Prayer of Intercession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">God of all love, mercy, comfort, consolation, and peace. You know all, you are in all, you are all. The Great I AM. There is nothing I can say, pray, or lift up to you that you are not already aware of and already in the midst of, yearning to help your children. Yet, it is strengthening and comforting to us who feel so overwhelmed by the pain and suffering of others to speak to you about each one -- if we are able -- or of broad encompassing situations, so that all might be included. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lord, I confess that there are times when I feel so weighed down by this responsibility to pray for others, without ceasing; that I become numb. When this happens, gently remind me that this is not a responsibility, something I'll get in trouble for if I fail; rather, it is an honor, a privilege, in fact, a joy; to have a God who wishes to hear all prayers, at all times, in however many ways they are expressed; as individual as those being prayed for and those doing the praying: Words. Song. Writing. Acts of Service. Acts of Love. Silence. Listening. Presence. All are acceptable to you and all help. I ask not to be intimidated by my inadequacy, but strengthened in the knowledge and example of Jesus, who prayed passionately, honestly, and humbly; and taught us all to do the same. Nothing offered to you in love will ever be rejected; even if the great mysteries of why, when, who, what, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">where, and how may not ever be known or realized this side of the mirror.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so, Lord, I write this prayer to speak to you, and trust with all my heart that when you hear it, you will see every single person, situation, and condition lovingly intertwined in my words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Merciful God, I lift up to you now all who are grieving. All who are sick, suffering pain, undergoing treatments, surgeries, enduring chronic illnesses; as well as their families, care givers, doctors, and medical teams. I lift up those who are struggling with life. With addictions. With relationships. With loneliness. With finances, jobs, and school. With anxiety and worries. I lift up all who are being; simply in a state of contemplation and discernment. Also, all of those who are beginning something new, or are in the midst of change. I lift up those who are traveling and away from home. I lift up all of the children in the world, who always need your special care, and also the animals and creatures of this earth, and the earth itself, your creation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To each and all may you bring comfort, strength, peace, love, release from pain, answers, direction, guidance, help, provisions, safety, motivation, resources, conviction, determinations, and truth. Lord God, always send The Good People to help; to remind all of your presence, and to give to all the hope and strength that is needed every day. May all come to know the peace of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May those of us who have the fruit of the spirit do what we can to share and spread The Good News. One prayer at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Christ's name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. B</span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-15316436539069636742019-01-01T13:54:00.001-05:002019-01-01T14:20:34.984-05:00Reflection on 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXDiLU8MRS2VK2oqhSMcl4j4XpSqxe9h6Gvpl7J8fH2pmEPmtiNKBQwGkyqj0iiFdDtsREgq0P0vxkpU_XULCN7et7cJgTLyBUxLJruDqwekVoQXDYpxm6Hfr6LyKm3Tf9w8hxIIpv0qE/s1600/2018%252Byear%252Bin%252Breview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="690" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXDiLU8MRS2VK2oqhSMcl4j4XpSqxe9h6Gvpl7J8fH2pmEPmtiNKBQwGkyqj0iiFdDtsREgq0P0vxkpU_XULCN7et7cJgTLyBUxLJruDqwekVoQXDYpxm6Hfr6LyKm3Tf9w8hxIIpv0qE/s320/2018%252Byear%252Bin%252Breview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Journaling aside, I keep a daily list of "thankfuls". These little books are ways to remind myself, at-a-glance, what I'm grateful for, but also serve as a chronicle of events. Even if they are not always explicitly listed, I am also reminded of a few challenges here and there throughout the year. Here, then, are a few highlights. Oh, and since I'm not really going into much detail, elaborating, analyzing, etc., I suppose this is more of a listing, not a reflection. Reflection sounds better, though!</div>
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January</div>
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Safe travels and good visits with family (Father) and friends (John and Mary). Successfully used Uber for the first time! Hesed's eyelash surgery was successful. Wonderful messages at church. Letters from Ann. Mom got good results at Duke. Tutoring Giovell. Plenty of opportunities to work on not getting annoyed. Fellowship with friends (Bill and Sybil, Carolyn). Gearing up for tax season.</div>
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February</div>
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The beginning of another Stephen Minister Training Class. Mark's x-ray was clear. Hesed doing fine staying in the office by herself (uncrated). Hanging in the midst of unknowing. Mom B was able to see Aunt Judy before she passed. </div>
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March</div>
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Thankful my brain allows me to memorize scripture. My orchid is blooming. Long walks in the sunshine with Hesed. Spending time with family (Mike, Kim, and Mom B). Texting with Cailyn. Flowers from "The Boss". Heard from all my parents. Letter from Mark Neil (sponsored child in the Philippines). Match Day! 14 years! So much opportunity for grace, growth, and forgiveness. Talking with a sweet little boy in our neighborhood.</div>
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April</div>
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Good to see Jon and the girls. God put me here to help others. Dad's results were good. Heard from Kathy. Time with Mom B. Father's generosity. Chicken burritos! Made it through another tax season. New water heater. Weekends to putter, ride bikes, nap, and go out to dinner. Days like today make me grateful for other days. A lovely Stephen Ministry retreat. Commissioning Sunday.</div>
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May</div>
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Safe travels to/from Father's; Hesed warmed up to him. Able to work on Lucy's Book. Josh and Josette set their wedding date (9/15/19). Meeting our new neighbor Debbie and her yellow Lab Jazz.</div>
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Survived my dental cleaning. Good neighbors stepping in to help out with the cats. Safe travels to Ft. Lauderdale and Cancun. Happy not to be that arguing couple. Did not look at my To Do List. Thankful for contemplative practices to calm my furies. Wonderful message at church: Be Bold!</div>
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June</div>
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Letter from Shaleen. Bike ride and floating in the pool. Lovely lunch and time with Mom. Wonderful time catching up with Gracie. Lovely day at Selby Gardens with Sybil and Sherrie.</div>
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Spending Father's Day with Father. Caring people. Cailyn's visit. Pete able to get help from Dr. Bonda. Family time.</div>
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July</div>
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Pete pooped! Mom and Dad's kind offer to stay at our house. Spiritual retreat together at Green Bough. Peaceful during prayer. Safe travels for family. Loved, Happy, Kind, Generous = Amy.</div>
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Cailyn said, "You're my mom, too!" Nice lunch with Carolyn. Mom is still cancer free! Not hurt when the bed collapsed. A good Stephen Leader meeting. Time alone. I think I learned a valuable lesson from "Mr. Mikey". Nice visit with John and Mary.</div>
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August</div>
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My biopsy = not cancer! Left the rat race 15 years ago. No regrets! Pesky clients "fired" us, LOL.</div>
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Wonderful visit with friends in California; safe travels. Able to see our Cruising Friends in St. Pete.</div>
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Letter from Ester (sponsored child in Indonesia). Good grounding talk with Sybil. They caught Dad's blood clot before it was a problem. Mom B and Boopie beginning a new adventure together. 8 mile bike ride. </div>
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September</div>
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Good day working together on the lanai. Earlier morning walk; pink/blue sunrise. Beautiful. Nice replies to Card Blast email. We do have friends here! Talking with Father. Re-joined the Y. Afternoon nap. Saw Erica in the Publix parking lot. Wine time with Momma. Mr. Roger's movie. Date night at Speak's. Mark watched "The Wizard of Oz" with me. Holding Dad's hand. Sybil is cancer free. Another good visit with Father. Disciple 3.</div>
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October</div>
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Fantastic 50th anniversary celebration weekend for Mom and Dad! Grateful doctors are mindful of Mark's health. Care and concern from friends. Making "final plans" = huge relief (NCS). Scripture eased anxiety. Meeting Richard Foster. Male care receivers! Pete finally pooped. New phone. Mark's Mission Moment. Mom and Dad = safe travels. So many friends at church. Caring people at River Landing. </div>
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November</div>
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Beautiful painting of Lucy by Carolyn. People looking out for others. Able to see Steve Ross! Celebrity Equinox! Spending time with Terry. Cailyn here for an entire week for Thanksgiving!</div>
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Family time. New places. Happy Proposal Day!</div>
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December</div>
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Ann doing well. Hanging of the Greens. House all nicely decorated. Good trip to Father's.</div>
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Watching silly Christmas movies. Sweet "new" nutcracker from Cissie. Nice Stephen Ministry party at Bill and Sybil's. Pretty mirrors. Cailyn got Charlotte! Hope and Healing Service went well. Fantastic #55 birthday celebration weekend! Dad safe from his procedure. Kevin's visit. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Party with our neighbors. NYE at Mom and Dad's with Mom B and The Porters. Safely home!</div>
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Mrs. B</div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-25751770824020599832018-12-15T10:27:00.000-05:002018-12-17T12:36:11.442-05:00The Things God Told Me<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7D3lZuEN_9iCpM2SnK_2AZq_D1_-5HTNQy5bvmVoLaBaGNPt0AggFNasTGXhWGLvQLnl9X1hEWqj55gP7SABa4xFARhor_CBYPhf9qaeyn-r4JDRQ1KqlpMaG-OxjkUm1yvJnomw69ev/s1600/20181215_102504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="969" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7D3lZuEN_9iCpM2SnK_2AZq_D1_-5HTNQy5bvmVoLaBaGNPt0AggFNasTGXhWGLvQLnl9X1hEWqj55gP7SABa4xFARhor_CBYPhf9qaeyn-r4JDRQ1KqlpMaG-OxjkUm1yvJnomw69ev/s320/20181215_102504.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
past year I’ve tried to spend some time each day in silence and contemplation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, I’ll admit, the experience is
beyond my abilities because I am distracted, unfocused, or interrupted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, there have been moments when I’ve
heard, quite clearly, thoughts or instructions that didn’t come from me (or if
they did, they came from the part of me that is of the subconscious, which in my
opinion is pretty much the same thing as the indwelling presence of God).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, I’ve read several books that
talk about who we really are; our True Selves, our Immortal Diamonds; vs. our
False Selves and our Shadow Selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
both the times of contemplation and these books I’ve read, I’ve written down many
things; the things God told me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are
a few.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volunteer
to help a struggling child to read (I did, Giovell. Sweet child!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think
about limiting time on Facebook even after Lent. Too hard to be humble and pokes at old wounds
(I have been somewhat successful at this)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Write
Shaleen (An old friend I hadn’t heard from in years; I did so and,
interestingly enough, she’d had a fortune from a Fortune Cookie the day before
she received my letter telling her “an old friend you’ve lost touch with is coming
back into your life”!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Throw
away your To Do Lists (Ok, this one freaked me out, but, I’ve done so and life
is a lot less frenetic!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Try
to see Kathleen and Peri (My good friends from CA; I did, and also Debbie, Pam,
Vesna, and Elaine. It was a wonderful
visit!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
don’t have to convince people by what you say; make them curious by what you
do.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
have to displace (In order to distribute my Blessing Bags, I have to go out of
my neighborhood and comfort zone). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whenever
you have any sort of negative thought, stop and immediately replace it with a
positive thought. Philippians 4:8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Practice
silence. Psalm 141:3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
things go by. Be a mirror!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
(God) am in the interruptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Love
outward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
it be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No
problem to solve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trust
in the how.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Choose
the positive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Accept
imperfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patience,
kindness, generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heaven
all the way to heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever
you let go of/lose, you didn’t need it, anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stop
saying “but”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Attach
evil indirectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hold
out for the yes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll
close this entry with a wonderful poem that was in “Just This” by Richard Rohr. As he said, “It is this simple and this hard.”</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Welcoming Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary Mrozowski<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome, welcome, welcome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I welcome everything that comes to me today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">because I know it’s for my healing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">situations, and conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I let go of my desire for power and control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I let go of my desire for affection, esteem,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">approval, and pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I let go of my desire for survival and security.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I let go of my desire to change any situation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">condition, person, or myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I open to the love and presence of God and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s action within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. B</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-65550052958741664352018-08-23T11:22:00.003-04:002018-08-24T09:28:01.686-04:00Let's Get REAL<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Old
Age Ain't No Place for Sissies:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redoux </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many
years ago, as I was edging towards the age of fifty but still had a comfortable
buffer of four years before I actually hit that milestone, I wrote a blog post which
I called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Old Age Ain’t No Place for
Sissies”</i>; the title of which I borrowed from a famous quote by the actress
Bette Davis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all the glamorous
Hollywood actresses of the 1930s and 1940s, I always had an affinity for Bette
because she just seemed so comfortable in her own skin (or at least I made that
assumption based on her own words).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
those words were incredibly spot-on, old age <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">isn’t</i> a place for sissies; for those who constantly bewail <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Why me?”</i>, for the thin-skinned, for the
faint of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d written that
particular post because I’d been struggling with certain side effects of aging;
namely, those that typically rear their ugly and volatile heads in women at the
on-set of menopause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d been sharing
these thoughts with Mark, and he’d done his level best to assure me that I was
still very much a woman, and a good-looking one in his eyes. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And shouldn’t that be all that matters?”</i>
he asked me somewhat plaintively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Well, yes, well, no, well, crap I don’t
know! I’m going through menopause don’t ask me questions with obvious answers!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
conversation, which had been going thus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m old!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re not old!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m ugly!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re not ugly!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m fat!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re not fat!”</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (aside; Mark tells me
if I die before him, my gravestone will read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Here lies Amy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was NOT
fat!”</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ended
with him asserting in the most loving fashion possible that I wasn’t “creepy”.
He meant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">crepey</i>, as in crepe-paper
skin; and this malapropism resulted in such considerable hilarity that I had to
blog about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway,
despite what I wrote in that blog post all those years ago, things such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s a wise woman who
comes to grips with their body as they age, because spending a life in abject
misery, constantly dieting and throwing money away on surgeries (that may
result in one looking like a psycho blow fish and thus gathering more pity and
ridicule than would have resulted had one just left nature well enough alone);
ain’t worth it!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“One other positive
thing about getting older is the treasure trove of life stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I do hope that everyone who is reading
this is in a position to understand what I am talking about and has some of
these memories!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ones of adventures, of
events that possibly you’ve never shared with anyone, not even your best
friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ones that still make you curl
your toes in delight and satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ones that, when you are truly in your dotage, you can sit and remember
them and cackle in enjoyment at their recollection while those around you nod
and smile and think to themselves, “Poor Auntie, she’s really gone around the
bend now!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, if they only KNEW!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I think it’s important
to realize that older doesn’t always mean wiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order for that to occur, you must truly
know yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the
truth is, I continued and continue to struggle with both the outward
appearances of aging and the corresponding, close on its heels guilt I feel for
being so shallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fairness to me and
others who are tormented by this, it’s mightily both compounded and reinforced
by the obsession our current age has with youth and beauty; heck, even our cell
phone camera apps have a wide variety of filters to apply to your selfie to
“soften you up” (not that I am familiar with these; oh, ok, we’ll not add
blatant lying to my list of character foibles!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of us, it seems, routinely berate ourselves for being, well,
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not too long ago, I came across this meme on Pinterest; I think it sums up the
situation rather aptly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>God
Affirms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re NOT <i>Creepy</i>!”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
has been troubling me so much of late that I ended up sharing my struggles with
a Spiritual Director last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d
helped me considerably two years before when I’d been in angst over not wanting
to climb back onto the hamster wheel by taking on too much volunteer work at
church, yet, I felt guilty over saying “no” to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d listened to me, given me several
scripture verses to read, study, and meditate on; and advised me to spend the
rest of the day in nature with God, or taking a nap with God; to think of
myself being held by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not too long
into this, I had this thought pop into my head, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is nothing wrong with your heart, Amy”</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s more to it, but, I immediately felt
relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, no reason not to believe I might have a similar experience regarding
the whole self-image/aging thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly
I felt a bit, well, ridiculous telling the Spiritual Director that, with all
the things I could (and maybe should) be concerned about, the thing I wanted
direction on was how I looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet once
again she listened, offered scripture and insight, and sent me on my way to
spend time with God. This time, God basically told me to knock it off, to stop
talking smack about myself to myself, because it was getting in the way of what
He has in mind for me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That came mostly
from meditation on Isaiah 55:9-14, but also in conjunction with a lot of
reading I’ve been doing of late about finding our True Selves in God, and “dying”
to our False Selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get that this may
sound a bit “out there”, but, if you spend any time delving into any of The
Christian Mystics and Contemplatives (e.g., Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, St.
Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. Catherine of Siena, etc., etc.) this stuff
starts to rub off on you because it makes so much sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shortly
after meeting with the Spiritual Director, the importance of truly embracing,
of allowing, this virgin state acceptance of my so very not fresh-faced
appearance became crystal clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes life’s lessons, or, messages from
God, or reinforcements of messages from God if you’d rather, come to you in
pretty funky ways; ways that, when you sit back and muse over how it all played
out, there’s just no mistaking that it WAS a nudge (or maybe even a hearty
shove) from The Three-In-One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Up Next: </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>A Messenger in the Mall in the Manifestation of Mr. Mikey</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-26540390309835676912018-02-19T14:46:00.000-05:002018-02-19T14:46:04.434-05:00A Flurry…I Mean a Fury…of Resentment<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55IERhUrTdyi9lC0Knrsm93dqq2Xz0eHZB0DN1wvWXyEip8uInGrgOotBZo0-Xqmo0tIUky0vCyStAuBDgwyd0LoaqWcXSWsZEFn3hUfWtJj0qKj3qW7zIJ4Rp2JlbtfK1lCobvFrtB9j/s1600/the_furies_by_theartspark-d3ch37p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55IERhUrTdyi9lC0Knrsm93dqq2Xz0eHZB0DN1wvWXyEip8uInGrgOotBZo0-Xqmo0tIUky0vCyStAuBDgwyd0LoaqWcXSWsZEFn3hUfWtJj0qKj3qW7zIJ4Rp2JlbtfK1lCobvFrtB9j/s320/the_furies_by_theartspark-d3ch37p.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am contemplating my “furies”; what gets me so upset that I am blinded by
anger?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly and sadly, I’m not overly
much concerned about social injustices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know I should be, and I’m ashamed to admit (even to myself and especially
to God) that I am not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, sure; certain
things bother me, and I might even feel sorrow about them, but God’s pure
anger?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversely, (and thankfully), I do not find
myself misdirecting my own anger as God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does
this make it all a wash?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
know hands down what possesses me, what can cause me to say things I really don’t
want to (at least my True Self doesn’t want to, my ego happily spouts things
off rapid fire), as well as to sink into the pit of self-pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">RESENTMENT</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, after a year of really thinking about
my “Goats”, probably the most stubborn and persistent one; even more so than anxiety
and recrimination!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the scripture I’d assigned to the symbolic exorcism of the Goat of
Resentment last Lent:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Keep your heart
with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 4:23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wise
words (Proverbs, after all!) yet, well, so very hard to do at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When resentment flares up within me, I wonder
if it’s driven by physical factors (like a child being overly tired who
ultimately throws a temper tantrum), past wounds that are still not forgotten
or healed, or my ego, plain and simple, desiring recognition, accolades,
applause, and groveling (no, not really that!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Probably a mixture of them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard
Rohr says about anger:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If you keep…justifying
why you deserve this anger, you are probably acting out of your own offended
ego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you can let go of it…after
properly acknowledging it, you can probably retrieve it without its excessive
charge and then use it effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you can’t do that, I hate to say it, but you are likely “possessed” and need an
“exorcism”!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
my head may not whip around at an 180 degree angle while my mouth projectile
vomits split pea soup, but the sight (when I am possessed by resentment-driven
anger), is not pretty nevertheless (if you didn’t catch the reference to a particular
movie here, you are either way too young or have never seen one of the scariest
horror movies of all time!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is another thing I’ve realized as I’ve thought about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not resent what I am asked to do so much
as I resent not being acknowledged for doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, it does appear, then, that it’s
ego-driven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First half of life
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still a long ways from Falling
Upwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I should be grateful
that at least I recognize it; and I can continue to humbly rely on God to point
out to me what I need to work on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ego-Resentment-Anger-Forgetfulness
(not keeping my heart, not taming my tongue) = Unacceptable Behavior = (the
potential for) Destruction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard
Rohr’s suggestion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Allow another person’s
smile, hug or words to dissipate “the whole thing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In so doing, they perform an exorcism <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might resent them (my aside:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Devil never takes too kindly to the
exorcist!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but this reveals the actual
emptiness of your anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not
really “you” at all, but you had let it become you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And,
another person is not required for the procedure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“When
The Furies have you, your practice can be to make eye contact and smile at
another person – deliberately detaching from your Furies –”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And,
so we begin!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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<br />Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-60171613451732537482017-12-17T14:21:00.000-05:002017-12-17T14:21:01.839-05:00Noise and Water<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Keep your heart with
all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Let every heart
prepare Him room.” – Joy to the World<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My heart’s often been full, but not always of what it should
be full of. Anxiety, recrimination, the burden
of responsibilities, the fear of disappointing someone or letting them down; these
things have kept up a permanent residence in my heart and it’s been difficult
for anything else to get in. Oh, sure; I
have love in my heart for my husband, family, friends, and pets. I feel waves of great compassion towards
people who are grieving, in pain, or struggling. Yet, even these feelings are, I fear, driven
in large part by a sense of obligation; which derives from the anxiety,
recrimination, the burden of responsibilities, fear of disappointing someone or
letting them down. My heart has been confused;
and lately, I’ve experienced an almost overwhelming cacophony of noise. I’ve blamed it on the external: the pets
running around in the morning when I’m trying to be quiet and pray, or the
landscapers coming by my kitchen window with their deafening machinery. I’ve been figuratively beating my chest and pulling
out my hair while crying out to God, <i>“How
can I hear you above all of this NOISE?”</i>
The other day I was quite ungracious about the whole thing and told my
husband, “<i>I’m just going to give up trying
to talk to God because I have no peace and quiet.”</i> I didn’t mean it, not really; I was just so
frustrated because, in all honesty, I was having performance anxiety. God was
going to be disappointed if I didn’t figure out some way to talk with him
without being distracted. Later that morning, I thankfully had a moment of
clarity when I heard God say, <i>“You talk
to me in other ways, it’s ok.” </i>That
kept me soldiering on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So intellectually, I get Jesus. I get that He came to heal the sick, set the
prisoners free, give hope to the poor and suffering. I also get that this can be both literal and
an analogy. “Set the prisoners free”,
for example, may mean to literally free those who are wrongly imprisoned, but
it may also mean to set people who are enslaved to their addictions free. I think
my brain, if I can get it off its “To Do” list, does grasp the concept of
Heaven on Earth; of the simplicity of doing nothing but Love God, Love Each Other;
which is not nothing, but everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Still, it’s ironic. Or
maybe it’s typical. I don’t know, but
here I am the most involved with church that I’ve ever been in my entire
life. And it’s not just churchy-church
stuff, but, I’m studying the Bible, I’m attempting to open myself up spiritually
to new ways of being, I’m serving, I’m giving. But my heart, my heart has been
so weighed down for as long as I can remember; and if I dwell on that too long,
I start to slide down the slippery slope into self-pity. I think if my husband hears me wail, <i>“It’s always been the story of my life!”</i>
one more time, he may close the book on me (no he wouldn’t, but I can sense his
frustration because he can’t tell me what I need to hear).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A year or so ago, I was feeling guilty because I thought I
wasn’t doing enough to serve Christ. I
went on a silent spiritual retreat where the Spiritual Director gave me several
scripture verses to mediate on. When she
wrote down Psalm 131, she instructed me to envision myself being wrapped in God’s
arms of strength and comfort. <i>“I’ve given up my pride and turned away from
my arrogance. I am not concerned with
great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. Instead I am content and at peace.”</i> Psalm 131:1-2. Well, in those moments I WAS
at peace! I heard God say, <i>“Amy, there is
nothing wrong with your heart”. </i> I
felt a burden lift! I was assured that
whatever I was doing or was not doing, it was for the right reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Several months later during Lent, many of these stinking-thinking
emotions had unfortunately crept back in; all that junk taking up residency in my heart and leaving
no room at the inn. So, I decided to go through
an exercise to banish them from my life.
I thought of them as “My Goats”; you know, as in the goats that Jesus
rejects and sends off to the left when He’s separating them from the sheep (who
go to the right). I thought I might pick
40, for the 40 days of Lent, but even I couldn’t think of 40 goats, so I went
with 20. For each one, I found an
appropriate scripture verse reinforcing its elimination and amplifying the
message of hope. I wrote the goat’s name
(e.g., “Recrimination”) and its accompanying scripture (2 Timothy 4:8) on a
wine cork and lined them all up on the shelf where my Bible, devotions, and
other spiritual paraphernalia reside. By
the time Easter arrived, I’d added this litany of reciting scripture, goats,
and more scripture to my daily prayers (usually at noon Bells). On Easter Sunday, I took each cork in turn,
named the goat, recited its scripture, and threw it into a huge ornamental
vase, symbolically eliminating them forever from my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yeah. That didn’t
really work. My goats; they had a way of
finding their way back to the barn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, here’s how our God works.
This morning while doing the practice of Lectio Divina on a passage from
Isaiah 11:1-3, I was at my wit’s end.
The focus was on “justice” and in all honesty, I was having to force
myself to even do the work because I wasn’t feeling it, getting into it, whatever. But, I gave it the old college try because,
well, I didn’t want to disappoint God.
The two words that jumped out at me were “not judge”, and this is what I
wrote down:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“It’s not my
responsibility to judge anyone, including myself! Christ is the perfect judge because He is
full of wisdom, knowledge, perfect love, and fear (awe) of the Lord (the Father). Understanding this, why would I even try to
judge? I can’t see; I have too many logs
in my eyes and I can’t hear, my ears are closed to things I don’t agree
with. I also need to be easier on
myself. Trust in Christ’s perfect
wisdom. Let go of the burden that I have
to be responsible for everything (which leads to resentments). Christ came for me too! He’s not standing there saying, “Yeah, well,
you still need to do this, that, or the other things before I’ll save you!” He came to free me from myself. Holy God, may I have a “Helen Keller at the
water pump moment” this Advent! May I
truly “get it” so I can be set free from all of the imposed and self-imposed </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">judgments</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> of myself and others.”</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, my watershed moment came this morning as Pastor Michael
was wrapping up his message on The Messiah as Conqueror; Jesus coming not to conquer
in the worldly way, but in the other-worldly way; to intervene in whatever way
we need Him to. I had an image of a moth
flitting around a lantern, persistent, never stopping. I thought of Jesus standing at the door
knocking, <i>“Let me in! Let me in!
I will take care of this for you!” </i> And I got it.
I got it. The reason I couldn’t get rid of the goats was they were not
listening to me. But, they will listen
to Him. I couldn’t conquer them, but He can,
and He will. As much as I thought I knew
Jesus, I’d done with Him what I’ve tended to do most of my life, and that’s to shoulder
all the responsibility (and then feel resentful about it). But this Jesus, this
Messiah, He’s persistent! He’s been working on me for some time
now. That noise? Him trying to get my attention. <i>“Let me
in!”</i> So just like that, I let down
my guard and in He walked. Right there,
right then, that moment, and I felt instant relief and a lessening of
tension. Freedom. Peace. Quiet.
(I finally gave Him the stool, Mark </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">♥</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">) If
I were Pentecostal, I would have stood up at that moment in church and shouted <i>“WA-WA!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>“Jesus said, “Those who come to me will never be hungry, and those who
believe in me will never be thirsty.”</i> John 6:35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In September 2011, I came to Jesus, but it took another
six years, some excellent preaching, and His steadfast love and grace until I finally
heart-believed He’d also come for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today is my 54<sup>th</sup> birthday. What other gift could I ever want or need?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-1643119477692201922017-11-22T15:57:00.001-05:002017-11-22T16:10:00.429-05:00Grateful and Thankful<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's quite a bit in The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, about being grateful and thankful.These words are often used interchangeably, so, it made me wonder, what are the true definitions of both? To get the answers, I turned to trusty Google and searched. I was somewhat surprised to see a long list of hits approaching this question. I read through a few of them (and some directly contradicted others) and quickly realized that a) I did not really have an original thought here (LOL), and b) I guess I'll just pick the one I like the best (read: that is the easiest to understand) and run with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, here goes. Gratefulness is a state of being and thankfulness is an active expression (either in words or actions) of gratitude (as an aside, you'll frequently find the word "praise" quickly following on the heels of the word "thankful" in the Bible). I don't believe one can be truly thankful without first feeling grateful. Note that I said "be truly grateful"; this isn't to say that people don't have the tendency to mutter "thanks" with no real emotion behind the words; sort of like when we ask people "How are you?" and walk away before they have the chance to tell us how they are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, what's brought this topic about of course is that tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the US of A. Hopefully most of us don't save one day of the year to reflect on gratitude and to give thanks; however, it is an opportune time to stop and perhaps give this more thought than usual. When I was in elementary school, my teacher had us make cloth books filled with pages of what we were thankful for (I'm pretty certain we wouldn't have comprehended the difference between thankful and grateful at that age so she just went with thankful). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you, Mom, for keeping this. I am<i> grateful </i>;-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So in essence, what we in our little kid brains could both feel (gratitude) for and then express it. As a guide, she had us use the letters of the alphabet. I always chuckle when I come across and re-read this book because I was a terribly silly child. Case in point:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My first "selfie"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A "two-fer"!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Actually that's three words, Amy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, I did have a few sweet ones, too:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Still am! Oh, Buda was our cat and Bert was my Father's parrot. I don't know if I was really thankful for Bert; he was sort of mean!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Always...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even at that age, always PC! Seriously, I was and I am</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beginning in 2012, I started to keep track of my "gratefuls". Every morning, I jot down at least one thing from the previous day that I feel gratitude for. I express it, offer thanks, by writing it down in my little book and then reflecting on this in my prayer time by offering praise. As simple as it is, doing this helps to keep me focused on what is good in this world and in my life while it also serves to diminish those things that I either I fret or worry about, or those that make me feel unpleasant emotions. I have all of these little books near to hand, and routinely open them up and explore them. I find this particularly helpful on certain days when I'm struggling to come up with something (yes, it does happen). I go back to that date the year before, or the year before that, and find myself experiencing gratitude for something that occurred a long time ago. This often brings to mind something I'm grateful for that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. So, I become grateful for my gratefuls!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are a few from this past year:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A good Stephen Leader meeting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walking with Hesed and talking with neighbors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A wonderful trip to Selby Gardens with my Mom and Mom B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A long bike ride</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hesed rang her potty bells</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A good message at church</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I survived the dentist</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Safely home from our trip</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A quiet day; took a cat nap with Pete</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father's surgery went well</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You get the point; some days I have some fairly significant things to be grateful for; other times, I am just happy for down time, or the ability to exercise. Even in the midst of some pretty ca-ca times, I always look for something to write down in my book. For example, when I was involved in a car accident in October, I wrote down:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm ok, she's ok</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The kindness of the people offering to help</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Opportunity to trust (God)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll wrap this up with a prayer I wrote for Thanksgiving a few years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Holy God, for bringing us together this day, we thank you. For our family and friends not with us today, we thank you. For seeing us through trying times, we thank you. For smiles and laughter, we thank you. For warm weather and sunny skies, we thank you. For the food before us, we thank you. For you constant and steadfast love, we thank you. How precious O Lord is your constant love. We find protection under the shadow of your wings. We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from your river of goodness. You are the source of all life, and because of your light, we see the light. This is the day that you have made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amen and Amen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-88022666538676610402017-09-28T16:38:00.000-04:002017-09-28T19:14:43.139-04:00The Whole 30: Non-Scale Victories<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you've been reading my Blog and Facebook posts, and if you've ever read anything about The Whole 30 elsewhere, you know by now that embarking on a Whole 30 is not a diet in the sense of "Let's lose some weight". Although the founders of The Whole 30 acknowledge that the vast majority of people do lose weight, they stress over and over and over again that one should ditch the scale during the 30 days (in fact they suggest hiding it!) and to seriously consider disregarding it as something that doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot after the 30 days. This is why, upon completion of a Whole 30, you are encouraged to focus on what they refer to as "non-scale victories"; improvements in a variety of areas including physical (both outside and inside), moods and emotions, brain function, sleep patterns, exercise and lifestyle. As you can see from the pictures below, the lists are fairly exhaustive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr. B and I sat down last night (while sipping on our celebratory Champagne) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and went over these lists so we could ascertain our own non-scale victories. As we perused each item, it was obvious many simply did not apply to one or both of us; case in point under Physical (Inside): "Fewer PMS Symptoms" certainly isn't something Mr. B would expect any improvement in, and as for me, that ship left the harbor a long time ago. And in all honesty, when I first looked at the list, I was fixated more on the ones that didn't seem to apply than those that did. However, just now I went through them again and made a mark next to the ones I felt reasonably applied to one of us or even both, and was surprised when I tallied them up to see it was about 40% of the total list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here, then, is a representative sample (note: sample; some are just TMI!) of our non-scale victories:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leaner appearance</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More defined muscle tone</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Less shoulder/back/knee pain</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fewer cravings (after that bizarre third week, LOL!)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You fall asleep more easily</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fewer night cramps</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Energy levels are higher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You need less sugar or caffeine to prop up energy levels</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You're outside more</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Learned how to read a label (scary, scary stuff in some of our foods!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No longer afraid of dietary fat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Listening to your body</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New recipies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People come to you for health, food, or lifestyle advice</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Father asked me probably the best question of all:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Do you feel better?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Answer. Yes. Definitely yes. Moreover, I also believe this is a sustainable way of eating, much like when Mr. B and I went low-carb two years ago. We can now more of less stick with Whole 30 eating habits, while allowing back in those foods/food groups that don't cause us any issues. Our first foray, as mentioned previously, was alcohol. As far as I can tell, there were no ill-effects (it did make my a little sleepy but then again, it was also 9:00 when we had our Champagne). Next up is legumes, then non-gluten grains, followed by dairy and then items containing gluten. There is no specific reintroduction for "no added sugar", or artificial anything, and I guess it's because generally speaking, they are to be avoided as much as possible without being ridiculous about it. I have to ask myself why I'd even want to eat stuff with artificial anything in it (I discovered that some artificially flavored coffees have the same chemical as what is in antifreeze). As for added sugar, that might be a once in awhile indulgence because, well, one must still eat dessert from time to time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for the question I've been asked more than any other while on The Whole 30: Have you lost/did you lose weight?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark and I weighed ourselves the morning of Day 1 and did not step on the scale again until yesterday morning. I was on the fence as to whether I'd weigh myself because I knew it was much more important to focus on the non-scale victories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the end, however, I was just plain curious. Mark lost seven pounds and I lost six. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh Whole 30, you've been an experience! I'm betting we'll probably meet again sometime in the future, like after our October cruise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-27181818446283792312017-09-23T10:52:00.001-04:002017-09-23T17:07:36.276-04:00The Whole30 Day 27: All I Can Think About is Wine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Total honesty here. Aside from the several days a week or so ago when I was feeling downright grouchy, this Whole30 experience hasn't been bad at all. I've been lucky, of course, that my husband not only signed up for this journey with me (albeit a tad grudgingly at first), he's jumped right into the spirit of, well, "the whole" thing. As I speak, he's busily preparing yet another breakfast recipe that is Whole30 compliant. Seriously! Not only is he making it, he went on-line to purchase the odd-ball ingredients that are virtually impossible to find in a normal grocery store. Can you say "he's awesome"? He is. This one is some sort of compliant "cereal" with apples and date syrup. A few mornings ago, he made a phenomenal breakfast casserole with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, onions, an entire package of bacon (which he drove to Whole Foods to acquire) and eggs. You might be thinking, "Yuck!"; let me tell you, it was anything but.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">So, yeah. We've experienced a lot of new recipes, figured out how to modify many of our tried and true ones, and spent a lot of time together these past days talking about food, shopping, and hanging out in the kitchen together. We've brought our parents along for the ride and I haven't heard any of them complaining about the fare we've served them. We do not know for sure if we've lost any weight (weighing is not allowed until Day 31 (which is "The End")), yet, I can see Mr. B's lost weight by looking at his face and I know that it's very likely I've shed some myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've established new rituals to replace our 6:00 cocktail hour and sipping on wine while watching Game of Thrones. Now, we walk Hesed a bit after 6:00, then come home and prepare our dinner. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we watch a movie or a TV show, tea is our "treat". You may have picked up on a little of my waning enthusiasm on this point. I MISS MY WINE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've said it before, I'll say it again. For anyone who drinks on a routine basis (more than occasionally), I think it's a great idea to, every once in awhile, forgo it. Frankly, this probably isn't a bad thing to do for anything we may wonder if we have an addiction to. Who wants to spend their life with happiness, satisfaction, joy or (fill in the blank with your own desired state of being) dependent on a substance? Ok, I'm not judging those who have bona fide addictions here; I'm talking about the majority of us who think we cannot go without something, but, we really can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off soapbox.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, yeah. I'll be glad when I can drink my vino. Vino with dinner, some good vino shared while having a long conversation with my Mom or my friend Syb, enjoying a special bottle of Zin with Mark, sipping on wine while playing cards with Mom B. Not to mention, I will have two months worth of wine club wine waiting for me at Cheers to Wine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Four. More. Nights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other than my bizarre cravings for ice cream and donuts last week, I've been lucky in that I've not experienced an urge for something I routinely ate but had to give up. However, yesterday I was fumbling in my purse pocket for my phone, which seemed to be really crammed down in there more than usual. I finally got it yanked out, and along with it came a myriad of purse lint: hair ties, five thousand ball point pens, a crumpled tissues (I hope it was clean), and a lone miniature size bar of Hershey's Special Dark. I stared at it, while images of Richard from the movie "Somewhere in Time" gazing in horror at a penny he'd pulled from his pocket ran through my mind. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll have to check out the movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those who don't know, I could exist on: Red Wine, Cheez-Its, and Dark Chocolate. I saw images of myself unwrapping the chocolate and gobbling it down, looking guiltily about me to see if anyone had seen me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully it came out of the purse wrapped, otherwise, all bets may have been off; the few seconds it took me to consider unwrapping it were enough to bring me to my senses. Back to Day 1 for a tiny piece of stale and partially melted chocolate? Nah. Sorry, Richard. I had a choice, you didn't (but, seriously; how did you manage to get back in time with a 1970 penny in your pocket? Script-flaw).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Four more days (and nights) to go and we'll be in Reintroduction Mode. This is when we'll need to be brutally honest with ourselves: Does anything we add back cause us to not feel so great?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More to come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cereal, along with apples and date syrup, is yummy! Sorta like Cream of White minus the wheat and the cream.</span></div>
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<br />Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-88447195498073161782017-09-18T10:59:00.001-04:002017-09-18T10:59:59.701-04:00The Whole30 Day 22: TIGER BLOOD!!!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Finally, finally, finally!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">And I'll I'm gonna say right now is...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ROAR!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Mrs. B</span>Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-5380051272435223152017-09-15T14:47:00.001-04:002017-09-15T14:55:11.368-04:00The Whole30 Day 19: This Really Blows AKA Where's MY Awesome?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm smack in the middle of hating this program. What makes it even more irritating? This is what is supposed to happen around Day 21 (I'm an early bloomer, apparently). According to the book:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 21 (Interlude)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You've solidly settled into week three of the program, but despite the benefits you're seeing, you went to bed last night dreading breakfast. You weren't much excited about it this morning, either. Come to think of it, you're so un-thrilled with any of your meal options right now that if Iron Chef Bobby Flay were to waltz into your kitchen and ask you what you wanted to eat, you'd probably just say, "Ugh."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It goes on to say, in essence, that the primary culprit right now is food boredom; and the advice is to <i>"Rekindle your appetite and your enthusiasm for the program by making something new..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Frankly, I just want to smack her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food ennui aside, what is supposed to be primarily going on during Days 16-27 is called Tiger Blood; and, I quote, <i>"...someone flipped a switch a turned on the awesome."</i> My energy is supposed to be <i>"through the roof"</i> with little cravings and I'm supposed to feel <i>"unstoppable" </i> Of course, there are all the usual disclaimers; everyone's different, blah blah blah. Don't worry if you're not there yet, etc. etc. etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I realize I could be experiencing emotional fall-out at this point in time from the recent experience with Hurricane Irma, and that The Whole30 Program has nothing to do with it. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I know I need to just push on past this stage as there is less than two weeks to go now. I really DO want to know if there has been something I've been eating that hasn't been doing me any favors. Mostly, I don't want to have gone through these 19 days for nothing. So, I'll soldier on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark and I HAVE been eating some tasty dinners and breakfasts haven't been bad (but I am kinda-sorta getting burned out on eggs and have recently been craving apple cider cake donuts).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark smoked a port butt covered with a plan-approved Southern succor (basically all the spices and no sugar) and he made a vinegar based BBQ sauce to go with it. The result was just phenomenal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were able to make a favorite recipe of ours; pan-roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic and chorizo, and we've also had unstuffed cabbage soup, Cajun shrimp over "grits" (mashed cauliflower with garlic), and several other decent entrees. We have many things planned to get us through the next two weeks. I pity the person on this program who does not like cauliflower or sweet potatoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No dinner isn't the problem, nor is breakfast; it's the noon time meal that's given me trouble. I'm usually too full from breakfast to eat much more than some fruit and nuts; maybe a hard-boiled egg. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not to mention, I'm typically running around doing errands this time of day so I'm not at home to eat. Trying to eat guacamole and carrot sticks, or a wrap of turkey lunch meat and fruit, etc. etc., while driving is difficult. I tried one of the plan-approved Larabars; in a word, gross (although I've been assured these begin to taste better the farther south you get from your sugar-addiction and that some flavors are a lot tastier than others).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully I have STRONG will power so I'll get through this. I do know that when it's all over, I'll definitely be making adjustments to the program that better fit my lifestyle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime, I'll keep hoping for that awesomeness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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<br />Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-53832765658794206592017-09-11T14:14:00.001-04:002017-09-11T14:14:25.369-04:00The Whole30 Day 15: Blame it on the Hurricane!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s1600/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s320/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I posted on Facebook Saturday night, "We interrupt this Whole30 for wine". Yes, the anxiety and stress due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma drove us to drink wine over the weekend. Technically, this calls for a re-set and beginning again at Day 1. We say "pooh" to this, however; especially since we've kept all other restrictions faithfully and we will refrain from drinking again until Day 31 (which will now be extended by the number of days we drank). This will be our punishment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, the drinking aside, how are we feeling? Fairly decent, all things considered. And, I'm not just saying this because I don't want to give up wine forever but, adding the wine back in this weekend didn't seem to cause any issues for either one of us; rather, it certainly did a world of good by cutting the tension. Still, I'm good with giving it up again for another fifteen plus days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In all honesty, I'm not sure which way is up right now. I'm discombobulated due to the craziness of this past week. However, right before it got totally nuts, Mark said to me he didn't see why we couldn't continue to eat this way for the most part from now on. He's probably right. I'm not really craving anything in particular from our "old way of eating", and in fact was overjoyed to have roasted potatoes the other night (it's probably been three years since we've made regular potatoes at home!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am, though, experiencing cravings for things I wasn't even eating before we began; namely, Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Go figure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. B</span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-41631894932687198702017-09-04T10:10:00.003-04:002017-09-04T10:24:34.955-04:00The Whole30 Day 8: One Week In!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah, yeah; I've skipped blogging for several days. Sorry! Life has been quite busy with a variety of non-Whole30 activities going on. Plus, The Whole30 itself continues to keep me occupied with planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, and eating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, here we are in the morning of Day 8. An entire week has gone by since we began. I'm betting many of you are curious as to how we're doing, thinking, feeling; about all of this craziness. 1. Can we see any results yet? 2. Are we more energetic? 3. Have we spent our entire life savings on ghee? 4. Are we still eating eggs and avocado? 5. Have we slipped up and gone off-plan? 6. Is this really worth it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Answers: 1. Mark says he can see a change in my body; I don't see it. I do, however, see his face thinning out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Short answer is no. We have not yet hit the "tiger blood" phase whereby we are (supposedly) going to feel like, well, Tony the Tiger: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT. Mark had a headache pretty much all week. I was extremely irritable and grouchy on Day 4. Neither one of us are sleeping well. Why? I'm not sure why but they suggest if you are waking up in the middle of the night you may need to eat a portion of protein about an hour before you go to bed. There is some scientific rational behind this; all I can think is, "MORE FOOD? UGH!" Seriously, eating a hard boiled egg or some salmon or tuna or whatever at 9:00 at night DOES NOT APPEAL. But, it's either this, or give up the coffee. Yes, apparently coffee consumed in the morning can still cause disruption in sleep patterns in some people at night. Why was this never an issue before The Whole30? Well, in all honesty, it was; it's just that since we usually had a few drinks in the evening, we fell asleep quickly and stayed asleep longer but eventually we'd both wake up and do the whole barely sleeping on the surface thing. I have to admit, if I'm going to be waking up in the middle of the night, I'd just assume have had my glass of wine. But, that'll be an issue for Day 31. Ok, that was a long, not short, answer for #2!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. I cannot believe how expensive this ghee stuff is! I have a few friends who have told me it's cheaper at Indian places or Trader Joe's; unfortunately, we don't have either of these places close enough to make the drive worth it. We do have a Trader Joe's in Sarasota but that place is a total madhouse. I found some ghee on-line that wasn't too terribly expensive, all things considered. Mark says he can make it (all it is is clarified butter) but he really doesn't have the time and no one wants to trust me with this culinary feat. Other than the ghee, however, I'm pleased to report that we are actually spending less money at the grocery. I shop the perimeter of the store to get produce and meat and eggs. I only venture into the center of the store for approved canned goods, toiletries, or pet supplies. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously we are saving money on not purchasing beer or wine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Yes. In fact, I am eating eggs, spinach, mushrooms, avocado (cooked in GHEE) this very moment. Never underestimate the power and versatility of eggs and avocado. In fact, you can even make avocado deviled eggs! No, I'm not really sick of them YET, but, ask me on Day 17.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. No, with the only exception being we did have a tiny piece each of gluten-free cracker yesterday when we took communion at church. We debated; we seriously did. But in the end, Jesus trumps Whole30. At least we went for the gluten-free cracker and not the yummy King's Hawaiian bread option. Note: The program rules do allow for communion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Honestly, I don't know yet how it'll pan out for us physically and if we'll discover that "something" has been bothering us/making us feel ill. Obviously if we do, then heck yes it will have been worth it. If we eventually start sleeping better, having more energy, start glowing; well, duh; yes, it will have been worth it. It's just too soon to say on that front. What HAS been worth it so far is we've been spending time together preparing meals and that's been fun. We're also in the "We're in this together!" mode; which is bonding. And, we both agree that, if a person drinks alcohol on a routine basis, it's a good idea to occasionally take a fast from it to ensure there are no "issues" there, if you know what I mean. Yes, we miss our evening cocktails, or a beer after a long day's work outside, or, a celebratory drink after a big event. I'm happy to report that neither one of us are climbing the walls or seeing purple dragons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of the meals we've prepared (out of The Whole30 book) have been quite tasty. My favorites up to this point have been the Grilled Coconut-Curry Chicken with Cauliflower Rice and the Roasted Beet Salad with Grapefruit-Thyme Vinaigrette. Last night we had Chicken Primavera over Spaghetti Squash which was also quite good (although it took me almost all afternoon to prepare). We're about ready to tackle modifying some of our favorite pre-Whole30 recipes to make them plan compliant. Frankly, this may be easier (and less time consuming) than making brand new recipes every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No more pictures of food on htis blog, however; it's too time consuming (you'll have to follow me on Facebook to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">see these!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, overall, we're doing ok enough to keep on going. Frankly, neither one of us are quitters, anyway; so, there'd have to be some significant reason why we'd not continue. I can't think of any, so....</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stay tuned for more of my adventures with ghee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-36581611770724520272017-08-30T12:49:00.001-04:002017-08-31T09:33:12.305-04:00The Whole 30 Days 2-3: This is VERY Time Consuming!!!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s1600/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s320/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I was reading in The Whole30 "Bible" what, in general, we might expect to be feeling right about now, two-three days in. This is what it says (edited down somewhat):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"The alarms rings on Day 2 and you pop out of bed expecting to feel great, just like you did yesterday. Instead, you feel headache-y, a little sore, foggy...kind of like a hangover. You're pretty sure you didn't down a fifth of tequila in your sleep, so what happened? Let's revisit what you were consuming before you started the Whole30 (a list of a bunch of "bad stuff")...Here's a little math equation for Days 2 to 3. The amount of suck you experience in this phase is directly proportional to the amount of junk you consumed before you began the program."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This likely explains why neither one of us feels necessarily "suck-y" right now, the morning of Day 3; because we were already on a low-carb diet (ok, we totally blew it the last month, but we'd been on it over 2 1/2 years prior) before we began our Whole30.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Personally, I'm thinking this is <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WAY TOO MUCH FOOD</b></span> to consume day in and day out for the next month. I'm also more freaked out by the amount of time we'll be spending planning, shopping, and preparing food than as to how my body is feeling (mind over matter; shut-up, body, THE BRAIN is talking now!) I'm also wondering how much more water can I possibly drink in a day plus I'm already getting tired of eggs and avocado.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yesterday I could not finish my breakfast of leftover chicken salad, so I had it again at noon, along with some fruit; all the while memories of me and my sisters sitting at our kitchen table when we were little kids until we finished our gigantic plates of spaghetti flashing through my brain. All those years ago, it took Ann one hour, me one hour and a half, and Kathy two hours. In all fairness to my Mom and Dad, it was likely more like 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 40 minutes, but it seemed like FOREVER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's what yesterday was like; a never-ending plate of chicken salad (now I'm thinking about Joan Crawford forcing her kids to eat cold raw meat for three days in a scene from the campy movie "Mommie Dearest".)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>No more wire hangers EVER! Oh wait, that's another scene</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note to self: This is YOUR choice, remember?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In place of our evening cocktail hour, we took Hesed for a long walk and then returned to make our third meal of grilled steak, roasted sweet potatoes and onions, and blistered green beans with roasted cashews. Ok, this was more like normal times as it's one of our standard go-to meals (minus the cashews in the green beans which we needed to add last night to get our portion of healthy fat). </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also minus the bottle of red wine we likely would have consumed with the meal, but who's "wine-ing" (obviously me).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Looks so sad and lonely without its glass of red wine :-(</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The meal was even more normal due to the fact that Apollo and Pete showed up to beg. Hmmmm....maybe they want to do The Whole30, too? Apollo and ghee. I can just see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>WE WANT STEAK!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning Mark made a spinach frittata with a side of jalapeno bacon. I added chopped tomatoes to the top of mine (it would have been better if I'd just slathered it with salsa). I took one look at the plate and said, "This can't be right, it's huge!" Mark said, "It says "Serves Two!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Holy Cow!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, I ate about 2/3 of it. Mark doesn't seem to have any trouble cleaning his plate; he must have belonged to the "I Eat All My Spaghetti Club" as a child. Actually, I know it's because he weighs roughly 40 pounds more than I do so he requires more fuel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Case in point. Now it's 12:30 and he's back in the kitchen making his lunch. I'm like, "blech". I know I need to eat something, though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've realized we simply can't make 3 meals per day, so, in general, we'll have a "Ploughman's Lunch" mid-day; hard boiled eggs, lunch meat, olives or nuts, carrot sticks, fruit, etc. Maybe some leftovers. Otherwise, we'll literally be in the kitchen cooking and eating more than half of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How am I feeling physically? Actually, pretty decent. Maybe the train wreck will hit in a few more days?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking of which, I'll be missing a few days of blogging since I have a lot of other things going on the rest of this week and into the weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Signing off to go eat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-55549826107037677012017-08-29T09:45:00.002-04:002017-08-29T10:22:35.663-04:00The Whole30 Day 1: I've Got Food Coming Out of My Ears!!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s1600/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzuaPWqQa3_iwTbyPK3zdi-4_EpOWnffnr-qZ9eDXUc32gBPYN81T0lRmhc8nxbHSqUwPTVciz24HxHtuLEMifMg_LoMYmajw-3bQbEXdc4Key6sxR-eGmoGYKQdhxjSIarLXLkuBG4Y/s320/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I woke up raring to go! Seriously! After over a month of planning, it's time to do this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I leaned over and said to Mr. B: "Happy Day 1!" Grunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did both brave the scale. I didn't really want to (for many reasons, I typically avoid the scale) but I figured it would be good to know IF I lost, gained, or stayed pat during this experience. The number was about what I expected having spent the better part of this past month on vacation, celebrating, and in general getting rid of everything in the house we are not supposed to eat (aside: we did give a lot of it away, too). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First up; drinking my iced coffee with no creamer or sweetener. And, no flavored coffee, either; just plain old coffee (Paul Newman Organic K-Cup). STRONG. I made do with a splash of plan approved coconut "creamer" stuff. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm on the fence as to whether I'll continue to use this after the cartoon is gone as I could hardly tell any difference; the coffee was just STRONG. No need to worry that I'll want more than the suggested two cups per day. No way.</span></div>
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<i>Found it at Fresh Market, although Publix has something similar </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because I had a meeting at church at 9:15, this meant we had to eat our breakfast before I went. I'll admit, I was not hungry in the least but knew it was right to do it, anyway. So, turning to our trusty three day/3 per day meal plan, Mr. B rustled up our breakfast of eggs scrambled in ghee (if the sound of this grosses you out, all ghee is is clarified butter), topped with avocado and the homemade salsa I made last week plus Mark's sausage (which is in essence the Jimmy Dean recipe minus the MSG). I ate it all and was totally stuffed.</span></div>
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<i>Someone commented on Facebook that they thought this looked "disgusting", but it's really that I'm not a food photographer!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After my church meeting, I spent the better part of an hour preparing our lunch; chopped chicken salad using the chicken Mark had prepared last weekend and Whole30 mayo (in essence nothing more than egg, tasting olive oil, dried mustard, lemon juice, S&P). I added additional lemon juice, garlic, and a bunch of chopped cilantro to turn it into Citrus-Cilantro Mayo. I threw in celery and radishes into the chicken and tossed it all with the mayo. We spooned the chicken salad over a bed of arugula, topped it with more avocado and we each had a side of fruit (him 1/2 a grapefruit, me a handful of cherries).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiHg4T3D9OiSPWuWbgJlHdwzZU4LkiKPKCtnGIDuDduMlRFZ6CRDq4WziTfMiyAqDu2u7LvDGVc67ZK3oyP3Nk2AqZFmdtuaMHUcfh6jlBaUX59OYrQchFnJmagTsfg9F3KkP4K9GQllT/s1600/21122533_10214076304771435_3658886640080995143_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiHg4T3D9OiSPWuWbgJlHdwzZU4LkiKPKCtnGIDuDduMlRFZ6CRDq4WziTfMiyAqDu2u7LvDGVc67ZK3oyP3Nk2AqZFmdtuaMHUcfh6jlBaUX59OYrQchFnJmagTsfg9F3KkP4K9GQllT/s320/21122533_10214076304771435_3658886640080995143_o.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<i>Pretty flavorful and something I might have ordered in a restaurant. Next time, I'd add more cilantro to the mayo</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We ate this at 1:00 and I almost immediately began to stress out about eating dinner at 5:45 (earlier than we usually eat as Mr. B had his own church meeting to attend at 6:30). Additionally, I realized the Meal 3 I'd planned wasn't going to work out because it called for Mr. B to grill steaks and sweet potatoes. This also meant our Day 2 Meal 2 wouldn't happen because it called for leftover sweet potatoes. So, course correction! We opted for pork chops, Mark's sauce, and zoodles (the pork already having been braised in Mark's sauce as he made it last weekend). </span> </div>
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<i>Roll me over, Beethoven!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark went off to church, I cleaned up the kitchen, played with Hesed, and then I took her for a long walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Believe it or not, two hours later, I was actually feeling the stirrings of hunger. Nothing awful, just a small twinge. And, honestly, I was really missing my evening cocktail (another reason I took Hesed out for a long walk; distraction!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark came home and said, "I'm hungry. Are you hungry?" It was close to 9 so I didn't want to eat but he ate the leftover zoodles and sauce plus a small handful of cashews (that he'd roasted himself so we knew there was nothing bad lurking in them like peanut oil, a big no-no).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, why so much food at each meal? The basic rules are this. Each meal you need to have:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Protein</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Vegetables and/or a small portion of fruit (carbs)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Healthy fat (avocado, approved nuts, seeds, unsweetened coconut, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The proportions are to be a palm size or two of the protein, 3 1/2 cups of vegetables PER MEAL and then the fat; not over doing it (e.g., maybe 1/2 an avocado) but that fat is needed for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note: Snacking isn't forbidden but you're really supposed to eat enough at each meal that you don't really need to. If you find yourself hungry, you've either not eaten enough or not had all three components.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The likely culprit for why Mark was hungry last night was we didn't have any healthy fat at dinner (cooking fat, yes, but not that much). And, if you have a snack, you need to have at least two of the three components. So, some fruit and half a hard-boiled egg. Or, some fruit and a handful of cashews. Or, some carrot sticks dipped in guacamole. You get the picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, live and learn; don't forget the healthy fat (which, of course, runs counter to the way most of us have been eating since the late '80s (the whole non-fat craze)).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How am I feeling this morning of Day 2? Ok. I slept ok, not great. My body was probably wondering what happened to my sugar-alchohol, so, I was a bit fitful. Plus, I got up more than usual to use the facilities because I drank a lot more water yesterday than I am used to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Breakfast this morning was a repeat of yesterday's lunch. If you've not yet realized it, there is a lot of "make a lot of this and use it for several meals" or, "cook this item and use it four different ways". </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, if you make a batch of something that can be frozen and saved for later, make a double batch." </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This helps so that you're not continually in the kitchen or at the grocery store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Day 2! On wards!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. B</span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-85221080252465830622017-08-27T15:24:00.002-04:002017-08-27T15:26:03.669-04:00The Whole30 Day 0: Do I REALLY Want to Know How Much I Weigh?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VdeYUjPXRW5dVGesc7r3hGoR0W8lhYqDfR_uMuh37dbBrhEfP2oiBSG6ufjcrUkBuHr-bkFiS8ga6Gfvt_is58wmWvlay2P7derMULmNSRMha9uZEZ2U1uUEFsUzu40daXnvy8YSUaX5/s1600/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VdeYUjPXRW5dVGesc7r3hGoR0W8lhYqDfR_uMuh37dbBrhEfP2oiBSG6ufjcrUkBuHr-bkFiS8ga6Gfvt_is58wmWvlay2P7derMULmNSRMha9uZEZ2U1uUEFsUzu40daXnvy8YSUaX5/s320/doing-the-w30-fb-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark and I are about to embark on The Whole30 experience. Tomorrow. Gulp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is this and why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, our fitness trainer started gushing about this back in late June. Ok, "gush" may not be the correct term since she was, admittedly, miserable when she first mentioned it to me; probably in response to my query, "Are you feeling ok?" She told me she was on The Whole30 and was a little under a week into it and was "struggling", but was determined to continue because, after all, not being able to have creamer in your coffee is not life or death. Not imbibing in a glass of wine after work is not the end of the world (well, maybe for her, LOL!) Because going without grains, dairy, legumes, added sugar, artificial sweeteners, any alcohol whatsoever, added sulfates, MSG or many other additives and preservatives was not as difficult as having a baby, losing a parent, or getting a divorce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is what she was spouting off to me, and I was like, "HUH? This sounds totally crazy and I don't want anything to do with it!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward about two months and now I'm crazy, and I'm dragging Mark along for the ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have I mentioned lately how much I love this man?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to Michelle (our trainer) and The Whole30. The next Friday she was looking decidedly better. She said "Yeah, I miss my wine, but I've been amazed how great the food I've been eating tastes. I'm not counting calories or weighing myself but my clothes fit like they should, I have a lot more energy, and I'm sleeping better." At this, I felt the beginning tugs of interest since I can't remember that last time I've slept through the night. So, I asked her to share some more, to which she replied by showing me a book called "The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You can eat more than you'd think on this plan (although maybe not what you think you want to eat!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I glanced at it, and thought, "Well, the cover recipe looks decent." I thumbed through it and checked out a few more of the recipes. "Hmmm...this doesn't look too awful, I ventured." She jumped all over that opening, "No! It's not. What totally grabbed me and made me pull the plug and do it was the whole bit about how going without fill in the blank for 30 days is not hard compared to other things I've experienced in my life." I was sufficiently intrigued that I went home that very afternoon and bought the book via Amazon Prime. Ok, it basically sat in my kitchen for a month before I picked it up, but I DID buy it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next week, now about two and a half weeks into her experience, Michelle was bouncing around and was positively glowing with good health. Shoving down my misgivings about whether I could give up wine, Greek yogurt, beans, and chewing gum all at the same time, I went home and began in earnest to plant the seeds with Mark regarding our venturing into the world of The Whole30 "at some point".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I said, "We certainly won't start until after our vacation, because we'd never be able to do this on vacation. We can start when we get back in mid-August!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Backtrack. Mark and I have been down the "diet fad" path many times before in our 13 years together. Most recently, as in two plus years ago, we went low-carb and have stuck with that relatively well. Yet, the philosophy, research, and The Whole30 program rules pulled me in me because it all makes so much sense and is very difficult to argue with; and, not the least being, the mantra that most people who go on this repeat to themselves over and over again; "It's ONLY 30 days!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I could go on and on about the philosophy, research, and rules but I figure if you're interested in it, you can Google The Whole30 and read all about it. My intent with blogging about it is to document my experience with it; the good, the bad, and the ugly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We initially picked August 23rd as our Day 1 (August 22nd being Mark's birthday and he did NOT want to be deprived of scotch and cigars on his birthday (BTW smoking is also not allowed on The Whole30)). The weekend before, we removed everything from the house that was not plan approved. We went out shopping and bought only Whole30 approved items. I even went on-line and bought some Whole30 approved bacon. We planned out our initial three days of meals (9 in total: breakfast, lunch, and dinner whereby you eat for each meal protein, a lot of vegetables, maybe some fruit, and some sort of healthy fat like avocado or olives). In other words, we PREPARED; a integral key to success. I also went on-line and found all sorts of resources with the most helpful being The Whole30 Forum where you can find out with a few keystrokes if, say, that ferrous gluconate in your canned black olives is plan approved (it is but they'd prefer you find ones that don't have it (and they do exist)) or if you need to ditch your carton of chicken broth because it has yeast extract in it (you do). That same weekend, Mark made homemade sausage, pasta sauce (which we'll enjoy minus the pasta but Zoodles are great), and stock from two whole chickens (added bonus being we now have a ton of plan approved shredded chicken). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, we were all ready to go, but then I got seated on a jury Monday the 21st that was scheduled to go at least through Thursday (it went through Friday). We postponed (wisely) until August 28th. Tomorrow. Gulp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seriously, I am ready for this challenge because I want to find out if there is something I am eating or drinking that is causing me not to feel as great as I should be feeling. I mean, I'm 53 and in pretty decent health and shape; it seems I should feel better than I do. Maybe I'll lose weight but that's not why I'm doing it. I'd like to know if the Stevia I used in my coffee is making me gassy (I know, TMI, sorry, my Blog). Or, are sulfates causing my eyes to swell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, is dairy causing roiling stomach issues or beans causing me to bloat and puff up. I already know giving up alcohol can only result in positive results; physical, mental, and emotional. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So say I now, today, Day 0.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, and I probably will weigh myself tonight, as well as take measurements (after tonight, the scale and tape is off limits until Day 31). I'm drawing the line at the "before" and "after" pictures, though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay tuned for the journey.</span></div>
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-13744647601632743192017-07-01T13:27:00.000-04:002017-07-01T13:27:07.633-04:00Some Differences Between Cats and Dogs<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is a re-post of a blog entry written soon after we brought Lucy home in January 2007. The original posting was on my "old" Blog. It's a piece I enjoyed writing and, ten years later, it still relatively accurately sums up my thoughts on some differences between cats and dogs. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mrs B</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>July 1, 2017</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I own a dog (Lucy), I've been in a few positions (get your minds out of the gutter) with regards to observing some significant differences between cats and dogs when it comes to their bodily functions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, the obvious. Cats do their "business" in a cat box. They do not like to be observed while doing this and (generally) will bury their evidence. Dogs, on the other hand, let it all hang out and do their "business" in front of anyone and everyone who happens to be around. They don't bury it (although they might sniff it or do a half-hearted back foot kick over it (if another dog is around)).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eating. For the most part, cats are fairly dainty. They USUALLY won't scarf down their entire bowl of dry food in 30 seconds flat (although to be fair, Clyde does sometimes eat too much too fast and barfs it right back up). <i>Editorial comment from 2017: So do Lily and Apollo. </i> Dogs eat their food right then and there. In fact, I read that it's not a good idea to let them leave any food in their bowl because that is what an "alpha" animal does (the implication being that, because they are "alpha", they can leave food and no one will touch it). If you want to be "alpha" in your house, don't let your dog do this. <i>Editorial comment from 2017: Lucy had a food aggression and so we were not able to leave any food out for her. Not that she would have left any food out in the first place. Hesed, on the other hand, does not chow down all of her food at once, nor does she appear to care if one of the cats strolls by and takes a munch). </i> Don't bother worrying about picking up your cat's food if s/he leaves some as they are and always will be "alpha" in your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barfing. You know when a cat is about to hurl because it gives you plenty of advance notice by going through an elaborate process of making loud up-chuck noises. They must start this about 5 minutes before they have to let it out because if you try to chase a cat off a carpet while it is doing this, it will run away from you and wait to heave until it's back on the carpet (one exception to this being sometimes when you chase the cat, it elects to projectile puke while running madly about the house, so rather than having one pile to clean up, there are now about thirty). Dogs just hurl. There are no preliminaries. One second they are sitting there minding their own business, the next, about twenty gallons of stomach contents are all over the floor (or the backseat of your car, or, if you are exceedingly unlucky, YOU).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Odors. As much as I love cats, I've gotta give the gold star to the pooches in this category. In general, their fluids (note we are not discussing poop) do not smell as bad as cat odors. Dog pee, although there is typically a lot more of it, smells like not much because they drink so much more water. We all know what cat pee smells like, and how hard it is to get rid of the smell once it's in your carpet. Ditto with cat barf dog barf. It is harder to clean up and it stinks. Dog barf, although resembling some mutant alien creature, hardly smells and it mops right up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, there are a lot of differences. About the only similarity I've discovered so far is that cat poop and dog poop and cat farts and dog farts smell equally bad. <i>Editorial comment from 2017: No change here!</i></span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-41526378551891083902017-06-21T17:54:00.000-04:002017-06-21T17:56:36.146-04:00<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9963483-falling-upward" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334508666m/9963483.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9963483-falling-upward">Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7919.Richard_Rohr">Richard Rohr</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1810021723">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I'm at a place in my life and spiritual journey where this book meant so much to me and was so very helpful. I'm sure it also helps that my theology/spiritual beliefs seem to be closely aligned with Richard Rohr's; I found myself wanting to underline just about everything in this book!</div>
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A wide summary; this book discusses the purpose of the 1st half of life/first journey/first task, what life should be like when we've moved into the 2nd half of life/second journey/second task, and those things that must occur in order to move from 1st to 2nd half (note to those who are looking for a quick "self help" guide: this is not something you can control, sorry!)</div>
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Some (ok, more than some) highlights for me:<br />
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*We are summoned to it, not commanded to go...because each of us has to go on this path (towards the 2nd half of life) freely<br />
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*We are led by mystery or grace into spiritual maturity<br />
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*Those who walk the full and entire journey are considered...Elders<br />
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*The way up is the way down; the way down is the way up. Sacrifice of something...some sort of falling, necessary suffering...is programmed into the journey<br />
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*We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right. The demand for perfect is the greatest enemy of good<br />
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*The opposite of rational is not always irrational. It can also be trans-rational (bigger than the rational mind can process)<br />
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*You cannot walk the second journey with first journey tools<br />
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*We all need some successes, response and positive feedback early in life or we will spend the rest of our lives demanding it, or, bemoaning its lack from others<br />
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*2nd journey people both transcend and include 1st journey people. Jesus was a 2nd half of life man who had...the task of trying to teach and be understood by a largely 1st half of life history, church, and culture<br />
<br />
*Most of organized religion is still living inside first half of life issues<br />
<br />
*We can and will move forward as soon as we have completed and lived the previous state; by grace, and the old agenda shows itself to being insufficient or even falls apart<br />
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*You need a very strong container (constructed during the 1st half of life) to hold the contents and the contradictions that arrive later in life. You ironically need a very strong ego structure to let go of ego<br />
<br />
*The only real Biblical promise is that unconditional love will have the last word<br />
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*The voice of our Loyal Soldier gets us through the first half of life safely...our Loyal Soldier cannot get you to the second half of life. You must discharge your Loyal Soldier = death of False Self, but the very birth of the Soul<br />
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*We will need authentic "soul friends" (Spiritual Directors, Elders, Truth Speakers, Contemplatives) to guide us across...to the 2nd half<br />
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*Life is both loss and renewal, death and resurrection, chaos and healing at the same time. Life is a collision of opposites<br />
<br />
*The tragic sense of life is ultimate and humiliating realism, which demands a lot of forgiveness of almost everything. Faith is simply to trust the real, and to trust that God is found in it<br />
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*God comes to you disguised as your life<br />
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*Jung: Neurotic behavior is usually the result of refusing legitimate suffering. Refusing this necessary pain of being human brings to the person 10X more suffering in the long run<br />
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*Your True Self is who you are objectively from the beginning in the mind and heart of God. "The face you had before you were born"<br />
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*God excludes no one from union, but He must allow us to exclude ourselves in order for us to maintain our freedom (free will)<br />
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*Either God is for everybody and the divine DNA is somehow in all creatures, or this God is not God by any common definition<br />
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*Without Elders, a society perishes. Socially and spiritually<br />
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*In the 2nd half of life, if you have forgiven yourself for being imperfect, you can now do it for just about everybody else<br />
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*Our (spiritually) mature years are characterized by a kind of bright sadness and a sober happiness<br />
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*You do not fight these things anymore...you learn to positively ignore and withdraw your energy from evil or stupid things rather than fight them directly. You fight only when you have been directly called and equipped to do so<br />
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*The Beatitudes speak louder to you than The Ten Commandments<br />
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*The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better<br />
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*Persona = diligently constructed in the 1st half. Not true; it is manufactured and sustained unconsciously by your mind<br />
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*Shadow = what you refuse to see about yourself and what you do not want others to see<br />
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*The movement to 2nd half of life wisdom has much to do with necessary shadow work. You never get there without major shadow boxing. Shadow work = Falling Upward<br />
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*Soulful (2nd half of life) people temper our tantrums by their calm, lessen our urgency by their peace, exhibit a world of options and alternatives when all conversation turns into dualistic bickering<br />
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*Soulful people are salt, yeast, light<br />
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*If your politics do not become more compassionate and inclusive, it's doubtful whether you are on the second journey<br />
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*(embrace) both and thinking...you no longer need to divide the field of every moment between up and down, totally right or totally wrong, with me or against me. It just is.<br />
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*Non-dualistic wisdom = contemplation<br />
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*Great people come to serve, not to be served<br />
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*It is the freedom of the 2nd half of life not to need<br />
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*Being totally received as we truly are is what we wait and long for all of our lives. We who are gazed at so perfectly can pass on the same accepting gaze to all others who need it<br />
<br />
Amen and Amen!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2561148-empress5150">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-43589598064031528292017-06-21T17:53:00.001-04:002017-06-21T17:55:59.135-04:00Life Lesson<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00Cn_g9wFG2erU7pSBdQm88uKoffTqit4xncQIrauw6IzqxeM6mZ91hfTeG1jh7Bwwwj-XUrV0H5TyqtR2cd-p65AiS1d2_u_8uasqMfauzGXRnxTWKiaWdE7ZnUeUFziuqzWXY511mZd/s1600/19059103_10213309510642061_6454925582576968210_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00Cn_g9wFG2erU7pSBdQm88uKoffTqit4xncQIrauw6IzqxeM6mZ91hfTeG1jh7Bwwwj-XUrV0H5TyqtR2cd-p65AiS1d2_u_8uasqMfauzGXRnxTWKiaWdE7ZnUeUFziuqzWXY511mZd/s320/19059103_10213309510642061_6454925582576968210_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet Our New Addition to The House of B</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hesed Lucille</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Life with a puppy is a good reminder of life in general. A few steps forward followed by several steps backwards, always an adventure, and don't forget to chase butterflies and smell the flowers. </span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/fc9/1.5/16/1f415.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🐕</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f37/1.5/16/1f43e.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🐾</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f14/1.5/16/1f98b.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🦋</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/ff2/1.5/16/1f33a.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🌺</span></span></div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Mrs. B</div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-39247228740923246122017-04-18T17:25:00.000-04:002017-04-19T22:20:12.153-04:00Renovations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9hm-4lfvYryXm1aXZOMbev5qRFaPuT61GVHj5iGLyRtZgXasfAyQv_34YJF2MpVJ_4TvOV30HRt4JBwM2mn8ffULjBrq6JSIP_fQXR8AEJSEiRt-uReQaSk94bcD8AfXlzqqZ8vhyphenhyphenuek/s1600/DSCF0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9hm-4lfvYryXm1aXZOMbev5qRFaPuT61GVHj5iGLyRtZgXasfAyQv_34YJF2MpVJ_4TvOV30HRt4JBwM2mn8ffULjBrq6JSIP_fQXR8AEJSEiRt-uReQaSk94bcD8AfXlzqqZ8vhyphenhyphenuek/s320/DSCF0138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
seems I’ve spent the majority of my life in a stage of renovation. It began at
twelve, when I morphed, ostensibly overnight, from a pudgy and picked-on child,
into a slender, long-legged teenager with bedroom eyes. I wasn’t, and have never been, a conventional
beauty; but as my best friend used to assure me, I was exotic; a hot house
flower held up against the delicate loveliness of, say, a rose. For a while, this was pretty much all that
mattered to me as I played the part of a
Southern California party girl. Yet, it
was truly a role. I had smarts, savvy
and, thanks to my parents, a decent enough college education (if not the
highest GPA in the world, because, well, the party girl thing routinely got in
the way of my studies). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
took several years, the onset of maturity, and the humiliation of realizing
that my Father felt the best he could hope for would be for me to land a secretarial
job at a good company and marry my boss, that finally motivated me into
shedding that happy-go-lucky persona and focus on evolving into someone my
parents could be proud of: an
independent and reasonably successful career woman. Along the way, I got slightly side-tracked by
my first husband, whose job he felt it was to turn me into someone else; mainly,
someone who idol worshipped him. Still, during the ten or so years of our marriage,
I managed to further my career. Eventually, I and the (ex) husband went our
separate ways and I entered into the subsequent
revamp: DWF/mid-thirties/corporate
director/living “the life” in Los
Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyone
who believes that this was glamorous has
never lived it because it wasn’t. It
meant routine sixty plus hours in the office and many others working from home. It meant a lot of travel with the majority of
it being to nowhere in the least bit exciting.
It meant countless meetings, presentations, problems to be solved,
company politics to contend with, stress-filled days and nights, difficulty
sleeping, and loneliness. Ah, the
loneliness. I could buy all the Jimmy
Choo shoes I wanted and I drove a sweet little BMW, but I was lonely. All of my
family had moved back east of the Mississippi.
I did have friends in California, but most of them lived several hours
away. The few people from work that I’d
somehow managed to bond with were just as busy as I was, so opportunities to get
together were infrequent. This left me,
in the rare times that I was not absorbed with projects and deadlines,
floundering about; and, as the song goes, <i>“Looking
for love in all the wrong places.” </i>So,
on the outside I had it all; in reality, I didn’t have much at all, except my
two aging cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
fall of 2001 ushered in an extremely dark period. One incident after another sent me into a
tailspin of behavior which can only be described as risky at best, dangerous and
life threatening in reality; eventually culminating in what was <b>the</b> absolute worst night of my
life. Although what occurred that night
and its aftermath consumed me for many months to follow, it’s not what happened
that matters so much as that it defined my next renovation; the one that would
completely change the trajectory of my life: I decided that I would leave my job, go to
Italy, take a total immersion language course, and see what happened next. That’s it. That was my blueprint! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite
how glorious and brave it may have seemed to those I left behind, those living
vicariously through me and hoping for “Under the Tuscan Sun” or “Eat, Pray, Love” movie moments, the truth
of the matter is, my six weeks in Italy were a mostly lonely and painful
experience. My “newly sprung from the
prison life of career” self struggled daily with who I was now going to be; and
I questioned myself and my sanity. A lot. Why did I, at only age 39, abandon a prestigious
job, uproot myself and go half-way around the world to learn a language that
I’d probably never use again (I haven’t), and live in conditions (a rented
apartment) that were reminiscent of my starving student college days? I didn’t take any trappings of my former life
with me to Italy; no French tip nails, only one small suitcase of very
serviceable clothes (which I promptly loathed after seeing all of the beautiful
Italian fashions), and no BMW (I walked everywhere). No one there knew <i>who I was</i>, least of all, me.
But, there were moments of fulfilment and flashes of realization that I
was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing, even though I didn’t know
exactly what that was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
was 15 years ago now; when I did what a therapist (whom I’m convinced now was
an angel in disguise, or at least channeling his inner Glinda from “The Wizard
of Oz”) suggested<i>: “Get off the hamster wheel and walk out of
the cage you put yourself into. No one
is stopping you but you.” </i>I think,
in hindsight, that I chose to abscond to Italy to be in neutral ground for this
battle between my old and new selves.
I enrolled in the immersion
course because that part of me that will always be me had to be doing something
productive. The challenge there was not to
let learning the language get in the way of learning who I was to be. Italy, as it turned out, was the bridge from one life to the next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Was
I whisked off by a wealthy Italian man? No, I was not. I went back to California, sold my condo, and
moved to Durham North Carolina simply because my brothers lived there. Within two months of arriving, however, I met
my now husband of 12 years; not an Italian Adonis, but a New Yorker and a CPA. I’ve
dabbled in various self-improvement and volunteer activities such as teaching
English as a second language and did some consulting work (more as a favor to
an old friend than any other reason). I’ve never really re-entered the rat
race. I am, however, a minority partner in my husband’s tax and accounting firm
and support him; I suppose you could say
“work for him”, during tax season. I think of my Father’s fear from so many
years ago that the best I might do would be to marry my boss, and the irony of
this makes my toes curl in delight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
truth is, we almost always have before us opportunities to renovate ourselves. We use whatever resources we have at hand to
do so, and we ask for help from those
nearby when we can’t do it by ourselves.
Sometimes a renovation begins from a clear personal vision, other times the opening falls into our laps a
la <i>“When the student is ready the teacher
appears”</i>; and still other times it
emerges from a period of darkness and confusion. Yet, it emerges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
mentioned my experience in Italy was painful because growth is painful.
However, I was not always unhappy, because one cannot be in such a beautiful
country and be miserable 100% of the time.
There were moments when I would stumble across something so simple yet incredibly beautiful that I’d just have to
stop and take it in. These “simple
things of beauty” had also existed in my life in Southern California, I was just too empty there to see them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
Italy, I believed, wrongly, that I’d never be confused or at sea again. In reality,
there would be many more renovations to come.
However, a poem I wrote while
wandering and wondering through Italy has served to
remind me that, regardless of what chaos may be going on around me in the midst
of a messy remodel, I always have the choice to embrace serenity
and see the beauty in it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Simple Things of
Beauty<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I used to go so fast<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">that I never stopped to
see<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">the simple things of
beauty<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">that were there in
front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I was on a frantic path,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">rushing through each
day<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">the simple things of
beauty<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">were just annoyances in
my way<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then one night fate
intervened<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I thought it was a
curse<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">when my life changed
direction<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">it seemed from bad to
worse<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yet it was not
misfortune that forced me to reflect<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">on an existence where
all appeared sour<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">it was a well-timed
dose of reality<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">administered by a
higher power<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Now I’ve found the
determination<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">to cease the insanity<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and to explore with new
found courage<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">the person that I
should be<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Although each day
brings challenges<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">so many obstacles are
still there<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">my heart is open to the
simple things of beauty<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and I see them
everywhere<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Mrs. B</span></span></div>
Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-425051401998363457.post-31791639408244568332016-12-31T13:44:00.000-05:002016-12-31T13:44:16.628-05:00Lily Goes for a Drag<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r4z9FCn_j3o" width="459"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xEMhMLafe2c" width="459"></iframe>Mrs. Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800244909167950193noreply@blogger.com0