Blog Walk

October 20th, 2018 / Categories: Family, Hear Me / 2 Comments »

Remember when we used to blog and blog and blog? Remember when we used to take blog walks around the ‘net and leave comments on each others’ pages?

Along came “social media” full of more trolls than we ever saw in blog-dom. Although we had quite a few trolls, didn’t we? Oh, and remember the misunderstandings and the little wars that broke out with long standing internet blogging friends rushing in to defend friends from such? There was no such thing as an emoji back then. We made do with semi colons and parentheses to emotionalize our (funny to us, hurtful to some) comments. (took a few wars for us to figure out a way to get around that.)

I tire of much that goes on in social media . . . and yet I am drawn to it as a moth to flame. I get drawn into discussions I would be better off not getting into. It is nobody’s fault. I am totally human, you see. I want to stand up for things I believe in. I want to promote healthy relationships and well-being and love, always love.

And, in walks dissension and politics and hate, always hate.

I miss the old days. Even with the battles and trolls there was still humor and joy, always joy.

I went for a blog walk tonight and found only ONE of my former every day writers still writing. I am thrilled to see her still posting. Others have not done so since 2013! And yes, I am not much better. That durned social media keeps pulling me in for the quick fix.

Challenging myself to step back and take back part of myself by coming here to write. Challenging you to maybe do the same?

I still will be involved in social media. I will still be vocal about those things which impassion me. That inner beast has been woken and I hope it does not quickly go back to sleep. It is too important to understand that those who come after us – our children, our grandchildren and the greats beyond – must know what life was like before. They must know the paths we have trod through and mountains we have crossed in order for their lives to be more comfortable than our foremothers trod, crossed and lived.

If we do not care about the world in which we live – with all of its loveliness, its ugliness, its charm and possible growth – how are those future loved ones of ours to care?

Challenge accepted.

First day of school

August 21st, 2018 / Categories: Moose Nuggets / Comments Closed

Well, first day of the youngest grandson’s high school year. First day of the youngest granddaughter’s last high school year.

bittersweet

He will be taking part in all of the firsts . . . she will be taking part in all of the lasts. We will be here with comforting shoulders for all of the tears and full hearts for all of the joys.

Last night PawPaw and I attended the freshmen orientation and got to see and hear grandson in the drum line. He’ll get there. His instrument up to this time has been a trumpet. Now he is playing the snare . . . and marching. He’ll get there.

Here’s to a great year!

siblings – freshman on the left – senior on the right.

the last one

May 18th, 2018 / Categories: Family / 2 Comments »

Today marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Youngest grandson, Isaiah, walked across the stage leaving behind Kenai Middle School and entering Kenai Central High School. I love how they transition the kids: they enter the stage after giving the Kossack a high five, and leaving the purple and gold, shaking the hands of their teachers, they enter the red and black of KCHS and give the Kardinal a high five.

It is fun to listen to the band before the ceremonies (he plays trumpet) and realizing just how much they have improved since that first squeak and squawk of 5th grade band. They played some pretty advanced music today. Congrats, too, to Mrs. Sonart for winning a national award for her band leader skills.

Eight grade – 14 years of age – is an interesting time . . . for the teen . . . and for the adults in the family. Izzy has had a rough few weeks. There has been angst and outbursts – and he eve had some, too. (lol) Each of us has felt unappreciated and unloved at one time or another in those few weeks. So, it was a delight today to watch him enter this new stage; to see his smile; to hear an “I love you” or two.

He is growing up on us. We are thrilled to have been able to witness today.

Next year his sister graduates high school. He will follow in 2022. Big brother will graduate UAF in 2020. We will be busy, proud grandparents at each graduation ceremony. Thankful for our grands.

The Not Quite Widows Club

May 6th, 2018 / Categories: praises / 6 Comments »

Pastor Phil came back to the pulpit today. It was his first time to preach since February. He tells the story here: Pastor Phil’s story

He said that he so appreciated his wife for standing beside him throughout the whole ordeal and that nobody knew what she had been through. I nudged my friend and we both smiled. We know all too well what she went through.

Eileen is the newest member of the Not Quite Widows Club. It is not a club any of us necessarily wanted to be part of, but we are thankful nevertheless to be part of the club. Because, you see, we came through the other side of our loved ones’ ordeals with our loved ones still with us.

Three years ago my husband survived a “widow maker” cardiac arrest. By the grace of God he was at the hospital for an unrelated appointment so was able to be revived by hospital staff when he went down. The doctors there told me he might not live to get from their Emergency Department to the helicopter to the hospital in Anchorage. The staff at the Anchorage hospital told me again and again he might not/would not/should not make it. We will celebrate our third “bonus” anniversary this week.

Two years ago Angela’s husband was severely injured in a marine accident. The early days were not promising and the medical staff also warned her that his future was questionable. By the grace of God, even though he has far to go to be completely healed, he made it. They celebrated their second “bonus” anniversary recently.

My dear friend Sandy has nursed her husband through heart issues, cancer issues and now Alzheimer related issues. (How funny that we call these life altering moments “issues) She is yet another member of our club.

And, now Eileen, who will celebrate her first “bonus” anniversary with Phil in July.

Every day is a bonus. We do not take them lightly. We appreciate each and every one of them.

Often our husbands do not remember anything of at least the first few days or weeks after their incident. My hubby has very little recollection of anything until about a week before he was released from Heritage Place, some 7 weeks after his cardiac arrest.

We wives remember it all. We lived through every code and apparatus beep. We hurt for our loved ones (who, because of meds, felt no pain) when they had procedures done or surgeries. We rejoiced with each victory : when the tubes came out, one by one; when the machines were turned off, one by one; when they moved from intensive care to their own room in another wing of the hospital; when they moved from hospital to long term care; when they came home; when they graduated from wheel chair to walker to cane.

And you know what? We would do it again if need be.

We did not ask to be members of the Not Quite Widows Club, but we consider ourselves blessed to be.

Pastor shared a verse from Jeremiah today: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I cling to those words. They may just become the life verse for the Not Quite Widows Club.

Day 101/40

October 25th, 2017 / Categories: Moose Nuggets / 2 Comments »

The energizer bunny just will not quit. I completed Crossfit Certitude’s 40 day challenge in August – and kept right on going. Today is day 101. I still do my best to get in my protein and calories on a daily basis, while staying close to the desired fiber and fats.

It’s not always easy, but the rewards are music to my ears. I’ve seen both of my doctors this week and both were well pleased. My blood pressure has dropped enough that my internist has taken me off one of my meds. What a blessing!! I just need to keep an eye on it and if it starts inching back upwards contact her and possibly go back onto the med.

My internist says I am like a 20 year old compared to the rest of her patient load. My gynecologist says she would guess me to be in my 50s if not for the fact she knows I am closing in on 68.

Can you feel my smile from where you sit?

My coaches love me. I continue to hit the workouts M-W-F each week. I am concentrating more on form than increasing weight, although there is some of that also. And, there are ropes hanging from the ceiling that SOME day I plan to climb. Well, we will see won’t we?

9-23-17 COMPARE 9-7-10 I’m including pictures for comparison. The “me” on the left weighed in at 363# (!!) That pic has haunted me, showing up on my facebook feed every October since 2010. This year I jumped up and grabbed a coworker to take the pic on the right. I weighed in at 258#!!! Yes, that is a 105# weight loss in 7 years. (Nobody said this was going to be an overnight success story.)

My gyn doc asked me this morning what my goal was and I had to tell her I don’t really have a weight in mind. I am happy to be feeling healthy and watching the weight going down.

I do have one bucket list goal: I want to do the zip line in Seward. First off I am a bit squeamish with heights, but, I can overcome that. They do have a weight limit: 270# I am FINALLY below that marker – so summer of 2018 here I come. Who wants to join me???

Thanks Coach Nikki and Crossfit Certitude!!!

<< Older Entries
Newer Entries >>