Upcoming Posts Preview! Recipes, A Travel Post, and Exciting News

Hey y'all!  I've lost count on my days being sick!  I'm now in the waiting period of blood work results and making an appointment with an ENT possibly.  I actually developed sinus symptoms over the past month, but a 2nd round of antibiotics has done nothing to heal me.  I still have an elevated temp, painful swollen glands, and the extreme fatigue.

BUT, we are trying to still enjoy life as we can. We still have a trip coming up that we scheduled before I got sick.  I never dreamed I'd still feel ill by the time the trip rolled around.  At any rate, I'm excited to go and scheduled a day off from work, after we return, so that I can take a full rest day.

I'm trying to resume decent cooking again and have started the adventure of vegetarian cooking.  We are finding that we eat a lot of Latin inspired meals lately.  We are not full out vegetarian but we are discovering it to be agreeable to eat that way most days.

We've resumed getting out in the world a little.  The weather has warmed up here and there to enjoy sitting on our deck (which brings me great joy).  We started to slowly catch up on calendar items that have been put off since February, however; we are cautious as to how we spend my "tired" time and are avoiding emotionally and mentally draining situations. 

As you may know, over the past few years, it has been my goal to get us to better health (how ironic considering my current situation).  My biggest goals were to help my husband feel better from arthritis pain and sleep better with the restless legs.  Of course he needs to want to and do his own work to feel better and be healthy, but I try to give him the best tools that I can in the form of supplements and healthy meals.  I will share exciting news soon regarding something we decided to try for him that is HELPING!  Sleep is good my friends, especially when it's accompanied by less pain and comes from nature and not a chemical!

Stay tuned!  

Your Turn!  I'd love to hear what your favorite posts are.  I want to work harder to provide posts that you enjoy for find valuable. 

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Sleepless in North Georgia

Can you relate?

Actually, I'm sleepless, often, no matter what my location.  Websters full definition of Insomnia is: "prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep."

Well, in an overstimulated world, our minds have a hard time shutting down.  We experience "too many moving parts" in traffic, at the office, at the store, in a meeting, in the classroom, from our electronic devices, etc.  No wonder it's hard to wind down in the first place.  Then because of all of these "moving parts", our minds continue to work overtime.

How many times do you actually sleep deeply, only to dream that you are working!!!  Ugh, then you are tired from working in your sleep.  Ha ha!

Oh well.  To my fellow daydreamers and night thinkers, I know how difficult it is to shut down, wind down, and just make the world stop long enough for a few zzzzz's.  I am tired of being tired, so I feel ya!

I've really tried to re-train my brain from being a night thinker (worrier) into a night prayer.  When I can actually commit to this, I pray for many and do fall asleep most of the time. Other times, I guess the Lord just wants me praying.

My wind down helps (for me)

• Get off electronics as much as possible.  Especially for at least an hour or so before going to bed.  Resist the urge to check social media.
• no caffeine after 4pm (sometimes I need a green tea to make sure I'm not sleepy on my commute home)
• make sure I take my vitamins, especially my B vitamins, before 2pm.
• make sure I've talked with honey (my safe place) about the stresses and victories of my day
• before bed, I get the coffee pot ready, the vitamins packaged, and as much of our breakfasts and lunches packed for the next day.
• snuggle with honey for at least an hour before bed. 

What are your techniques for shutting down?  I'd love to hear from you.  Some of us may benefit from your experience.  

Good night and may your sleep be peaceful and deep.

another sleepless night

Well, here I am... awake again in the middle of the night.  It is time to pray.  Prayer is needed for many things all of the time, but I am needing some very specific direction for both Kelly and me.  I have asked others to pray for me on this, but have realized that I need to sit, be still, know.  

My head gets so noisy with the worries and distractions.  What if I hurt someone's feelings?  What if we make the wrong decisions?  Why are people so hurtful?  Why are we taken for granted?  Are my concerns valid or just part of this weird cycle of grief I am finally acknowledging?

I have basically stopped eating this week.  I haven't chosen to fast.  I just don't want to eat.  Maybe this is why I wake up with a headache around 2:30 am.   

I want to be excited about some possible changes in our lives, but fear and worry always send me back.  I am just done with certain things I see going on.  I don't understand recent things that have happened, and I don't think I ever will.  I am not motivated to help out like I used to because I feel so taken advantage of.  I am in over my head and very angry.  

But, I am a change is good person.  Change can be good for Kelly and it could be done for me.  I want to give in to the smiles I have had recently and admit these are butterflies, but again, fear is holding me back.  

Right now, I choose to give in to God's grace and leading.  I choose to get on my face before Him and openly share my heart and not just be silent because He already knows my heart.  I choose to be ready and available for the new paths that He will take Kelly and me on and I am ready to be excited and not scared.  I choose to embrace this life for the first time!