Time...Resolve...Plans...

Time:
At the end of the day I often wonder where the day went and just what it is that I've actually accomplished, because by outward appearances it often appears to be little or nothing. And yet, my days are pretty full (even though I'm not employed for pay outside the home at present).

So...what fills a "typical" day? Depends on the day. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and sometimes more) are my visiting dear Auntie in the nursing home days. I combine these days with running errands, other appointments and the weekly grocery shopping. Since we don't live in town, it's most often a pretty full day away from home. Tuesdays I work on my other blog in the morning and try to get about half of the housework done. It's also a day for phone calls - the necessary ones to check on this, that, and other important things. Thursdays are for the other "half" of housework - like today I'll be engaged in the dreaded task of cleaning out the largest of closets in our house. Most late afternoons are cooking time - now that I'm not employed (for pay) I have the time to prepare "decent" meals for a change. Today I'm going to try out a new soup recipe. Gosh, I'm actually enjoying cooking again! Evenings are reserved for Dan and watching some of those favorite TV shows. Weekends are up for grabs but this is the most space I have for me - to read, ponder, dream, work on stained glass projects from time to time and reconnect with myself. Of course, every other weekend (as a rule) grandson Simon comes over Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening - spending time with him is such a joy.

Resolve:
Last night I discovered my sister began a new blog on her weight loss journey. And...my inspiration was renewed. After going back faithfully to South Beach, I was discouraged with the results this time around. So I've resolved to work on increasing whole grains and using the treadmill more (until warm spring weather comes and I can comfortably and safely do my walking outside). Strenuous exercise isn't really an option for me considering how hard it is on my rheumatoid arthritic joints, so walking is the best and most painless option I've found. I have long been drinking lots of water each day but I really like my sister's goal for the week to not eat anything beyond 7:00 pm, or two hours before bedtime - I can live with that, and have decided to be more conscious of including more whole grains daily. So here we go...

Plans:
Life may change in a significant way around our house within the next month. Dear Auntie is not doing well in the nursing home. Just yesterday she complained to me, for the first time, about the lack of care she is receiving from the staff. And she told me she has been noticing that other residents are not being attended to in a timely manner when they call for help. She spends most of her time just staring at the walls with little or no social contact (except for Dan's an my visits and a very occasional visit from one or two other people). Her outlook and morale have declined significantly over the past month (and she's only been there a month, which she says feels like 4 months). I have to ask: Is this any sort of quality of life? And I have to answer, "No, not for a person who has all her mental capacities intact". So...how might life here change for us? Well, after considerable conversation between Dan and me and a whole lot of discernment and inquiries to heath care professionals, Auntie may be coming here to live with us. Dan will speak to her about it tonight. We both realize this will be a lifestyle change for us but view this possibility as our opportunity to return the kindness and generosity she has shown and given to us for so many years and by offering her a much better quality of life and the chance to be around people so much more than she now is experiencing.

In 12 days I'll be heading to Florida to visit with my friend for a week. Time there will renew my spirit, as usual, and give us the opportunity to reconnect in person. We do email each other every day. Besides, I could use some of that 80 degree daytime weather they're having right now.

I'm also finishing up on the two online education certificate programs I've been enrolled in for the past couple of years. One will be finished in April and the other mid May. Time will tell where all that may lead me. I've been dabbling with the idea of officially running a home-based consulting type of business - but that's just in the dreaming/pondering stage at present.

Gosh, I would say life is pretty full and very rich!