Out of Sync Part One

This morning I exchanged colored napkins for a wedding shower that didn’t match the “watermelon” theme. To be honest, even I could see that the hot pink napkins I chose was not working with the pretty shades of red print chosen to use on the tables. Yesterday I had to exchange the cups bought for the same occasion. I particularly wanted the clear glass-like plastic cups for the shower and not the opaque ones used for picnics. Not the ones bought for the shower. So, I thanked the person who had bought them and as I received the opaque cups, told myself it didn’t matter. Nonetheless, after spending too much time in the customer service line at Wal-Mart, to traipse back through the aisles of the large department store only to find out they in fact didn’t carry a clear plastic cup, was more than I could stand at that time. Therefore, I left with the refund cash in hand and the smug confidence that I would locate the perfect clear cup.

Making subsequent stops at Target, Hobby Lobby and the party store at the mall, I thought I was going to have to repurchase the original opaque cups I had returned. Why was I so obsessed? Problem is when you know that the less desired cups cost was only $5.00 for 100 cups; it makes spending $15.00 for 100 a strain.

Tired from all the walking in and out of stores, my next stop was Kroger’s to do grocery shopping. Much to my surprise and pleasure, there on the shelf of Kroger’s were clear plastic cups, in 50 count packages for only $1.00 more than the opaque cups. Joy! Also, to add icing to the cake, the cups were the perfect 16-ounce size.

Why do we let insignificant things like napkin colors and clear or opaque cups bother us? Things that are not in sync really bother me and they shouldn’t.

Life is Never Simple

Life is never simple. As much as we'd like for it to be with all the technology available to help, it still isn't easy. In fact, the more we invest in technology, the less use interact with humans face to face. You read the right, but before you get upset, let me explain. It is not that I think the hi-speed Internet or fast texting will replace humans, but it doesn't allow us to linger.

This morning I listened to a sermon/talk by a preacher in San Antonio, speaking on our fast paced lives. His speech was connected to a real-life addiction of this preacher. He was addicted to adrenaline. The chemical produced by the adrenal gland that causes heart rate to speed up and energies to heighten. We often experience a sudden adrenaline rush when we encounter high emotional moments of life. This preacher confessed his first burst of true adrenaline rush was in college when he made a 4.0 on his grade report for the semester. It felt good and the remaining semesters he worked as hard as possible to attain the same 4.0. He was a driven man to keep doing better and better. As he married, became a minister for one of the largest churches in the Arlington area and started a family, his work drive did not let up.

After a long time of keeping up an inhuman pace, keep late hours at night working and early morning breakfast dates, his drive hit a wall. He began to stress, he didn't sleep for a month before visiting a doctor and he was in deep depression and trouble. His visit to a doctor taught him that he was a workaholic, a person driven by the adrenaline rush he got from successful work. He was tired though and in dire need of sleep. He was ready to do what he had to in order to get some sleep. The doctor prescribed a sleep mediation and advice to set limits. He needed to go home after work and rest, relate and sleep. Not work. After finding his rhythm in the evenings, he found that he enjoyed is neighbors, his family and was much more relaxed. The preacher reported that it took around 2 years for him to be able to relax, but now he is a much happier person.

When we hear that someone has an addiction, we don't normally think about additions like preacher's. We then to think more about addictions to smoking, alcohol, drugs and gambling. Those are addictions that are more in view of others. This addiction to work too much, push our bodies past it's warnings to slow down, and ignore our spouse's pleas to just be with the family is a real addiction. The younger a person is, the less he or she thinks about their addiction to work, but as we age, the warnings come out in how our body reacts to the fast paced schedules we force on ourselves.

Fortunately, that is not my addiction. Of course, a bit more drive in my life would help me get some work done around here. Instead I'm addicted to other stimulus. There are drinks, foods, and times of sheer laziness that affect my life when I am stressed or blue. Overcoming an addiction takes dedication. Action, perseverance, and prayer is what it takes. Lots of prayer!

Growing older and diet

The thing about aging is that the body and mind goes through changes. I no longer get to eat like I used to. My stomach reacts violently to spicy foods. There goes pizza, spaghetti sauce, fried shrimp, cake frosting (yes I know pure sugar, but yummy!), bananas, and other beverages and foods I used to enjoy. Notice all the commercials for stomach antacids, sleep aides, and antidepressants? That's because the baby boomer aged people who are now needing all the help they can get. And I have to admit, I've taken all those meds since turning 50. Now that I'm closer to 60 than I am to 50, I don't take them as much anymore. I am learning to eat healthier and live with less stress. Getting out of my career in education of 30 years helped, but also self educating myself did to healthier ways of eating has helped too.

Pure Joy

Sounds of laughing children, Saturday morning cartoons and Capri Sun juice pouches were once again in our house this weekend. My grandchildren are at a really fun age. At 7 and 5 years old, they are old enough to understand jokes, play a game of Uno (and win!) watch a movie all the way through and enjoy a good storybook at the end of the day.

Jason brought Aidan and Regan over to spend the night with us so he and Kari could work on Saturday. They've had a very busy work and school schedule lately. Like so many young families, they are trying to juggle their kid's activities with their own.

We've been there done that, only not with as much energy. I worked on my master's degree after I'd taught school for 13 years and my boys were old enough to care for themselves after school. I think this generation works very hard to keep up with their lifestyle. Fortunately, the dads are helping and the moms are not left to work all day just like their husbands and come home to do the regular evening routine alone. The dads and moms are taking mutual responsibility for family routines.

My grandchildren are so much fun and they play and laugh with the happiness all children should have. What a beautiful blessing God has given to us!

Spring Has Sprung

There was a time when Easter meant new Sunday outfits, Easter baskets laden with goodies, dying hard-boiled eggs and grooming the backyard for egg- hunts. Lately, however, it seems those days are gone as my family goes their own way for the holidays. One of these Easters I want to have them all here for church and Sunday lunch. Maybe next year will be a good time.

Fortunately for us, we get to be with our oldest son and his family for Easter lunch. The kids will be excited about their Easter goodies and treats. It'll be fun to be with them for a while. I can't believe how big Jason's two children are getting. I turn around and Regan has grown inches since the last time I saw her and Aidan has lost several teeth as most 7 year olds tend to do. Today we get to attend Regan's 5th birthday party. She is so ready for kindergarten and has been for at least a year now. Ha, what a smart little cookie she is! Five years ago, Kim and I went to an Astro's baseball game and had a picture of our baby Regan taken just minutes after her birth. She was born in Michigan, too far away to be on hand at the hospital for the delivery. We are very blessed that they now live close enough that we can participate in their life events like birthday parties.

Spring is here in full bloom and my yard is living proof. Not that it is blooming with beautiful flowers like several of my neighbor's yards. On the contrary, its bursting with foliage of every type, grass in the plant beds, overgrown bushes, weeds, dandelions...etc. You get the picture. It's overgrown to the max. Kim finally was able to be home long enough to mow the yard and luckily, we didn't find any lost children or puppies in that high grass. Good thing!

Just this morning we observed a huge black woodpecker with a beautiful red plume on his head, pecking at bugs on one of our trees. He was down low and working all around the trunk of the tree. Kim managed to get a few good pictures of him before he flew off for bugs in other trees.

Indeed, its Springtime. There is a lot of yard work to do and if I'm to help my neighbors in what appears to be a beautification project of yards on our street, we need to find time to at least clean out the plant beds. But not today, we have a birthday party to attend for one of our all-time favorite little 5 year old girls. Happy Birthday, Regan!