How I’m Living With KB253-9 Nov 20, Why You Love Her, #30Layers30Days

Let me tell you why I love her:
1. She is cheerful, encouraging and she is a giver.

2. She will do whatever she can to help you feel welcomed, comfy and important.

3. I love her because she’s not always confident in what she does, so she tries harder.

4. I loved her because she has 99 problems, but faith in God ain’t one.

5. I love her because she’s got curves, lumps, wrinkles and sometimes she sounds like rice disputes, but she keeps going.

6. I love her because she can graciously accept a compliment and praise God in the same breath.

7. I love her because even though her heart maybe broken, she still loves.

8. I love her because she likes corny dad jokes.

9. I love her because she is me.

How I’m Living With KB253-Words To Live By 

Dear sister friend,

I wanted to share some words to live by as we move into 2021. 

WRITE IT DOWN.

That’s it, write it down. See, when we write it down, something great happens.  It clears our mind and helps to clarify what we need to do.
So, the life application part is to take time to review all that’s happened to you this year; good, bad or indifferent. Make a list of what you enjoyed this year. Then commit to yourself what you’ll do more of ; write it in your favorite color even. 

Make a list of what you didn’t enjoy this year. Promise yourself what you not gonna do in 2021; write that down in your least favorite color.
Now for the really important part. Put your list where you can see it. Look at it daily. Do what brings you joy. 

Stop doing anything that tries to robs you of your peace. And lastly, write me back in a few months to tell me how your 2021 is going.

Take care, be safe, wear your mask (more words to live by),

Love, your sister friend

How I’m Living-6 Nov 20                #30Layers30Days, How do I explain?

I’m late getting started but I’m committed to participating in this challenge. I’m hoping it will be easier than the #50Squat a day challenge from the American Cancer Society.

How do I explain to her that telling the nurse that you can,”make do with just holding on to the door when you get into the shower” means you don’t need help? How do I say it again months later while being respectful and honoring her? My granny is getting older and some days she’s ok with it and some days she’s not. I try to help, but it is really hard to do so 2,500 miles away, during a pandemic, while dealing with her daughter’s, my mother, medical issues too. 

How do I explain the convoluted military medicine system has moved far ahead into the 21st century and they just want to talk to you on the phone due to the pandemic? And now that you’re actually going in to see the doctor, you only have a few minutes.

How do I explain that she needs more help than the family can provide? I don’t want to disappoint her. After all, she’s done so much for me. I just want her to live out her days enjoying Matlock and Family Fued reruns; playing blackjack on the Grand pad and eating her favorite cookies. 

How do I explain that I’m truly trying, but feel like I’ve failed her?

How I’m Living-3 Oct 20

I hope all is well in your part of the world.  We are well out here in the northwest.  It has been a news worthy year; first COVID-19 case, fires, a few smoke storms, unemployment fraud, a wind storm & the president hates us!  SMH, it is a great time to lean on God…IJS

How are you coping with the pandemic?  I know some folks are making the best of the situation and still others are struggling.  One thing has been evident to me, at times like these, you find out what’s important to you.  For instance, I’m not overly concerned that my car hasn’t been waxed all year, or that I haven’t seen the latest movies or even caught some great deals at Ross/Burlington. 

What I have discovered is that I have real quality time for my family, to be creative and to listen to the radio or podcast. The host on the local stations are ok; they don’t fake like it’s always so great out here.   I’m even enjoying the parks near my house as we have some nice spots in Pierce county for walking. 

My desire to write has once again emerged and it has been strong.  I started writing letters to connect and to fill that void in my life.  Now I know, only God can fill whatever empty spot I have; and I know because He’s using writing to do so in me.  So let me share a funny story with you about how God takes care of me. 

So one day a few months back, pre-COVID, my co-teacher and I were going to pray at 6pm so I decided to ride the bus to work.   I got to the stop at 0627; the bus was scheduled to be there at 0638, I thought.  After waiting until 0640, I checked the app and see that the schedule changed, just like it does every September (doh!); the bus was now due at 0650.   Ok, I’m good, it wasn’t raining hard, I had on my Columbia jacket and my new 90’s throwback bucket hat.  Thank God for His provision as the hat came in the mail the day before.  So 0650 comes, here comes the bus, good, I think, I’ll have time to get coffee, and there goes the bus!  She was going fast but slowed down, almost didn’t see me she says…(pink jacket, phone lit because I was checking the app AND I was standing under the street light) but I got on.  The route leaves the main road and makes a circle through the VA Medical Center so it takes about 20 minutes all together.   Seeing the people, with all sorts of disabilities waiting for the clinic doors to open; and the wide economical gap for the haves and have-nots around American Lake helped to put my  little attitude about the bus driver in perspective.  I got in my feelings because I was trying to be green, support the local economy and be a good tax-payer darn it!  She didn’t have to be going that fast and almost miss me at the bus stop.  IJS, yeah, I was feeling some sort of way about it and the actual riding time was needed. It was enough time for sun to rise and for me to gather my thoughts.

So I get off at the stop closet to work and find that it is raining a little bit harder. I pull out my cool hat and go get my coffee.  From the stop to Starbucks is less than 100 yards and I saw two homeless people.  They were up and moving out of the doorways they had slept in the night before.  Once inside I see that it’s not busy so I order a pastry too.  After all, my morning has been a little exciting and I deserve a treat. (Insert #PNW Karen voice so you can feel what I’m thinking).  Coffee and cheese danish in hand, I start for the office.  By this time it’s brighter and I can see a homeless couple by a furniture store.  I’m embarrassed for them so I keep my head down.  “Good morning”, says the lady and I look up to see her smiling; I give her my reply and smile too.  I shake my head, shoot, if she’s got a sunny disposition then I need to get it together.  Here I’ve slept in my house all night, chose my mode of transportation, been blessed with the right gear for a pacific northwest fall, walking upright without any mobility devices and decided what I what to eat. 

It took me just a couple more minutes to get to the office and in that time I felt convicted about my attitude.  I stopped, asked God’s forgiveness and started thanking Him for all the things I that had annoyed me just seven hours into the day.  I gave Him praise for the bus driver even.  After all, she was where she was supposed to be, when she was supposed to be; it was my presumption about the schedule that started my annoyance.  Then I took a deep breath, went into the office and I still made it to work on time!   

How I’m Living-2 Oct 20

Being diagnosed with rheumatoid disease stopped me from doing lots of stuff but I miss running the most.

So I was walking the other day and I was thinking that maybe, at some point I could run again. Nothing and nobody has said not to run  but it was so painful that I stopped. Being diagnosed with rheumatoid disease stopped me from doing lots of stuff but I miss running the most.

I even talked to God about it. I was saying to Him that I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, that I needed help from Him.  I was saying that it would be nice to run around the park by the end of the year; I think I might have said one mile but I’m not sure.  I was thinking that I run around the park with my grandson and I need to practice because he’s getting faster.  

So, then a family comes to the park-a mom, brother and sister. The little girl was on her scooter; she looks to be 9 years old or so and I recognize that she’s differently-abled. So she’s just scooting/riding along, singing and really enjoying herself.  Her mom was slower than me so I lap them. As I start another lap the girl follows me and soon she passes me. She gets about 25 yards ahead and waits for me; when I get close, she takes off. And we do that a few times but she gets bored, then plays with her brother. Then once I pass by them, she jumps on her scooter and says, “chase me!”  I laugh and say, “I’m not that fast.” But I gave it a try. I started speed walking and once again, she gets a little ways from me and waits for me before she takes off again . I was starting to breathe hard but was enjoying myself.  

Soon they left, they all said goodbye; the little girl waved excitedly to me and said thanks. I waved and said bye as I wiped a little sweat from my forehead. I was thankful that I could keep up with her. Later, I thanked God for providing somebody to get me to move faster. Then I thought, “duh, I should’ve jogged!”  I thought I’d missed an opportunity but then I remembered that my God is good to me.  I know I’ll have another chance to jog around the park and maybe even keep up with the little girls on scooters.