Finding Normal Part 2

I have previously shared about "finding normal" in our new season. This week my goal was to add in ONE tea/coffee date, and two gym dates. 

We've had a few days go "off the tracks" this week and so the tea date didn't happen....but today....

Stacia and I made it to the gym for the first time since we brought Dad home from skilled nursing. It felt great. 

Michael has added in a chapter of reading with Stacia each night - I join sometimes...and sometimes I blog. LOL 

Nothing feels "effortless," but we're learning to coordinate schedules as we haven't had to do for decade. 

Another thing I did was come up with five "essentials" for me to feel productive.  I made a habit tracker and try to get these 5 done every day. If I miss one for 3 days, on the 4th day it is number 1.  They are Time in the Word, move (walk, elliptical whatever), read, blog, laundry.... Three are totally SELF CARE....spending time with Jesus, reading and moving....since I don't LOVE exercise, I am making sure I read at least one fun chapter a day. LOL  Laundry and blogging are both things that get away from me quite easily if I don't keep on it and are both things my family appreciates me to tend to. LOL

And NOW you know why there were a couple of early morning blogs today....I tend to let it slide. LOL  

Walking Tally 61/25 miles out of 100 miles

Winter Woes

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Michael and Alex tried to melt our driveway today. I think it would be easier to buy us all ice skates. 

Pushing the wheelchair in this mess is quite an adventure. LOL 

Walking Tally - 59 miles out of 100 miles 
 

Sunday

This week has been emotionally busy....dads meds are back on board and he's starting to normalize....we're all dreaming of Sunday naps....but first....church....

Dad proved he can do what he wants and muscled himself down the wheelchair ramp by himself. He waited by the door. We've asked him not to do this at our home as the ramp is outside, icy and longer. 

Michael challenged us this morning to be full of grace and truth....and to live consecrated in the midst of...you know 2021...whatever that may mean to you. 

My all-time favorite pastor

We spent the rest of the day reading....Michael displays a unique cross-word puzzle skill. 

We caught those naps on the fly.....Jamin and Arielle and the boys dropped by!  It was a great day. 

Millie is happy to be with Stacia

 

Salmon and Gifts

Josiah and Carrie often visit on the weekend. This time they brought jars, salt and salmon.  We've been looking for the opportunity for me to show Cy how to can some of the fish he catches. This was that day. 

It's a long process.....once it was in the canner and the pressure was being watched....

Us girls - made a run for Thrifters Rock. Yep. We had a girls day OUT and it was fun. We scored some great deals. 

Cy, Carrie and Olivia headed back to the big town....we finally settled down and had our household gift exchange for 2020. 

Willing helpers

GG's haul...

Note the motorcycle vest...he is determined he is buying a motorcycle....said that isn't the same as driving. 

Stacia made a gorgeous purse for Krista and a great book bag for me! She could market these. 

Nolan received 2, possibly 3, new sets of Monopoly. He simply needs to find more who LIKE this game. LOL  He got an Alaskaopoly and this vintage set...there's another....

And now...I suppose "Christmas" is officially over. We aren't 100% sure when we'll take down the Christmas tree. It was up for our anniversary on Valentine's Day last year. 

Walking Tally - 55 miles out of 100 miles 

TGIF

 FRIDAY - Thank God. Seriously! 

The end of this long week found Stacia and I sitting at Sophia's sharing our take aways from John Chapters 1 - 6. We were determined to begin adding our "normal" into our  "new normal" this week. 

We rushed to be at Sophia's before 0900 so we could get 1/2 price drinks....we made it...and then discovered I had left my purse in our driveway. ::face plant:: We settled in anyway.  Nothing was going to steal this hard-earned time from us! 

This has been a challenging week for Dad. He's struggled with frustration, anger, and mood swings.... I finally had had ENOUGH. I gave myself a stern talking too and marched myself down to the pharmacy. When I was told Dad's med was STILL delayed, I didn't politely walk away. I DID politely ask to talk to the pharmacist. I calmly (and with a bit of a shaky voice because I don't usually question authority - much) shared they could SEE I had turned in this request 2 weeks ago. Dad still had meds at that point. It was a simple refill. In the past two weeks I have talked to pharmacists, doctors, and the insurance company numerous times. They can see the insurance company finally agreed to let dad continue on his med and I was told I could pick it up days ago. I explained Dad's condition and said  if it was going to take until Monday to get meds - someone needed to sell me a couple of pills NOW to get us through the weekend. Who knew it could be so easy? They gave me 5 days worth from the ones he will get on Monday. It shouldn't be this hard.

It also should not be this expensive. ::snort:: These pills have a $125 co-pay for 3 months. The blood thinners have a co-pay of $600 for 3 months...unreal. Another reason to take care of yourself in your 20's...just sayin.  

Arielle brought the boys over for an afternoon visit. This was just what we needed around here. 

Remember when you thought if you hid your eyes no one would see you? Stacia and Benny amused us with a rip-roaring game of hide and seek. 

Danny has kissable cheeks! He's got a sweet personality - coos and smiles galore this afternoon. 

No visit to Papa and Baachan's is complete without an indoor snowball fight! 

 

It's been a long, emotionally-draining week and we are going to rest well this weekend. 

AND - SUCCESS we are working to "find our new normal." We are carefully adding some of our "normal" back into this season. This week we added a zoom Bible study, Bible Babes, and our Mother/Daughter study back. Next week we are going to try to add the gym  a couple of days a week.  It takes a lot more planning, but we'll get it figured out. 

Because I need to mark this non-scale victory...today, I tucked a shirt in, wore a small jacket with horizontal stripes, and a BELT. 

Walking Tally - 53 miles out of 100 miles 

Challenging Days Call for Bright Flowers

 Nolan persevered and got everything lined up for his VA DEA benefits. It's never quite as easy as one expects...but he should be ready to start classes Feb 1st. 

Today was a challenge. Enough said. In the midst of the challenge these beautiful flowers arrived at our door from my brother and his wife in K-stan! We love you Nate and Heather. 

I simply do not know how seniors navigate the maze of medicare parts A - F without an advocate. We NEEDED to end the night playing games together. 

Walking Tally - 50 miles out of 100 miles 

12th Day of Christmas - Better than a Gift Exchange

 We try to hold our household gift exchange on the 12th day of Christmas - Epiphany - the day the Wiseman are celebrated for their visit to Jesus...but not so much this year. LOL 

This year we met at Sophia's, in our little part of Alaska with Patrick and Lila. Patrick and I first "met" in the days after the Tohoku quake/tsunami. He and Lila were planning to move to Japan as language teachers/missionaries.  He reached out to me to hear what we were experiencing. A friend of his knew my cousin...We managed one trip to Osaka to meet  in person before we were reassigned stateside. They have a daughter who LIVES in our town. I noticed a bit ago a photo posted which looked like OUR MOUNTAINS...and asked if they were up here. Today, Michael, Dad, Stacia and I met Patrick and Lila for lunch. 

It was great to catch up, share stories from a country we all still love, and encourage one another. They are now in WY, supporting their daughter and son in law as they work to revive a district church. 

Stacia would like to do a gap year in Japan after she graduates. Lila shared they have contacts she may be able to work/stay with in Osaka. Hmmm....much to pray about in the next two years. 

I thought I had forgotten to take a photo on this busy day but I found this on the camera roll.  A woman from the Philippines messaged me and asked me to give regards to Dad.  I responded and suggested to Dad, "Smile, let's send a photo back." 

Dad summed up the day best, "This was a good day." He got up in time to get showered, medicated, grab a quick bowl of cereal and head to Sophias for a couple of hours of good food and community. We got home and he read the paper, while we visited with another friend. We had a quick bite of dinner I had started early in the morning. He ended the day reading a bit more, while kids were coming and going. 

The day was busy...there was work, youth group, picking up meds, picking up kids, doctor's appointments, bits of counseling and meeting with other friends....it WAS a good day. A full day - I could use a bit less full of a day. We are still in the process of  finding our new normal, learning what works well in this season. We are starting to get a clear picture.  Days like this used to be our norm, they now seem good to limit to 1 or 2 days a week. We shall see. 

Walking Tally - 46 miles out of 100 miles