Each day is a day that God has given us,
and each moment of that day is in His hands.
Roy Lessin
Physically, I'm feeling great, but am hit and miss on daily exercise, I mean, the kind that goes to the Y, and works out at least 30"daily. I just can't seem to motivate myself to incorporate it as part of everyday planning. My eating habits are also hit and miss, most of the time healthy, but those extra sweets keep creeping into my diet, and my weight is not going downward. So I've decided to follow the South Beach Diet plan for awhile, and see if I can stick with a eating plan that helps me lose some of this weight I'm carrying around. In phase 1, I'll be cutting out all bread, fruit, and high glycemic foods. Then, after 2 weeks, in Phase 2, I can slowly add some of these back in, but not all at once. I'll let you know if this works for me.
Spiritually, Earl and I have been attending Mass almost daily. We start the morning reading the scripture readings, and the liturgy of the hours. I find this is a very good way to start the day, helping me to focus on how to live, and thinking of God throughout the day. I have also kept a prayer journal daily, and it helps me focus on what I'm ever thankful for. I belong to the church's choir, and I love it. I have hymns singing in my head each day.. Our music director makes our practices exciting and lots of fun. This saturday, I'm driving 5 of us to a Music Ministry workshop, to discover what changes will occur in the Mass this fall. I'm also trying to increase my devotion to our mother, Mary, by saying the rosary each evening. There are so many things, and people to pray for. Earl and I were also invited to visit a parishioner we met @ her home near Belgrade. So we went there for lunch one day in January. Her husband was a neurosurgeaon, who passed away, last year, and she lives on a 260 acre place with a hermitage on it, which she runs, with the help of friends. While serving lunch, we got to know each other, and she explained how she belongs to a lay Discalced Carmelite order, and asked us if we would like to join, too. We were given the literature on it, and have read it over, and am praying about it. It is a 3-5 year process, and would help draw us closer to our Lord, and Mary. We also are getting more involved in church activites. We both bring communion to the shut-ins @ Glen Oaks assisted living, and independent living facilites, the first Sunday of the month. I signed up to be a reader, and Earl, a eucharist minister. I also got involved in the planning of a "Mystery Tour" for our women's group.
Once a week, I volunteer to help a mother of quadruples plus a 4 yr old son, with taking care of the babies, and helping with laundry. There are 3 boys, and one girl. It's fun to see them growing, and I enjoy it.
After much debate, we decided not to replace the camper right now, if ever. Gas prices are increasing, we're not comfortable driving with it, and not sure how much we'd use it. So we got new tires on the Envoy, and are ready to travel in the car. Last week, after being sick of cold, below freezing temps, record snow falls, and being couped up in the house, we decided to go down to our resort in Spirit Lake, Ia, and enjoy some time away from home. They had a "retired or not" retreat for four days, so we took part in it. We met new people, played games, learned new card games, swam, and took the dogs for walks daily, Nice and relaxing! Earl has had a yen for Chinese food, so for Valentine's Day, we found a place in Spirit Lake, called Asian Palace, and had a wonderful dinner, and conversation. My favorite phrase on love is:
Love always protects, always trusts, always hope,always preserves.
And now three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13
As I write this, there is a blizzard blowing outside. So much for the warm weather we experienced last week. This week, I am going to the hospital party for one of my co-workers, Bev, as she is retiring. And sadly, I am also going to the funeral of a dear friend, whose husband died suddenly, last friday.
Happiness, sadness...isn't that what life can bring at times. "Each moment of each day is in God's hands."
