A Busy, Then Sleepy Sunday

Images by D. Bolton

I am so happy I was able to go to church and Sunday School today.  I even sang in the choir -- lots of getting up and sitting down, as well as holding a choir folder.  And, singing does take energy.
Thank you, Jesus.

Only thing is I konked out this afternoon, and now I am up.  One of my friends at church said I thought what you are taking is making you feel better.  I explained to her, I had messed up by taking it too close to my Thyroid medicine, which counteracted what my thyroid meds are supposed to do.  So now, I have a new medicine and supplement schedule (which got messed up this afternoon).  Some people seem to think just because something makes you feel better, you are instantly better.  However, that is not the way it works.  I was much better this summer, but I still have several chronic diseases, including Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  They both react to change of seasons.  Also, I had a virus this month for about a week and a Urinary Tract Infection, which tends to sap your body of energy.  Also, as soon as the weather changed, my body reacted.  I think I am beginning to adjust.

This was my second time out this month.  Did I add that my Sunday School room is on the third floor, and I had to climb stairs?

People that are well or do not have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have a hard time understanding how deep our fatigue can go, or how our bodies take longer to heal.  I know that I will have to take my supplements the rest of my life.  They make me feel better, and may heal me from the inside out;  however, I still have CFS and FM.  I have only been taking my new supplements since June, 2014.  For heaven's sake, give me a break!

 And as change of season effects, plus my realization my thyroid meds were being taken too close to my vitamins, I have still had more muscular strength this month.  I have not had that weak limbed feeling until this afternoon, and that is because I was exhausted.   I am so happy to be able to do more.  May it continue with God's help and my new supplements.

Family Dynamics and Holiday Visits

Image Courtesy of  worradmu
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Are you going to someone else's house for Thanksgiving?  Are you planning on traveling and possibly taking food you can eat with you, as well as some family favorites?  Do you have new family dynamics to deal with, such as going to your grown up child's home?  Or, maybe you are planning on visiting your parents, but mom or dad are ill.  Maybe, one parent has taken over areas that used to be dominated by the parent, who has an illness.  I am sure there are dozens of different family dynamics that we could talk about;  however, I am going to touch on a few, and we can discuss the rest over on my Facebook Page, Chronic Fatigue and Creative Decluttering.


First of all, you need to consider how far you are traveling and how.  If you are traveling in an automobile, you can consider taking food if it is not too far and you will have room in the car.  However, if you are flying that is out of the question.  Also, what you take may depend on when you plan to arrive.  If you are going for Thanksgiving weekend, are you going to arrive on the big day or prior to Thanksgiving?  This could  make a difference in whether you plan taking food or not taking food with you.

In my own case, it depends on whose house I am going to in whether I take a prepared casserole, salad, or dessert.  In the past, there was one kitchen I always felt at home in.  I knew I could go to the store, buy what I needed, and prepare some food there.  I could even prepare a whole meal if my host and hostess had no particular plans.  Let's call that Kitchen 1.

In Kitchen 2,  I knew that my nerves and the nerves of the hostess would suffer, so I contributed by helping with clean up and bringing dishes that I had made ahead.  Heating food up was no problem.  Or, my husband and I would contribute by taking the hostess out, or bringing food in from Cracker Barrel.

Image Courtesy of Ambro
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In Kitchen 3, we decide who is going to make what;  and, I usually try to make things ahead.  or, I pick something up when we get there.  Also, I try to help with clean-up, such as washing the things that have to be washed by hand or loading the dishwasher.

Rules and Foibles of the Host and Hostess

1. Does your host rinse off every dish before it goes in the dishwasher?  Do it, and don't complain.  It is not worth the sorrow it causes to complain about a rule like that.  You will be frustrated and so will your host.
2. Why spend every family get together arguing about things that make little difference.  Enjoy the variety of personalities in your family.  Choose your discussions wisely.  If there must be a discussion about something that is touchy, choose the time you talk with tact and wisdom.  Also, avoid those kind of discussions during a meal.  That is a sure prescription for indigestion.
3. Does you hostess like to hang pretty little hand towels.  It's her house.  Be glad she tries to make it pretty for you.
4. Do your consider you hosts penchant for decorating a bit on the side of being a slob?  Be happy you don't have to live there, and think about a motel next time.  You could invite him or her out for a meal.  Or, maybe you could help your host by cleaning a bathroom, dusting, and vacuuming.  Make this a family affair if you have a chronic illness.  Do Not Insult Your Host or Hostess.  He will be mad, and you will feel bad.
5. Realize that we all do things differently.  Make allowances.  Be kind and stay away from snide remarks.  

Preparing Ahead of Time

Image Courtesy of Ambro
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If this visit means different people will be bringing food and it is not an enormous gathering, find out ahead of time what your hostess is planning on fixing, then coordinate with other people that are coming like your sister or sister-in-law.  Maybe, your host will be the one that coordinates.  However, it is always good to plan ahead.  If you have special dietary needs, then don't expect everyone else to cater to that, unless you are blessed to have someone that already does that for you.  Plan ahead and bring something you can eat.

I am not sure I am answering all the questions that might be going through our minds at this time.  For instance, I am wondering if we should plan to stay in a hotel for one of our visits.  It would certainly help me to get the rest I need, and I would be more comfortable.  Of course, there are so many different things to consider, like how wonderful it is to share breakfast with family members or hear the voices of your grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.  You have to work this out in your own mind, according to your family's needs.




May you have many blessings and much peace as you plan your family holiday.

Deborah

Making My Dining Room / Office Pretty for Fall

My goal for my dual purpose room was to clean up the pile that had assembled on the dining table as we came back from vacation;  as I worked on on sewing project;  and as we dropped mail or other items on the table.  Our dining room table, which is also my desk, is a prime hot spot in our house. When other work and activities seem more important, that becomes the easy place to leave things so they will be found later.  It becomes a frustrating eyesore that invites more clutter to it's already messy surface.

I thought I had beat this old habit last year.  However, unfortunately, it is a habit that is easy for every member of the family to contribute to;  although, I think I may be the worst offender.  

So, what do you do when you have an area that attracts clutter, and this habit of dropping things off persists in your home?  You clean up that area a little at a time, while also continuing to do the other things you do in your life.  If you choose to work for one or two 15 increments each day, it is a fairly easy thing to do.  Break the job up into smaller amounts, dusting as you go.  When you get an area cleaned off, you can dust it;  then enjoy arranging it.  That gives you a sense of accomplishment, that you can get this job done. 

Getting your home cleaned room by room and working to keep them uncluttered will make your holiday preparations easier this year.  I want to be able to invite friends over for supper,  or for dessert and games.  What do you want your fall and holiday season to be like?

Need an Office, but You Still Want Your Dining Room?

I have been trying to figure out how to make my dining room into a proper office for my work for ages.  I have moved the table around, managed to pile it high with junk, because I always end up moving to my recliner to paint and plan, or to use my laptop.  I have cleared it, so I could sew and cut out patterns on it:  I even brought my sewing machine in there.  I really do not like that! So I am going to move the table again (not shown in this post).  Also, I am going to use it for my desk. because I need someplace new to work.  I continually pile up stuff beside my recliner, and I do not like it!

 My side board was the one area I desired to have to use for laying paper when I am printing out things or organizing materials I want to use, but I was afraid to have it look anything other than a sideboard.  If I did it would get piled like my dining room table.  Guess what!  I have given up on that idea.

The sewing machine is out of there.  I don't know where it will end up, but I do not sew much anymore.

Wow!  Cluttered Sideboard and I don't like it anymore.

Seeing this made me realize I need to move the small picture.

The sideboard is becoming more useful for me.  I am changing some of the things I store in it.  And, I have rearranged the top.  I put the picture (butterflies and words below), which was something I won in one of my friend's giveaways, on a wall in another room.  You can find her on the Gifted Genie on Facebook.  I now have useful items like a stapler and a pencil sharpener on the sideboard.  I also have some of my inspiration / information books under my lamp.





Note the stapler in front of the planter basket.   The dark color of the basket and the flowers above tend to draw one's eyes away from the stapler.  In the next picture, I am going to show you how I hid the pencil sharpener.  I still have it plugged in.

It is hard to show the difference in pictures, but when I walk in the room, the stapler becomes part of the background.  It did not do that in front of the books.  Also, I like having my Art Books here.  It reminds me what I miss when I am not creating.

The important thing here is I enjoy reading and thinking about being creative.  It does not really matter what a Designer thinks is right about where I should put things in My room.  It is important what I think.  And, I enjoy most things that are considered art.  Also, I need to organize, because I have a new business (not art), and I have felt very disorganized in my home lately.  I am enabling myself to be more organized in my business and my hobby, so I can be organized in my life.  That takes making a new area to work, to organize the tools I need, and to go to when I need to be away from the television.  If I really want to work in a lounge chair when I am on the internet, I can go to my guest room.

Anyway, I am making progress in my "home office."  I will update you later.

Note to self:  Buy a new index card file and dividers.