The Tangle

Since today is October 31, it seemed that it might be a good time to come up with a "habit of the month."  It was my screen saver that reminded me, because that is what I see every time I turn on my computer.

This morning I was thinking about my problem areas in the house.  As you know, I am far from perfect, but that is alright, because I am going for reasonably clean.  My worst habit is that I am a piler.  I have little piles here and little piles there -- books, magazines, cards, mail -- you name it, it may be in my pile.

Some people call these hot spots.  However, I have come up with a new name, that fully describes the maxim of clutter attracts clutter.  It is like a spider web:  everything that lands there sticks.  Or maybe, it is more like briers   things get caught in there and stay.  Ooh!  Doesn't that sound painful?

We have a new term to learn, and our habit of the month for November will be to work on making these areas go away.  So, let me introduce to you The Tangle.  The Tangle is the clutter that attracts clutter. 

It is our little piles that seem to magically grow, as we put things down we intend to use but don't get around to using or we forget to put them away.  It is the books and mail that need to be filed, the medicine bottles we knock off the table--because they are in the way, and it is the rubber-bands or pencils that need a home.  It is the dust that collects, because it is too hard to dust there.

When we are truly organized, we learn to put items where they belong.  If we do not use, need, or love the things causing our tangle -- then, these things need to be donated, recycled, or thrown away.  

Remember, baby steps will get us where we want to go.  

The habit of the month for November will be to clean up your Tangle for 15 minutes a day.  Work at your own pace.  If you need to, divide this job into smaller segments, such as five minutes for three times a day.  

Do Men View Housecleaning Like Women Do?

Image Courtesy  of  [John Kasawa]/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Do you think men generally view housecleaning the same way as women? Please don't get angry with me, Men, for my answer, because from what I have seen, they don't.  It may be because they were brought up in a home where that was their mother's domain or it may be a "man thing."

The reason I bring this up is because of the things I notice and my husband doesn't seem to notice.   For instance, I think the kitchen is clean when the counters are wiped off and the dishes are put away.  If the sink is looking scummy, the kitchen is not really clean.  

He thinks the kitchen is clean when the dishes are put away and the counter is wiped off.  I am not sure he even notices the sink.

And then, there is vacuuming and mopping the floor.  Those are things I used to do weekly without fail, sometimes more often if necessary.  However, I haven't done either of those things for a while, and I don't think it bothers my husband.  It just doesn't cross his mind, unless company is coming.  However, if I ask him he will do the vacuuming, and every once in a while he just gets inspired.  

Image Courtesy of [artur 84]/
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This week, I desperately need to vacuum.  I know I will hurt afterwards, but I was just cleaning up a spot on the floor and the amount of dog hair that came up convinced me.  Truthfully, I am not all that crazy about carpet anymore.  I think hardwood floors would be easier to take care of, but we live in our church's house.  And they don't plan to spend any more money on it, because eventually, they are going to knock it down.  Although, I still think it would be great for missionaries on furlough.

The neat thing is that I can try out the inexpensive decorating eyes ideas I see on Pinterest -- after I clean.

So, I guess you may have an inkling what the challenge for this week is -- if you can handle it.  I am going to suggest vacuuming at least one room a day. This time, don't worry about getting the baseboards.  Those are good to do when the focus of the week is one room.

I still have picking up to do.  It seems like a never ending cycle.  However, I did make headway last week.  Also, I need to dust the living room.  I never finished that.  So, I suppose my focus room this week is the living room. What is your focus room for the week?

Doctor's Orders: "New Morning" Part 2

Image Courtesy of [David Castillo Dominici]/
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am quite tired of thinking about my illnesses as much as I have since Wednesday.  It's time to change to a more positive focus.  Even though one cannot lie to one's self about being sick, it does not have to rule every moment of one's life.

My husband remembers what I was like before I was sick.  It must be hard on him too, but it's hard for me to see, because he is the one that gets to do things I cannot do. To be honest, it must be hard for our caregivers and spouses to see the changes in us. 

Last night, my husband and I had one of those serious conversations, and he said something like, "You never wake up and say it is a good morning."   

That is probably because I never have a really good night's sleep, and I have always been a bit slow in the morning, even when I got up and fixed the whole family's breakfast, and got the kids off to school.  I usually drove them to school.  Coffee has always been a part of my mornings as an adult.  And then, I usually needed a caffeine pick up in the afternoon too.

Guess what I did this morning.  We were both awake and out of bed, and I kind of did my morning groan;  then, I looked out the window at the sunny, cold morning and said, "Oh!  What a beautiful day!"  

My husband said, "Don't be sarcastic."

Image Courtesy of [Ambro]/
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So I looked out the other window, which was mostly frosted over and  looked out the corner, and I said, "It's sunny.  I feel good."

Then he said, "Don't rub it in."

We both kind of grinned, and I think I feel better emotionally this morning.  I think the devil was doing a number on me.  Let's see if we can make Debby feel bad about herself and guilty for being sick.  For a couple of days, I fell for it. 

Image Courtesy of [Julie A. Wenskoski]/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lamentations 3:22-24 KJV says:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Today, every morning is new kept going through my mind.  Thank the Lord for new mornings.  The anguish of last night is gone, even though I have work to do.  And even though I may not be able to move as much as the doc wants, I know I need to move aerobically more than I do--if I can.

Baby Steps.

And I haven't changed my mind about looking for a new doctor.  I need to find one that understands what is going on with me.  Too bad the doc didn't know me when I was younger:  he would know I was a dancer and a jogger that often ran 3 miles several times a week.  The most I ran was six miles.  Oh, those were the days, my friend.  I also dancercized and jazzercized on a regular basis--pre-Zumba--ha, ha.  I guess that tells how old I am.

Oh so much for recollections.  But don't you ever want to tell the doctor, "I used to be slim and active?  I did not get this way over night.  I got sick, and I started taking medication, and I started gaining weight.  I could not stop gaining weight, even though I walked and ate a healthy diet."  Not everyone that gains weight eats all the wrong food.

Oh, oh!  I feel myself slipping into defensive mode again.  I'm over it.  I have to deal with where I am now.  

We all have to deal with the present.  The past is past.  God's mercies are new every morning.  He is faithful even if no one else understands, even when we do not understand.

Doctor's Orders: Part 1

My dear friends and readers, I appreciate you all so much.  And, I wonder if any of you have gone or will go through the conundrum I find myself in.  It's hard to even know how to begin this particular blog post.  This is the second day I have tried and my fingers are trembling, but my head is no longer in a fibro fog.

Wednesday, I got back the results of my blood tests.  My liver enzymes are above what they should be, and my blood sugar is too high.  My doctor's instructions via someone that works in his office are to get 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise five times a week and to be on a diabetic diet.  That sounds great, but my history makes that exceedingly difficult.  I have become convinced that my doctor simply does not understand my history, so I am actually planning on finding a doctor that will take more time with me and that understands Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

There is much more I have to say, but for reasons you will understand later there is more to this, so I will write about this in parts.  I need to protect my emotions, because they affect how I feel physically.   I think many of you have similar stories.  If only our physicians understood.  Meanwhile, please pray I can find the right doctor, one that takes time to talk to me, that listens and understands he or she cannot throw out these blanket "fix-its", that don't fix anything.