Checking-In From My Vacation

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”   --- Matthew 11:28-30

*****

Still here! Mostly.  シ 

Don't faint or anything, but Tom and I haven't taken a 'real vacation' since 2015. Partly, we've 'created a life we don't need a vacation from', but we have other excuses reasons, as well.

So! Sometimes I take days/weeks off upon the red couch and gaze out the big picture window and read, watch Youtube videos, think, pray, and spend extra time with God. Oh, I still keep up with housework, but in a couple minutes at a time, more relaxed way.

I'd call it a staycation, but that sounds far too formal.

Though truthfully, I still, sometimes, must push away the shoulds and oughts on these vacation days. You know, give myself permission to lighten up. Sit around a lot. Relax. Not feel I should be encouraging others (that's the hardest one for me).

This vacation, via Youtube, I've watched tons of the old Unsolved Mysteries show (I know, I know), fast-forwarding through the supernatural/too violent/just plain weird segments. Not only does this series teach what not to do, but also that We Should All Be Super Grateful We're Still Alive. heh.

Yet partly this vacation is helping me heal more fully from my 2024. Gah, a year I'd rather forget. God's still healing me from the tragedies and big changes (health and dietary-wise) I've needed to make--and I love that He gives me personal days, especially to work through additional layers of acceptance.

I appreciate that He shows me ways to not allow those changes to kidnap my attention nor distract me. To not center my thoughts around growing older. I'm still stepping out of that foggy road.

Anyway, weeks ago I switched to a Keto diet, which hey, is mostly awesome, doable, and beneficial for my gotta-balance-my-hormones-better challenge. Both Tom and I are benefitting from it.

But yeah, saying farewell to flour is sad and yet? I've felt much grace (much. grace.) in this good-bye. Mostly now I can watch travel show folks eating donuts and sugar-stuffed desserts and feel happy for them (only occasionally muttering, "Enjoy those while you can, buddy.").

Nothing on this Earth, I remind myself, lasts forever and in Heaven? I'll be able to eat the flour-made desserts up there. All of them. (The lovely, positive thing about growing older is that it means you're farther up the path to Heaven.)

Anyway, in the meantime? I'll celebrate the tons of blessings still flowing my way. Family, friends, cats, my sweet home and books and life with God. All of it, so extremely good. 

And daily I'll keep repeating, "I love this life You've given me." 

I do. I really do, even in the midst of the aging, the tweakings and the changes I'm still growing used to.

When God wants me to take time off, who am I to feel all guilty about doing so?  Hmm?

Rather than carry around our gaping wounds, it's vital that we allow God to heal us so we can freely move forward and help others.

******

This was fun! Relationships in Heaven.

A delightful travel video: 48 Hours in Colorado Springs.

Anyone else remember this song?

Woman's Incredible Backyard Homestead.

And this may sound kinda pathetic, but when Tom and I finished rewatching the series, Grimm, I got all teary-eyed. Man, I did not want that show to end! 

I'm trying to recall another series where I loved all the characters as much, (even the ones you couldn't quite trust), but as of yet, I can't.

(And again, it's not a show for everyone. I totally get that.)

******

Books I Finished Reading in February--

A Roost and Arrest by Hillary Avis

Born in a Barn by Hillary Avis

It's Bright in My Valley by Jerome Cleveland

The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains (absolutely loved this!)

Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Forever, Erma by Erma Bombeck

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl

******

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15