December This And That

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."   ---Luke 18:1

******

1.)  So for the sake of my memory (or lack thereof) I ordered a stack of puzzle books, ones with varieties of mind puzzles to solve. 

Remember that Bible verse which states, '... the thing I most greatly feared came upon me'? Well yeah, it's like that. I'd feared I'd be a total puzzle moron and hey, I am.  

I can't even understand the instructions of some of these puzzles, let alone solve them, but I'm plodding on and determining not to give up. 

At least not yet. 

2.) While at the farm, I found the perfect place for this hanging tin:

                    Horrible lighting, long story.

-- but here? Uh, no. That is, until 2 weeks ago when I hung it at the top of the basement stairs so we could use it as Naomi's mailbox. Easily I can place her mail there.

Truly, so many things in Life just take time and slowly I'm accepting that (see #8).

3.) I found this whimsical perfection:

4.) Oh! Forgot to tell you our handy-dandy countertop George Foreman oven (yes, oven), died. Our second one, the size and ease of usage of these were perfect. 

Well, they're no longer sold so I wearily searched online and found most toaster ovens are too large for our specific counter space, that is, until I discovered this one:

Sengoku SET-G16A(W) HeatMate Graphite Compact Countertop Toaster Oven

Is that vintage-cute, or what? How lovely to begin a search from necessity and have it turn into a sweet surprise. The hundreds of reviews were wildly positive and now my own is as well. Color me thrilled with this.

5.) Did you hear about Jay Leno? How his face and hands were burned while working on a car? 

Well, Michael Knowles shared an insightful video about Jay's hospital recovery, how he humorously helped nurses aid others and passed around cookies to children, etc.

Then Michael shared thoughts on a word, a concept, I'd not considered in years: buoyancy.

Here's a small portion of his words:

"How good it is to cultivate buoyancy. How good it is to not only be resilient... but to be buoyant so that when circumstances get you down, try to smother and drown you under water, you just boop! Pop back up. But too often, people have the opposite response. They'll sink to the bottom. But how much better is buoyancy."

6.) Probably you're listening to Christmas music at Youtube (or wherever), but here, before Autumn officially slips away, is my favorite vintage autumn music video. Never do I tire of this.

7.) Here's a cute and easy winter idea--

8.) Finally I'm learning to stop questioning, "Why didn't I discover this book/tv series/household hack/video/decorating idea sooner?" 

I mean, I'm big on keeping my eyes open constantly for all those, yet over and over, years past their initial appearance, I'll find them.

The answer? They come to me when I will appreciate them far more, feeling like a timely gift from God.

I can accept that. Now.

9.) 

10.)

Happy December to you (and isn't this mouse incredibly adorable?)--

You probably don't remember this, but I used to have 9 pet mice who I actually loved (no, really) so I know they're waiting for me in Heaven in my mansion and perhaps they'll dress like this upon greeting me!  ツ

******

Happy or grumpy: it's our choice!

****** 

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

The Good News. The Bad News. The Good News.

" ... stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."   --- Luke 21:28

******

So the Good News: Since moving to Hobbit Cottage 11 years ago, I've been sick only twice-- 

A town-wide bronchial thing, the other time, a cold. (I don't count the occasional sinus or stomach issues since they arrive only after foolishly pretending I'm 30 again and can eat anything.)

ツ

Yet the Bad News: Since the day before Thanksgiving, I've had what feels like 'old lady vertigo'. (Don't be offended: I'm the old lady in this story.) Lean my head down and woooo. Dizzy City. But only for seconds.

Nothing hurts, nor does my brain feel like it gained 10 lbs. Mostly I feel fine, well, until yesterday. Then I felt sinus-y and tired. But by late afternoon I felt fine again. And less prone to dizziness.

How odd to feel relieved that it's probably a slight inner ear infection. **Or not! (See below.)

Of course, as when anything's un-right, I've done my usual online research then taken the natural vitamins which seem fitting. And added a higher, fluffier pillow. Sat on my bed's edge awhile before rising. Etc. 

All of it helps. (What did we do before the Internet, well, besides galloping to doctors?)

Anyway, one website said older folks with vertigo often feel helpless, down, depressed and as though their good days ended. Immediately I thought, "Well hey! I'm not going there."

Helpless? With the Holy Spirit living inside me? Uh, no. I refuse to be one of those Christians who constantly complains, then misses all the miracles, like the one where two much-anticipated books (from different sellers) arrived in yesterday's mail. Plus, a stack of puzzle books. Oh, the sweet timeliness of a full mailbox!

Anyway yes, if this persists much longer I'll see a doctor. But in the meantime I'll keep looking up, searching for answers and moving forward in hope and belief and joy--

--because 'in Him I live and move and have my being'. And Life with Jesus, even in 2022, is still so very good.

**Hooray! Most likely the problem is this, instead (a blockage in my ear canal). Thanks so much, Pam, for sharing the video in the comments! I'm trying what the doctor recommended and am finding it works. Whew. It even involves looking up, literally. Loved that.

And as I shared at Facebook--

Just read this sentence in a book. Loved it.

"Often what he hoped for didn't happen, but something deep inside never stopped him from hoping."

--- from Home From The Hill by Margaret J. Baker

******

Hooray! Another Ariel video. She made lovely changes to her bedroom this time.

Bunny Williams' NYC apartment. Really, her sense of style inspires me!

Mindy Mom does it again with easy holiday meals.

And here's one more cardboard snowflake idea.

******

These are supposed to help with vertigo:

Vitamin C

Vitamin D3

B Vitamins like 12 and 6

Grapeseed Extract

Ginger Root

Magnesium

*****

And what I've added because I believe in them:

Acidolphulus

DMannose

Zinc

Avoiding milk products

*****

Adding foods like tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter, avacados, beans, bananas, walnuts, etc.

Skipping high fat or sugar foods, caffeine, alcohol, nuts, etc.

Drinking extra water

Making my pillows as high as I can still sleep on them.

Using a hot wash cloth so to help drain my sinuses.

Oh, and every winter I keep water steaming on the stove so to avoid dry air sinusitis. Makes a huge difference in how both Tom and I feel.

*****

Doing the Canalith Repositioning Maneuver

******

What I'm Reading:

The Mystery of the Locked Room by Carolyn Keene

Christmas at Fairacre by Miss Read

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Home From The Hill by Margaret J. Baker

And once more from Facebook--

Currently there's an attack against marriage going on in this world, but Tom and I? We have loved our 44 years together as man and wife. (We talked about it last night so I know he agrees.) 
Happy anniversary to the best guy out there, ever!

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

Happy Thanksgiving and a Gift (Of Sorts)

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up."  ---Galations 6:9

******

On this lovely Thanksgiving Eve I'm wishing you a wonderful time with whomever you spend it tomorrow and beyond.

As always I'm grateful for you!  

I'm blown away that you visit here year after year and hopefully, you leave with the bits of encouragement God asks me to pass along.

Now, making a huge jump ... You know how we all have pet peeves? One of mine is when Christians insist, "They never make good movies anymore! I refuse to watch anything out there these days."

Oh really?

Well, when I reach Heaven and a film of my life plays? Oh dear, may the majority not resemble this--

How much sweeter to create a life of hour-by-hour watchfulness for things going right and to be anticipated rather than the opposite.

And something gone-right for me in 2022? These films, below, each a delight, each a reminder that all is not lost in the media world.

So here you go, an early holiday gift and one way I've chosen to express my belief that, yes! Some good movies do still get created these days.

What matters is that we search for them, believing, never giving-up too soon and always passing along the blessings we, ourselves, have so richly received.

Many Beautiful Things  

Red Dog

Stargirl

Seven Days in Utopia

County Line

12 Mighty Orphans

Marilyn Hotchkis' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School

The Big Year

Uncharted

Belfast

Who Gets The Dog?

Waterman

Megan Leavy

Waffle Street

Wait For Your Laugh

A Dog Year

Please Stand By

Yes Day

Secret Headquarters

Emergency 50!

Linda Ronstadt:The Sound of My Voice

Once I Was a Beehive

A Father's Legacy

Savannah Sunrise

Wonder

Top Gun Maverick

Slumberland

Enola Holmes 2

Little Boy

A Christmas Story Christmas

"They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share..."   -- 1 Timothy 6:18

It's the seekers who find things, not the crabby giver-uppers.  ツ

******

Naomi did the sweetest thing. She bought lots of treats and then set up a 'giving station' beside our mailbox for all delivery people. This is something I've meant to do for years, but yeah, 'meant to do' doesn't bless God's heart.

Er hem.

Anyway, yesterday we had all sorts of delivery folks, but one especially was nice. He rang the Ring doorbell, smiled, mouthed 'thank-you' and shook one of the snacks in front of the camera. Naomi saw the film of that and felt very touched. 

I'd stepped outside as the guy neared his truck and he said thanks and wished us a happy Thanksgiving.

Color me more blessed than usual.

******

******

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