Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Joyce for today's hodgepodge post. I'll jump right in!
1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self never would have appreciated? The first thing that came to mind was a memory from being a young girl; every time I went anywhere with my dad for fun, the first thing he had to do was eat. As an adult now, I can appreciate that so much more than ever before, and I understand now why he had to do that. If I don't eat first before spending an afternoon doing something, I will get tired and end up being grumpy.
2. What was peaceful about today? I starting writing this blog post on Sunday afternoon; as I write, it's 2:49 p.m., and the house is quiet. Jonah's and Noah's dogs aren't here yet; their dad kept them all for the weekend since I was gone and because they were way out at a friend's house all of Saturday. I have the fan on, and I'm listening to my favorite playlist on Spotify. It's cool inside, my home is clean, and I can hear the clothes drying in the background. All of these things make for a very peaceful afternoon!
I'd just gotten back home on this day from dog sitting at my friend's house all weekend in a neighboring town about thirty minutes down the road. I was so thankful to be at home in this moment to unpack, start laundry, and clean. I don't know if I've shared this portion of my kitchen with the piece of furniture I added last year. I cleaned off this cabinet and decluttered it while doing that; I love how it turned out! I also repurposed that wall basket you see hanging on my door; I had the greenery, but I added the flowers and moved it from my bedroom to this door in the kitchen that leads to the garage. Also, isn't my "love you, bye" sign adorable? This sign reminds me of Marilyn; we say this to each other nearly everyday of our lives.
3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8th). Will you celebrate? You can have one of the following right now—a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes—which do you choose? Without a question or a doubt, I would choose a warm blueberry muffin. That being said, as much as I love those, I won't be celebrating that holiday this week.
4. Do you need a break? From what? I do! I need a break from elementary school aged children. I also always need a break from dogs who shed horribly! 🤣
5. What has surprised you most about getting older? I never thought I would get to a point where I just ache a lot. My knees are always aching, or my back is; I don't know if it's from standing a lot at my job or the shoes I'm wearing or the floors I'm walking on, but on any given day, something somewhere on my body is aching. I just automatically take two ibuprofen when I wake up in the mornings. I also never thought sleeping on the wrong type of pillow would hurt my neck, or that I would ever love my bed as much as I do right now.
All of this made me chuckle, but please don't read this as me complaining. Growing old with aches is a privilege and honor that many are not afforded. I will gladly take all of these little things, because it means that the Lord has given me life at this day and time. I will keep living life and doing things I love, no matter my age or the aches I may (or may not) have.
I thought of Dad as I wrote this; this was taken in March of 2009 while he was in Israel; he was 76 when he went on this once on a lifetime trip. I want to be just like him when I "grow up"!
6. Insert your own thought here. This is a song that I came across last week that I love. I made playlist for songs for me and Chris, and I added this one immediately. It's really sweet! I love Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani...I think she is so good for him, and I love how he adores her.
I can't wait to read your answers to these prompts later today! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. I'll see you back here tomorrow; love to all!
Jen 🩷
A blueberry muffin would be my pick too. I definitely thought I'd be much older before all the body aches and pains started... like in my 60's or 70's.. not my 40's!
ReplyDeleteI love them so much, but I rarely eat one. That made me laugh! I feel the same.
DeleteI bought a great pillow from a mattress store about ten years ago and haven't had issues with my neck since. The fact I am commenting on my pillow is not something I'd have even considered as a kid lol. I love the description of your peaceful afternoon. Sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! Maybe I need to look into a new pillow; mine are good, but maybe that's the issue. It's usually more in my shoulder blade area and it kind of spreads around up my neck or down my back. Today's it's up my neck. That made me laugh! Look at us acting old. Ha! Thanks for that, friend, and thanks for hosting us!
DeleteI need a better pillow, too. The school floors are so hard on you, so do watch your shoes and your posture. Stretch when you get home. You should book a massage. I also know for a fact that the technology gives us neck aches - "tech neck". I had neck issues in my 30s and had to see a chiropractor. He said to also be careful with carrying heavy bags on one side of your body.
ReplyDeleteIt's a common problem, not having a good enough pillow! I try to watch my posture, but the stretching is something I hadn't thought of. Thanks for that! I do see a chiropractor regularly...I need to make an appointment next week.
DeleteI do the same, eating first when we go somewhere, I hadn't even thought of that. I end up grumpy without a fully stomach.
ReplyDeleteYour Sunday does sound very peaceful. Your home is beautiful and I do love that love you, bye sign!
hahaha! It must be an age thing, every morning I wake up wondering what is going to ache. Aww! Good on your dad going on the once in a lifetime trip at 76. My dad is 76 and he has started travelling more now, he's planning going on a cruise at the moment.
Yes! I'm glad it's not just me. Thank you for that, friend!
DeleteHa! Needing the break from the school kids made me chuckle- hope you get a nice long break in now before school starts again- more time for the pool and reading and Chris! :)
ReplyDeleteI do need a break from them! Here's to two weeks without kiddos in my life. Ha!
DeleteI bet you need a break from school! You will really enjoy having some of July off from work. I know what you mean about the aches and pains. When I was younger, I was all about the cute shoes. Now I wear sneakers almost every day! It definitely helps with the aches and pains. I feel your pain with the dog hair!
ReplyDeleteYes! I can't wait for my two weeks off before I go back. I'm also glad I worked this summer so that it wouldn't be so hard to go back. It would be harder if I hadn't been working all summer. I love sneakers and my Dr. Scholl's sandals...I wear them every single day!
DeletePillows play a big role in proper alignment. The photos of the dogs are just adorable. Aches and pains happen to all of us, and I didn’t see it as complaining, just noting that it’s part of life. In the summer, with our hot, dry heat, I don’t ache much, but this past winter I woke up one morning with both knees hurting so badly I could barely walk. It really scared me, but by the next day, I was fine. Old age is coming for us all. 😧
ReplyDeleteYes! Thanks for that. You are right; it's all just a part of life and growing older. That last line made me laugh!
DeleteI enjoyed your answers. I do agree, that I'll take aging with the aches and pains as opposed to the opposite. Love the Love You, Bye sign. so cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that! I think it's a good perspective for me to have sometimes...we would all probably say the same thing.
DeleteI had to laugh at the part about sleeping on the wrong pillow gives you aches and pains! Same, girl! Meanwhile, my kids put down a blanket and sleep on the brick patio outside and they are 100% fine the next day!!! What? HOW?
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. Ha!
DeleteOh yes, the aches. WHY does everything hurt so much?!?!? And at the same time, I feel so privileged to be living this life -- full of aches as it may be. You didn't write about these but I love the botanical prints above your cabinet in your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh...why DOES everything hurt like this?! But you know I feel the same thing. Thank you! My mom gave me those years ago for my birthday; they're from a local shop she worked at that is no longer open.
DeleteOh a break from kids and dogs I bet would be nice, as lovely as they both are :). I am always down for a snack or at least a drink when out and about! Okay, Love you Bye! :)
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh. You get it, though! Oh, I am too!
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