simple life

30 Years Ago I Said Two Words I’ve Never Regretted.

wedding day0002

“I do.” Two words I said 30 years ago on this my wedding anniversary with John.

A part of me is somewhat in shock that we are actually celebrating a 30th wedding anniversary. How did all that time go by so fast?  Will the next 30 fly by just as fast?

As we were driving to a restaurant last night to celebrate, John said that he’d like to try for another 30 years. That made me smile and my whole insides melted in love. While I know he loves me, when life has been hard, he has talked about not wanting to live past 65 or 70.

Not that we have any control of when our day on this earth will end, but when life feels difficult we can sometimes lose sight of what is important. Imagining John at 85 years old and me at 81 should we hit that 60 year mark is certainly something I can’t quite picture. But I’d sure love to see it happen.

I consider it a great honor and gift to have been together this many years. It’s been work. Hard work. But the rewards are truly precious.

We are so much more at ease in our lives together, worry about less stuff, love living simply with dinner out once a week, weekends playing Yahtzee or hanging out around the woodstove in winter and the chiminea in the summer.

Loving our dogs, loving each other, getting lost in conversation and laughing. There has never been a shortage of laughter in our house. We love to laugh and find it is the key to happiness.

So I say once again “I do” to the man who is my rock. My soft place to land. My sweetheart. My love. My forever. Love you, Johnnie!

Fitting in Snuggle Time and Meditation Makes Life All the More Sweeter.

IMG_2082 12Cassy and Lil’ G getting in a little snuggle time

Our friend, Cassy spent the day with us on the 4th. Mini golf, lunch at a local restaurant on the water, and then topped off with watching the fireworks on the boat of Cassy’s friend. In between all the fun, John and I also managed to get in a nap. Gidget also found some time to snuggle with Cassy. I love this photo of the two of them.

Yesterday we went to our small town parade. The weather was just right with a nice breeze compared to a few years in a row where it was so humid. Then John and I hopped in the car and drove about 30 minutes to a nearby restaurant on the water front for a bite of lunch.

It was a lovely weekend and I enjoyed every moment. But as I got back into my yoga practice this morning, plus my 10 minutes of meditation, I realized with even more clarity how much I enjoy the silence and slowing down.

Moving through yoga this morning felt so incredibly good. When I was done I did 10 minutes of meditation. I felt like I had fallen into a big, fluffy, soft cloud. There was a light breeze blowing through my windows, while my table top water fountain trickled in the background, along with the sounds of birds tweeting here and there.

The words divine and delicious kept floating through my mind. Normally I feel way too anxious to mediate in the mornings, especially if I just sit there without a guided meditation or music softly playing in the background. I did have a moment of angst find me, but then the mantra, “My Time” came to me. I repeated that silently if I started to feel anymore angst. It worked.

I’ve been thinking about how much time we devote to others and our lists of  to do’s. My mantra “My Time” is something I know I’ll come back to.

From the minute we get up we are doing something and giving of ourselves. I thought about how the minute I am up, I whisk Gidget to the bathroom, make the bed, feed the dogs, get my yoga clothes on, and kiss and hug John (pretty much in that order!). To sit for 10 minutes just for me – no one else and for no list, truly is divine.

This weekend I read a blog post about how to start meditating and it said, “Even if you have 23 kids and 14 jobs, you can find five minutes to meditate.” I love the point of that because we all think our lives are just too busy and we think we can’t possibly find 5-10 minutes. But we can.

I’m not 100% good at meditation everyday (yes, even for five minutes), but I just have to say that when I take the time to do it, I sure do feel 100% better. It makes me want to keep moving toward that goal of at least five minutes each day.

Annoyed at the “Heavy” Comforter & then it Turned into My Joyful Pause Moment.

g in comforter 12Cleaning the house isn’t my favorite thing to do. Well, maybe I should say this differently. I don’t mind cleaning, but often times there are other things I’d rather be doing. I think most of us can relate to this.

On the positive side of it though, my house is only 1,000 square feet, so it’s really not all that time consuming. But I could feel myself rushing it today, wanting to get it over and done with. Gidget was hot on my heels as she normally is when I clean. She’s so used to being able to sleep in her little bed at my feet when I am in my writing cottage working, so on cleaning day she does not quite know what to do with herself.

I was busy scurrying around in the bedroom, taking off the bedding so I could get it in the washer and then hang it on the line. The comforter being a king size I have to take to the local laundromat, which was in the plan for today.

My attitude wasn’t the best as I continued to “hurry” and get everything done so I could get on with what makes me happy. As I went to pick up the comforter it felt heavy and I couldn’t lift it into the wicker basket.

I tugged some more, wondering what the heck it might be stuck on. And then I saw the sweetest little face peeking out at me. I didn’t even realize Gidget was no longer behind me, but had quietly burrowed into the comforter for a quick “cat” nap.

“Awe, you little stinker,” I said. “You are just too dang cute!”

I knelt down by her and held her little face in my hands and then pet her soft body. “” I know. You are right. Mama needs to slow down and not be in a hurry.”

The comforter could wait to go to the laundromat a bit longer. It was time to take a “joyful pause” moment and remember the important things and moments in life.

And I’m happy to say the bedding is all clean, back on the bed, house is sparkling clean, Gidget is napping next to me, and an impromptu dinner on our deck with my dear friend, Victoria will be in order for this evening. Life is good.