Covid-19 for the Holidays

 Nothing like throwing yourself into full December swing of holiday hopes and dreams and then....

WHAMO! Covid-19 happens!  I knew it could be a possibility and a risk to possibly contract it because I do work at a nursing care facility and we did have Covid-19 in our building.  But, we wear masks and shields...and at home, Matt and I wash our hands, sanitize, don't really go anywhere, and pick up our groceries from online shopping. We just don't know the day or moment in time where one or both of us contracted Covid-19. There are so many "ifs" and "what ifs" and "scenarios" that it just becomes a discussion about what comes first, the chicken or the egg?  Needless to say, this diagnosis put a damper on lots of plans for December.  Matt and I were both positive on Dec. 21st. But, our symptoms actually started before that. But, I had been testing negative before that.  I get tested twice a week due to the nature of my career. It does come out to my benefit in catching things early, as long as the tests come back accurate.

So, when I say "plans", I mean recording music for the Christmas eve service and videos for my YouTube channel, decorate for Christmas, being well enough to edit the church services, working on some work projects, and taking a week long vacation to different rooms of my home.  I hadn't had a week long vacation since 2019.  I waited all year to have time off to enjoy with Matt.  And while I was off work for Covid-19, I was ill and it wasn't relaxing or fun. Plus, I've been trying to play catch up with all home things and work things that were left behind while I was sick. 

At first, I thought that I was possibly coming down with bronchitis.  Because I continued to test negative, even with a cough and some chest congestion, I figured it could be something else.  But then my symptoms got worse and then I lost my sense of taste and smell. That was the weirdest thing ever.  It literally just "snapped" off.  I could taste my breakfast and as soon as I tried to eat anything for lunch, it was gone.  I could tell you if something was sweet, salty, savory, sour, or umami, but if I had my eyes closed, I couldn't tell you what it was that I was eating.  Nothing had flavor.  So, it was the only time that I could say that Matt's cooking was "Meh".  His cooking is NEVER "Meh". I was so sad and disappointed that his Christmas eve dinner of baked potato, broccoli and Ham steak or Christmas day dinner of Prime Rib and Yorkshire pudding was probably delicious...but I didn't know it.  I lost my appetite.  I had to make myself eat anything. Not eating was making it worse. I was tired, just from getting up from bed.  I had sinus and chest congestion and a couple other symptoms that weren't pleasant, either.  I just had to take it day by day.  Matt's symptoms were pretty similar, but his senses of taste and smell were still intact.

So, while we did get to spend time together, and yes, I was off work (well, I did work some from home), this wasn't a vacation. This was the first Christmas Eve that Matt actually had off in 14 years. We both were able to enjoy being at home with no where to be or go. And while we were not feeling well, we tried to enjoy the evening anyway.  

There were some great holiday moments though when we were able to chat and video call family in Oregon, Minnesota, New York and Germany on Christmas Day.  My nephew is the cutest little boy ever and it was so fun to video chat with him and see him open up his new ukulele that we got for him.  The creative songs that ensued afterwards were just as entertaining.  Don't believe me?  Here is a clip: 

Owen is going to be 4 years old in a few weeks and he is such a smart, sweet little boy that has Aunt Kimmy wrapped around his finger.  I love getting to video chat with him.  It is my favorite thing in this whole world.  

So, fast forward a bit....I regained my sense of smell and taste on Tuesday, Dec. 29th.  It came back just like it left...I couldn't taste anything for breakfast and when I ate lunch, I could taste everything again. I know there was a possibility that it would take weeks, even months for that to return.  I was able to enjoy our New Year's Day traditional meal of Corned Beef and cabbage.  We both still have some lingering symptoms, cough and sinus, but it's minimal, for now.  We hope there won't be any chronic or lingering effects, but that is something that Covid-19 can leave behind.  I plan to get the vaccine at the end of January, so hopefully, that helps from getting this again.  

I'm going to step on my soapbox for a second..., Please, wear a mask.  Yes, sure, you have a right to not wear one and I know some people say they have medical issues and don't like to wear them (and if you have a medical issue, then you probably shouldn't be out anyway), but don't take away someone's right to stay healthy because you refuse to protect others around you. Wearing a mask helps yourself a bit, but it definitely helps your neighbor more. Wearing a mask may also decrease the actual amount of Covid-19 you might inhale, ingest or catch, which in turn decreases the amount of Covid-19 your body has to fight off (and that's if your body can fight it off).  It's a scary disease.  It's not like the flu.  The symptoms vary from mild to horrible and you don't know what your body is going to do, even after you recover.  Please, just care about each other and do your best to protect the people with who you do have to come in contact. Wear a mask and social distance.

<Ok, stepping down off of the soap box>   I hope to update this blog a lot more this year.  I have a few things I would like to work on for 2021, health being one of them, but I would also like to produce more blogs and videos this year, as well.  I hope to make more time for writing and creating on my social media platforms. I enjoy it.  Since I've been editing our church videos since March, and I enjoy doing that, I've picked up a thing or two last year in teaching myself how to video edit and I would like to produce better YouTube videos for my channel, as well. Stay tuned!

I wish you all good health and peace in this new year and may 2021 be full of blessings for you and your family. The blessings are definitely there, but we have to take the time to look for them, sometimes. Sometimes, the outside world screams so much at us that we can't hear ourselves think and we lose sight of what is sometimes right in front of us. 

Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this blog update. If you would like to be updated when I upload more blogs, you can follow this blog  Kimandaukulele.blogspot.com or subscribe to my YouTube channel with the same name @Kimandaukulele. 

Happy New Year!

New Year~ New Topics~ New Goals ~ New Blog

PHEW!  It has been a long time since I've been on this site. I'm renewing and revamping and this site will be getting a bit of a makeover. It's going to be fun to start this blog up again.

It's not really new year's resolutions, per say.  But, I want to try something different this year.  I started over coming my fear of performing (that is, singing and playing the ukulele, simultaneously).  I know that might sound a little strange to some people out there who know me and know that I'm not really that shy when it comes to music.  I've been singing in front of people since I was little. And I love to sing. However, now that I'm in my 40's, I've come to realize a deep anxiety when it comes to my own lack of confidence in learning to play a new instrument. And that lack of confidence of playing and singing at the same time brings a lot of anxiety for me. Six years ago, I started learning to play the ukulele.  I love it.  I love the sound it makes and the happiness it brings me when I play.  It was, actually, pretty easy to learn a few chords and strum along to many songs. However, playing the ukulele (as a beginner/intermediate) AND singing at the same time gave me more anxiety than I realized.  Playing in groups was fine.  I could hide in the back and strum and sing and have fun and feel care free, but when I ended up singing solo, I became almost panicked. I froze. My fingers wouldn't form the chords and my singing wasn't the same.

Here's a bit of back story on why I am updating social media. Two years ago, I became an Auntie for the very first time.  My nephew loves music and so I started sending him videos of me playing the ukulele and singing (mostly kids songs).  He lives far away, so it was a way for us to stay connected.  My sister told me that he loves my videos and to make more of them. That gave me purpose and a reason to keep doing what I was doing.  It also helped knowing only a select few would see the videos, so I wasn't as anxious recording them.  Then I began to venture out a bit.  I became a little more vulnerable, but brave and put a few of those videos out there on YouTube and Facebook land. I thought to myself, if the response was "Meh" or bad, I would just decide to keep my videos private and send them to my family and that would be that.  But, the response has actually been positive.  People have requested songs and have told me how much they enjoy them. OK. Now what do I do? 

Well, I decided to begin uploading more videos. I want to start to be consistent to try and post every week. I will continue to do that, but I am beginning to feel a lot of new ideas brimming and stirring.  Lately, my posts are a lot of ukulele videos, but I have more ideas to vlog about the ukulele and tutorials, music (in general), places we visit, or cooking ideas, or local events or just thoughts in general. Who knows what my social media outlets will look like in the future?  So, I'm updating my YouTube channel, Twitter, Instagram and Blogger sites to reflect the direction in which I'm currently headed. 

Feel free to visit any of my sites and subscribe, like, comment and enjoy.  I really just want to share the joy and happiness that comes to me through music, food, pets, travel, faith and anything that might come my way. 

This is a process and a journey and I say, "The more the merrier"!

Peace and Blessings to you for the journey.

Kim and a ukulele

The Sun Still Rises

Two nights ago, our teacher and Lord, stooped to wash our feet.  Well, it had been a long journey and we were all very tired and weary. We were wondering where we would stay and it was almost Passover.  Jesus told us where to go and what to say and that we would surely have a place.  He always had faith.

The water felt good. Clean. And the oils smelled heavenly. Comforting. Jesus took his time, caring for our feet.  The feet that walked miles and miles with him. Days and nights, I've tried to listen.  I've wandered and wondered. I've done a lot of that nowadays.  Wandering. Wondering.  What all of this means.  I mean, I know what my past has been like.  I know how I was raised.  I know what Ive always done. And now, I just pick up and leave with Jesus where things look different, sound different, become new.  When Jesus washed our feet, he said that this was an example and we must do this, also. We promised him we would.  He wasn't specific as to whose feet to wash so I will find people in need. So, I plan to do that.  I will clean the feet of those who have been on long journeys. I will try and remember the comfort I felt when Jesus washed mine and give that to others. Well, I was thinking of doing that at the time. 

It was a long night after that supper.  We went into a garden and our eyes drooped with sleep and weariness. We had just eaten our meal with Jesus and our bellies were full and with all the drama it seemed like Jesus was extra weary, too. Everything he said to us and everything he did was like he was saying goodbye. I just didn't understand what Jesus was saying at the time.  He was so frustrated and disappointed that we couldn't stay awake.  But it was too quiet in the garden.  It was peaceful and Jesus kept leaving us.  We tried to keep each other company, but maybe we needed to have insisted on keeping Jesus company. Maybe we could have stayed awake if Jesus stayed with us. He told us to stay and keep watch.  Watch for what? It was a garden. If I had only known. Then they came and took him away.

The sun still came up, even though we had been awake all night. Wandering. Wondering. I never thought I'd see the light of day.

Then we saw the crowds and there were those who didn't even know him and they were just joining in. They hadn't spent any time with him and they were shouting, too.  Then, I recognized some of those in the crowd.  A few people were there on one of those days when Jesus spoke about all those who are blessed. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who weep and mourn, who are persecuted. So many blessings. And they were now yelling accusations, too.  I can't believe it! The end result was not what I had expected.  So many hateful people. I've decide that I'm not going to wash their feet. I don't care what Jesus said to do.  I saw what they did to him. How can I go and be an example after what they did to him, what they shouted at him?

Then they crucified him.  They CRUCIFIED him! What are we to do now?  I must still be in shock because I'm just staring at a barred door and the tears are now dried to my face, still with me, but dry.  My eyes are swollen and I can barely see.  They murdered my friend.  I was with him day and night for what seemed like years.  I knew him to be kind to everyone. He welcomed everyone.  He welcomed me and that was saying something.  I never claimed to be perfect, but Jesus didn't want perfect.  He wanted me and my brokenness.  Because in brokenness and in what seemed lifeless, he always would say something or do something to mend it, to heal it, bring life back to it. He had a new way of looking at how he thought life should be.  It was kind of like a clay pot that had been knocked off the table and then put back together.  You can still feel and see where it was broken, but you could still use it.  Well, after what happened last night...I'm heart broken.  I'm spirit broken.  I'm physically broken.  I'm just staring at the wall wondering what will become of this. Of me. Of us. Jesus isn't here to heal it or mend it. My clay pot is shattered to pieces and nothing can fix this. NOTHING!

The sun still rose this morning and Jesus is in a tomb.  He is IN A TOMB!  He was right here a minute ago and now he is shut away in a dark, cold, lifeless place.  The mobs have gone home.  They got what they wanted.  We're scared.  Will they do the same thing to us?  I'm to go out and wash people's feet? I'm supposed to bring comfort? How can I do that? I saw how quickly they turned on Jesus. They could just as easily turn on me. 

Again I'm wondering and wandering.  Even though it's in a small room with everyone else who was close to Jesus. We're pacing the floor and our minds are soaring with questions, with images of his death.  You just can't unsee that. You can't forget that. You can't erase what happened.  You can't turn back the clock. What now?

Darkness will come soon today and Jesus will still be in that cold, dark tomb. Tomorrow, I imagine, the sun will rise and I'll think about what Jesus said about being an example. I'll think about all those things Jesus taught us and how I can go out and be an example of how the world Jesus spoke of should be. The world sometimes looks different when the sun rises.

"In Days Of Auld Lang Syne"

While the day of Christmas is now in the past (albeit a day), let us not forget we are still in the Christmas and holiday season.  We bask in the aftermath and glow of family, friends, dinners, presents and our old and (for some of us) new holiday traditions. Let us not throw all of it aside just yet.  Let's see how long we can make the Christmas spirit last.  As we come out of the hustle and bustle, we still have another holiday coming our way...New Year's Day.  I've been thinking a lot about the New Year, lately.  And the song "Auld Lang Syne" comes to my mind.  I've never really picked up the tradition in singing it, but I think I might have to now that I've been pondering its meaning. We hear it in many holiday films (When Harry Met Sally, It's a Wonderful Life, to name a couple). But, I've been wondering what this song really means to me.

Matt has started a new call with a church in Indiana.  In November, we moved from Colorado to Indiana. It was an exciting adventure and a bit scary at the same time.  We were leaving routines, jobs, friends, favorite restaurants and even a few favorite watering holes.  All the people and places we've known for 6 years. Very hard to leave. (But, we've done it before; going to seminary, moving to Matt's internship site, back to seminary and then to his first call as a pastor).  It was never easy to leave family and friends every time we had to do that. This may have been the hardest because we were in Colorado for the longest period of time. Moving on is difficult, exciting, scary and depressing and just an emotional roller coaster.  So, we are now settling into Indiana. And now we are finding new restaurants, finding a new routine, making more friends.  And while we are making new traditions and meeting new people, all of the things we have left behind in places past (Oregon, Columbus, Nashville and now Colorado) we will never forget.  And that brings the celebratory song we sing during the New Year to my mind.

Auld Lang Syne asks us a question.... "Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?  Should old acquaintance be forgot in days of auld lang syne" (meaning days of old)?  Well, should we?  Should we forget it all?  Then the song goes on and we sing in favor of the old days. "For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne!" Maybe the meaning is to sing of the old days and think of them fondly (have a glass to raise to the past) as we move to other things that our lives bring.  This song has definitely been on my mind lately and I'm keeping this song on my heart.

I guess it's a question we all ask ourselves from year to year as we renew our resolutions, kept and "slightly" kept, events that we want to, indeed, forget, or memories that we now cherish everyday.  Some of us will answer the question to the song with a resounding "Yes! I just want to forget this year and all the days of old"...Some of us would say..."Well, some of it is certainly forgettable!" And then I would put myself in the category of answering the song with a "No!".  I want to remember my acquaintances and keep them close to my heart.  I want to remember the blessings throughout and I want to remember the painful times, as we can sometimes find more blessings in the midst of them and really see how we are still standing.  While I don't necessarily want to relive them, I don't think I want to forget them. I do believe that our past somehow shapes us and educates us on how we can choose to move forward.

When midnight comes on January 1st, 2013, I will raise my glass to my old friends and to my new ones, too, to my old routines and to the new ones, to my favorite places and to my new favorite places.  It will all be NOT "forgotten".  I will bring it all to mind. I may have had to move on, but I will not forget.  I will keep hold of my acquaintances (new and from over the years).  I will take a cup of kindness and toast to the old days and look forward to the new days of 2013.  Happy New Year to you all!

A Ukulele, Ian Somerhalder and Saving the World

"You want to play the what?" my friend said with a laugh.  "The U-KU-LE-LE!" I said.  "Um. Why?" she said.  "Um.  Why the heck not?" I said.  And so, the adventures with the Ukulele begin.  I actually found a local Ukulele group that meet once a month and I know one of the ladies who attends the group.  She is the one that promptly invited me when I mentioned the daring word, Ukulele.  She had a spare Ukulele and got me started with learning a few chords.  You see, I've always had a dream, hanging out in the back of my head, to play the guitar.  I have borrowed guitars and borrowed music and youtube-d the "How-to's" for beginning guitar, but it was frustrating, because I have short stubby fingers and couldn't manipulate them enough to reach certain chords.  And only until recently did I put together the cheery sound of a Ukulele with the fact that they are smaller and my stubby little fingers could maybe, actually, form a chord.

How do you feel when you hear "Somewhere over the Rainbow" played and sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole?  Or Matthew Morrison (from Glee) demonstrating his mad Ukulele skills? Or when Jason Mraz sings "I'm yours"?  Oh sure, we remember (if you're old enough) Tiny Tim and his trademark Ukulele singing "Tiptoe, Through the Tulips", but it seems that the Ukulele is making a comeback into many songs or maybe the ukulele has always been there, but now we have recognized it as cool, hip and happy.  Personally, it reminds me of Dole Whips before entering the Enchanted Tiki Room, but that's another blog post for another day.  Either way, I decided I needed to bring a bit of happiness back into my life (did I mention being a pastor's spouse is sometimes not so happy?).  I think learning a new instrument that can bring happiness of a tropical oasis, and makes any song sound uplifting is a good thing in my book and should be tried at least once in your life.  I found out on Wednesday that my fat, stubby fingers can fit around the neck of the Ukulele perfectly and I've already learned about 5 chords. I have been able to play a few songs even with only trying this out for 3 days. "On Top of Old Smokey" has never sounded the same since! No, that's a good thing!

I highly recommend learning something new and trying it out and making a new change.  It's refreshing and can be fun.  If you've always wanted to dance, take a dance lesson.  If you want to learn a new language, find a community class.  If you want a new way to exercise, might I suggest Zumba?  You're never to old to learn something new!  Take a chance and make yourself happy, today, right now, right this minute! 

On the same topic of learning something new and doing something that makes me happy, this Sunday is Earth Day.  OK, that part wasn't really new, but if you forgot or if you didn't know about Earth Day, it is April 22nd.  Last December, I learned of a wonderful non-profit group, the IS Foundation.  Their Mission Statement is as follows:

"The IS FOUNDATION aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures."  

Now if the above statement is something you believe in and/or agree with, I highly recommend you check them out.  I have chosen this foundation as one that I will continue to support in my life by educating myself about our planet, environment and all of God's creation and trying to make it a better place little by little every single day.  Ian Somerhalder is the founder of this foundation and I learned of his organization through my vampire obsession.  Yes, he's a vampire on the Vampire Diaries and some of you may even remember him from the TV show "Lost".  We will most likely put people on the planet Mars before we find out the cause of women and their vampire obsessions, but anywho, by watching the show, it led me to his foundation.  The IS Foundation is on facebook and their website is (http://www.isfoundation.com/) and it has all the latest news about legislation, volunteering and getting involved in your community to help our planet flourish for years to come.  Check them out and learn something new today! 

Ian Somerhalder is my hero and I'm so happy to be a supporter of his foundation.  He is saving the world little by little, every day, and I get to help.  And while I've never met the man (maybe one day I will get to and I would most likely squeal with joy or die of embarrassment, because I might or might not have fainted) what he has created in his foundation and seeing the energy that he has to changing our planet for the better, and he will always be an inspiration for me to do the same. 

Now that is something we can be happy about <cue in the Ukulele music>!

How Will You Make Your Cup to Runneth Over?

I've been thinking....I know...uh oh...now what!  Well, I have been thinking and lately I've wondered if we truly need to think of another way to actually "do" church.   I have recently heard several comments from members that have upset me a tad and the one common theme has been "I just don't get filled when I go to church".  While this thinking kind of angers me because my knee jerk response is "What you put into it is what you get out of it", I have to think about new ways we can truly be filled without it always sounding so selfish.  And I still truly believe that if we all put our time and talents (and not just our treasures) into church whether it's worship, fellowship, lay ministries, community outreach, etc.. we will receive much more than we can imagine. 

But the reality is that people go to church nowadays to be filled with warm fuzzies and when they do not feel it, they stop coming, they stop participating, they stop giving.  People do the bare minimum to get by.  Church has become an individualistic institution where we arrive to the building and sit in our usual place and let others do all the work (unless we've signed up for a duty that day).  We walk in and sit down and possibly peruse through the bulletin and when we discover we might be singing a new song that we don't know or not singing our favorite hymn, we're disappointed.  We walk through worship with a disappointed heart.  Then we hear the sermon and since it wasn't maybe what we wanted to hear, we are again, disappointed.  Maybe some days we want people to walk up to us and ask us how things are or in a sense, "mind read" that we need someone to talk to us.  I can tell you that no one is a mind reader (Not even Shawn Spencer from Psych or Patrick Jane from the Mentalist), and no matter how much we'd like to believe it that also includes the pastor.  So, on that note, if you need something, by God, tell someone!  However, no one walks up to you and asks you how you are, and again, more disappointment.  Now you walk out of church not getting your way with anything in today's worship.  You sit and fester about it and decide to complain to others about it or you decide to stop coming for awhile.

Church has become selfish and individualistic for many people.  We have become a consumerist society.  We go church shopping to find the right church for our needs.  We tithe to the church we choose and if the church is not doing what we think they should be doing, we pull our funding.  We stop volunteering for events in the church because we don't like what they're doing or we're not interested in what they do.  If you don't like the produce at one grocery store, you just go to another.  We view church the same way.

I propose a challenge to everyone.  What if we were to walk into church with the intention of filling someone else other than ourselves? What if you woke up on Sunday morning and said to yourself, "I'm going to walk into church and make sure I walk up to someone and ask them how they are doing!", "I'm going to sing every hymn like it's my absolute favorite".  You never know, the song you are singing might not be your favorite, but maybe the person sitting next to you desperately needs to hear this message.  Sing out and participate in filling someone else!  So, the sermon isn't exactly what you wanted to hear.  Take notes and really reflect on one or two points of the sermon that jumps out at you.  Ask the pastor questions about it.  Ask one another.  Maybe the message in the sermon rang true for someone sitting in the back row.  Be there for them to help them be filled with the message.  You might end up being filled and you don't even know it!

If you know of someone who has an idea or wants to organize an event, instead of saying "That's a good idea....I won't come because I don't want to, or don't care about that, or better you do that, than me", say instead "I will go to support you in your ministry!".  "I see that this is important to you and I will support you in this ministry or event, or potluck or whatever it may be."    I see, too often, that people will not verbally shoot down people's ministries.  They shoot them down by not being there and showing support.   To me, that's worse than telling someone you won't come.  We had a member work really hard to purchase equipment for us to start a Sat. evening worship service.  And when we had all the equipment and we had the service sorted out on power point, the day came to start it and only 3 people showed up (and that included myself and the pastor and it didn't even include the person who wanted to start this project).  Each week on Sat. evening no one showed up.  The "if you build it, they will come" mentality is dead.  It doesn't work.  You HAVE to have members come and truly support this ministry.  Just leaving it for someone else to do it will not help any ministry for outreach or spirituality or worship, etc... successful. 

We have to really be in it for each other in order for anything to be successful.  Not just the same 10% of people that show up for everything.  Eventually, even those people get tired and there is no one around to fill them up again either. 

I challenge you to go to church (or to work or any function that you may be attending this week) and go for others.  Be there for others!  Support others! Don't think about how much you are or aren't being filled.  Think about how you can fill others today, tomorrow, each Sunday.  What you put into it is what you get out of it! I bet that when more and more people let go of the "me mentality" and start showing care and concern for others, with no expectations of receiving anything in return,  we will then truly receive the greatest reward and that our cups will runneth over. How will you make your cup to runneth over?

My Happy Place

A little over a year ago, I found my happy place.  When I'm getting a massage or at a spa party and someone says to go to my happy place, I go to someplace unusual and uncommon to most happy places.  And recently, I find myself going there more and more.  I've had lots of stress in my life as of late and I feel I almost need that happy place every day now.  When most people day dream of their happy place, they envision oceans, beaches, cool breezes, solitude, but not me.  When someone tells me to go to my happy place I envision crowds, smells of baked goods and desserts and the sound of ragtime music.  As I make my way down the street I hear laughter of kids squealing with delight (or screaming their heads off depending on the time of day).  I hear people talking about their game plan of how to tackle the day.  As I continue strolling, I turn to the right to the Market House where I smell freshly ground coffee and the sounds of the early morning.  Old fashioned telephones are situated in the market house to enjoy the old time conversations of party lines.  Conversations of no importance tie up the party lines and it brings giggles to the people eavesdropping.   I make my way through the line, conversing with the people around me, who are at first, total strangers but within minutes become friends on the journey.  The smell of the coffee is getting stronger now.  I'm now the next person in line and order my medium coffee with a touch of room for cream and Splenda.  I saunter over to the condiment counter and doctor up the coffee.  Sounds of main street music, bells and horns of the main street vehicles and the clippity clop of the horse drawn cars waft in as I get lost in stirring my coffee.  I make my way out to the umbrella patio tables and chairs.  Shade is plenty in this little hidden treasure.  The fruit cart hides the area away from the hustle and bustle.  The caffeinated beverages warms my throat all the way down to my toes.  I close my eyes and enjoy every sound, smell and taste of this place.  All of a sudden I hear an out of tune piano playing up in the second story window.  A woman is giving a piano lesson.  Then in another window, a man starts yelling because his shower is too cold and we get to hear his morning routine of gargling and singing in the shower.  There is a dentist drilling on a patient in another window.  It's fun to hear the soundtracks play in those second story windows.  Time slowly passes by with each sip of my coffee as I watch people rush to the many lands offered to each guest.  I am totally and completely content with people watching.  I smile knowing all the fun that awaits once the coffee cup is empty.  I pack my coffee receipt away. I remind myself to remember and save the coffee receipt, as I get free refills all day. 

Anytime I want to relive my morning ritual in this happy place, I can do so.  And I'm off to be the kid at heart that I always know is waiting to escape.  I've been blessed to be able to be at my happy place twice in 12 months and I hope, one day soon, I'll get to go back. But for now, I can relive the memories when I freshly brew my own cup of coffee and sip the warm yummy beverage from my favorite Snow White mug, play the Main Street music on my iPod, and go to my happy place-The Coffee Spot on Main Street, USA in Disneyland, Anaheim, California.

I hope you all have a happy place that you can go to when things get stressful.  Take time away from all the madness in your life.  Find little memories and mementos to remind you and you can travel to your happy place anytime you want.  I hope you all can go visit you happy places sometime soon, in person, but in the meantime, have fun creating your happy place and visiting your place often. 

The Battle of Endo

Yes, the title sounds like an episode from Star Wars.  Unfortunately, there aren't cute little Ewoks running around in this battle.  As some of you may know (and some of you may not know) last July, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis.  It's actually a very common disease in women and the symptoms vary with each person.  One of the main symptoms is infertility. So, I've been coming to terms with not being able to have kids (physically).  Some days are better than others.  I guess today isn't really a good day, since I actually want to blog about it.  There are definitely other options that we're looking at and adoption is top on the list.  Fertility doctors and in vitro procedures are too expensive for a pastor and secretary's pocketbook and with my prognosis, it might not really be worth the try, pain and heartache to do those procedures. 

But the main reason I'm even blogging about this is for many of you to know about this disease.  As of now, there is no cure.  None.  But there are ways of healing and ways of keeping some of the symptoms at bay.  Symptoms run from moodiness, PMS-like symptoms (but sometimes about 10 times worse), infertility, digestive problems, headaches, anxiety, lower back pain, fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, and many other symptoms linked with our reproductive organs.  Also, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is more common in women with endometriosis, as well as, Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  We don't know how a woman gets Endometriosis, although it could very well be genetic.

So, what is it?  Ok, I'm going to get a tad graphic here, but it's my daily life and it's something I deal with all the time, so it's just what I live with on a daily basis.  Basically, the lining that a woman sheds each month (which is normal for all women) but for women with Endometriosis, the lining ends up going through her system and that lining adheres to other organs in the body, causing lesions, pain and sometimes ruining the reproductive organs.  The Dr. that performed my surgery (which determined my diagnosis) found this lining even in my hip, as well as my ovaries and uterus. 

Ok, what can be done?  Well, there are lots of artificial and sometimes harmful ways to alleviate the pain.  One type is a hormone shot that was actually created for men with prostate cancer.  Um. No thank you. There are types of surgeries that can be done, but some women go through life having many surgeries in their lifetime.  I'm learning a lot about diet and herbal supplements, massage, acupuncture, that can possibly benefit in the healing of symptoms of this disease.  There are a lot of foods I should and shouldn't eat to help with a lot of my symptoms.  And while it's hard to do, it can become a matter of quality of life vs. a miserable daily life.

Did you know that it is estimated that over 70 million women suffer from Endometriosis.  It is more common than breast cancer or AIDS and despite the amount of women who have this disease, not many people know about it and there is still no cure.  On one of the more popular sites (www.endo-resolved.com) dedicated to Endometriosis, it says "Endometriosis is serious. It is affecting millions of women around the world. It is not simply disrupting women’s lives, it can be devastating for most women. It affects her health, her quality of life, her possibilities of having children, her income earning potential, her emotional well-being, her relationships, her sex life, her economics if she lives in a country where she has to pay for treatment, her social life; in essence it affects her entire life."  I also have a friend, Melissa, in New Zealand who has a blog full of information and hope for women who suffer from Endometriosis.  Check out her blog: www.cureendometriosis.com

So, it's a lot to take in.  It's a lot of information.  It's sometimes too much for me to digest on some days.  And it's also important to shout it from the roof tops to make people aware that this is out there.  You never know, it might help someone in the long run that you know about this disease.

Remember to be kind to one another and live life to the fullest.  Don't take each other for granted and live in every moment! 

Life in an ABBA song

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

Some of you are too young to know or care about the Swedish Pop Group, ABBA.  Some of you danced to the remixes of Dancing Queen and Lay All Your Love On Me (Erasure and Tribute cds) in college and some of you danced in the living room to their 8 Tracks.  Ya, I said it!  8-Tracks!!!  When I hear an ABBA song, memories flood my brain.  I am instantly happy.  I sing along.  Happy.  I secretly dance while vacuuming, as I have my iPod running the entire ABBA box set.  Contentment.  Who would have thought cleaning the house would be this much fun?

There are songs about happiness and love and heart-break and sadness; fun, memories, friendships, dreams, and all the good stuff that a song can possibly contain.  One of my favorite movies of all time is Muriel's Wedding.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!  It's about a young girl, who saw herself as nothing, was told she was nothing and believed it, but through a friend, some gumption and her ABBA songs, she found out who she was (through thick and thin).  "Mamma Mia", the musical, has been out since 1999 and as we've seen in the musical (and recently in film), life can truly be told in an ABBA song.  Some people may say that life should be more than just a song, but even the most simple songs have so many intricacies.  The words, the melody, the harmonies, the bridge, the intro, the instruments all weaving together to produce a sense of happiness in the soul.    

"Standing calmly at the crossroad, no desire to run.
There's no hurry anymore, when all is said and done."

So, (if you're an ABBA fan) what ABBA song tells a story in your life?  Break out the old LPs, or cds, iTunes library, or if you're a die hard, pull out the 8 track and find your favorite ABBA song.  Play it. Play it Again.  Sing at the top of your lungs.  Smile and be happy that something as simple as a song from a 70's pop group can flood your mind of memories and you can find life again in an ABBA song!  I've always related to "Thank you for the music".  My life is in this song and I turn around and thank ABBA for all the music they sang and wrote.  I will always be a fan and always see my life in an ABBA song.

"I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me"

The Knitting Conundrum

During the Summer months I have all my skeins of yarn staring at me from various places in my house.  They're hanging out of baskets, or my knitting bin and even the guest room closet....just sitting there softly whispering to me....knit with me, knit with me, knit with me.....but I have excuses.  "It's Summer, my yarn friends.  It's too hot and I have vacations to do and friends to see." 

Well, now it's the Fall and very soon to be Winter (as they are even predicting snow this week), UGH!!!  But, now here I sit, staring back at the yarn.  I had so many plans to knit.  Knit hats, scarves, lap blankets, prayer shawls for Christmas gifts and now it is almost 2 months until Christmas and I'm not that fast at knitting.  I don't even think Wonder Woman could knit fast enough to finish all the projects I wanted to accomplish before Christmas.  I do this to myself every year.  It's like a broken New Year's resolution.  Every single year, I say, "If I start projects in January and knit until Spring, I'd be done.  But I don't.  I feel like a Christmas shopper on Christmas Eve.  If only I fly to Australia during our Summer (because it's Winter there) and knit all Summer and then fly back and finish up the knitting on time.  Then I won't have yarn whispering to me during the heated Summer months and I won't be looking at the skeins guilt ridden because I haven't paid them any attention.

So, the solutions are as follows:  1.  Knit like a mad woman.  Night and day and get them all done.  2. Pick only a couple of the projects and knit.  3.  Knit all the easy ones and see where I end up on time or 4.  Knit nothing and start the "New Year's resolution" syndrome all over again.   I think I will end up working with a combination of 1 and 3 and go from there. 

I love to knit and I want to knit more but I just make up all these excuses not too.  Sometimes knitting is intimidating.  It might be crooked.  I might skip a stitch and look like it has a whole in it.  The colors I pick might not match and it looks more like a 70's blanket.  Sure, there are many excuses, but I have to suck it up and knit.  Just pick up the needles and knit.  Just pick a project and not be afraid of it and knit.  Knit! Knit! Knit!  We'll see how this little pep talk of mine does, but it is, indeed, my knitting conundrum.  Happy Knitting to all of my fellow knitters and may your needles work with ease and your yarn keep untangled!

The Amazing Race

The new season of the reality show "The Amazing Race" started tonight and I'm really excited that the show is back on.  I wouldn't say that I'm a reality show junkie (although 2 out of 4 of my blogs are about reality shows) but there are a few that I wouldn't touch with a 10 ft. pole, but this is, by far, my very favorite.  Yes, there is some greed involved (what reality show doesn't revolve around that?) and some bickering and arguing (mostly within the teams of two) but the Amazing Race, in my opinion, brings something different to the table.  This game takes us around the world where we get a glimpse of cultures, traditions, world history, eclectic music, ethnic foods and the power of teamwork, family and perseverance.  We watch teams of two overcome fears, stereotypes, family dynamics, frustrations and games of strength, wits and endurance and when a team is eliminated from the race they share their experience of a lifetime, their reactions of how the race has changed their lives and what truly matters in this life.  Funny how a reality show that is aired for one hour each week is a conduit to remind people of what is really important. How navigating through other countries, getting out of your comfort zones, teamwork, patience, calm attitudes and the ability to follow the rules can change someone's life.  But it does.  Sure, they show the frustrations, the arguments, the temper tantrums, the back biting, but the Amazing Race has a good way to not dwell on that as some of the other reality shows might do (because of ratings, etc.).

I always imagine myself on the amazing race. Kind of like a "what if" scenario.  It would be so cool to travel to this place or that place, or I might say, there would've been no way I could have accomplished that challenge.  But I'm still able to pull some of the valuable lessons from the Amazing Race and use it for my own "Amazing Race" aka: Life.  I can still use many of those traits that I see on the show within my daily life; at work, at home, at church.  We can make our daily lives "Amazing", so to speak.  I know that might sound corny, but it's true.  Most of us won't be able to compete on a show like "The Amazing Race", but we can take all of what we see and apply it right now. 

At work, you have teamwork and problem solving that can be used.  At home, you have those around you who you love and appreciate and should cherish each moment and make memories and you don't have to travel around the world to do it.  Stop and take a look around you and wonder in the gifts and and the abundance that you have right now.  At church or any other avenue of faith, religion and spirituality, there is the test of comfort zones, from sitting somewhere different, (I know that's a stretch, huh?) to introducing yourself to someone, to singing a new song that you're unfamiliar with, to enjoying the community you currently visit each week.  We can recognize the strengths, gifts and talents of each person and appreciate all of that abundance right in front of our noses and use those to bring good to each other.

While it would be wonderful to have that opportunity to race around the world and experience all that is "The Amazing Race", we can experience some of that right now and create a life that can be truly "Amazing".  Just stop a moment, take a look around, love those around you, make memories now (don't wait) and know that you are capable of amazing things in your life, right here and right now.  I love this quote from Mother Teresa "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."  If we could concentrate on that concept at home, work, church, community and every where we may go, what an wonderful world this could be (just like the song).  That would truly be "Amazing"!!  So, go out and live your Amazing Race! 

The Crockpot Connection

I think I've gone wild with my slow cooker this weekend.  I've cooked two meals and I have enough leftovers for a week or more.  What is it about the slow cooker that I'm attracted to?  Is it the fact that I love comfort foods simmering away all day and dinner is ready when I come home?  Is it that I love finding new ways to cook different dishes but I don't have to worry too much because I dump it all in the slow cooker and let it cook all day? Do I fall in love with my crockpot all over again when the weather gets chilly and crisp?  The answer is Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!  I'm a sucker for easy recipes, and to have a "fairly" no fail recipe to prepare and all I have to do is to cut up or plop in some frozen meats or veggies and spices and herbs and put the lid on the slow cooker and set it to low, I will have the satisfaction in knowing that what I'm going to make is going to be delicious.  It's one pot to clean and there is most always leftovers for lunch.  I'm not a huge leftover fan, but the crockpot dishes.... I LOVE the leftovers.  I even have recipes to make breads and desserts in the crockpot and while I haven't tried those recipes yet, I'm not far off.  I have recipes for appetizers, drinks and side dishes too. 

I have to admit, I'm not a great cook.  I can't create dishes on the top of my head and I don't really know what flavors go with what and I'm notorious for burning or forgetting an ingredient.  With the slow cooker, the recipes and directions are fairly easy and we end up eating a delicious meal.  I feel good that I can cook something.  Plus with our busy schedules, I load up the slow cooker in the morning and when I come home I switch it to warm and it's ready when we're ready to eat.

So, I sound like I should be on QVC trying to sell you a slow cooker (and if they were to call me up and pay me, I'd do it) but I was just so happy to eat yummy, healthy and delicious meals this weekend that I wanted to share my accomplishments, however small they might be.  If you are looking for some good recipes for your slow cooker as the Fall and Winter seasons approach, Betty Crocker has a lot of great recipes.  Also, Stephanie O'Dea author of the book "Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking" has some fabulous ideas that are healthy, east to make, gluten free (although you can use the regular ingredients if you are not gluten resistant) and the recipes are some what inexpensive.  She will be coming out with a new cookbook in late December and I can't wait.  She also has a blog where you can get some of her recipes:  crockpot365.blogspot.com .  McCormick's also has a slow cooker packet/recipe line and the packets I've tried have been great.  There are easy ways to make dinner now a days, but with the slow cooker, you can have the best of both worlds.  You can use healthy ingredients, herbs, spices, frozen, fresh or canned veggies, frozen or fresh meats, low maintenance preparation and directions and a tasty meal that has been simmering all day and when it's done the meal fills our bellies with warmth and nourishment and comfort.  We can all use that from time to time.  Oh, and a slow cooker recipe is great when you have family or company over.  You will be able to spend more time with family and company and you won't have to be stuck in the kitchen all day, or you won't have to spend a lot of money going out all the time either.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my slow cooker experience and I'll be posting about my great kitchen buddy, the crockpot, from time to time.  It makes me happy and confident in my not so great cooking skills.  I'm not afraid of my slow cooker anymore.  Dare to slow cook.  Connect with your slow cooker, connect with your inner chef (though simple it may be, like mine), connect to friends and family through comfort food, and you can even connect with your healthy side.  It's all in the Crockpot Connection..  the Lovers (of good food) the dreamers (of cooking a decent meal) and me (a Crockpot chef).

Mindless tv show that has me hooked

I love tv.  I grew up watching tv.  A lot of my childhood memories are linked to movies and television.  I remember Summers where my best friend, Jamie, my sister, Missy and I roller skated around our garage to Xanadu or how we formed our Fraggle Rock Club "Down in Fraggle Rock!", how we danced and danced to the music of Grease and Grease 2.  Our Saturday mornings consisted of singing to School House Rock, having the "smurfiest of days" with the Smurfs and saving the world with the Hall of Justice.  Oh there were days and days that the tv was never turned on.  We played and played on our bikes, through the sprinklers, and roller skated in the sunset, played bored games until our eyes were cross-eyed, but television was still a big part of my childhood.  My husband says I have a gift when it comes to tv viewing: That no matter what day or time, if the tv is on, I am able to find something on to watch.  While sometimes I believe when he says that that he is poking fun at me, but I chalk it up to the training I received growing up.  Nowadays I have it on sometimes to keep me company and I do have my favorite shows that I love to watch, but the one show that has completely sucked me in is America's Got Talent.

I don't ever call in and vote, but I'm completely sucked in to some of the absurdity, some of the magic, some of the music and some of the stories of these real down to earth people.  I thoroughly enjoyed tonight's airing especially when Prince Poppycock and Jackie Evancho came out.  It's pure grandiose entertainment verses a heavenly voice.  Those two are my absolute favorites and out of the 10 acts they showed this evening, only 4 will get to move on to the finals. I will have to tape tomorrow evening's show when they announce those that will get to move on as I will be out tomorrow evening.  We don't have a DVR although I'm considering obtaining one, but we can still record with our trusty VCR player.  I'll be anxious to know who is voted through.

Now I'm not mentioning AGT to get you to watch it or anything, but to remind you that it's ok to indulge a bit, even when it comes to television.  It's ok to watch mindless tv once in awhile.  We need to give our brains a break and sometimes zone out and if you happen to be watching a "reality" based show, then so be it.  Everything in moderation, right?  It's good to turn the tv off and take a walk, or meet up with friends or attend a social function, but sometimes mindless tv is the solution for the day.

However, if you use You Tube or if you can see her clips from AGT on Hulu or NBC.com, I do recommend watching Jackie Evancho as she is just darling and fabulous all rolled up in one.  She has a 30 year old voice wrapped in a 10 year old body.  She's amazing! I'm rooting for her.

So, celebrate in mindless tv shows.  Relax and have fun!  Many memories can still be created even if you indulge in reality tv, cooking shows, comedy or drama series and yes....I'll say it...even sports, and it's ok to get sucked in a bit.  I don't believe TV has ever rotted my brain (ok, well, maybe a little LOL!).  Just don't sit too close to the television.  You'll ruin your eye-sight!

Pardon me, if I ramble on and on and on....

Sheesh, I put so much pressure on myself trying to think of clever things to talk about but I have so much running through my head that I can't really narrow it all down.  I'm sitting here drinking one of my favorite coffee blends (Starbucks Anniversary blend, which only comes out in Aug./Sept.)  with one of my favorite chai blends (Orca Spice Chai- Sugar Free) and drinking it out of my favorite mug (a pink mug with Snow White and all the princesses and she is highlighted with the saying "You're the Fairest of the All").  I love anything Snow White and my trip to Disneyland this Summer just enhanced my sick Disney obsession even further.  But, I digress. 

What I wanted to say about all the "favorites" is that it is a good thing to "play favorites", so to speak.  It warms the heart, the mind and the body.  The coffee brings me back to my Starbucks days, which sometimes I miss a lot.  The chai brings back the taste of fall and warms my body with its spices and my favorite mugs brings back memories of my friends and family, all the memories of Disneyland visits..... all in my mug.  It's amazing all that is really contained in a cup of coffee.  I truly believe in the saying (how does it go?)," what you get out of things is what you put into it".  Or something like that, I think.  But you get the idea.  I put in my favorite things in my coffee that remind me of things in my life and I've created wonderful memories in a cup.  Not only does the coffee warm me, but the memories, the feelings of family and friendship warms my heart, too.  I love how it really becomes "the little things in life" that sometimes mean the most.  Now sure, I can take this and say this also can go the opposite way.  The littlest thing that someone does or says can hurt the most and cause a lot of pain and I've also had my share of those memories too.  I used to be able to dwell on that for the longest time  and I had more unhappy memories I could dwell on but I choose now to find the "good" little things in life. 

Just yesterday, someone came up to me and asked me if I was pregnant.  I had to chuckle because of many reasons and while I could dwell on the fact that it would almost be impossible (I say "almost" because you never know) but according to the Dr. it will be unlikely that I will be able to physically have children.  So, I said to her "No, I think it's just a combination of my belly fat and the drape-like top I am wearing".  I chuckled because I knew it embarrassed her a little and I wanted her to know I wasn't offended.  I chuckled because I never thought someone would boldly say that to someone anymore, cuz  you just never know.  I chuckled because I'm officially reminded that a diet is next on the agenda.  So many chuckles over one little comment.  I can choose to dwell on the negative (and there can be a lot of negative if I wanted to live in that) but I am choosing to create happiness within the one little comment.  I chose to chuckle.  I chose to admire and laugh at my belly that looks a little like a baby belly (Matt has one too, but no one ever asks him if he's pregnant! Sheesh!  LOL).  I just say it's my food baby and in the voice of  Mike Myers as the evil chubby character in Austin Powers: Goldmember movie, I say "Food, GET EN MEH BELLEH! (It's a scottish like accent). 


So, I warned you that I will ramble.  I guess the point is that it truly is all small stuff.  The book "Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff" is true.  I haven't read that book, but maybe I should.  I agree with the title, anyway.  Enjoy the small things, laugh at the little things, smile at the little quirks, choose to live in the positive little memories.  All in a cup of coffee.  Maybe I should just switch to decaf.  NAH!!!

So why a blog?

My very first blog.  I never thought I would be doing this, but I just decided... why not?  With all the stuff going on in my life, I wanted an outlet to sort out my thoughts and to share and maybe even help and encourage someone.  My title of the blog "A day in the life of a pastor's spouse" doesn't necessarily mean that each blog will be about being a pastor's spouse, because there is more about me than just that.  But I needed a title.  So, there it is.  Not all my blogs will be funny or witty, or maybe none of them will be that.  I just think I've had things to say for awhile now and this could be one of the solutions to get the opportunity to say some of it.  I plan to blog about people in my life,work, singing, childhood memories, politics, religion, feelings, health and wellness, food and recipes, things that and people who inspire me, likes and dislikes and even my current and favorite TV show or movie I've recently seen.  I don't know how often I will be able to update but I'm hoping I will have time to update it often.

So, I hope you will enjoy this blog (whoever is out there reading this).  I will write again soon, maybe even later this evening.  But for now, be blessed and happy.