My Retirement Journey

Can you believe this?  It's the last day of November.  This Autumn has been wonderful and so beautiful.  ❤️  On to December and Christmas... Today we dropped off donations, Brady walked Jubel, and I took back items to Amazon at Kohl's.  While I was there the Black Friday sale was still on plus I had 30% off.  So I bought this snowman that was $63 for $20.  Christmas is fun.

Every three months, the women's ministry at church has a luncheon for older women.  Yesterday, they served had ham, and all the Thanksgiving dishes... potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, and roll.  And for dessert, chocolate cake or carrot cake.  Yum I took a spoonful of each item and substituted the meal for my mean and green.  Not exactly Optavia legal but sometimes it's life.  It was good.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a quiet one but good.  Kari still was suffering from a sinus infection but was better.  We had steak at brunch and salmon for dinner.  All was good.  Riley cooked both. Saturday Kari went to work.  That was a good sign.  No one else seems to have caught her illness.  That's good too.   Sunday I woke up and found Kari had all the Thanksgiving/ Fall decorations down.  We are moving on to Christmas.  My mind has a hard time wrapping my head around that idea.  Although, we've been shopping online for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for gifts.  Hopefully my shopping is nearly done.

The fall season of orange, gold, and brown is suddenly over.  Pumpkins are put away.  But we continue to give thanks. It's been a lovely autumn.  October was brilliant with color in the trees.  November has been subdued but cozy.  Beautiful sunny days were gorgeous. Kari has been sick this week and didn't go to work Tuesday and Wednesday.  She's been left alone to sleep.   We are looking forward to decorating for Christmas.  We already had a few Christmas things out mixed in with the Thanksgiving decorations at our house.

This is my niece's turkey for her Friendsgiving.  The pineapple is placed in the cavity. I think that's clever.   Anyway, everyone has been out at the stores etc.  I think they took the week off.  Riley and I went to Costco today thinking the crowds would be seen on Wednesday.  It was crazy.  I had to take a deep breath and  put on my patience. That means I had to think about it as I traveled thru Costco.  Also, I smile to people which usually gets me a smile back.  We were all in it together. We are having salmon and steak.  My crew doesn't care for the traditional meal.  Last year we did at Debra's house and we've gone out for a traditional dinner.  But, this year we are going for the nontraditional. I am thankful we have the ability to have food and celebrate Thanksgiving.  

This is a mom with sons and mom with daughter picture.  Family.  I am so thankful for each of them, and so proud of them too. 💗 

Kari turned 43 last Saturday.  This is us celebrating her in West Seattle at the Seattle Fish Company for dinner.  I am so thankful for my loving daughter.

Last week we got together for breakfast.  This is my Young at Heart group that I see every Thursday.  I met them since retiring last March/ April.  I am thankful to know them.  

Today this little girl is having surgery.  She is my cousin's daughter's little girl.  It is to make room for her brain to grow in her skull.  She had the first surgery last year and this will be her second.   Today I am grateful that medicine has advanced to where she can have this surgery.  🙏 I pray all goes well and she recovers to enjoy Christmas.  Amen

Yesterday I was at Women's Bible Study and we are studying the books of Thessaloinians 1 and 2.  We are still in 1.  I am grateful for the word of God.  I see lessons in it sometimes that I didn't see before.  Soak this scripture in.  Not only give thanks but give thanks with a grateful heart.  How else could you?  Well, many thanks aren't heartfilled.  It's jusr a moment.  But Paul says to dig deep in our hearts and feel gratitude. I am grateful for learning to find gratitude in my heart and not just passing things up.

Veterans Day was last Saturday.  My dad was a veteran.  He served in the Navy in the Korean War.  My brothers hadn't reached the age to go to the Vietnam War when it ended.  Many students I knew went to that war.  My dad was in the Veterans Hospital in 1968-1969 for MS.  I'd go to visit him and there were always wounded soldiers there.  Some on a gurney because they had no legs.  Many had alcohol under their pillow.  That experience gave me a closer look at what soldiers sacrifice and more.  I am grateful they are there to look after us... and protect us.  I wish they would pay them!

This takes place at the WA State fair grounds.  We went last Saturday.  It was raining hard this morning.  There had been significant wind last night due to lots of things outside tipped over.  That didn't stop us.  Off we went, Kari and I.  First stop was her favorite jewelry place.  We were there an hour plus.  Then it was one booth after another.  Lots of people.  Kari got rings and gifts.  Me too, just not as many.   We went to Applebee's on South Hill, Puyallup.  Then on to Sumner to two stores for their Howntown Holidays.   Now I know it's November and that Christmas is around the corner, but I am not yet feeling it.  I've been watching the Christmas movies but not yet feeling it.  I guess I am hanging on to Autumn.  Maybe November 24, the day after Thanksgiving I will change my mind.   Anyway, I was grateful to meet cool people like Gayla at the jewelry booth.  I saw my friend Renee and her daughter Missy.  I was amazed we were there.  3 years ago, Co

Didn't post yesterday but I was going to mention how beautiful this time of year is.  September with summer slipping away and long shadows, October is brilliant with color, and November is subtle and subdued with coziness.  As the wind or rain chases out the last of the leaves, one can see winter coming in.  I am grateful for this time of year and enjoy each moment.

These are the two friends I mentioned yesterday.  I added the song The Dance because I am grateful to them for the roles and friendship they had in my life.  It's sad now, but I wouldn't have changed a thing to avoid pain. At church the other day, we talked about how we never know when someone special will become a part of your life.  Susie I worked with.  She was a believer and acted like it.  In the good, the bad and the ugly.  Barb I met at church.  We became friends immediately because we made jokes.  I loved her laugh. Friends are super important to me.  I love each one of them and are grateful to them.   They all make life better.

The past week was a little difficult.  Like in a sports game, I see myself making a T with my hands and calling out "Time".  This week's better and those things hanging me up aren't there.  I do find myself going through grieving this week for my two wonderful friends, Barb and Susie, that I lost to cancer.  I miss them.  I can't believe they are both gone.  Grief is such an odd thing.  I grieved my sister for a long time.  I miss my mom and dad, grandparents, but I guess it's more natural to accept their loss.  I believe in life after death, so its me that's the problem in the here and now.  https://youtu.be/iYhnFvxTjok?si=0FBwfgptiQjWXu-o 

Happy Monday!  I have been mentioning taking time, pampering youself etc.  Here is another list to follow to improve this month.  I am trying hard to use my intuition and follow my pampering heart.  I forgot Personal on my Wellness Check.  Guess because that is the main focus for this month.  So far I've kept low key, chill for this weekend.  I made 5 beaded spiders.  I try to make something everyday because it brings me happiness.   I am grateful to find a way to express my creativity.  

The time change to Standard Time happened this weekend.  It will be March 10th when it changes again.  Boo.   Well, here it's dark sooner than 5 pm at some point.  Not my favorite time of year.  However, I don’t walk out to my car at the campus any longer.  Another plus is it's lighter in the mornings.  Besides there's nothing we can do but roll with it.  I am watching Christmas movies. Ok, so another thing I am grateful for is having a warm home and TV to stay out of the cold.

I am grateful to be retired and to have the freedoms it brings me.  I still enjoying waking up on Mondays and realizing I don't have to go to work.  Good decision to retire at 67 yrs old.

This is an older photo, but #1 I am grateful for family.  I love family and adopt people too. Today is the 2nd, so #2 I am grateful for health.  I work on it all the time.  

It's November.  I've been retired 11 months now.  Time to take stock on what I am doing and what I need to do in November. I mentioned that I felt we need to pamper ourselves this month, yet little by little work on a few things.  I am putting that together in my head now.  I know beading is a piece of the puzzle.  Here is my lastest attempts:  Spiritually:  I need to be more in touch with my own Intuition.  Sometimes church can cloud over that.  I know thay sounds odd and it's hard to explain.  But there's balance in all things. Social:  I could do better.  I am not sure how or if its time to do more.  Lots have Covid, so now may not be the time to mingle.  Sending cards, making sure gifts are given etc. I guess I  did alright September - October.   Creative:  Off the charts with making my spiders. Finance:  Could do better.  Need to scale back on spending online. Health:  Finally started losing a few pounds.  I went to the dentist f