14 Years Ago today - my Dad died. It is still soooooooooooo close to my heart. I Love You Dad.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Spring Has Sprung
Well, Spring has sprung and with it come many new and beautiful things.......new born baby animals at Kinderfarm Park which I frequent often and new blooms on all of my flowers and trees. Each of these makes me extremely happy every season.
My husband and I have also started a new walking regimen where we try to get in some much needed exercise and gives us a chance at the end of the day to touch base and see what's going on in each others lives.
I am thankful for my husband, my family, and the beauty of this Spring season. I hope that everyone has a beautiful Holiday and that they share it with those they love. As always, Terrie
Thursday, April 10, 2014
April and Spring and Lots of Happy Things
April brings a lot of Joy and Happiness into my life and those of my family members. Of course there is Spring and the blossoming plants and flowers - but we also celebrate many family members birthdays who we love so much. On Easter we will be celebrating not only Christ's resurrection but also my sister's birthday as she was born on 20 April. I will also have celebrations for my husband, my son, my brother and my daughter as they were also born in April - so as you can see, we are very blessed. However, right now I want to say some things about my 'beautiful' sister and my "loving Mom."
Karen is my 'rock'. Always has been. She has been more than just a 'baby' sister - she has always acted like my 'older - more wiser sister'. I have always felt a little 'sheltered' by her and I love her for that because I've also been a little bit too trusting growing up. She has always been there for me - no matter what the situation and most recently has gotten me through a 'rough spot'. She has talked endlessly to me so that I can sort things through and try to begin to understand why a 'friend' that I had since I was 5 years old would suddenly tell me she no longer wanted to be a part of my life.
I also want to thank my mother who I know I have upset by talking to her late into the night trying to understand what I did to lose such a good friend. I have been asking - what is wrong with me. I feel such a lose that it is sometimes overwhelming and I need my Mom to tell me everything will be okay again.
I suddenly realize that the truth is "it is FAMILY who will ALWAYS be there for you - NO MATTER WHAT". Family will be joyous for you when you achieve something you've worked for, family will be there when things aren't going quite so wonderful and you are hurting and need a shoulder to cry on. Family is with you - ALWAYS". It dawns on me that maybe - just maybe - I didn't do anything wrong and I just have to let this chapter of my life END.
For all your love, support and understanding and 'unconditional love' Karen and Mom - Thank you. I love you so much.
As Always, Terrie
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
New Perspective
Hello and Happy March 25th - Hard to believe winter is still trying to stay with us into Spring - but it is. Today it is flurrying in MD and I hear that VA has 3 inches! My Easter flowers are starting to burst through the saturated ground and some of them have even bloomed. Funny how Mother Nature works sometimes.
Anyway, it has been 3 weeks since the hubby and I have begun our Medifast diet. He is down 19 lbs and I am down 10 lbs. That's about right since we are both essentially eating the same portions and meals and he is twice my weight to begin with. Positive things I can say about Medifast are: 1) It's not that hard to follow; 2) You really don't have to think much about what you're going to eat since you have their pre-packaged foods that just mix with water; 3) It hasn't seemed like I've struggled too much to lose this weight; and 4) I have not been hungry if I stick to the plan of eating about every 2 1/2 hours or so. The negatives are as follows: 1) It's expensive! Every 6 pack of anything you buy from Medifast costs $16.95. Multiply that by the 5 meals you HAVE to eat everyday times the amount of weeks, months you need to follow this diet and it is a WHOPPING amount of money! 2) The food is OK......I had to learn to LIKE it and set my mind to sticking with the plan - it's edible but not GREAT. 3) The shakes and bars are the best and I believe I may continue these when I get to where I want to be to MAINTAIN. 4) I miss being able to eat FRUIT, BREAD, CARBS.......and of course - WINE. That will come but I MISS THEM! That being said - the diet is working, I am making my husband salads every day and water to take to work and we are following the Lean and Green meal once per day as recommended in the Medifast 5 and 1 Plan. It is quite doable - but I can't wait to go out to eat at my favorite restaruant "FOUNDERS" and have a 'cheat' day after EASTER some time. We are doing it - TOGETHER - and that's what counts.
That's the update on our diet and I can add one more thing. I've kept my promise to myself to at least get in 30 minutes of exercise every day - mainly walking - and was locked out of my house today and had to climb through a small kitchen window to gain access back into my house. I did it minus the 10 lbs that used to be on body!!! Fit through just fine!!! LOL!
Anyway, it has been 3 weeks since the hubby and I have begun our Medifast diet. He is down 19 lbs and I am down 10 lbs. That's about right since we are both essentially eating the same portions and meals and he is twice my weight to begin with. Positive things I can say about Medifast are: 1) It's not that hard to follow; 2) You really don't have to think much about what you're going to eat since you have their pre-packaged foods that just mix with water; 3) It hasn't seemed like I've struggled too much to lose this weight; and 4) I have not been hungry if I stick to the plan of eating about every 2 1/2 hours or so. The negatives are as follows: 1) It's expensive! Every 6 pack of anything you buy from Medifast costs $16.95. Multiply that by the 5 meals you HAVE to eat everyday times the amount of weeks, months you need to follow this diet and it is a WHOPPING amount of money! 2) The food is OK......I had to learn to LIKE it and set my mind to sticking with the plan - it's edible but not GREAT. 3) The shakes and bars are the best and I believe I may continue these when I get to where I want to be to MAINTAIN. 4) I miss being able to eat FRUIT, BREAD, CARBS.......and of course - WINE. That will come but I MISS THEM! That being said - the diet is working, I am making my husband salads every day and water to take to work and we are following the Lean and Green meal once per day as recommended in the Medifast 5 and 1 Plan. It is quite doable - but I can't wait to go out to eat at my favorite restaruant "FOUNDERS" and have a 'cheat' day after EASTER some time. We are doing it - TOGETHER - and that's what counts.
That's the update on our diet and I can add one more thing. I've kept my promise to myself to at least get in 30 minutes of exercise every day - mainly walking - and was locked out of my house today and had to climb through a small kitchen window to gain access back into my house. I did it minus the 10 lbs that used to be on body!!! Fit through just fine!!! LOL!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Striving For Health
Hello - Happy Thursday [6 March 2014]:
So my husband and I are trying out the Medifast Diet......this is Day 4 and we are still getting used to the pre-packaged food and having our Lean and Green meals every night. I can't say that is has been 'hard' but it does take some getting used to the less than flavorful soups, snacks and not being able to just eat what I'm craving. That being said - we are on our way to losing some weight before my husband has to undergo a knee replacement. Less weight means - less weight on the new knee and hopefully a quicker recovery. Wish us luck as the weekend is going to be our 'rough spot' I believe. No alcohol either!!!
Have a great weekend everyone. As always - Terrie
Yep! It's March and there is still snow on the ground and more to come this weekend!!!
So my husband and I are trying out the Medifast Diet......this is Day 4 and we are still getting used to the pre-packaged food and having our Lean and Green meals every night. I can't say that is has been 'hard' but it does take some getting used to the less than flavorful soups, snacks and not being able to just eat what I'm craving. That being said - we are on our way to losing some weight before my husband has to undergo a knee replacement. Less weight means - less weight on the new knee and hopefully a quicker recovery. Wish us luck as the weekend is going to be our 'rough spot' I believe. No alcohol either!!!
Have a great weekend everyone. As always - Terrie
Monday, February 17, 2014
Getting Back To Basics
It's President's Day {2014} and the grands were off from school and my hubby and I are leaving on a 10 day cruise - so - I thought immediately "I need to spend some quality time with them before I leave and do some crafts". So - we decide we should make some 'home made play dough' and we preceed to follow the on-line recipe and WHALAA - we come out with a sticky gooey mess that sticks to their hands and is not usable as any kind of play-dough I have ever encountered!!!
So - no big deal - we proceed to put 'said' play-dough into a plastic bag - wash our hands and go upstairs to the playroom to build forts! This is going well until 'youngest' grandchild doesn't want to 'take turns' so we finish up there and go back to PLAN A. After adding a bit more flour to the play-dough - we are in business. Christmas cookie cutters emerge and we begin making stars, and trees, and stockings and hearts. One grandchild borrows from the others color and it becomes three master-pieces. It just reminds me that the best laid plans just need a little tweaking and God's plan is laid out right in front of us.
Thank you for the best day - we laughed, we played, we hugged, we shared. I'll be okay for the 10 days we are gone and so will my grands and their parents and the rest of my family. BREATHE!
As Always, Terrie
So - no big deal - we proceed to put 'said' play-dough into a plastic bag - wash our hands and go upstairs to the playroom to build forts! This is going well until 'youngest' grandchild doesn't want to 'take turns' so we finish up there and go back to PLAN A. After adding a bit more flour to the play-dough - we are in business. Christmas cookie cutters emerge and we begin making stars, and trees, and stockings and hearts. One grandchild borrows from the others color and it becomes three master-pieces. It just reminds me that the best laid plans just need a little tweaking and God's plan is laid out right in front of us.
Thank you for the best day - we laughed, we played, we hugged, we shared. I'll be okay for the 10 days we are gone and so will my grands and their parents and the rest of my family. BREATHE!
As Always, Terrie
Saturday, February 15, 2014
OK - So I put up the picture of beautiful daisies in the bright sunshine because I'm READY for Spring!
Love the snow we've had - it's beautiful and I've had a blast playing in it - but now I'm ready for some vitamin D and sunshine in my life. Just saying!
February 28th will mark an entire year that I've been 'retired' from working for the Navy. Spent 36 years with them and proud of my accomplishments. I have to say that I have kind of slacked on my exercise program, nutrition, alcohol consumption during this past year and IT SHOWS! Anyway, on March 1st I will begin getting back at it by starting the Medifast Diet to kick start some much needed weight loss [with my husband] and I am so looking forward to fitting back into my size 12 pants, followed by my size 10 clothing. I refuse to go out and buy LARGER items!!! I know I can do this.
Wish me luck.
As Always, Terrie
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
A 'good' friend of mine once gave me a coffee mug that said "We will ALWAYS be friends - You Know Too Much"! I loved that mug for so many more reasons than she could even have imagined. Sure - it was funny [AND TRUE] - I thought! But one day - very recently - I learned that sometimes, even if you have spent your whole life 'loving' someone as a 'dear friend' - [I'd go so far as to even say 'sister'] - that you find out what you thought was 'forever' turns out to be - I just can't be around you anymore!
My heart is broken. You're right! "I don't understand". I never will.
Terrie
Friday, February 7, 2014
Freeing Your Mind
Hello - It's been quite a while since I've sat down to blog about anything.....
Lately, I've been having problems falling to sleep because - while my body is ready - my mind isn't. Things are going around inside my head and the conversation I'm having with myself [trying to work things through] leaves me awake and exhausted in the morning.
Today, after another night of having my mind busy and craving sleep, I decided to go for a massage. I can't say enough regarding how our entire bodies relate to what's going on inside our heads. After an hour of massage, I was able to 'compartmentalize' all the STUFF that's been taking away my sleep and sapping my energy, and [I believe] I can now let things work themselves out and finally get a good night's sleep.
Highly recommend this if you too are having sleep problems. I feel somehow lighter, more focused, and yes - RESTED! Amazing what 1 hour of taking care of one self can do.
Have a Wonderful, Relaxed, Refreshed day.
As Always, Terrie
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Things I Have Learned This Past Year
Well, my husband and I just celebrated 35 years of marriage yesterday [13 Jan 2014]......it really doesn't seem like we could have possibly been married for that long!!! I won't lie and tell you it has all been 'bliss' or 'roses', "Marriage Is Hard!" I will say that it has been WORTH IT! "He" has been WORTH IT and 'WE' have been worth it. It is also coming up on my one year Anniversary for being a 'retired' person. Here is a listing of some of the things I have learned this past year.
1) Not everyone is 'happy' that I retired! Don't get me wrong, my husband is supportive and feels that I have earned it after working for the Navy for 36 years. Let's face it - I've worked in one capacity or other since I was 13 years old......first at a Seafood Restaurant during junior high school and then at retail stores until I got my BIG job with the Navy for $2.10 an hour in October of 1975. Life went on from there and I clawed my way up the ladder, broke the proverbial 'glass ceiling' and made it to a GS-13 Installation Program Director at the Washington Navy Yard for the Safety Department. Pretty good for a girl who has always been afraid of change and not always so sure of herself!
2) I still don't know what I want to do "when I grow up"! I gotta tell you that I am still having difficulty trying to figure out what I'm here for. What my purpose is. How I can make a difference in this world. Sure I make small differences in my immediate family's lives - by babysitting my grandkids, by helping to pick the grand's up from school if their parent's are not available, by taking day trips with my Mom to see my brother at his store in Federalsburg where we get to play store helper for a few hours. "BUT" - I still haven't found my nook 'post-retirement'! Seriously, I just picked up an application from Home Goods today and am contemplating just putting in 24 hours a week there to get out of the house! I can only clean this house so many times and go to the gym or mall to walk before it becomes 'boring'.
3) Sometimes a person you have LOVED can REALLY disappoint you. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
4) Sometimes I just get the purest sense of JOY out of the 'littlest things' and I LOVE THAT! It might be a word spoken out of the mouths of one of my grands or a look my husband gives me or a remark my children will express. I don't know when it's going to happen - but it does and then - WOW - that little tingle starts at the top of my head and runs down to my toes and there it is - ZING!
This has been happening more and more lately as I find myself more able to focus in on what's happening around me. I think I am FINALLY learning to 'be in the moment' and 'appreciating what I have.' This might be because I am getting older - but - it feels wonderful and good and it fills me up in spaces where I've needed it for a long time. "Love when that happens".
Anyway - that's what's been on my mind lately.
As always, Terrie
1) Not everyone is 'happy' that I retired! Don't get me wrong, my husband is supportive and feels that I have earned it after working for the Navy for 36 years. Let's face it - I've worked in one capacity or other since I was 13 years old......first at a Seafood Restaurant during junior high school and then at retail stores until I got my BIG job with the Navy for $2.10 an hour in October of 1975. Life went on from there and I clawed my way up the ladder, broke the proverbial 'glass ceiling' and made it to a GS-13 Installation Program Director at the Washington Navy Yard for the Safety Department. Pretty good for a girl who has always been afraid of change and not always so sure of herself!
2) I still don't know what I want to do "when I grow up"! I gotta tell you that I am still having difficulty trying to figure out what I'm here for. What my purpose is. How I can make a difference in this world. Sure I make small differences in my immediate family's lives - by babysitting my grandkids, by helping to pick the grand's up from school if their parent's are not available, by taking day trips with my Mom to see my brother at his store in Federalsburg where we get to play store helper for a few hours. "BUT" - I still haven't found my nook 'post-retirement'! Seriously, I just picked up an application from Home Goods today and am contemplating just putting in 24 hours a week there to get out of the house! I can only clean this house so many times and go to the gym or mall to walk before it becomes 'boring'.
3) Sometimes a person you have LOVED can REALLY disappoint you. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
4) Sometimes I just get the purest sense of JOY out of the 'littlest things' and I LOVE THAT! It might be a word spoken out of the mouths of one of my grands or a look my husband gives me or a remark my children will express. I don't know when it's going to happen - but it does and then - WOW - that little tingle starts at the top of my head and runs down to my toes and there it is - ZING!
This has been happening more and more lately as I find myself more able to focus in on what's happening around me. I think I am FINALLY learning to 'be in the moment' and 'appreciating what I have.' This might be because I am getting older - but - it feels wonderful and good and it fills me up in spaces where I've needed it for a long time. "Love when that happens".
Anyway - that's what's been on my mind lately.
As always, Terrie
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Inner Strength
Happy New Year - 2014!
There is a saying that goes like this, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters when compared to what lies 'within us'."
I have been thinking how true this is personally!!! These past few months - right before the new year -
have tested me. I have several things that now lie 'behind' me that I have to let go of - whether I chose them or they chose me! I also have many options 'before' me and decisions that have to be made that will change my life forever. So now I am searching inwardly to find the strength from 'within' to get me through to all my tomorrows. At this time, I can choose to look back at what once was and dwell on it, or I can look to the future and imagine what I want my life to be on a positive note. That is what I am choosing. It will not be an easy road - but I will travel it ever looking to my inward strength to pull me through one day at a time.
Wishing everyone a 'happy and healthy' New Year. Thanks for listening.
As always, Terrie
There is a saying that goes like this, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters when compared to what lies 'within us'."
I have been thinking how true this is personally!!! These past few months - right before the new year -
Wishing everyone a 'happy and healthy' New Year. Thanks for listening.
As always, Terrie
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