Devotions

In Everything Give Thanks

Carol Ann Erhardt2 Comments

“”Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

Today is one of those days where I am more aware of my age and state in life. My brain feels like it’s underwater and swimming to reach the surface. I have more aches than usual. I retrieved my cane to assist in walking. I purchased the cane about 20 years ago for physical therapy exercises after I had shoulder surgery. Glad I kept it. I also have two walkers that belonged to my mom. One has no wheels and is the kind people put tennis balls on. The other has wheels and even a small seat if needed. My hubby used it during his trips to the Veteran’s Clinic. It was loaned to a dear friend when she was battling cancer. One day it will serve me, too. I am thankful to have them.

Why am I telling you this? I feel the need to be truthful about my season of life and not only the good days, but those that are more difficult. None of us can avoid aging. No amount of face lifts, Botox injections, or herbal supplements can halt what is part of God’s plan. For me, I’ve learned to accept the fact that my hair isn’t thick and easy to style any longer. And the wrinkles? I attribute them to smiling and laughing. The thin skinned hands that show the veins? They show a lifetime of labors of love.

Most days I waken with ease and the aches are not troublesome enough to bother with. Those are the best days. But even the days like this one, are happy days. There is a reason God has given me a new day. I’ll take joy in it and do my best to please Him.

There was another time, long, long ago when I couldn’t walk. When I was a baby and relied on my mother to teach me to stand. Perhaps the old saying is true…life is a circle. For now, I’m smiling and sipping a hot cup of tea to refresh my body and mind. I leave you with one final thought: Give thanks and be grateful in all circumstances. Trust God. Jesus did.

Health and Aging · Life in the “Golden Years”

A Tale of a Worm and a Dentist Appointment

Carol Ann Erhardt2 Comments

It’s a dark and stormy day so far. I know this weather with potential tornadoes is crossing our country and affecting many. I had an early dental appointment and made it home just before the heavy rain started. There is a worm taking a walk on the sidewalk. No umbrella. Guess he feels safe because the robins won’t come until the rain stops!

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My car is outside the garage hoping for a good washing from heaven.

What to do on a rainy day? Finnegan and Fergie are waiting patiently for their 11am feeding. As soon as I finish this post, I’m going to work on my diamond painting. I did finish another square last Friday. Trying to include this in my hobby rotations. Yesterday I colored a couple of pictures, and I worked some on the puzzle before bedtime.

With the rain, I will most likely spend the afternoon reading. I’m reading Pack up the Moon by Kristan Higgins. It’s a tearjerker. Since I borrowed it from Libby for my Kindle, I only have a limited time to finish it. It’s been my nighttime reading so far. A chapter a night.

Back to the dentist. My hygienist is very talkative. As she was cleaning today, she spent a lot of time talking about the science aspect of dentistry. A lot of talk about dry mouth, ingredients in different toothpastes, her class on dental aspects of patients with cancer, and on and on. My head was spinning and I couldn’t wait to escape! Usually I leave feeling refreshed, but not today. Today I left with thoughts about the medications I take and how they can affect my teeth, and more. Now I need to get my mind on something else. I really need my tea, but I have to wait before drinking anything hot. Sigh. Okay, on the grateful side…I’m grateful I have insurance to cover the cleanings twice a year. I’m grateful for having what the dentist said was good hygiene. And I’m grateful that soon I can have that cup of tea!

Life gets more complicated on the health side as one ages. Now it’s no longer just my achy joints I need to think about, but what medications I’m taking and how that and different toothpastes can affect the health of my teeth. See! I keep going back to those thoughts. And hoping I never have to move into a nursing home where I’ll be too feeble to take care of my teeth and no one else will do that for me. Yes, she talked about that, too. Okay, I know what I need to do. I need to pray about this because it’s a worry I don’t need to be carrying. That’s future. If I do what I can each day, that’s all I can do. And so I’ll ask God to remove these thoughts and replace them with truth!

May your day be full of good things and your heart be full of gratitude! Trudge on little worm! ‘Til next time!

hobbies · Life in the “Golden Years”

Church, Coasters, and Family Fun!

Carol Ann Erhardt2 Comments

Saturday I attended the Sip and Chat Women’s Event at church. We had a great time. Our speaker talked about Speed Limits in our life. “Speeding on the road can be a metaphor for the speeding we do in our daily lives.” She spoke about the different ways we speed, why we speed, why we should slow down, and how to slow down. Tie this in with a coffee and tea and pastries and it made a nice morning. But we also painted coasters. Stencils were provided for our use but some did their decorating free hand. I’m not that talented, so I chose a stencil. We used a mixture of paint pens. What made this morning even more special was attending it with my youngest daughter and my granddaughter.

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I finished painting my coasters after church yesterday. They will come in handy!

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I set my clocks ahead on Saturday at lunchtime so I would adjust by bedtime. It worked! It’s all a mind game, really.

This is going to be a quiet week. I plan on working on the puzzle, finishing the coloring of two pictures I’ve started, and reading. I definitely want some outside time tomorrow. My porch needs swept. There is a lot of flaking going on. Not sure what is causing that, but I’m not too happy about it. I think I’ll put out my wind chimes, too.

I colored two pictures over the weekend. This one I did with paint pens.

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And this one I did with water based markers.

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I colored both while watching television in the evenings. I try to keep my hands busy so I don’t crave munchies! Sometimes I crochet a little, too.

All in all I had a wonderful weekend. I hope you all did, too! Enjoy life, keep it simple, and remember to slow down so you can connect to God during your day.

Day by Day · hobbies

Finnegan’s New Tie and Life Update

Carol Ann Erhardt2 Comments
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Finnegan was given a St. Patrick’s Day tie to wear at his appointment on Wednesday. He didn’t try to get it off or even recognize he was wearing it (or maybe he was just proud of himself). I think it’s all the thick long hair that kept him from feeling it.

His doctor took time to really listen to my concerns which I’m very grateful for. When I suggested he might have heart worms, she didn’t just dismiss it. She did say his symptoms didn’t quite align, but it was definitely worth checking just to hopefully rule it out for peace of mind.

After she explained the new cat heartworm test was fairly accurate, I opted to have him tested. We’ll get the results today. However, she reminded me she talked to a specialist in cat sinus related issues and he suggested chronic rhinitis. I’m hoping this is what he does have. No, there’s no cure and the treatment is pretty much what we are following now. She suggested adding Benadryl for when he begins to have a runny nose. If he goes into full blown upper respiratory infection then he will need the antibiotic treatment. She doesn’t want to give it to him too often, because it is hard on his system and he can become immune to it. Lots of things to consider. But for now, we wait for the phone call.

I did take the tie off him after taking this picture because I didn’t want to take a chance on him getting hurt. I can’t help but smile when I look at this picture. He’s such a handsome guy and I’m so grateful to have him in my life. I know I write about him the most, but I love my Fergie, too. She’s become a sweet, playful lap kitty, and sleeps beside me in bed every night. If I look at her she purrs. She and Finnegan play together so well and I’m happy they have become pals.

Now as to the Coastal Light puzzle I was going to hang on the wall…I glued it and took one of my other puzzles down, removed it, and attempted to put the Coastal Light in the frame. It didn’t fit! It was off by about 1/4 inch! So the other puzzle is back on the wall and Coastal Light is in my portfolio. I’m starting a new puzzle now. I will not be gluing it! I need to keep some puzzles to rework in the future. This one has the letters on the back so I sorted by letter. This lets me work a section at a time. I will not look at the letters to help with fitting them together though. I’m working on the border now and it’s not very easy. The picture is a little dark but I love it.

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My brother and sister-in-love worked this puzzle and when I saw their finished picture, I had to purchase one.

Yes, it has been raining, raining, raining. But much better than snow! I had lunch with my dear friend, Sharon, yesterday. We went to our regular spot at Taco Bell and enjoyed an hour and a half chat. It was good to get out and to use my vocal cords. Fergie and Finnegan don’t carry on conversations, unfortunately.

Today I’ll be doing a video chat with my daughter. It’s our regular Friday catch up call. I usually color, but today I’m thinking about working on my diamond painting. I’m so grateful to have the puzzle table where I can put the vinyl cover over the puzzle and use it as a regular table. That’s where I set up my iPad for our chat.

Today will also be laundry day since I’m going to the women’s event at church tomorrow. Looking forward to that. My youngest daughter and my granddaughter will be picking me up. It’ll be fun to spend time with them.

And that’s probably more than you cared to hear about. I needed someone to talk with about life here in my little corner of the world and you were chosen as the recipient. With a big smile, I lift my cup of tea and hope you have a fabulous weekend! Remember, you are loved and worthy! I thank God for this blog that can bring friends together across vast distances.

Health and Aging · hobbies

Bible Study, Puzzles, and Cats

Carol Ann Erhardt4 Comments
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Finished! I love this puzzle. The light is so perfectly displayed! The title is Coastal Light…so appropriate. It is a 1000 piece RoseArt Master Collection Series puzzle. The painting is by Christian artist Abraham Hunter. I am thinking I might display this one on my wall.

I’m dealing with high blood pressure again. It’s the systolic number (top), which isn’t as alarming as it would be if it were the diastolic (bottom). But it does require attention. I’m monitoring it and plan to make an appointment to see a doctor soon. Surprisingly it is lower BEFORE I take my meds. I feel good though. Yes, I get a little breathless when I walk or bend over but I am 82 years old. Enough of that. Age is just a number and I don’t feel my age until I look in the truth of the mirror. Grin.

I’ve been losing my mojo when it comes to coloring! All I want to do lately is work on a puzzle. I might color for a half hour, but then I’m ready to stop. Still haven’t pulled out the diamond painting. Maybe I’ll do that this afternoon.

Today I have Finnegan’s vet appointment at 12:30, after lunch. He is doing pretty good, but I don’t want to cancel the appointment. I want to sit and talk with the doctor. I’ve had indoor cats for many years and never had to do “sick” appointments until they were over 15 years of age. Finnegan will be 9 in May, but I didn’t get him until he was 5 years old. He had been on the streets, so who knows what he might have been exposed to. But he’s been in and out of the doctor’s for the last 3 plus years always excused with “allergies.” Hope to get answers as to possibilities, because it isn’t asthma/allergies.

I’m a little disappointed with the Bible in a Year book I chose as my study for 2026. I’m not spending as much time in the Bible as I’d hoped. It’s fine for what I’d consider a devotional, but I need more in depth study. I would rejoin my small group, but they will stop in May and not resume until September. I’ll most likely rejoin then. In the meantime, I’m looking for a different study. I’ve been contemplating getting the Revelation Bible Study by Jen Wilkins. I think that will add the study time I need to feel more connected to God.

Due to weather and health issues, I didn’t have my outing with my sister of the heart yesterday. Hoping to see her soon though. Instead I picked up a prescription, a couple of items from the grocery store, and left my car parked outside the garage for a rain wash! Didn’t do much about removing the dirty slush marks. Guess I’ll have a car wash run to schedule soon.

That’s about all the catching up I have to share. Hope you didn’t get too bored. If any of you have done a particularly good Bible Study recently, please share. I’m interested in making a decision soon.