Sunny Sunday Daybook

Outside my window the day is sunny and warm.   It is 95 degrees here now, and the forecast for this week is for more of the same, with possibly some much needed rain on Monday or Tuesday.   This is the view of our front yard from our Ring doorbell camera. 

In my garden, I have flowers of many different kinds, in addition to lots of yet to ripen tomatoes.   I love flowers or all kinds.

In the kitchen, we had fishsticks, popcorn shrimp, macaroni and cheese, potato casserole, fresh steamed broccoli and corn for dinner.  It was all very good.

I'm reading these books, after finishing a book on my Kindle last week.  I started all three books a while back and now hope to move toward finishing them.  

I'm watching Testament The Story of Moses on Netflix. Part drama and part documentary, it is quite good. 

I've been listening to this audiobook, The Answer to Anxiety by Joyce Meyer. 

I'm looking forward to going to the closing day of BYU Education Week.  That will be next week. I already have the day off approved. 

I'm thinking about the beginning of the new school year.  I have two more days of prep, then students return on Wednesday.  Our school has a new principal and our district has a new superintendent.  We also have some policies that will be implemented like no cell phones in the classroom.  It will be interesting to see how that goes.  I will be watching things both in and out of the classroom to help me decide if this last this will be my last school year. 

I'm feeling a little down about the end of summer break.  Honestly, I am not looking forward to going back to school.  Still time marches on, and we must make the best of it. 

I'm thankful that my back has felt somewhat better today.  I have been suffering from what I think is sciatic nerve pain - at least that's how I have treating it.  I got the name of a good chiropractor from a friend of mine at church today, so if he is a "participating provider" in my health insurance, I may be making an appointment to see him with the hope of getting some relief. 

Coming up this week:

Monday & Tuesday - Classroom prep for the coming school year

Wednesday - Students return

Wednesday - Dentist appointment (check up) after school

Saturday - Memorial service for our friend who recently died of cancer

That's all for this week.  I'll be back with more of my daily Happiness Challenge next week. 

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"August is like the 

Sunday of summers."

~anon.

 

Valentines Daybook

 

Outside my window it's dark, but earlier, the blue skies of morning and midday turned gray and cloudy in the late afternoon.

I'm reading this novel I got form the library, Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major.  It's good so far.  I'm also still reading, but making progress in a 600+ page history book, Saints, No Unhallowed Hand.  I recently finished the novel God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney.  I wasn't crazy about that one.

I've been listening to Law of Happiness by Dr. Henry Cloud.  I've read other books by this author and have found them valuable.  I'm about halfway finished with this short book and it has not disappointed. 

I'm grateful that we finally seem to be nearing the finish line on the sale of our condo.  Closing is set for Tuesday, February 27.   The buyer loves the place and is excited to move in.  It will be a great place for her - an older single woman with a disabled son.  I'm thankful that we also have a "back-up" offer just in case things go awry at the last minute.

In the kitchen tonight was a frozen pizza and salad kind of night after Charly made a delicious and very healthy casserole that we enjoyed last night.  

I'm loving the LED lights in our front windows. They were red and green for Christmas, blue in January and now pink for Valentine's Day.  

I'm learning a little about real estate and contract law with our realtor as a tutor, as we navigate having two offers on our condo.  I'm glad we aren't trying to go the "sell-it-yourself" route. 

I'm thinking that I need to end this post here and do a little home work-out before I wind down for the evening. 

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Valentine's Day to all!  See you again soon!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"...the greatest of these is love."

~I Corinthians 13:13

Tuesday Daybook and Tuesday 4

I decided to do a combination post today - a Daybook post and Tuesday 4 questions. 

Outside my window - it has been raining this afternoon. I can hear thunder in the distance as I type this post. Some areas around here have received hail.  We have been getting a lot of afternoon thunderstorms lately.

I've been listening to - an audiobook, God Will Prevail by Kerry Muhlestein.  It is an interesting deep dive into the Old Testament tribes of Israel and their covenants and blessings.  In addition, I like podcasts and I have been listening to podcasts from Jordan Peterson, Dave Ramsey and Matt Walsh.  I've also been watching a Youtube of an Alisa Childers podcast, and a few Youtubes about tiny home living.  I'm not planning to move into a tiny home, (I don't think I would like living in that small a space) but I find tiny homes, and the way they are organized,  quite fascinating.  

I'm reading - this book, Hiding in Park City by RaeAnne Thayne, which isn't great.  It's a basic "chick-lit" romance, which I was attracted to because it is set in Park City, Utah, which is about a half-hour from where I live.  The plot is predictable and only mildly interesting.  I am about 70% finished with this book that I am reading on my Kindle.  I'm also reading a couple of other books at the same time.  

I'm creating - nothing at the moment, but I recently completed these cards which were sent out to seniors in South Carolina and Wisconsin as part of Letters Against Isolation. 

I'm looking forward to - finishing up the school year and starting summer vacation. 

In the kitchen -  Charly made fajitas for dinner.  This is all that was left in the pan when I remembered to take a picture. 

I'm loving - the the tenants will be moving out of our home in the next week, and we can begin doing renovations and moving our stuff in.  Soon after, we hope to get the condominium townhouse that we are currently living in on the market, and, hopefully, sold very soon (and for a good price!)

I'm working on - finishing laundry and getting ready for tomorrow. 

I'm thinking about - some of the things I'm hearing on this podcast with Alisa Childers and Dr. Everett Piper called Safe Spaces and the Coddling of American Students.  Lots of truth.  I see it every day at school. If you are interested, you can listen to the Alisa Childers podcast here. 

I'm grateful for - spending so much time this month with people I truly love and care about.  

Now, on to the Tuesday 4 questions....

What makes you tired?  Conflict and drama with others exhausts and depresses me.   Family conflict and drama is the worst.  

What things do you value in life?   The things I value most are my faith, family and friends. I also deeply value nature and God's creation.  Last but not least, I value education, learning and books.  How does one live without books?!

How do you want others to see you? I would hope that others would see me as a committed Christian and someone who tries to be good and kind and do the right thing.

What things do you enjoy most and find most relaxing to do? I most enjoy reading, walking outside, hiking and gardening. When I want to relax, I usually put my feet up and read. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your week is going well. 

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Having a Christian worldview means being utterly convinced that biblical principles are not only true but also work better in the grit and grime of the real world."

~Nancy Pearcey

Wednesday Daybook

Outside my window - it's a pretty nice day, although it is chilly and breezy. We have blue skies and sunshine tonight, but yesterday, it was cold and windy and we had snow in the mountains and a rainstorm that even produced some hail. 

I've been listening to -  this audiobook, All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore.  I am almost 80% done, and will be finished with this book later this week.   I am finding it to be a very good memoir. 

I'm reading - A couple of days ago, I finished The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda. Now, I have three books going, one fiction and two nonfiction. The fiction book is Life Goes On by Philip Gulley.  It's another book in his delightful Harmony series. The nonfiction books I'm reading are Off The Deep End by Giancarlo Granda and When Harry Became Sally by Ryan T. Anderson.  

I'm creating - more cards for Letters Against Isolation.  After I finish the last card (I always send out batches of five cards) these will be sent to a Meals on Wheels program in Florida.

I'm looking forward to - having some medical stuff I've had scheduled for a couple of months over with.  I am taking both Thursday and Friday off and will be spending some time at the Intermountain Healthcare Outpatient Care Center taking care of some routine but recommended things for "women (and men) of a certain age." It will be great to not have to think about it again for a while. 

In the kitchen - we got a take-n-bake deli pizza for dinner.  I will be on a liquid diet for a couple of days due to the medical stuff happening on Friday, so this is my last meal for a while. 

I'm loving -  that our school district arranged for two free tickets for every teacher to an upcoming baseball game of the Salt Lake Bees, a AAA minor league team for the Los Angeles Dodgers.   Charly and I loved taking our kids to baseball games years ago, so we are excited to get back to the ballpark on May 6.

I'm working on - more box packing. We will be taking back possession of our house in just over a month, so we can start moving some of our things over there, even though we will be doing some remodeling and renovations.  Josh packed up some of the stuff in his room when he was home, and Charly and I have been packing more boxes, so we continue to make progress.  Next week, we will be meeting with two more realtors to make the decision about who will be listing the place where we now live. 

I'm thinking about- ongoing drama at work.  Not fun.  I am stepping back from toxic work relationships, and some colleagues are not happy with me.  No matter.  I am going to stay the course I am on.  Teachers need to be professional in every way.  We teach students by example and I am not going to turn a blind eye to poor behavior and dishonest conduct in students or teachers.  

I'm grateful for -  having a husband who is also my best friend.  This guy is sweet and kind and can make me laugh, especially when I am wound up tight with stress and anxiety.  I am so grateful God told me to marry Charly all those years ago. 

That's it for this Daybook post.  Enjoy the rest of the week and have a good weekend!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Act as if what you do 

makes a difference. 

It does."

~ William James

 

Wednesday Evening Daybook

 

Outside my window -  it is getting dark. The temperature is 38 degrees, but it feels like 35, and it is raining. We are having a week where we go from rain to snow and back to rain again.  The picture was taken on Monday when we were getting a little snow. Today has just been rainy so far but more rain and snow is in the forecast for tomorrow and Friday.  So far our mountains have over 700 inches of snow!!  Now,  the concern is flooding, when all of that snow melts.  We hope that the weather doesn't warm up and melt the snow too quickly, but people around here are already sandbagging.  

I've been listening to - this podcast and parts of some Youtubes as I worked out and packed up another box downstairs in the basement. 

I'm reading -  the same two books I was reading when I posted on Sunday - Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Learning at the Feet of the Savior by David Ridges and Taylor Halverson. I'm not reading either of them very quickly. 

I'm creating -  another card for Letters Against Isolation.  This is just the first card of a five card batch and I don't know where it will go yet.  I haven't had time to work on more than this one card. 

In the kitchen- dinner was leftover chili from Sunday dinner, along with baby spring mix salad and Italian bread. Charly and I had an appointment right after I left school, and by the time we got home, I didn't have the time or inclination to fix anything other than leftovers. 

I'm loving  - that I finally finished going through all the family keepsakes and assorted momentos in this big trunk.  I packed up the important stuff and got rid of what I didn't need or want any more.  

I'm looking forward to - spring break from school! This past grading period has been stressful and exhausting for a number of reasons, and I am simply looking forward to having a week off. 

I'm thinking about -  getting this place (the condo where we currently live) on the market as soon as we can, which realistically won't be until May or June.  I'm a little stressed and worried about being able to sell it quickly for a good price.  Charly has talked to a couple of realtors about it last week, and he isn't too worried.  He thinks the place will sell quickly and for a decent price.  He doesn't worry as much as I do.  

Another thing I am thinking about this week is the possibility of moving my retirement up.  I had been planning on working three more years after this year, but now I am giving that second thoughts. Charly and I are meeting with a retirement planner again soon to see how much my pension will be and how soon I can realistically leave the classroom.  I will need to wait until I have Medicare, but that is only 18 months away now.  It makes me feel super old to say that, but that's where I am now.  While the money is great (yes, I honestly feel like I am paid pretty well here in Utah), I am starting to feel so stressed, anxious and burned out with my job that I think I may need to plan to retire as soon as that is possible. We shall see.  It's a big decision and I need to plan carefully. 

I'm grateful for  -  A planned visit this weekend with our daughter and her family, including taking our granddaughter to breakfast for her birthday.  I am also grateful for a little spring break outing that Charly and I have planned.  

With that, I will sign off for a while and take a little spring break blog-break.  See you again soon!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Despite the forecast, 

live like it's spring." 

~Lilly Pulitzer

February Daybook for a Snow Day

 

Outside my window -  It is 25 degrees and snowing.  We have had over a foot of snow since about 5 p.m. yesterday.  This is the street I live on.  The roads were plowed earlier today, but as the snow continued, they are getting covered again.  I am home today because the school district where I work declared a "remote learning day."  

I am listening to - Youtubes and audiobooks! I just finished one audiobook, Church of Cowards by Matt Walsh, and downloaded this  new one, The Stewardship Principle by Ganel-Lyn Condi.   

I am reading - a hardcopy fiction book from the library (These Silent Woods), a biography on my Kindle app (A Change of Affection), and my weekly Come Follow Me study in the New Testament.  

I am wearing - my usual winter casual attire - jeans, a t-shirt and a nice warm plaid flannel shirt. 

In the kitchen- I am warming up slow cooker beef and gravy from Sunday to have for dinner tonight. 

I am creating - some more cards for Letters Against Isolation.  I hope to finish two more cards later today so I can get them mailed out to Meals on Wheels in Grand Forks, North Dakota later this week.

I am loving - that I got this nice snail mail card and letter from my long-time blogging friend Rita over at Soul Comfort's Corner.   Rita has been battling cancer for a year and half, but recent scans are showing that her tumors are gone!  This is wonderful news for a wonderful woman. 

I am looking forward to  - SPRING!!

(source)

I am thinking about - Charly's visit to the doctor yesterday.  The doctor told Charly that he is suffering from cold-induced or winter asthma, in addition to the terrible air inversions that the Salt Lake Valley gets in the winter.  The doctor prescribed an inhaler for Charly, which will help him be able to keep walking, but it is appearing more and more that we will be moving somewhere that the winters are warmer and the air is better once I retire.   St. George, Utah (pictured above), a beautiful city of about 100,000, about four hours (300 miles) south of here is looking like it may be the place we will end up. Even though St. George is about 300 miles away, it is a fairly easy drive straight down the I-15, almost to the Arizona border.  We would come back up here to visit family frequently, like 4 -6 times a year, but Charly and I need to live somewhere we can both continue to live healthy, active lives.  Sometimes, when it comes to adult children, a little distance can even be a good thing!  Of course, we still have some time before I retire (just over three years), so we will see what happens between now and then.   We are heading off to St. George next month when I have my spring break from school.  We are hoping that spending some time exploring the area will help us get a better feel for the place and make a good decision when that time comes.

I am thankful for -  Having a warm, cozy home to hunker down in on a very cold and snowy day. 

That's all for now.  Enjoy the rest of the week.

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Kindness is like snow.  

It beautifies everything is covers."

~Kahlil Gibran