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Updating my Updates : )

A while back I had told you I would be on a blogging hiatus for a couple of months to clean our carpet. I think I'm past that point now and thought I would give you another update. Simply put, I'm not finished. 😜 Life continues to be busy, so this is turning out to take a little longer than I had anticipated. Transcribing work has come along since I posted my last update. I was thinking I would get work on April 17th or18th. So, I didn't clean carpet that week to prepare for the incoming work. For some reason, I didn't get the work until Friday, April 26th, so that was another week I didn't clean the carpet, because I was still waiting for the work assignment. Then I worked until Wednesday May 1st on that project. So, another week I was unable to work on the carpet. I spent Thursday and Friday doing more in-depth housework to compensate for the remaining time last week. 

This week is Mother's Day prep and another grocery store trip on top of taking care of a few other things that I've gotten behind on. So, to keep life simple, I've decided to not add carpet cleaning to my to-do list this week. I do plan to resume that next Monday and work for about 3 weeks to finish cleaning the carpet in these last 5 rooms. 

In the meantime, though, the roses have bloomed on both of my rose bushes. The first bloom of the spring is always the best, but they must be loving the weather this year, because they are overflowing with blooms, and they  have tons more buds getting ready to bloom. So, I am taking time to enjoy them frequently.

roses in bloom
Roses in the backyard a few days ago

roses in full bloom
Deck view of roses a couple of days ago

I've actually pledged to spend more time outside this year. I got a portable umbrella so I can have shade in an instant wherever I am outside, I'm going to get a grill so I can cook outside, my younger son and I are also going to be doing some pyrography projects outside, and of course, I'll take care of the outdoor plants, which will also include my buying a few flowers for the deck. These small things make me happy. A quote by Robert Breault is a great reminder of this.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I take lots of pictures of my outdoor beauties so when the days grow shorter and cooler at the end of the year, I can look at them and be reminded of the pleasure I had in caring for them. Another example of enjoying life is when my family and I spend simple moments together, such as eating meals together or watching our favorite flicks together. Those are mental snapshots of blessings I hope I will always remember. 

I do work hard, but I also know that life is too short to not have time to relax and enjoy the small things that bring me pleasure. What doesn't get done today will get done another day. I keep a check on my mood and temperament. If either seems to be going in the wrong direction, I stop. If they stay in check, I'll keep working. Quoting from 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV), I try to  remember, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That includes any interruptions that may occur. I'm not glorifying God if I'm angry at my work. I've simply learned over the last few years that even if I finish a job, it will eventually have to be done again - housework, dishes, meals, laundry, blogging. Thus I try to do much of my harder work or thinking work (writing a book or blog post) before lunch and to work the small moments into life between lunch and dinner. A good mix of must-do work and fun work (quilting, painting, cross stitching, plant care, reading a book, watching a movie) is very healthy.

barn painting
barn painting I'm working on for my husband

This painting above is probably the fastest project, in a while, that I've worked on to completion - so my husband can have it as quickly as possible. He expressed interest as soon as he saw it. He said he wanted to have it framed to hang in his office. So, it should be finished by this weekend so I can order a frame for it.

Since I'll have a bit of spare time throughout the week, I'll have another post or 2 to share with you. In the meantime, I hope you'll remember to balance your work and fun too. Because it really is the healthiest way to live.

Take care and God bless you,

Patricia



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