Housekeeping -

How often and how deep do you clean house? Here's my weekly list - I'm a believer in do it regularly and occasionally deep, than do it occasionally deeper!

Housecleaning List

Kitchen:

Shake rugs

Wipe off counter-tops and cabinets with disinfectant or degreaser

Wipe off stove and refrigerator

Wipe off kitchen table and chairs

Dust

Sweep the floor

Mop floor with disinfectant cleaner

Change towels

Front Room:

Dust - make sure to get window sills and fireplace mantel and hearth

Make sure couch cushions and pillows are in place

Vacuum

Library:

Dust - get window sills, around books

Vacuum

Entrance and Stairway:

Shake rugs

Vacuum stairs

Sweep

Mop

Bathrooms:

Clean sinks, tubs, shower, toilets, vanities, backsplash, molding

Clean mirrors

Shake rugs

Sweep

Mop

Change towels

Bedrooms:                                                                               

Dust window-sills                                                                              

Dust                                                                                                                           

Vacuum                                                                                                          

Other:

Shake rugs outside

Sweep front porch and back steps

Make sure back door, sliding doors and front door windows are clean

Wipe off doors and light switches as needed

Dust and wipe off blinds as needed

Thoughts Do Not Equal Truth -

"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.” 
- William Blake


Michael Neill's TED talk is quite the reminder - "What the mind expects tends to be realized." 

Humbled - Again -

Just when I think it can't get any worse, it gets better.

I'm constantly amazed at the generosity, tenacity, ignorance, goodness, bitterness, in this world. And I am humbled every time the good wins.

And I'm exhausted by the battle.

Prednisone and Jerks -

I had sinus surgery on Thursday. It went pretty well, yet I have had horrible reactions to the steroids I have been on.

Let's see:

Shakes
Puffy face
Red face
Nausea
Dizziness
Anxiety
Sleeplessness
Jerk

Which reminds me of this article I read the other day. Happily, after 2 days of being a total jerk, I realized how irrational I was being, was able to look at myself (with the help of a very very patient husband), and go off them. Feeling much better this morning.

Carter - Muscular Dystrophy -

Scott's son, Daniel, and DIL, Autumn, have 3 beautiful children. 2 girls and 1 boy. Their son, Carter, has Muscular Dystrophy. A debilitating genetic neuro-muscular disease, degenerative, passed through the mother's genes to typically sons. Autumn has a brother and 2 other nephews with MD, as well as an uncle.

Carter, smart, sassy, cute, and strong. So far he has avoided heart complications, yet has had 2 other major surgeries in his young life; he's 15, and has had his craniofacial surgery, Achilles tendon surgery on both legs, and this week he will surgery number 3 - rods placed in his back to permanently straighten terrible scoliosis.

Strong people, amazing family, great support, and I ache for them. Carter has been home from school most of the year because of his pain and weakness (Can you imagine carrying a backpack, walking down a hall to class, not being able to fully extend your limbs, and still trying to be 15? Tough.) This surgery will be a success, and he should be back to school, rather than packets, in January.

Genetic disorders - and the choices that come along with them, as well as the repercussions - including stress and monetary cost, are terrible. And these days, while many can't be cured, at least they can be tamed.

Love you, Carter! God bless you, your family, surgeons, and your caregivers.

July, 2018

Humility -

This past few days I've been called out on 2 of my weak points.

One - while I'm a good listener, I do like to talk, and often when I'm on the defensive, or feel like I should be defending, I interrupt others. As well, when I know time is of the essence, I will push my way through, just to be fast and "cognizant of others time."

I have pushed a few times the past few months, and my excuse is that I've been pushed, and yet I'm fully aware that pushing in reaction to being, just makes for tension. And there has been, on more people than just me.

A colleague called me out, in the name of kindness and need-to-know, and yet though I have been painfully aware all weekend of my actions, I needed to hear this from him, in generosity. Gratefully I'd already made the resolution to listen, and I do get to practice this with the same group tomorrow. Thank heavens for 2nd chances. And 3rd.

I love information, and I appreciate answers, and when I can't get answers to the questions I have, I go searching. I went searching for answers where I shouldn't have, getting them, and I was called on it. And I owned it, without excuses.

In both cases I was humiliated. And I felt sick to my stomach, teary, and weak. As I've thought of these happenings, the hymn "Be Thou Humble," and I knew this was a time I needed to be knocked to my knees, be teachable, and be guided.

Through my years, I've learned the best thing I can do when making mistakes is to accept my err's, to be aware that to err is human, and to use the reproach or critique as a lesson to learn. Otherwise, I do fail.

So my word for this month? Typically it's Gratitude, yet I think I'm going with Humble this year. I'm grateful for those who dare and for those who teach and for being brave and teachable.

Life Story Questions -

When Scott and I got married, 2 months after our first date, we really didn't know many "things" about each other. We were deeply in love, we knew our parents were friends - so we knew our history to some extent, but when it came to stories and just "get to know you" stuff, we were clueless. The same goes for our children, who, as steps, knew nothing about each other.

I began creating a list of questions, and over the years, I've gathered questions and used these over and over again for our families as well as for my students and our patients.

With these next 2 months being congregating times, I thought it a good idea to post these. There's so many ways they can be used (game, recorded, written, conversation), and they are simple questions, that if we pause and listen, or write, walk away, come back and add, can be so telling.

I've popped them in random groups, just because random questions can lead to amazing answers.


Questions for Gathering Stories

Can you remember a pet you once had, which you don't have anymore?
Can you remember a time when you got into trouble for something you had already been told not to do?
Can you remember a time when you broke something that belonged to someone else?
Can you remember a trip that you would not want to have to take again?
Can you remember a part or a date you didn't want to go on to begin with?

Can you remember a time when you were very sick?
Can you remember a holiday or birthday you would like to live over again?
Can you remember at time when you got lost?
Can you remember a time when you totally forgot an important date or appointment?
Can you remember a time when you learned something from a child?
Can you remember a time when your first impression of someone turned out to be completely wrong?
Can you remember a time when you received a compliment, you deserved?

Have you ever moved from one home to another?
What is your favorite movie, as a child, as a teenager?
What is your favorite snack food, meal, place to eat?
What is your favorite place to shop?
Can you remember your first trip to the doctor/dentist/eye doctor?
What is your favorite/least favorite school subject?

Can you remember your first job?
What is your favorite holiday?
Where is one place, in the world, you'd like to visit/live?
Did you have a favorite hiding or special thinking place?
Do you remember your first friend?
Do you have favorite people in your life?
Do you have a memorable person in your life?
Is there a person whom you wanted to be like?
Is there a person you were named after?
Were you named after anyone?

If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Do you use sarcasm?
What is your favorite cereal?
Do you untie your shoes before you take them off?
Do you think you are strong? What is your favorite ice cream?
What is the first thing you notice about people?
What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
Who do you miss?

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
What are your favorite smells, tastes, sounds, textures?
Do you like summer or winter?
Hugs or kisses?
Scary movies or happy movies?
What is your favorite dessert?
What is the farthest you’ve been from home? 
Do you have a special talent?

What single piece of technology makes your life easier?
If you had one wish what would it be?
What does the word "success" mean to you?
What would your dream job be?
What do you respect about your mother?
What do you respect about your father?
What do you feel strongly enough about to protest?
Who is your favorite teacher? Why?

What nickname do your friends call you?
What do you know how to say in a foreign language?
What are the qualities that make a good friend?
What is the best costume you have worn?
What slang word or phrase is most over used?
What is your warmest birthday memory?
Who is there in your life that you would take a bullet for?

Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Did you ever want to change your name? If is to what?
Who do you admire as a leader?
Who are you most like in our family?
What is the best complement you have received?
What movie can you watch over and over again?
If you were to write a novel what would it be about?
What is your favorite dessert?

If you had your own TV network what would you put on it?
If you could be any age what age would you choose?
Does your best friend call you his/her best friend?
What is the stupidest thing that one of your friends has done?
If we had an extra room in our home what do you thing we should uses it for?
What makes a house a home?
What poem do you have committed to memory?

Where do you what to live when you are on your own?
What is something you are really good at?
Who was the last person who had a crush on you?
If you needed someone to act as a character reference who would you chose?
Who do you turn to for advice?
What goals do you have for your education?

If we have guests in from out of town what do you think we should show them show them?
What was the last thing you lied about?
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the US where would it be?

What song do you have memorized?
What scares you in the dark?
On a scale of 1-10 how strict are your parents?
Who is the worst teacher you now have? Why?
What are the qualities that make a good friend?
What is your favorite thing about summer?
What song do you love to dance to?
What makes you happy?

Who is your favorite Super Hero?
What vegetable do you hate?
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Who taught you to cook?
If you could ask God a question what would it be?
What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday?
What do you like to cook?
Who taught you to swim?
What is the saddest movie you have seen?