Blessed Imbolc...

What a whirl… what a whirl…

It looks like the experiment I did about water came back to haunt me. I had mentioned that my back was hurting in my last post and the next day it decided to take a vacation without taking me along with it. When my back goes out there’s not a lot I can do about it except force myself to force it to do what I want it to do. Unfortunately, it usually takes a good 3 days before my back starts understanding my commands again and another 2-3 days before I can do more than do an internal happy dance because my legs and brain are once more communicating. I’m thankful that my back doesn’t go on vacation very often, but when it does it really does a number on me.

Today is Imbolc and I’m sad to say that I wasn’t able to celebrate it with a full ritual like I’d prefer. Instead I simply closed my eyes, opened myself up to the Mother, and thanked her for continuing to turn the wheel of the year and beckon spring to come soon. My sister asked me what the holiday was about and I remember mentioning to her that milk played a role in the holiday with feast foods often including milk as an ingredient. I knew that milk was a part of it because animals (that aren’t on a cycle of hormones-thanks milk industry!) usually start producing milk at this time of year getting ready for spring foaling. It’s a symbol of renewal and abundance. Sooooo.. when I talked to her later today she asked me if I got some milk. LOL She mentioned it a couple of times and made me laugh. I told her she needed some milk because she was feeling tired. Milk does a body good, after all. :D

I’m so glad to be feeling human again and what a momentous day for that to happen. This year, Imbolc means more to me than a cherished holiday. It’s the day that I got my back to come back from vacation so I could get all the things I need done, done. I had taken two weeks off of my freelancing job so I could get a bunch of much needed work done around the house and when my back went out I got angry. I lost well over a week fighting to gain my feet again. Grrr, bad back! I can’t punish it, though, because it could easily go out on strike and put me in an even worse position. That.. would suck. Ayup.

Tomorrow is weigh in day and I admit I’m a little nervous. Not being able to stand on my feet usually means I am unable to eat as well as I should be. Soooo, there’s the chance that I’ve fallen even further backwards than I had before. I can only hope that I can get on the scale without an accompanying growl. Poor scale isn’t telling me bad news on purpose.

I hope that tomorrow brings even more blessings than today for you, yours, and everyone.

Pounds lost: 17.1 (371.9)

Daily insight: Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? I need a vacation from my back’s vacation. :D

Ounces of water consumed: 64

Steps in the right direction: 86

Count your blessings…

One of my favorite holiday movies was on the TV today providing the most wonderful background noise as I worked. I really miss the beauty and showmanship of the movies from days gone by. It always seemed to me that everyone in the movie was happy to be there and were really committed to doing their best. Why is it that it never seems like that today?

One of my favorite songs from that movie is “Count your blessings”. This song is one that people today should take a lesson from. When things aren’t going your way, you should remind yourself of all of the good things that are happening in your life. I know that for me, even during my darkest days, there was always something that happened I could hold on to as being a good thing. Sometimes that good thing was nothing more than the way the sun shone through the leaves of a tree. But at least it was something.

I do think that if we spent more time, perhaps on a daily basis, to count our blessings we might be more grateful for the lives we have. I’m blessed with a family that loves me, a puppy that always wants to be in my arms, friends that remember me even from a distance, and a roof over my head. There are more, of course, but those are the ones that stand out the most in my mind right now.

This morning when I stripped and stepped on the scale it took me a moment to look down to see what the display said. I was prepared to be disappointed and even frustrated. Although I am a little disappointed and frustrated with myself over my lack of willpower, I was pleased to see that I was down 0.7 lbs. I know, I know.. not even a full pound but beggars can’t be choosers! It brings my total weight loss to 13.2 lbs and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

I’ve been so busy with my work today that I admit I ate less than I should have for most of the day, but I pried myself away from my desk to eat a full dinner…preparing for sitting at my desk the rest of the night to complete the work I have promised by tomorrow. I did get all of my water, though, and that does seem to be important in my weight loss.

As long as I keep moving forward things can never be too bad.

Pounds lost: 13.2 (375.8)

Daily insight: “When you’re worried and you can’t sleep.. just count your blessings instead of sheep.. and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings”

Ounces of water consumed: 80

Steps in the right direction: 47

Holiday Cheer…

This weekend I was able to get out and decorate the front of my home with cheerful color strings of lights and a wonderful string of stars that light up on blue, red, and green. A couple of my neighbors stopped by to talk to me while I was doing it and made suggestions and comments that would always lead to a smile or a laugh. I light making my house look like a gingerbread house, outlined in lights that make me think of candy when they are on and it’s dark outside.

Tonight I was able to go and see my sister and my nephew. It was a wonderful escape from my house and when I was there I talked my sister into coming back to my place to get some of her holiday decorations. It’s a chore for her to go through the stuff she has stored here but I knew the reward would be well worth it. She went through her bins and found some things to reminisce about. On the way back home we stopped off so I could pick up something at a local big box store and then chatted and laughed all the way back to her place.

Later, after I was back home I received a text message picture of my nephew in front of their tree. I loved it! My sister said he had been singing holiday songs since they began decorating the tree. Holiday cheer has infested their home. LOL Wonderful!

I realized today that I hadn’t begun making the Yule gifts I’m giving out this year. Fie! I’ve been so caught up with freelancing that I haven’t been paying attention to the calendar. I have the pattern for what I want to make and ideas about most of it. I need to start cutting and preparing this coming week.

I also realized that I hadn’t addressed or filled out my Yule cards. This is sooo typically me. LOL I make big plans and then realize I’m behind and have to hurry. So, I figure while I’m sitting at the desk tomorrow staring at blank pages in Word I’ll be working on Yule cards while working on my assigned writing. We’ll see how that works out!

Pounds lost: 12.5 (376.5)

Daily insight: It’s only too late to start something if it was due yesterday.

Ounces of water consumed: 64

Steps in the right direction: 43

Yuletime cheer…

This is the first year, in a long time, that I’ve been excited about decorating and having my home filled with yuletime cheer. I’ve been counting the days until the 1^st of December. I set a rule a loooong time ago that I wouldn’t decorate until December. I never understood why people threw up a tree and lights the day after Thanksgiving.

But I’m soooo anxious! Er, excited. I can’t wait to decorate this year. I know it has something to do with being home after a long absence from home. This year is going to be sooo wonderful! I think it will be more so because it’s the kind of holiday most people wouldn’t want. With the hit my family has taken with the loss of jobs and incomes none of us can afford to shop, so we decided to do a “secret santa” and make the presents we give.

Last year I went overboard and made pajamas for every member of my family. I ended up making 15 different sets and it took me almost 2 months. I promised not to do that again. It was just too much work. But I admit I love seeing that my family does wear the PJs I made and enjoys them.

I am sooo looking forward to the holiday season with my family. I always love the sparkling lights and smells of evergreen boughs.

Oooh, hurry December 1^st. Hurry!

Pounds lost: 11.2 (377.8)

Daily insight: Patience is a.. Oh, who am I kidding. Hurry! Hehe

Ounces of water consumed: 75

Steps in the right direction: 30