Dancing on Golden Streets

Courtesy of Whimsical Winds

Today is a windy, gusty day.  The wind chimes that line my back deck are creating a cacophony of sound that brings a smile to my face.  I do love the wind chimes but they mean more to me than just sound.

I grew up in denomination that forbid dancing.  None of any kind was allowed.  Even jiggling to a song in church could get you thumped after services.

Mom had wind chimes too, and enjoyed hearing the bells and clinks of tubes, spoons and keys as they knocked against each other in the breeze.  Neither of us could pass by one without sweeping our hand beneath the chimes to make them sound off.

It was in the last few years of moms life that I stood at the sink when a set of chimes started.  I stopped in the middle of scrubbing a pot to turn and inform mom "Listen, daddy's dancing in heaven."

"We don't dance. It's against our religion." she lowered her glasses.

"Ahh but," I told her, "People dance in heaven from the sheer joy.  No other way to express it but to bounce around and throw your arms up in the air and shout."

She smiled and answered, "I guess we'll see someday, but you know I can't dance."

I'm confident there IS dancing in heaven, just as there was in the Old Testament.  After mom moved to heaven in Dec. 2010, I bought and hung another set of wind chimes.  I gave the same set to each of my sisters and told them, "When you hear the chimes, know that mom and dad are dancing together in heaven."  Not sure the chimes meant as much to them as they did to me.

Days like today where the breeze is fresh, swift and alive, the chimes are singing of golden streets, joy and reunited hearts.  I can't help but smile as the chimes accompany my day.

Taking Care of Yourself.

bigredpot.blogspot.com

That's what I awoke to do today, take care of myself.  I needed downtime.

It's not that I have been particularly busy.  But I am adapting and setting boundaries for myself.  6 months ago I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, Psoriatic arthritis.  You may have seen the commercials featuring golfer Phil Mickselson.  It's the same disease.

One of the things you quickly learn with joint and tissue diseases that you simply cannot do what you think you can.  I tire easily, and somethings I simply can't do any longer....like open jars.  I simply cannot grip a jar tightly enough to open it now.

It's frustrating beyond explanation that I don't have the same energy and strength I did 10 years ago....even 5 years ago.  But cancer, it's treatment and now chronic disease has changed how I schedule my life.  2 active days means I have to have a day to restore my physical resources.  A couple years ago I came across an article written by Christine Miserandino titled "The spoon Theory".

After a painful night last night and nothing HAD to be done today, I made the decision about 3 am this was going to be "rosey's" day.  I'm need to recharge a little.  People like me find that pushing ourselves without recharging causes a bad domino effect to our health.

Here I sit wrapped in a blanket, hot cuppa lemon tea at my side and my fuzzy slippers.  I did change out of night clothes because someone could knock on the door.  But today there is a marathon of shows to watch and a baby blanket to crochet.  Here's a sample of how the day goes...

*More on the "Spoon Theory" can be found at Christine's blog  www.butyoudontlooksick.com

New Year 2014

We made it through Christmas.  I must admit that while there was some tough days, I made it through the month of December.  We found ourselves overly blessed this Christmas as well.

Today I post only for the novelty of the first day of this year.  I proclaimed today to be a "jammie" kind of day with no expectations to be filled.  I have met these expectations fully.  :)

Hoping everyone is having a great day and has a wonderful year ahead of them.