Friday, December 14, 2018

I got home yesterday from my retreat.  It was so good to get away and so good to get home.  I had a wonderful time away.   It will take me some time to process all that happened while I was gone.  I’m glad I went and took a chance.  It may be an interesting year ahead of me!

My pet-sitter did a great job for me while I was gone.  I did get one phone call to let me know two of the three dogs had gone missing for a bit.  Both returned home later that day.  Not sure what happened – the electricity may have gone out or else the charge on their collars ran out.  Glad they returned safely.  I felt bad for my pet-sitter as she had looked for them for over an hour.  I was glad they returned for her peace of mind.

I hit the ten-month mark on Bright Line Eating Plan while I was gone.  I have lost 49 pounds in the ten months I have been eating on plan.  It was a challenge at times to stay on plan while traveling but I came home weighing what I did when I left.  I did do lots of walking while I was gone so that may have helped.  I have gone ten months now without eating any flour or sugar – at least to the best of my knowledge.  I don’t use artificial sugar or flours either.

I made an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon today so he can check out my bunions.  The one on my left foot is starting to cause my big toe to go numb and then it burns. I was able to walk through the pain but I am not sure how long I can do that.  I waited way too long to get the neuromas removed and I am not going to do that with the bunions.  I won’t see him until January 22.

I have 16 dozen eggs in my refrigerator!  The girls have decided to start laying again. Anyone need eggs?  I got a dozen eggs today when I went down this afternoon to the coop.  Glad to see they have quit being slackers.

I am sure enjoying the sunset tonight as I write this blog.  I missed seeing it while I was gone.  Today was absolutely beautiful with temperatures in the low 50’s.  I took a three-mile walk this afternoon.  The wind was a bit brisk when I walked north but in the lower valleys it was really nice.

It will be nice to get back into a “normal” routine again.  I don’t have much on my calendar for the rest of the month.  We aren’t having our family Christmas until December 29 so have two weeks of free time ahead of me.  I have been gone so much lately that I will really appreciate some down time.

I went into Emporia this morning and got the ingredients to start making my Christmas treats for the kids.  I need to give some serious thought to what I want to do for Christmas presents.  I haven’t taken the time to decide what I want to do yet.  Good thing I have two weeks to decide.

I need to get the treats made so I can ship a box to a couple of different people.  Hoping I will have enough made by Monday that I can get them out then so the people I am sending them to will get them by Christmas.  Still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is only 11 days away.  I haven’t caught the Christmas spirit yet.  Not my favorite time of the year.

Tomorrow night I am going to Pioneer Bluffs to help serve a fancy fundraising dinner.  I will be around some good friends so it will be a fun evening in service.

Sitting with a full heart tonight.  I really had the most amazing time on my retreat.  Feeling a bit like a let down might be in store for me over the next week or so.  The trip to Australia and New Zealand was so wonderful and then I followed it a week later with my retreat experience.  Time to slow things down and give myself some quiet time to process all that has happened.

Grateful for the beautiful sunset tonight that seemed to be saying Welcome home to me, grateful for the retreat experience, and grateful for the possibilities ahead of me for 2019.  Feels like it might be a year full of changes and adventures!