MIA but not Missing in Action

Just thought I'd pop in today and explain why I have been MIA the last little while.  Truthfully, while I have been "missing internet action" I have not been "missing in action!"  In fact, the very reason I have been less faithful with my blog lately is because I have been more active in real life.

This past summer, I have really struggled with anxiety issues for the first time in my life.  I am generally a very happy-go-lucky kind of person who has floated through life feeling pretty good most of the time.  So when I started noticing this past year that I was becoming a real "worry wort," I simply told myself that I needed to stop worrying and make some changes and things would improve.

One of the changes I made was that I started this blog.  In one of my first blog posts, that you can read about here if you are so inclined, I expressed the hope that I would start feeling better as the summer went on.   And I did most definitely benefit from all of the sunshine we received this summer!  I soaked it up and reveled in all that incredible Vitamin D.   And blogging helped me to make new connections.  I've met some wonderful encouraging friends whom I hope get a chance to read this so they know how much their kind words mean to me.  But at the same time, my anxiety levels were not going down, but rather seemed to be getting worse.

I decided it was time for further action!  And by action, this time, I mean literally ACTION!  I did some research and came to the conclusion that at 43, my body seems to be going into that awful "perimenopausal" state that so many women struggle with.  My hormones are a jumble, I'm having bad PMS, I've gained way too much weight, and it is time for me to take better care of myself physically.  I wasn't sure where to begin to make things better, but I knew I had to starts somewhere. There are few things I knew had helped me in the past so I thought I'd start there.  They are as follows:

 - make sure I have regular meaningful quiet time everyday where I read a portion of the Bible and spend time meditating on it and talking to God.

- make sure I get enough sleep every night but not too much sleep.  Get out of bed at 7 am every day!

- make sure I take a good brisk walk every day.

- make sure I eat regular meals that are healthy and supplement those meals with fresh vegetable juice made in my juicer.

- make sure I take my multivitamins, Vitamin D supplement, Vitamin B6 supplement and Estrosense supplement daily.  (Estrosence is a natural health product for women.  You can read more about it here if you are interested.)

As a result of the changes, I am feeling much stronger and healthier, both physically and emotionally.  I am walking 4 kms every day and have lost 20 pounds.  Although I know that I need to lose more weight, I am feeling like it is now a manageable task with reasonable goals rather than an impossible uphill battle that I can never win.  My pattern of "worrying" is being broken as I am working to renew my mind through reading more of the Bible and disciplining myself to turn off the negative thoughts by handing them over to the Lord whenever I start feeling anxious.  I picture myself handing Him all the things I'm worried about, and receiving a soft, fluffy comforter back in exchange.  It's a visual that helps to remind me that He offers to give us peace and comfort if we will turn our burdens over to Him.

Daily exercise, eating proper meals, juicing everyday, spending quiet time with the Lord --- all of these things take time and so I find I am not always able to fit blogging into my schedule as well.  But I will keep checking in here at least once a week, to keep you all up to date with my life, and check in to see how you all are doing.  It's so great to know I am not journeying through life alone, but have many wonderful friends along for the ride!

Blesssings,

Ro

Still/Be Still My Soul

Through my newest follower, Pam over at Live Laugh Love with The Pondering Princess, I discovered a new Saturday blog hop - one that I was so blessed to discover.  What a great way to share music that is particularly meaningful to us!

The challenge of the blog hop hosted by Signs Miracles and Wonders is to post a song that has encouraged your heart.





This particular song (or should I say medley) is one that I came across about a year ago.  I was in the middle of leading a Ladies Bible Study on worship and the particular chapter we were studying was based on Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."  - I've found this to be a difficult thing to do at times.  My heart wants to keep striving, struggling, worrying, working, testing, proving, fighting, attaining, competing, grasping, forging, pushing, moving - all action words.  But to be still and rest in the knowledge of who God is?  Oh, so very difficult at times.  But the peace that comes from resting in His strength, and letting Him do the work is incomparable.   I picture myself leaning back with utter trust in the strong arms of my Heavenly Father, believing He will hold me, guide me, and sustain me.

This song is a reminder of all of that - and a reminder that I frequently need!  Hope it encourages your heart today.

Blessings,  Ro

White Wednesday

Today I am following White Wednesday at Faded Charm for the first time. Even though I am addicted to riotous colours of all sorts, I love the simplicity of white. It has an elegance and serenity about it that is very calming.

So last evening I set out on a treasure hunt to find things that are white, but specifically I was looking for items that evoke feelings of peacefulness and tranquility. The fact that it was a beautiful sunny evening with a soft summer breeze helped put me in the right frame of mind. And then suddenly, all around me, I began to spot things that are white ...