Low Energy, Winter Blues or Low Vitamin D

There for a while, I felt the weight of anything extra, and I just couldn't do it.  Thoughts of Holidays, birthdays, serving someone with a meal, were just too dang overwhelming to even follow through.  I'd come home from work, tidy house, make dinner, clean it up and sit exhausted on the couch waiting for it to all begin again.  I used to love working out...but then I didn't have the energy anymore.  It was such a gradual thing, that I thought it was just a product of getting older...(although I won't share "how" old I really am.  I mean a girl has to have her secrets).  But anyway, after a routine check up, and blood work, they discovered I had extremely low levels of Vitamin D.  I'm on a mega dose to recover back to normal, but a search on symptoms of low D was very interesting.  For most of them I was nodding my head, yes, yes, yes...Here are some of the symptoms taken from DrFrankKlipman.com

What are the symptoms of vit D deficiency?

There is no clear pattern of symptoms. In fact many people remain asymptomatic despite low levels. But here are the more common symptoms

• Fatigue

• General muscle pain and weakness

• Muscle cramps

• Joint pain

• Chronic pain

• Weight gain

• High blood pressure

• Restless sleep

• Poor concentration

• Headaches

• Bladder problems

• Constipation or diarrhea

I've been taking a pretty hefty supplement under my doctors care, as well as, sitting in front of a Happy Light that I bought a few years ago.  I hope to be feeling energetic and back to normal real soon.  I share this because maybe someone else is suffering in silence the same way I was and just chalking it up to getting older, too.  Low Vitamin D can be very serious, if you find you have some of these same symptoms, why not ask to get your Vitamin D levels checked.  It can make all the difference in your quality of life.


 

Written Words of Cheer - AKA the Christmas Letter

I've sent out my Christmas cards, stamped, sealed and hopefully delivered, and I realized that I may have neglected the readers of this here blog.  And that is just plain RUDE...I mean, really!

So here here is my Christmas card to you in word form:

Salutations and Christmas Cheer!

We are writing to you a brief synopsis of our year…

In January to Vegas, Kevin did go

To visit his brothers and his dad, you know.

February brought Japan business a whole month Long

We sure did miss Kevin while he was gone.

In April Michael got married to Natalie,

Inside the beautiful LDS Temple here in Boise.

After 12 wonderful years we sold our home,

Moving is ‘Heck’ we sure did groan.

My brother and his family moved away

We were all sad and cried on that day.

Then Lisa’s parents moved to Oregon

We are beginning to think it is something we’ve done.

Tyler moved back in at twenty-three

But, he eats all our food because it is free.

He’s going to Rexburg in April, we hope,

With him gone, too…How will we cope?

Nicole is a senior and so smart

She’ll graduate High School with a college head start.

She’s been accepted to BYU – Idaho

Where she will be a Freshman-Sophomore, you know…

We are full of life changes this year and next

Why not write us, call us or text?

And with these words to you, I wish you a Merry Christmas!  Thank you for being a devoted reader.  I appreciate every one of you.  I know you come, I see my stats, but I'd love to hear from you, too, from time to time.  

Lisa Out

Sharing the Love

Source

I lost three followers over the past week.  It's weird because of the lack of social interaction on blogs anymore, I don't know who they are.  I feel the loss in numbers, but I didn't know them.  The anonymity of the internet can be a sad thing.  I'd like to know people better, but the comments on blogs has really died out.  Unless you are some super star mega blogger.  Have you seen the comments on some of these blogs?  And then there are these big bloggers who have just turned comments off because they can't keep up...then I can't tell them how amazing they are.  Oh well...they probably know.

This Christmas I have been trying to give my focus to others.  Listening to them, interacting with them...making them feel important, showing my love.  This is much easier to do in person...to people we know, see and talk to on a regular basis.

How can I share this love and focus to followers of my blog?  

What have you done to help others feel valued and connected to you?

Advent and Uplift

Source

There are some really great things going on in the internet world.  One of the things I like to participate in is an advent during the Christmas season.  It enhances my current scripture study and really brings my focus around to Christ.  I love feeling the sweet spirit of love and comfort in my heart and this advent thing really helps. 

In years past, I have used our 24 Days of Christmas book of scriptures, stories and songs.  I have also read from the Book of Luke.  There are exactly 24 chapters...read one per day leading through Christmas eve.

This year I found a printable advent on Facebook.  It suggested actually writing out the scriptures.  And has been an interesting process.  As I have written, I actually ponder more fully on the Words.  It has been fun to change things up just a bit.

In addition to this, I have been working on listing my 1000 gifts.  Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts and her blog called A Holy Experience shared this prompt for listing your gifts.  Sometimes I have to really think and ponder, and that's a good thing.

I've also found this really cool LDS Blog, She Teaches Fearlessly that has been posting daily Advent inspiration.  Who can't use a daily vitamin like that?

What have you been doing this Christmas season to feel closer to Christ?

Writing, Journals & Children in Need

Writing, journaling and blogging can be so therapeutic.  Katie Clemmons over at Making This Home and Gadanke journals just created her first bound journal for children.  She is all about being a story catcher and recording the every day journey and struggles.  While I'm not being compensated in any way for this blog post, I'm just really impressed with her latest endeavor.  Katie says,

"Every year, thousands of children are displaced from their homes because of domestic violence.  Gadanke has created a gifting program to help build these children's self esteem and give them something to call their own.  Folks can purchase a discounted journal at 50% and we will gift it to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to distribute to a child in need." 

How great is that?   

I hope that as we are all about the charitable giving this time of year, that you might consider this gift of love, therapy and, really, self identity that writing provides.  #Gadanke #journals 



Christmas Journaling - A December Daily

Last year as part of my simplification and savoring, I decided to keep a Christmas journal.  It was part Gandanke journal, part repurposing old Christmas cards and part December Daily.

I used old Christmas card fronts as journaling pages.  They are pretty AND functional.  By recording thoughts, feelings, and activities that brought me closer to the Savior I was able to more fully savor the season.

It is definitely something I am doing again this year, though I am throwing a different twist this year and journaling my answers to the questions posed in Ann Voskamps advent book, the Greatest Gift.

What do you do with old Christmas Cards?

Do you do anything different with your December journaling?

**Originally published on 12/11/2013**

 

'Tis the Season for...

...Beautiful music....Meet the Gardiner Sisters, such beauty and amazing sound!





#ASaviorIsBorn

Spiritually Preparing for a More Simple Christmas

Back in the day...in the year of our Lord 2012, I wrote a post on my desire to have a more minimalistic Christmas.  It was a quest of mine last year, and you know what?  I think I was successful!  It was a goal in the forefront of my mind, and it was mission accomplished.

I shared my secrets recently to a group of women.  I had a fancy presentation with a powerpoint and everything.  Who knew my hidden talent was public speaking, but when you are sharing something you are passionate about, it isn't too hard...I'd like to share a few suggestions on finding the spirit in a more Simple Christmas that I shared with this group of women...

• Have a Christmas Advent Devotional every morning or evening around the Christmas tree leading up to Christmas
• The Book of Luke has exactly 24 chapters.  God's perfect advent...read a chapter a day about Christ's life right up to Christmas Eve.
• Watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional
• Attend Church services and/or the Temple to partake of the Spirit

"Nothing you buy will make you a better person. 

 Nothing you give will make someone love you more. 

 Spending won't make you happier."

  Source

• Minimize Christmas gifts.  For example, Santa Brings three gifts to symbolized the three gifts brought by the Wise men.
• Make homemade Christmas gifts

• Make homemade Christmas goodies...keep half for "sampling" and half to your neighbors
• Minimize Christmas decorating.  Only put out the most heartfelt decorations with memories attached.  This helps to cut down on stress, too.

Engage your senses

• Christmas scented candles:  Cinnamon, peppermint, pine
• Play Christmas music during the day
• Watch Christmas movies...ABC Family has a 25 Days of Christmas series for Children.  I also love the Lifetime and Hallmark channel Christmas movies.

• Go out for a yummy hot chocolate...or make a hot chocolate bar in your home with all the sweet fixings
• Attend a Christmas music concert.  School choir and band concerts are usually free.
• Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights
• Create a Christmas journal, sometimes referred to as a December daily.  I made mine from old Christmas Cards.  It was very simple.  Document your thoughts and daily ideas on how you are creating a more simple, spirit filled Christmas.  Focusing on gratitude, too.

Concentrate on keeping your stress levels down. 

 The spirit can't dwell in a stressed out vessel.

• Exercise, exercise, exercise - Now is not the time to stop taking care of your body.  Exercise releases naturally occurring endorphins which make you happy and therefore, less stressed.
• Go for a walk in the snow
• Prepare simple healthy meals

Make Christmas an Experience

I once listened to a talk where the man related how one year they were debating whether to renovate a bathroom or take a family trip.  Years later, their grown kids still talk about that family trip.  He didn't think that gathered around the Thanksgiving table their children would have recounted the stories of a bathroom renovation and that awesome toilet.

Last year we had the opportunity to go on a trip right before Christmas.  I was reluctant, because I am a nester and homebody, especially at Christmas.  But, we decided that this would be our gift for Christmas...an experience.  My kids don't remember the trinket gifts we gave, but they do remember the trip.  I'm not saying you have to go on a trip for Christmas, but try to create an experience that your kids might remember.

• Attend a Christmas craft fair
• call a loved one far away
• Read a Christmas book
• Make some crafty Christmas decorations
• Go to a tree lighting
• Go on a sleigh ride
• Play in the snow
• Attend a Christmas carol sing a long
• Walk around the mall and look at all the decorations and busy shoppers and savor the simplicity of the experience you are creating for yourself and your family.

Try to create family friendly time...nothing is a 'have to'.  

Do not set up unrealistic expectations.  

Quit comparing yourself to everyone else.  

Get lots of rest and remember:  

Christ is the true reason for the season.  

***This is one of my favorite Christmas posts.  It originally posted 12/4/2013***

Living in Gratitude is a Blessing

Why, What, Where?

I know you are asking yourselves those questions...Why has she been gone for so long, What what has she been doing, Where has she been?  At least I've been asking myself those questions...

Back in February KT went to Japan for a month.  I don't know why that stressed me out so much, but it did.

Then in March, we listed our home for sale...not sure what got into us, but we felt after twelve years it was time to move on to a different home.  We felt the Lord calling us to change and though I wasn't sure about it, we answered the call.

In April Miguel got married in the Boise LDS Temple and while it was wonderful, beautiful and amazing, it was stressful, too.  Big crowds, company visiting, meeting new people...the introvert in my wanted to curl up and hide until it was over.

Then, the weekend after the wedding we got an offer on our house.  You would think I would be happy, but the reality of moving finally hit me.  The gravity of the situation, all the to do's, papers to sign, inspections, packing...Forty days later we experienced our closing delayed twice, packing and moving an entire house that had been filled with stuff for over 12 years, homelessness a bit (thank goodness for my parents)...If you haven't bought and sold a home in a while, let me remind you it's a real pain in the booty.  No joke, that was such a stressful experience.  We are now mostly settled in our new home and to be honest, I'm feeling so much better.

Here is a picture of what our new house looks like, except this isn't our house, it is one just like it.  Seriously, I don't think we have a single picture, or at least I can't find it at the moment.

What have YOU been up to while I've been away?

Love My Veterans

I love me some veterans...I feel so blessed and honored to have three in my immediate family.

 

My dad served in the Army during Viet Nam.  He was even shot down from his helicopter and still suffers today with shrapnel in his head.  He is reminded every day of the sacrifice military members make when they put their lives on the line. 

 

 

KT served in the Marine Corps during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  We were newly married, it was a difficult time, but he returned safely to me.

 

 

TJ, AKA, Air Force Man, first child of mine served in the Air Force for several years, then when the department of defense were doing cutbacks, TJ volunteered to be let go.  He had somewhere to come home to, others did not.