Can You Be In Love Everyday?
My husband and I just celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday I was a nervous bride walking down the aisle and sometimes it seems like I've always been married. We have been blessed with many wonderful years together.
I just happened to open up the Sept. /Oct. issue of the Saturday Evening Post (www.saturdayevening post.com) to an article by Liz Flaherty. It's called "You Can't Be In Love Every Day". In it she asks what it's like to be married to the same person for over 30 years.
You know everything about your spouse, you've seen them at their worst and sometimes they're a pain in the neck. Yet the person you're married to finds the best in you and makes you smile.
Isn't that boring? she asks. Well, maybe once in awhile. Then she compares long marriages to the sun. Sometimes it's hidden under dense clouds and sometimes it shines bright during the coldest seasons. Like the sun a marriage wraps itself around you to keep warm.
This was a good article to remind me not to take my husband for granted. When you get right down to it, marriage isn't boring. It's incredibly hard at times, yet it's been more fun than I ever imagined! My husband puts up with my moods, my bad habits and the times when I'm the pain in the neck. He still melts my heart whenever he kisses my hand or brings me flowers. I hope we have many more wonderful years together.
Don't take your spouse for granted. Indulge him or her with a special treat from Gathered From The Garden LLC! Check out our website at www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Sole Survivor and the Empty Nest
My husband and I have been empty-nesters for a few years now. At first, the house seemed too quiet and I really missed having our kids around the supper table. Now, I still miss our kids but Jerry and I are having some of the best times! We get to travel, go out to eat during the week and when the phone rings it's for one of us.
One very nice thing we have been doing for each other is giving mini pedicures. I found a book at a garage sale that has detailed instructions and pictures on how to give a massage. So once a week, we soak our feet, use a foot scrub and give each other foot massages. It is SO relaxing! After a hard day at work I really look forward to this! It is so simple, yet we each feel so pampered. (I haven't gotten him to paint my toenails yet).
Of course we use Gathered From The Garden's foot soak, foot scrub and massage oil. The invigorating peppermint aroma is just that! They also carry a foot spray and a foot powder. Check it out at www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
My husband and I have been empty-nesters for a few years now. At first, the house seemed too quiet and I really missed having our kids around the supper table. Now, I still miss our kids but Jerry and I are having some of the best times! We get to travel, go out to eat during the week and when the phone rings it's for one of us.
One very nice thing we have been doing for each other is giving mini pedicures. I found a book at a garage sale that has detailed instructions and pictures on how to give a massage. So once a week, we soak our feet, use a foot scrub and give each other foot massages. It is SO relaxing! After a hard day at work I really look forward to this! It is so simple, yet we each feel so pampered. (I haven't gotten him to paint my toenails yet).
Of course we use Gathered From The Garden's foot soak, foot scrub and massage oil. The invigorating peppermint aroma is just that! They also carry a foot spray and a foot powder. Check it out at www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The Autumn Blues...
This time of year it's hard not to get the autumn blues. Here in MN we've lost not only our warm temps but hours of daylight. If you're like me, you might need some help to chase away those blues.
*Try lighting a candle. It's warmth and encouragement will help to add some light to the dark evenings of autumn. I like to use a fall aroma such as pumpkin spice, cranberry or cinnamon. (An alternative to using a lit candle would be to try a reed diffuser. You'll get the wonderful fragrance but not the light and warmth.)
*Make a cup of herbal tea or hot chocolate. It's a pleasure just to hold the warm cup!
*Take a soothing bath. A warm soak after a chilly day is just what you need. Using oats in your bath is a terrific way to soothe the skin.
*Dig out the warm, fuzzy socks and slippers. Keeping your feet warm helps you feel warm all over.
*Keep exercising. This seems like a chore sometimes and I think I just don't have the energy. In reality, if you exercise, you'll have more energy to fight off those blues. Add some of your favorite music to get motivated.
*Spend more time with your favorite people. This is a great time to snuggle up with someone special!
These are just a few ways to make the days of autumn go by just a little faster. Soon it will be the holidays and that's a subject for another day!
Check out Gathered From The Garden's delightful bath soaks. A little autumn treat to pamper yourself! www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
This time of year it's hard not to get the autumn blues. Here in MN we've lost not only our warm temps but hours of daylight. If you're like me, you might need some help to chase away those blues.
*Try lighting a candle. It's warmth and encouragement will help to add some light to the dark evenings of autumn. I like to use a fall aroma such as pumpkin spice, cranberry or cinnamon. (An alternative to using a lit candle would be to try a reed diffuser. You'll get the wonderful fragrance but not the light and warmth.)
*Make a cup of herbal tea or hot chocolate. It's a pleasure just to hold the warm cup!
*Take a soothing bath. A warm soak after a chilly day is just what you need. Using oats in your bath is a terrific way to soothe the skin.
*Dig out the warm, fuzzy socks and slippers. Keeping your feet warm helps you feel warm all over.
*Keep exercising. This seems like a chore sometimes and I think I just don't have the energy. In reality, if you exercise, you'll have more energy to fight off those blues. Add some of your favorite music to get motivated.
*Spend more time with your favorite people. This is a great time to snuggle up with someone special!
These are just a few ways to make the days of autumn go by just a little faster. Soon it will be the holidays and that's a subject for another day!
Check out Gathered From The Garden's delightful bath soaks. A little autumn treat to pamper yourself! www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
Monday, October 09, 2006
Do Less, Enjoy More
I came home from work today and took a little nap. I was just wiped-out tired. My day was busy as usual--same as everyone else's I think. Later, I was thinking about my evening and all that I wanted to get done before bedtime. I thought about how neglected my piano has been and how I've been meaning to sit down and play.
Then I read an article about a movement called "Take Back Your Time" in Body and Soul magazine. This movement is based in Seattle and the group encourages people to consider their time as significant and to spend it well. They have actually designated Oct. 24 as Take Back Your Time Day! This is a day to address the stress in your life with various ideas for enjoying life--instead of rushing through it. The article also gave some ideas to help celebrate that day.
*sleep late
*cancel something (I don't suppose it could be work).
*ask an older person about their life (I'm sure they have wonderful stories to tell.)
*set aside a night to have a family dinner
*listen to children's ideas
*reflect on the balance of play and work in your life
*simplify your life (keep to-do lists short, don't multitask, delegate and limit interruptions).
My husband and I have decided to simplify our life by selling our cabin. When we bought it we thought we would spend all kinds of time fishing, laying around in the hammock or drinking tropical drinks on the deck. In reality, we spent way more time cutting weeds and grass, cleaning, blowing out gutters, raking leaves (lots of mature oaks on the lot) not to mention putting in and taking out the dock and lift. We really don't need two homes to maintain so we are giving up the cabin.
As I get older, time seems to be flying by way too fast. I don't want to be sorry later in my life that I spent all of my time trying to "get things done". I want a balance of feeling I've accomplished what I wanted to do and yet got to have fun being lazy once in awhile. I want to measure things not by whether I checked them off my list but did they bring me any joy today?
So on Oct. 24 I am going to take back some time. I'm going to find time to play my piano and put away that to-do list for a little while!
A relaxing way to slow down time is to give your face a treat. Try one of Gathered's facial masks or steams. www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
I came home from work today and took a little nap. I was just wiped-out tired. My day was busy as usual--same as everyone else's I think. Later, I was thinking about my evening and all that I wanted to get done before bedtime. I thought about how neglected my piano has been and how I've been meaning to sit down and play.
Then I read an article about a movement called "Take Back Your Time" in Body and Soul magazine. This movement is based in Seattle and the group encourages people to consider their time as significant and to spend it well. They have actually designated Oct. 24 as Take Back Your Time Day! This is a day to address the stress in your life with various ideas for enjoying life--instead of rushing through it. The article also gave some ideas to help celebrate that day.
*sleep late
*cancel something (I don't suppose it could be work).
*ask an older person about their life (I'm sure they have wonderful stories to tell.)
*set aside a night to have a family dinner
*listen to children's ideas
*reflect on the balance of play and work in your life
*simplify your life (keep to-do lists short, don't multitask, delegate and limit interruptions).
My husband and I have decided to simplify our life by selling our cabin. When we bought it we thought we would spend all kinds of time fishing, laying around in the hammock or drinking tropical drinks on the deck. In reality, we spent way more time cutting weeds and grass, cleaning, blowing out gutters, raking leaves (lots of mature oaks on the lot) not to mention putting in and taking out the dock and lift. We really don't need two homes to maintain so we are giving up the cabin.
As I get older, time seems to be flying by way too fast. I don't want to be sorry later in my life that I spent all of my time trying to "get things done". I want a balance of feeling I've accomplished what I wanted to do and yet got to have fun being lazy once in awhile. I want to measure things not by whether I checked them off my list but did they bring me any joy today?
So on Oct. 24 I am going to take back some time. I'm going to find time to play my piano and put away that to-do list for a little while!
A relaxing way to slow down time is to give your face a treat. Try one of Gathered's facial masks or steams. www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
Monday, October 02, 2006
You're Only As Good As Your Health
That saying never seemed so true as this past week or so. I had a killer backache. I don't know how or why but my back started to hurt and it wouldn't let up. I'm not the kind to run to the doctor but I knew I was going to need help. I went to my favorite chiropractor's clinic for some healing. I also used my Sore Muscle Relief Lotion. These two treatments brought me much needed relief!
After a few days of what seemed like chronic pain, I wondered how people who are suffering day in and day out manage. There is a fascinating article in the St.Cloud Times (sctimes.com) about a young mother fighting cancer. It is about her everyday life and all of the struggles and triumphs she has endured. I also saw on the late news a story about a woman diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and how she is coping with that. Makes my backache not such a big deal!
I know that to be healthy is truly a gift. I know that prayers are also a gift. It seems a small thing to do--pray for the health of others. But what a gift it must be when there is a miracle (however big or small) in the lives of those who are truly ill.
I hope you are all in good health. If you're not, and you need a little relief, give our Sore Muscle Relief Lotion a try. Your aching back will thank you!
www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
That saying never seemed so true as this past week or so. I had a killer backache. I don't know how or why but my back started to hurt and it wouldn't let up. I'm not the kind to run to the doctor but I knew I was going to need help. I went to my favorite chiropractor's clinic for some healing. I also used my Sore Muscle Relief Lotion. These two treatments brought me much needed relief!
After a few days of what seemed like chronic pain, I wondered how people who are suffering day in and day out manage. There is a fascinating article in the St.Cloud Times (sctimes.com) about a young mother fighting cancer. It is about her everyday life and all of the struggles and triumphs she has endured. I also saw on the late news a story about a woman diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and how she is coping with that. Makes my backache not such a big deal!
I know that to be healthy is truly a gift. I know that prayers are also a gift. It seems a small thing to do--pray for the health of others. But what a gift it must be when there is a miracle (however big or small) in the lives of those who are truly ill.
I hope you are all in good health. If you're not, and you need a little relief, give our Sore Muscle Relief Lotion a try. Your aching back will thank you!
www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
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