Learning, Growth, and Nature's Surprises

When I am feeling stressed and worried, I am more likely to make mistakes and forget things.  Okay, that might be lots of times, but it really shows up when I am feeling stressed.  Today is a good example of that.  My mother and sister are on their way back from Arizona.  They will be here tomorrow.  I have been working on getting Mom's place ready.

As I wrote in my last post, my mother has been ill and was hospitalized.  My wonderful sister flew to Arizona, and has been driving my mother back home.  Normally they take three days for these trips, but my mom tires easily, and they are taking five days this time.  Thus the worry and stress.

I have been working on getting Mom's place ready for winter living.  I put warm sheets on the bed, bought groceries, and shoveled the snow drifted patio for her little dog.  I was almost ready to leave today, when I decided to walk around the corner to get her mail.  I pulled the door shut and managed to lock myself out.  My purse, my car keys, my cell phone were all sitting on her kitchen island.  They were all safely locked inside, while I was locked out.  Her kind neighbor called for help, and about 45 minutes later someone came to let me in.

Lesson learned!  Never go anywhere without my cell phone, keys and ID!  I also learned that my mother's townhouses have really good security.

All of this definitely added to the stress, but since I can't undo it, I might as well laugh at myself. . . . before other people do.

Life does have it's little moments of beauty however.  A few days ago I noticed that my little snake plant cutting had finally sprouted a new leaf.  Back in April I helped with the Spring Festival at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  We taught people how to plant a piece of leaf cut from a Snake Plant, sometimes called Mother-in-law's Tongue, in a newspaper pot.  The correct name is Sansevieria.

I remember one of the other volunteers said that it takes a really really long time to grow.  Well, it's been nine months, and I had pretty much given up hope that it was going to ever do anything.

And there it was!  Growing!  New life!  And right in the middle of a very stressful two weeks of my life.  New life!  New hope!  Second chances!  Never give up! And just from a small piece of leaf and a little bit of potting soil.

Mom and Jacci are staying with my aunt and uncle in Kansas tonight.  They will be home tomorrow.  Mom is doing better.  Jacci is awesome and I am so lucky to have her for my sister.  I will be so grateful to have them both back at home.

My Gratitude for Today

• Second chances!  Mom is doing better.
• My wonderful sister, who works hard, and makes things happen.
• New chances to learn and grow.
• Tenacity!
• Plants.  They are life, beauty, mystery, and so much more.

Birthday Surprises

Last Thursday was my birthday.  There wasn’t a lot of celebrating that went on, in fact there were a couple of times during the day that I had to remind myself that it was still my birthday.

Around 1:00 the day before, I looked at my phone and noticed that my mother, who spends winters in Arizona, had called.  Most of the time I do not carry my phone with me at work, and when I do, I keep it muted.  She had called about a half hour before. 

It is unusual for her to call me during the day, so I did decide to give her a quick call back.  When she answered I could tell she was not well.  Her voice was shaky and she had great difficulty finding words to express herself.  My mother is a stroke survivor, so this is of grave concern.  I told her I would call her when I got home.

 I then contacted her neighbor and asked him to check on her.  I called my sister, and she called him as well.  He and another neighbor, who is a nurse, examined Mom and decided to call an ambulance.  Mom spent that night in the emergency room and was admitted to the hospital around 3:30 the next morning, which happens to be my birthday.

It is extraordinarily difficult to be so far away when someone you love is seriously ill.  Her wonderful neighbors have been visiting her, taking care of her dog, and so much more.  I am incredibly grateful for them.

My sister, immediately made plans to fly to Arizona to be with Mom, and then drive her back to Iowa when she is well enough.  Jacci has been calling and talking to Mom’s nurse and case worker so we have accurate information.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful sister. She is a doer, and when she sees a problem, she kicks into action.  She was supposed to fly out at 2:30 on Friday.

We ran into a snag yesterday when a major snow storm moved in.  We kept checking the airline and the flight was still on.  I got in my car and drove all the way across town in this developing blizzard, to pick Jacci up to take her to the airport.  As I approached her exit, the airline notified her that the flight was cancelled.  I turned around and drove all the way back home so I could be snowed in at my own home with my dogs.

My wonderful birthday gift is that Mom is doing much better now and is being released from the hospital later today. Jacci will be flying out tomorrow, and we should have a much better experience getting her to the airport.

So, it was a very interesting birthday.   

I am so grateful for:

1.   My mother’s wonderful caring neighbors. Two years ago, we had another incident when I called Mom and she was having problems.  Her neighbor, Bob, went over and got her help that time too.
2. My awesome sister who has made it possible for Mom to go to Arizona all these years and who is once again, shutting down her business for the week to go be with Mom and drive her home. She also actively communicates with people to get the most accurate information we can.
3.  I am also grateful for Mom’s guardian angel.  I am absolutely convinced she has one.  Four times in my life, someone or something has told me to call her or go see her, and it has turned into a life saving moment.  I’ll write about that in another post.

Winter has definitely arrived here in Iowa.  Mom hasn’t been up here during the winter in many years. I'm sure that will be a challenge for her, but I will be so grateful to have her here where we can be sure that she gets the things she needs. 

Life is full of surprises, and some extraordinary gifts. 

Time is Precious!

Winter has arrived in Iowa.  We had snow on Friday and it is snowing again this evening.  This meant I was able to spend a lot of time here at home.  I loved it! I want to spend more time enjoying my home with my two little dogs.

This is also my birthday week.  As the years go by, I appreciate more and more how precious my time is.  When I set my 20 goals for 2020, I thought about that a lot.  In fact, at least six of my goals for the year have to do with being more selective about how I spend my time.

I want to get back to spending time doing creative things.  When I first retired in 2015, I was taking art classes.  I was knitting.  I was spending time with friends.  Now I struggle to find the time to do those things.  It is time to get my priorities straight.

The first step in getting those priorities straight is doing some soul searching about what makes me happy?  What do I enjoy doing?  What is most important to me?

I already know that I want to:

• Read more.
• Have fun with arts and crafts.
• Start knitting again.
• Spend more time doing things I love, like working at the Botanical Garden.
• Spend more time with friends and family.

In order to accomplish all that, another goal is:

• Minimize my use of Facebook and Instagram.

I don’t want to leave social media completely.  I have some online friends, as well as other friends and family that live a long way away.  Social media is the only way we have to connect.  However, for me, the atmosphere on Facebook in particular has changed drastically in the last few years.  It just isn’t as much fun as it used to be.  It is filled with advertisements, political discussions and sometimes arguments, and lots and lots of negativity.  It has also become a real time suck.  

In order to do the creative things I want to do, increase my work at the Botanical Garden, and spending time with friends and family, I need to spend less time on my computer and phone.

What are your tricks for managing your time on social media?  What works for you when it comes to prioritizing how you spend your time?  What makes you the happiest?

My Gratitude for Today:

1. I am grateful that I have reached a point in my life where I have more choices about how I spend my time.
2. I am grateful for my warm and cozy home.
3. While I don't really love winter, it is a wonderful time to stay home and be with my cute little dogs.

20 Goals for 2020

It's a new year and a new decade, which traditionally is a time for making resolutions.  People joke about how quickly they give up on their resolutions.  For that reason, I am not making resolutions.  I am setting some goals for the new year.  My sister had the idea to make 20 goals or intentions for the year, and I liked the sound of that.

One of my goals for the year is to take time to evaluate what makes me happy and how best to spend my time.  I spend the majority of my time as an AmeriCorps reading tutor, but I also volunteer at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. After this school year, I hope to spend more time working and learning  at the Botanical Garden.

During the summer I was working in the outdoor gardens helping with weeding.  I ran into problems with that around the middle of July.  I started breaking out in hives.  I think it was an allergic reaction to bug bites.  I ended up moving my work inside.  Now I help maintain the Gardener's Show House.  This place is such a gift!  I walk in on Saturday mornings, and I just start smiling. What a wonderful place to go during an Iowa winter, and there is always something new to discover.

There are so many opportunities to help and learn here at the Botanical Garden.  Sometimes I help with classes by serving as a Class Host.  About once a month, I set up a cart and have a display for Pop Up Education.  Most recently I showed people terrariums.  That is another great thing about the garden, there are lots of classes and opportunities to learn more. A couple months ago, I took a class about terrariums, and we made our own.

On Saturdays that I work in the Gardener's Show House, we get there early, before the garden is open.  It is such a blessing to walk around, soaking up the beauty in the quiet of the morning.  Two weeks ago as I was cleaning and wiping down furniture, I noticed this little toad sitting on a window frame.  At first I wasn't sure whether he was real or part of the display.  Suddenly, he leaped into the air.  He was real!  I found him again today.  This time he was sitting between the plants on a table I was cleaning.  It may not be the same toad, but I'm telling myself that he is. 

Another one of my goals for the year is to start blogging again.  I started!

My Gratitude For Today:

• I found the little toad again when I was working in the Gardener's Show House.
• I love the beautiful flowers and plants.
• A new year means lots of opportunities to try and learn new things.

Hidden Beauty

Back when I was in my twenties, I had this idea that as I got older, I would get things figured out, and I would fully understand how the world works and exactly how to live my life.  Now that I’m in my sixties, the one thing I know for sure is there is always more to learn, and it is unlikely I will ever understand other people when I’m still trying to figure out myself.  The positive in that is, I get to keep growing and learning and trying new things. 

All summer I have been trying to get control of my yard.  The flower beds and garden were totally overgrown, by the time I was able to work on them.  I have been working on them almost every day, except on those days when the weather won’t cooperate.  This week it is expected to be in the nineties every day, so that will limit my yard work time. 

Over the weekend I began cutting down weeds and brush in the flowerbed by my garage.  As I cleared away the unwanted overgrowth, I discovered these beautiful Day Lilies and Purple Coneflower, hidden among the brush and weeds.  Now that the clutter is gone, these beautiful plants will be able to flourish.  No matter how much the weeds tried to take over the garden, these flowers prevailed

I think that can be true about us as humans as well.  Get rid of the negative thoughts.  Get rid of the self doubt.  Be willing to take risks, try something new, and learn.  Discover the beauty within ourselves, and let it grow.

I have been trying to do some of that this summer by working at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have taught at the same school for 29 years, and it is still home.  But I am enjoying this new adventure in this new setting.  It is an opportunity to meet new people and try new things, and I am learning something new every day that I go.

   

• I am grateful for beautiful flowers.
• I am thankful for strength and perseverance.
• I am grateful for all the opportunities to grow and learn.

Summer Vacation

Gratitude Day #12

I haven't written a gratitude post in quite a while.  Now that it is summer vacation, hopefully I will find more time to blog.  We are actually three weeks into summer vacation, but the first week was devoted to helping my sister move.  I'm not sure what happened to the second week.  I have been spending a lot of time working in my yard.  I am way behind on weeding and planting my garden, but I will get there.

I also started volunteering in Horticulture at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have helped with some events and classes.  This summer I am helping to maintain the Ruan Alee Walkway.  Each Wednesday morning I am spending two hours weeding and working on the flower beds.  These first few weeks that also involves deadheading the irises.

This morning was cool and cloudy.  We are there before the garden opens, so it is peaceful.  It is hard physical work, but I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

I love the beauty of the gardens, the river, and view of the downtown Des Moines skyline.

Another bonus is walking through the water garden.  I love all the water lilies.  If you go, however, please don't throw money in there.  It isn't helpful.

1. I am grateful for having the time and freedom to do something completely different during the summer.
2. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful place.
3. I am thankful for another chance to learn new things.

Sunshine and Flowers

Gratitude Day #11

I love all the flowers that are beginning to grow and bloom.  These are spring flowers that are blooming in my front yard right now.  Okay, I guess technically the violets and dandelions are considered weeds, but they still add color to the landscape. Not to mention the fact that dandelions were originally brought here for medicinal purposes.  On the right is my one and only tulip.  I did not plant it.  I assume it was planted by the people who owned this house before me, and I have lived in this house for 18 years. This tulip is determined.

It is amazing what a little sunshine and color can do for my disposition.  Just getting outside and walking with the dogs lifts my spirits, and makes me thankful for my home and neighborhood. After our walk we enjoyed sitting together on the back deck.

1. I am grateful for the spring flowers.
2. I am thankful for the sunshine on my face.
3. I am incredibly grateful for my home and neighborhood and the little dogs who share it with me.

I am noticing it is also time to break out the mower.  In parts of the back yard, the grass is getting as tall as Lola and Chloe.  Guess I will add that to my "to do" list for later this week. Notice that mowing did not make my gratitude list.