The Weekly Ramble 10/7/23

I was really hoping that this would be the week that I found the New Normal.

It didn’t really happen, so maybe this will be “the month that I find the New Normal.” That sounds like a good way to pivot, don’t you think?

We are still unpacking and finding places for things. Some of those places are unusual places, like drawers and cubbies that are becoming more “functional decor”. Some of those places are outside my house as I realize we still have too much stuff.

But, honestly, until we moved in and could put stuff away, it really was hard to image what was keepable and what wasn’t.

Dream Big.

A few weeks ago I was so excited about the future. Remember my “dream big!” refrain?

I confess that I’m not quite so excited this week. When I explained that to my therapist and said, “It’s not like anything major has happened…” she was quick to correct me, that it was important to recognize this big change that happened (last month) and how we’re still adjusting.

We live in a community with lots of military families, our new neighborhood even more so than the last, and I know that families that move every three years have a routine for getting settled and acclimated quickly.

One friend whose husband has been stationed back and forth between San Diego and Virginia Beach for over a decade told me that they jump right in because if they don’t, they’ll miss out on a lot of opportunities because it will soon be time to move again.

I think I was putting that expectation on myself, that I needed to adjust quickly and get in a groove…. it may be taking longer than I planned, but I’m making progress.

Staying in Motion

It’s been really hot here the last couple days and I spent a lot of time in San Diego proper. We live a good 60-minute drive from the city (due to traffic), but life events took me down there twice.

I made the decision the first morning that I wasn’t going to get wigged by bad drivers. Turns out that was a very good decision. I have observed recently that the more unsafe drivers out there are doing one (or both!) of two things:

1. texting/looking at their phones while driving

2. failing to use their blinker, aka turn signal, aka INDICATOR

It’s called an indicator because you use it to indicate that you’re changing lanes. For the love of all that’s holy, I wish people would use that little bar on the left side of the steering wheel. Wow.

PSA – if you don’t regularly, please start.

Besides driving, I’ve kept up a step streak, my first in months. There have been some very late evenings taking a stroll through the neighborhood working to get the steps.

Pumpkin Spice Toast

One of my new discoveries has been Pumpkin Spice Toast!

I recently shared a recipe to make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice. Super easy and a fun little mix to keep on hand for random seasoning, especially when you add it to sugar, like you would Cinnamon Sugar.

Pumpkin Spice Toast is a fun little snack/breakfast that comes together quickly. Toast your bread, spread butter, sprinkle with a mixture of butter and Pumpkin Spice Sugar.

Super yum! And a quick and easy way to add some fall spice to your day.

Reviewing Priorities

Last month I shared my three priorities for this season:

Family – to launch our kids into adulthood with the core memories, experiences, and resources to be happy, healthy, and holy.

Fitness – to be mentally, physically, and spiritually fit so that I can age strong and continue to be engaged with my children (and some-day grandchildren) well into my 90s.

Finances – to manage our finances and increase our earnings so that we are not only “not a burden” but also that we can be a blessing to our family and to others in need.

If you’ll remember I spent some time last month brainstorming what particular actions and practices would help me achieve these priorities. Here’s what I landed on and how it’s going.

Family – Sunday dinners/family nights, meaningful talk time during commutes, family trips (overseas as well as domestic), daily/weekly check-ins, regular mom-kid dates, setting up new house to maximize our time together as well as their work/study/friend time.

As mentioned above, the house is still a work in progress, but we’re moving along. One of the things we’re working in is an Open Game Night where the kids can invite friends and coworkers to our house one night a month and we’ll have snacks and lots of games available.

We even have a putting green in the backyard as well as a fire pit, making this the ultimate entertaining house.

Fitness – therapy, weight-lifting, 10k steps, nutrition for cholesterol/protein, Bible study.

I got to the gym once this week, and have kept up with therapy, my step streak, and my Bible study. Nutrition and more lifting are things I want to work into my New Normal.

Finances – trimming our expenses, increasing our income, investing regularly

Still working on all this, though not as earnestly since my schedule has felt soooo full lately.

So, I guess that’s it for the Weekly Ramble. Have a good one!