So much has happened in the last 3 weeks.  I am beginning to accept and maybe even appreciate my new bindings known as compression garments.  Not totally, but beginning.  I am finally comfortable wearing my slacks to church.  Sometimes I still hesitate.  There are still some things I am trying to adjust to...compression capris, exercises 3x daily, self clearing 3x daily, and massage 3x weekly.  I am not against those things (except maybe the capris), but it all is a huge change in my daily routine.  I have all but quit going to the YMCA.  Mostly because it is time consuming to get dressed again after the pool.

I only do the exercises once daily right now. They are painful as any new exercise routine is. But they are getting easier. Mike does them with me at night and that helps. I hope to add the 2nd daily session by the end of this week. Maybe by the end of the month I can add the 3rd session. The clearing of the lymph glands  is still once daily most days. I need to push myself to do it 3x daily. That part is forgetfulness  usually.  This is the first week that we are to do the massages 3x weekly. Tonight will be the 3rd time.  This takes an hour.  The clearing takes 15 minutes or so and has to be done each time before the garments are put on. Then 2 more times in the day. Mike helps once daily then I do the rest. The arthritis makes this a little difficult to do by myself so it takes a little longer for me.  But I am adjusting.

God promises I can do it all...with His help and guidance.

I have also been doing taxes and working on my website.  And scheduling jewelry shows for the fall.  I have a show this Saturday here locally, one next month, and one in September. I am also planning to put a few copper pieces in a shop in Claremore, OK later this week. I have rings in a shop in Bethany, OK right now. I am praying for good sales to be able to purchase some high dollar tools and a workbench.

Today was a great day in the house of God, church.  Afterward, I took a nap as usual for Sundays.  It is also the day I treat myself. I take all the compression off and leave it off until Monday morning. Yes, the swelling comes back, but my legs are free for a few hours. :D   That makes the end of Sunday a great day to follow the great morning.

Please visit my website too.  It is still under construction, but partially functional.
http://www.inspiredwirejewelry.net
www.inspiredwirejewelry.etsy.com

How do you fight depression?

Having more than one chronic illness and chronic pain, I am susceptible to depression. I have known this, but it was brought to my attention again by my primary doctor. She suggested medication. I politely told her...not yet.

Yes, I do get depressed. Everyone does. I probably more so than most normal people. So why not take the meds? After all, what is one more pill? It is one more pill! I get depressed when I hurt, or am so swollen I can barely move, or when I am exhausted. These things happen every day. I also get depressed when we have financial trouble. I get depressed when everything hits me at once.

How do you personally handle your depression? Got any secrets to it? Do you take the drugs? I mean, many people have to. They wouldn't be able to function without the medication. That's ok.

Personally, I have found a number of ways to handle my depression when it hits hard. As a Christian, the first thing is to pray. But that isn't the end of it.
1. Pray
2. I have my grandkids around. They are so happy and lively. It wears me out, but it makes me happy!
3. Church. Sometimes it is difficult to get ready physically and emotionally. But, once I am at church I get encouraged by everyone I see and visit with. I go home elated.
4. Serving others. Yes, service to someone else is a big lift. It's a feel-good time. Helping by visiting, working together, or just holding their hands. I hate hospitals. But I like the way I feel after visiting someone there. If I can make them feel better, it makes me feel better.
5. Comedy. I love to watch good, clean comedy. It has to be clean and it has to be good! If it is just dorky, it isn't good. Or read a good humorous book. I have two favorite humorous authors...Rene Gutteridge and Liz Curtis Higgs. They just do wonders for me! Most of the good comedic movies for me are animated..."Happy Feet" is one.
6. Shopping. Now this one can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be. Even if we are broke I can usually scrounge up $10 or so. Then I can shop as long as I can without pain and be particular about what I am looking for. Sometimes it is just a bouquet of flowers or a box of cookies. Sometimes it will get me a shirt. Sometimes it will be for a gift to someone else. But shopping is good therapy.

So, what do you do for your depression?

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Today was an awesome one in the Lord. We had back to back services with a pot luck lunch thrown in. Bro. Jim N. is leaving us here in OK, getting married in NM and moving to CA with his new bride. Bro. Jim has been a big part of our church here in Del City. He will be 83 later this month. But he is so young at heart. I think his desire to serve God is what has kept him so 'young'.
We will certainly miss Bro. Jim, but don't let that stop you from serving God here with us!
The work continues as always.
Bro. Jim, enjoy your new life. Get those Californians straight about God! Come see us every now and then. We love you. Jean, keep up with him. It will be a challenge!

Happy New Year

I hope you all have had a great start to the new year. I've decided to change my blog around just a bit. I will try to whine less and praise more.

This year is starting out extremely cold. However, one of our dear ladies at church gave me an electric heated throw! How awesome is that? I love it. Mike uses it when I am in the other room. Plus, we left our fireplace out in the front room. I know it is only cardboard, but....it's the ambiance!

I am also going to try to get my office/studio clean and organized by the end of January. If I do well, I will post pictures.

My health is about the same. I have added Eczema to my list of ailments. It itches so much! However, the steroid cream is starting to help. I managed to stay off all steroids for 3+ years. I guess a little cream for a couple weeks won't kill me.

Ok, let's see if we can "get 'er done" this month with all the new stuff going on. 2009 is over, is still has issues to resolve, but 2010 has just begun!

Busy Week

This has been a very busy week. It will be all over tomorrow evening. Sunday night is the beginning of our weekend. Monday night is the end of it.
The week started off ok with a trip to the YMCA for aquatics, but went downhill after that.
Wednesday a friend called on her way home from work stuttering like crazy. I took her to the hospital after church, she wouldn't go any earlier.
Then, because of that I didn't finish my taxes on time. Good thing we are getting a refund. Oklahoma's taxes aren't due until next month due to all the wildfires last week.
Well, I finished taxes on Thursday. But only after I had to hustle and get the house cleaned. The landlord wanted to show it all of to his sons in from NY. Oh, my aching back!
Friday we had a lady in our church get a diskogram (?). It is a very painful test in the disks of her back. It turned out not as bad as expected. Then it was SNO night. Those seniors keep us out really late! We had fun with grilled cheese sandwiches and games. We usually don't get home until 11 pm. Not bad for a bunch of old folks. But I had spent 2 days up at the hospital already.
Well, it is now Saturday night. We had a pizza party and played catch phrase with the young adults tonight. The Home Builders class. Had a lot of fun. Got to see both my boys and 3 of my grandkids.
I am doing laundry, blogging, practicing for a solo tomorrow, and wishing I was in bed asleep!

Earthquake!

We had 3 earthquakes yesterday. The epicenter was 3 blocks from the church. I felt the first two, but not the third. I think the dog did though. He was begging to come in the house.

They weren't strong nor unusual. We had one 9 days earlier too that was 3.4. These were 2.7, 2.5, and 2.2. The unusual thing is to have so many in 3 hours time! The fault is 3 miles below ground.

I doubt anything exciting will happen today. Unless I get to go fishing!