Is it really September 1??

At the beginning of May, my husband made the comment "before you know it Fall will be here." One of my favorite times of the year!!  And, he was right. Like many of you, this past year or so has been nothing close to normal. I'm hoping for each of you to be happy and healthy.

Nearly a year ago, I decided to blog about my journey with weight loss and mental health. I have been reading French Women Don't Get Fat and applying the advice to my daily life. Well, I was....but life brought about some changes, and I admittedly was in a stale mate, of sorts, with myself. I am by nature a deep empath. That in itself  keeps me in a love/hate relationship with my emotions. 

While our world has been turned upside down with a pandemic, my immediate life was affected not only by those concerns, but by family relationships. Our son-n-law was deployed, my daughter was pregnant and experiencing some health issues, so she moved in with us with her two boys. Our son was back home from working in the state parks, so we were one big happy family again! Right?  I let myself down...and I let my family down. I did not handle many of the situations very well that naturally happened with so many people under one roof.  Sleepless nights are still plaquing me with the what if's.

I was trying to be a great wife and partner, mother to my adult children, ( that is harder than you think. They don't always want to take your advice, which is strange because I have all of the right answers!)  GiGi to my grandsons, and cheer coach to my daughter during her pregnancy while her Army husband was away.

How many of you have felt like you let everyone down?  Remember I said I was a deep empath? DEEP EMPATH.  A blessing and a curse, some would say. I was just hoping I didn't do too much damage to the people I love. 

Here we are on the first day of September and I think as a family we are all settling into our next adventures.  My husband and I are trying to get used to the quiet house. It's too quiet at times. James returned from deployment the night our granddaughter Cambria Marie Pearl was born! ( I was there for all of it and that is a story for another time)  They are all back under one roof and settling into their new home with their newest family member.  Our son is back working in a state park, doing what he loves and our prayers are for all of them to be happy and to know how much we love them.

As for all of them recovering from this GiGis craziness, I'm not sure. Maybe I'm afraid to ask, but we all talk at least once a week, if not more so I have a feeling they have forgiven me. 

I decided I could continue to lie awake at night rehashing my choices of the last year, or I could make some needed changes for myself. Those changes include saying "no" when I need to...making time to do fun things, not just the required things...putting on lipstick, even when we are all still wearing a mask...putting on my walking shoes and heading out the front door for a 5 mile walk...taking care of my skin and not skimping on moisturizer....drinking a gallon of water a day, sometimes more...taking the stairs....listening to positive women....I can't say this enough, leaning on my God to carry my burdens....getting out of my own way....forgiving myself....loving myself....finding joy in every day…knowing when to speak and when to be silent….and always, always striving to be the best wife, mother, GiGi and friend that I can be…

This list is long, but these are simply pieces of my life that are important to me and they are easily achieved. 

Until next week when we will get more into the book,      Peace and love to you all!💕

I enjoy and welcome all comments😊

The book that is inspiring my journey~~~

French Women Don’t Get Fat