Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing on this Tuesday? I hope that life finds you in good health, first and foremost and that you are able to enjoy each and every day including this one. We went to bed later again last night it was almost 10:30 p.m. when I turned off the light. It was 2:00 a.m. when Mr. Alvin woke up and needed to go outside. How can you say “go back to sleep” when someone has to go to to the bathroom? You cannot. Or at least not in good conscious. So downstairs we trotted sleep still thick in my eyes with my cell phone and our sofa special pillow in tow, lights on and unlocked back door so he could outside. With so much snow I don’t have to go out until the sunrises to pick up any little parcels that he leaves behind because I can clearly see them and so can he. Back into the house and onto the sofa. It was 6:30 when the alarm went off that he next woke up. So time for his breakfast and another trip outside. I do know one thing for sure that his bodily function are in fine working order. While he had been eating I prepared the coffee so that I could plug it in when we are “finally up and downstairs for the day.” The coffee will be fresher longer. After that I still wasn’t quite ready to get up to stay up even though it wasn’t super early at this point. Set the microwave timer for 25 minutes which would mean getting up at 7:00 a.m. and that is what happened. It doesn’t take me long to get myself ready on those days when I don’t shower. There is no reason to shower everyday it dries out the skin, most especially in our dry winter season. Anyway, that is a personal preference and I prefer to show every other day. My hair has been healthier as a result, not so drying. So here we are almost ready to begin another day in the life of Carol Lewis.

Yesterday my daughter was running errands. She went to COSTCO first and picked up groceries for them and for me and then dropped them at the house. Just in time to have a short break with me. Then she was off to do more shopping at IKEA and at BATH & BODY WORKS. She phoned the order into IKEA which was a great idea and then just had to pick it up. I so wished that I could have gone with her to BBW. I love that store. I think I have mentioned that once or twice before and that I worked there a few years back. They were the first company to hire this “54” year old woman at the time when I moved here from Saskatchewan. I was so appreciative and even stayed on when I was hired at my current job. It was hard to leave but I could not continue working 7 days a week after the kids moved to a city about 20 minutes away and I could not leave Mr. Alvin alone from early morning till late at night. My girl picked me up some foaming hand soaps in my favourite scents: Tis the Season, Frosted Cranberry and Winter Citrus Wreath. I am so happy. She brought the goodies back including some items I requested for Christmas stockings, on her way back from the second leg of her shopping trip, and then she headed for home. I am so grateful to be the Mother of this beautiful, caring, compassionate, loving and thoughtful woman I call my “daughter.”

So needless to say with working the late shift yesterday and my daughter popping in and out we did not go for a walk. So hopefully the temperature is warm enough for me to go with Alvin at lunchtime. I gave him a short haircut actually shorter than I had planned. Thankfully he has a nice sweater to keep him warm and a great thick winter coat, too.

Well I guess it is time to head back downstairs and get that coffee perking. Life is life. I told my daughter yesterday when she asked me “How were things going?” I replied “great, how can I possibly complain, Alvin and I are in good health, as our our family and friends, we have good food to eat and a roof over our heads and I have a job where I can work from home.” Really how blessed am I, are me and Alvin. I am over the moon grateful for my life. Thank you Universe.

I hope that you are having a great day. Still pretty dark outside here as I quickly glanced out the office window. The sun will shine soon and I hope that it shines where you are. Remember to always, live your life with kindness and respect for all. Your life will be all the better, if you do!

Happy Tuesday.

Living our lives with kindness and respect for all,

I / We remain, as always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 22nd day of February, 2015.

It is the day before my sister’s birthday.

She will be 56 this birthday.

That reminds me I will be 58 in August.

Where does the time go?

Have you ever sat down and recorded things that happened during your life thus far.

Perhaps each one …

Maybe by decade ….

It could be anything …. really ….

Perhaps the birth of a younger sibling.

Marriage.

First day of grade school.

The birth of your children.

Your first pet.

First adult book you read.

Graduating from college/university.

Death of a parent.

First time spoke in front of a crowd/group.

Your first winter vacation.

Your first job.

Major move from birthplace.

First flower you remember seeing and smelling.

There are so many things ….

Grab a notebook the next time you visit the neighbourhood discount store and start recording your life.

When you have a day or maybe a week where you are feeling like your life is blah and doesn’t mean anything …. grab your notebook and look at all that has happened thus far.

You will be pleasantly surprised.

It doesn’t matter if you are not a rocket scientist or inventor of the modern day computer.

It doesn’t matter that you do not have children.

It doesn’t matter if you did not graduate high school.

It doesn’t matter if you did not get married.

But what does matter …. and is most important.

Is this: that you were born,

that you took the time to smell that rose, and appreciate the wonder of nature;

that you adopted that wonderful dog who had been abused, neglected and unloved;

that you shovelled the sidewalk and driveway every winter for your elderly neighbours;

that you recycled cardboard, tins and such;

that you were kind to all those who surrounded you each day;

that you always gave your best.

See you have lived a great life ….. now write it down.

Have the best Sunday.

Happy birth – day …… you matter.

Special Hello to: each of us.

Always, Carol and Alvin