Motivation Monday - Getting Back on Program

Regular followers know that I have had a stressful, emotional November.  I tend to eat when I am emotional.   Making bad food choices and over eating come along with that.  I missed my last 2 Zumba classes too.  Thanksgiving and Justine's bridal tea shower didn't help either.  Needless to say...I need to get back on program - Weight Watchers included.

It started last week, that ho hum yucky feeling - if you overindulge you know that feeling.  I couldn't even face the scale - so I didn't go to my Weight Watcher class.  That in turn made me feel even yuckier..is that a word?  A cold, I mean frigid -12 or so for several days in a row, wasn't motivating me to do anything, except hide under my electric blanket and look on Pinterest.

The part of being on a regular program, eating good, drinking water and exercise; is that your body responds to that.  Food in and food out - if you get my drift.  When you don't stick to a regular program and make bad choices, food goes in....but, let's just say, slows down in leaving.  Now that I know the benefits of healthier choices, I don't like this sluggish feeling.  That is what has motivated me today to get back on program.  I loved the regularity benefit - do people talk about this on here?  Well, this is what has motivated me today.  

So, I've allowed myself a few days to "hide" under my electric blanket with my dog Minnie.

She loves the electric blanket.  

So, today, I plan to get back on program, track my food and maybe take a walk.  All the things I know that help me feel better.  Another form of therapy for me is to create something.  I haven't been doing that lately.  So, look for posts this week on simple Christmas projects.  

If, you are in the ho hum yucky mode....just get out from under your electric blanket, get off the couch and just get started.  When life "bucks" you off - get back on - you might need to use your spurs - but, get back on.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Ritchie Family

First...I really hate to have my picture taken.  So did my mom.  We had a hard time finding pictures of her for the memorial.  Funny to think that in today's world - people take "selfies" everyday.  Personally, I think it is too much.  

Here is a family picture of my siblings.  My eldest brother, Henry, wasn't able to make it back for the memorial, so he isn't in the picture.

Top is Frank he is the 4th in line.  Far left is Lori she is 5th, next is Lynn she is the 3rd, next is Bonnie she is the 2nd and on the end is me - Dicky Bird I'm 6th born.   My given name is Jacqueline Joyce - Jacky.  I was named after my mom's 2 sisters.  I grew up not knowing my real name, because I was called Dicky Bird.  When I was born, the president's wife was Lady Bird Johnson.  My dad said, "well, if there can be a Lady Bird in the White House, we surly can have a Dicky Bird."  It stuck.  

The week before my mom passed on, while we all were together she said "now, kids, when I'm gone, I want you all to get along and not fight."  We will mom.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.   

Popplewood 4-H December Meeting

We start another 4-H year.  Our club has a lot of younger members this year.  We had our December meeting and Christmas party this week - during a snow storm I might add.  We asked the kids what they wanted to do and the top 3 things were:  decorate cookies, make an ornament and do something for someone else.  We accomplished just that.  

Shannon and Deb baked some sugar cookies at home and brought in all the supplies for decorating. 

We made recycled ornaments.  We made these by taking an old ornament, brushed on some Mod Podge and added cut up pieces of tissue paper.  They looked like patch work - really cute.  

We made these cute little cards for our troops and residents at the Homme Home Nursing Home.  (idea off of pinterest link here:  http://twocuteblondies.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-kissmas-chappy-new-year.html ).  

We are going to go visit the residents at the nursing home on Saturday.  Our club members will join my brother on his monthly nursing home ministry and sing carols and pass out these cute cards.   The others will be sent to "any soldier" and be shared with a unit somewhere.  

The 4-H pledge is:  

I pledge my head to clearer thinking - (letting the kids make their own decisions on what to do)

My heart to greater loyality - (working together as a club and group and remembering our troops)

My hands for larger service - (making the chap stick cards to share, visiting the residents at nursing home and singing for them)

My health for better living - (well...cookies in moderation are good for you - they were homemade...we will work on this one...)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Mad Hatter Bridal Tea Party

Our daughter, Justine, had her bridal shower this past Sunday afternoon.  We had a Mad Hatter Tea Party.  We asked guests to wear their maddest hat to win a prize.   I had some extra hats at the door for those who didn't wear one.  I was surprised at how many crazy hats we had.  

This is Al's mom.  Justine made her skirt.  She looked so cute - just like Alice in Wonderland.

Everyone said it was fun.  Justine is very creative and actually came up with this mad hatter tea party idea.  We looked on pinterest for other ideas to add to our own.  We started collecting tea cups and tea pots over the summer at auction, thrift shops and rummages.  We actually had enough for 80 place settings.  I let each person who helped us clean up keep a cup and saucer set.  

We set up 2 long tables of 40 place settings.  We used antique table cloths and linens for the table tops - all different and mix matched.  We put the antique tea cup and saucer, copies of the games and the party favor set up at each spot.  In the middle we added our tea pots, card stands, cards, honey, sugar cubes, variety of teas, pedestal stands with treats and the other decorations.  I think it looked great!
  

Justine made the large green hat which was the card box.

Thank you to all my sisters and nieces who helped me.  We had so many treats.  This was a busy week for our family.  We had the loss of our mom, her memorial and Justine's shower all in just a few short days.  My mom, knew all of our plans, as we talked about them with her.  Even days before her passing, she said..."now, girls, just tell me what I can make for the shower..."  She was there in all of our hearts.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

A Memorial over a Funeral

Non-traditional - sums up my family.  We are non-traditional in that my mom married a native in the 1940's...mixed race; our faith and the church we grew up in - Oneness Pentecostal; our loyalty and unity - we all get along....if we do have an issue we don't agree on - we respect the other's opinion and we love each other.  Maybe this is traditional in other parts of the country - I can assure you - it isn't here in Marathon County Wisconsin.

Perhaps nothing shows our non-traditional views more than how we respected my Mom's wishes.  She did not want a funeral or an obituary.  Days before she passed, we asked her again..."Mom, do you want a funeral...'No', she said."  "Mom, do you want an obituary in the paper?  'No' she said.  Are you sure?  Don't you want me write down all the nice things about you and how much we loved you?  'No, people don't need to know all that about us'"  This was my Mom.  She didn't want us to feel sad or have to face a bunch of people who usually come to a funeral to show their support.  I know this is traditional - however, why. 

I have had calls from neighbors and friends asking "when is her funeral?"  (Thank you for thinking of me and all your prayers.)  I don't know if they know what to say when I say "she didn't want one."  She didn't want one - was her last mothering duty to let us not suffer through one.  Really - I think funerals are just too hard on the family - maybe it is just me....some people might need additional support, funerals are for them.  Not me.

We had a memorial for her at my brother's church in Elderon.  His little church is nestled on a wooded lot.  Looking out the windows we had a sunny day, fresh snow on the ground and trees - a beautiful setting.  Inside, the building was full of family and friends who helped take care of Mom and Dad.  It was a beautiful tribute to my Mom.  I talked about the Proverbs 31 woman - "her children rise and call her blessed."  An opportunity to say something or sing a song was given to each person there.  It was truly beautiful.

For me, this is what I want as well.  A non-traditional service, people sharing good stories about me and family supporting each other.  My Mom has said on many an occasion - "if people didn't want to come visit me when I was alive - why should they come when I'm dead."  True.  

Take every opportunity to show those that you love - that you love them - while they are here.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Happy Thanksgiving -

Happy Thanksgiving.  We sure do have a lot to be thankful for.  For me, especially today, I'm thankful for my Mom.  This is a picture of her and Anna.  I have many blog posts about her or in reference to her.  This is one with a lot of photos from her 80th birthday party last year.
read here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-80th-birthday-mom.html

My mom entered eternity on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at around 4:50 a.m.  She was surrounded by love, prayers, worship and praise.  It was a blessing to hold her hand till the end.  After she took her last breath, I actually felt lead to clap my hands - applauding her on a life well lived - "good job mom!"  and in praise to our savior "thank you Jesus for your salvation."  Those in the room joined in - we had a wonderful experience.  My sister said, "this is what we believe, this is how we should be - happy for mom and thankful for Jesus."  I truly am!  

I don't know what a world without her will be.  I have relied on her for so much over the years.  I will miss her deeply - beyond words.  However, I am also happy - no more pain, no more wheel chair and no more worries.  She is at rest and peace, in the company of loved ones that passed on before and in the arms of Jesus.  This is the foundation of my faith.

My mom only went to school until the 8th grade.  She always belittled her education - however, she was the wisest person I knew.

My mom struggled with her weight, always saying she was too fat or not pretty anymore - however, she was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.  Expressing her spirit and letting her light shine - true beauty.

My mom wasn't wealthy, had no money to invest in the stock market - yet, she invested her everything into her family - she was rich in love.

My mom spent her last few days in the hospital.  She never was alone - at times the hallway was crowded with family.  My nephew played his guitar, her room was full of song and praise.  We lifted her up in voices of open prayer - her room overflowing with the presence of the holy ghost.  There were others in this hallway without family - not knowing the love and support my mom had.  We did pray for the lady in the room next to us as well.  My mom was blessed by all of this, I know because she squeezed our hands, wiggled her feet to the music - maybe not able to express all that she felt - but we knew she was happy.  In the emergency room, she told us to tell everyone that she loved us all the same and that she wanted to kiss each one of her kids, grand kids, great and great, great grand kids before she passed.  Thankfully, family from hours away - made it in time to do so.  My last nephew arrived around 12:30 a.m. and visited and prayed with her - she passed at 4:50 a.m.  I feel she was waiting for him, as my sister kept saying..."Ben is on his way mama..."  

I know that some of you who read this won't understand this or our expression of emotion.  Death isn't the end - for us - it is only the beginning.  I am the woman I am today, because of my mom and all the time she put into me.  I hope to not only respect her by how I live - but, let my life be a testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

Blessings and Blessed in Ringle, Wisconsin.

Motivation Monday - Speaking Honestly

I have always been the type of person who speaks my mind - openly and honestly.  I attribute this to my being the youngest of 6 kids.  I feel that birth order does play a role in how you learn to fit in with your family.  This then applies in how you navigate throughout all aspects of your personal and social life.   I also love taking personality tests.  I have tested myself in magazines, at seminars and in books.  I just like seeing what my answers reveal about me.   In most cases I feel that my tests are very accurate.

Speaking your mind, having a voice might be a challenge for some of you.  My purpose in this post is to encourage you to learn how and put into practice this "art" of speaking.   Truthfully, this post is to also encourage me...in the past, I know things I've said have been offensive.  The bible tells us to "But speaking the truth in love...Ephesians 4:15"  This isn't always easy - but, it is our guide to how we need to speak.  

I have been lucky, I guess, that I always let people know how I feel when I am feeling it.  I always compliment people when warranted as well as the alternative...(hence, the offences).   I "have" to live with me - I have learned to encourage honest speech - so, I have no regrets and can let things go.  

I know no other way to encourage us than by using this past few weeks of my life as an example.  My mom has been sick, facing end of life choices.  This stage of life, brings about a clarity like no other.  When faced with, "this might be the last time I see you..." - brings about honest speech.  It is emotional, yes - embrace it.  I have been so blessed with things my mom and I have shared over the past few days.  These will be mine and her secrets and I will treasure them forever.  I have been so blessed!  Yes, end of life decisions and blessed.  The reason for this is that we are speaking honestly with each other.   Mom has shared with each of us, I am sure, special moments like I have shared with her.  She is speaking honestly and with love.  This is how she raised us, mothered us, even in her discomfort - thinking of us.  

You don't have to wait, rather don't wait till the end...if this seems hard for you to do, take baby steps.  Start with small things, thank the waitress, compliment a stranger, finally tell your neighbor you don't appreciate their dog pooping in your yard....whatever it is...just start.  I can tell you that by doing this, you will build up your self-confidence and in turn make you a stronger person.  You don't have to be mean, just speak honestly.  I can tell you from personal experience - people appreciate honesty!  Just remember to do it in "love."  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.