How We Roll with a Stomach Virus....

...or lessons learned the hard way...

 I know this is a yucky topic, and in this post I will have to allude to some yucky things, so if it's July, and you are stumbling onto this post, with no threat of viral attack on the horizon, you should just stop here.

If, however, it is the middle of the school year, and the people around you are dropping like flies, in intestinal distress, you might give it a read for a few tips on ways to make the journey through a  stomach bug a little less traumatic....

- Obviously Prevent as well as you can. Wash hands, disinfect surfaces, try not use public restrooms, and quarantine sick family members as much as possible.
It has been known to bypass certain memebers of our family even when we have others in the house that are rip-roaring sick. The ultimate goal is not to puke. May you achieve it.

- Proactive Eating as soon as someone in your circle shows the first symptoms can go a long way in minimizing your discomfort. When the first one falls I stop eating dairy, salad, spicy food, and anything with tomatoes. Also, small portions and plenty of time between meals. Empty is better, trust me.  The reasons for this should be obvious, and don't bear deep reflection. Just saying that what goes down should be as inoffensive as possible. And if you don't get sick, you may find that you have lost those last couple of holiday pounds. Win, win.

- Location, Location, Location. Road trips after exposure to a stomach virus are a terrible idea. Ask me how I know. Leaving Texas in the morning, and arriving in Nashville and realizing that you haven't been hungry ALL DAY, and that queasiness really isn't going away, and you still have an hour to your hotel and then having to literally run into the nearest McDonalds (God Bless them) so that you can do what needs doing and then pray that you don't get sick again before you get to the hotel...terrible idea. Just stay where you are. They gave it to you after all. You're not going to make them sick.

- The Kit, consisting of a bucket (this one has an appropriate slogan), a few towels, and an old rug can make the aftermath of the onslaught less disasterous. Make sure everyone in the house knows where this kit is and that under no circumstances are they to go to sleep feeling even slightly nauseous without prepping the bedroom.

- Be Nice, and if you are feeling "a little yucky" after you know you have been exposed, stay home.
Don't put this on innocent and unsuspecting people. Calling out and cancelling things is the kinder thing to do.


You'll get over it, you'll have some immunity, and you can tell ghastly tales to the people in your life that haven't had it yet...

God Bless You.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

What's trending around our house right now?

Well, Tim has made great progress in the bedroom face-lift!
It looks so nice and is now a very comfy and fresh space. We have a couple more things to get to, and then it's done!

I got myself some new boots, well really shoes, and they are super warm and comfy. They are now my everyday shoes and they were so worth it!

I made some really yummy Carne Picada for dinner the other night and that it something that I am going to make on a regular basis!
Just the best flavor! I love all the spices together.

And so much more!

New Year- New Habits

Well, I have a new planner, and a new prayer journal.
I have some ideas for things that I want to make a part of everyday, and some things that I want to let go of.
I want to be sure and eat intentionally. I want to eat for good health and to offset the things that will be challenges in the years to come.
I want to grow everyday in my walk with Christ. I want to be closer to Him every morning than I was the night before. 
I want to blog and journal every day. And write something on my story.

I want to let go of spending on extras, so that when I don't have much work I can feel like I am still helping out.

I want to cook meals four nights a week, which I mostly do, but I would like to do better on making things that the guys like when they are around. That's going to be less and less.

Getting up earlier has been such a game changer, getting up at 5:30 is really a great habit, and it allows me to get my walk and get to Mass before anything else even has to happen. It is something that I have always wanted to do and I'm doing it!

One thing that I really want to make a point of is to get out hiking. I need to enjoy the country-side and the hills.
So that's a thing that I need to plan into the schedule.

I think that working, for the time being, just needs to be put on hold.
I have a chance to use my time for God.  Getting to my prayer time first thing, getting to Mass every day. I know that I have been given this opportunity for the good of my family.

To blog, to study, the write. Bringing all this to the front of life.  It is so easy to become overwhelmed, and to be so distracted by the pull of the world, that it gets pushed into a back corner. Working means giving up not just time, but also attention.
But it is also important that I don't waste time. That I read and dig into what is rich and good.
If I have been given this chance, I need to do my best.

God willing it will be a year of Grace. Again.