Tag Archives: Winter

Feb 22

Mindset is Everything

I’ve been trying to do this blog weekly, but I’m finding it may end up being less, probably every other week or even once a month. Sometimes there just isn’t much to share, and I’m busy doing other blogs and writing as well.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had several sunny days and beautiful blue skies. We’ve also had rain, ice and more snow. The weather seems to be stuck in a pattern with a warm-up and lots of melting, followed by ice, snow, and then the melting returns with another warm-up. As I write this, we are in the middle of a warning for up to 2 feet of snow by later this week. A couple of days ago, most of it had melted and it was 40 degrees outside.

Physical and Occupational Therapy

If you’ve followed this blog for awhile, you’ll know I used to give regular PT and OT updates since we were in an auto accident in 2020, but as I’ve improved, I don’t share updates as often. Although I haven’t been in outpatient PT or OT for a while now, I still try to do the exercises regularly. One side is weaker than the other, and the exercises help build strength and regain my balance. I hit a milestone recently, when I was finally able to bend over to put my hands flat on the floor again. Before the accident, I could do this with my legs together and straight. Now, I had to do it with my legs spread apart a little, but I was still able to do it. I may never fully regain 100% of where I was before, but I am still determined to regain as much as I can.

My wrists still get irritated with a lot of use, especially the left one. The break on that side was a lot worse than the other. I’ve learned to go in spurts, taking frequent breaks to relieve any pain and tension that builds up.

Mindset Is Everything

Sometimes life gets hard. We go through things that don’t always make sense. Life has so many struggles, so many ups and downs. We can’t always control what happens to us. But we can choose what we focus on. Our mindset has such a huge impact on what we face.

The past few years have not been easy for us. Sometimes it seems like a rollercoaster, as though there’s a rough ride up, a thrilling ride down, and then twists and turns that leave you wondering what could possibly be around the next bend. It’s not always easy to see the positive, or find joy when live goes around the crazy turns.

But mindset is everything. As a Christian, I often find myself drawn back to the scripture, and verses like Colossians 3:2, Isaiah 43:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16, and John 14:1. It’s easy to let myself get stuck on what has happened around me and worry about what will happen next. It’s much harder to walk in faith, knowing that eventually all of this will work together for our good.

This winter has been odd. We live in the snow belt and normally get a lot of snow. We’ve had lots, but it melts quickly, then we get ice, then more snow on top of that. It’s been a long winter. It used to be one of my favorite seasons, but since the accident, it’s been hard to find joy in winter.

And yet… mindset is everything. I’ve been trying to focus on the positive, to find beauty even in a very long, strange winter. I haven’t been disappointed. When I started shifting my mindset from “this winter is awful” to “there is beauty in this winter,” I started finding it all around me. I think the photos I’ve taken the past few weeks can say more than words could.

Photo Dump:

Until next time,

Cindy

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Jan 8

What is to Come

As we enter this new season in our lives, where life has slowly returned to “normal,” and yet will never be “normal” again, we begin to find a “new normal.” We are slowly building new routines and finding ways to enjoy the little moments in life, even as different as things are now.

Physical and Occupational Therapy

I’m still trying to do some physical and occupational therapy exercises. In many ways, this is now combined with what would have just been exercise before, but I still struggle with balance some and weakness on my left side. This may always be the case. I can do most of the things I used to do before the accident, I just have to be careful I don’t fall. I also have a hard time still getting up and down off a floor and cannot turn my wrist all the way over, but I’m learning to function as it is. In future posts, I will still update on PT and OT occasionally, but since there is not a lot new each week to update, I will not talk about it every time.

Update on Ben

If you follow us on Social Media, some people questioned one of the photos I shared as a year-end wrap-up, as Facebook doesn’t always show posts exactly as they are shared. The photo was this one, taken just before Ben went in for Cataract surgery in July, and I think some people thought Ben was in the hospital currently. He is not, as this was just a day surgery, but his peripheral neuropathy continues to progress.

If you’ve followed my previous posts, you’ll know that Ben has peripheral neuropathy, with no known cause. He likely has a rare autoimmune disorder, but after many different tests for what it could be, there has been no clear direction or definite results. Ben met with the University of Michigan hospital this week. We found out his previous doctor has passed away and he has a new doctor. The latest doctor is recommending Ben not get a nerve biopsy at this time, as the risks outweigh the benefits right now, and it would likely not give us any results. He is placing Ben on a new medication to try out. Winters are rough for both of us, with increased pain levels.

A Michigan Big Year

One of my goals for this coming year is to do a Michigan Big Year. I hope to see as many birds as I can in the state of Michigan during 2023, with a minimum goal of 10 birds per month, 120 birds total. You can follow those adventures on the Northern Michigan Birding blog. https://northernmichiganbirding.wordpress.com/

Happy Birthday!

This week, we celebrated our basset hound turning a year old. It’s hard to believe she’s already a year old! She’s grown so much and added so much joy and laughter into our lives.

A Hint of What is to Come?

Living in north-west lower Michigan, we seldom see the sunshine in the winter time. Sometimes winter can feel like it drags on forever, with the first snow often falling by October and the last snow sticking around until June many years. But like so many things in life, winter will not last forever. Today, even with the super cloudy skies we’ve had, we saw a hint of blue skies, and hopefully a hint of what is yet to come. We will see the sun again. Just as in life, when seasons are tough and dark, they won’t last forever. One day, perhaps not even all that far away, the sun will peak through the clouds and slowly make its way back around. The earth will warm again, things will begin to grow and change. But for now, everything rests. It prepares itself for what is yet to come, even if what is yet to come seems better than what is now. Winter is not forever, but it is a time to rest and prepare for what may lie ahead.

We may face many trials and difficult times, but it is not the end. It is only a season. This is our winter, our season to rest and prepare for what comes next. As we find ourselves slowly moving out of that season, we look with anticipation and longing for what is yet to come. Winter will not keep its hold forever. One day, we will see sunshine and feel its warmth again. And until that day, we keep on waiting and preparing for whatever that will be.

Apr 17

Aslan is On The Move

Physical and Occupational Therapy

It’s been over a month since I posted last. I feel like that’s kind of become routine. I’m hoping to build a better routine for blogging, but it seems like every time I start to build one, something else happens and it throws everything off.

Since I blogged last, I’ve been trying to get to the gym for physical therapy exercises and have done them at home quite a bit too. We ended up with a couple of ice storms this past month, both on days I had scheduled time open to go to the gym, so we’ve gone a little less than I would like to, but the weather should be getting warmer sooner. At home, we have a trampoline, balance board, balance ball, dumbbell weights, an exercise ball, mat, stretch bands, and a few other things so it’s better than nothing, but I prefer the gym. What we have still allows me to get in some physical therapy though. As the snow clears, I’ve been able to get out for walks more too. It’s felt so good to get out!

I still have some soreness from the November surgery, but it is slowly getting better. The infection I had in February seems to have healed up nicely, and we are watching closely in case anything tries to come back anytime soon.

As far as occupational therapy, I keep doing things around the house as much as I can to work my wrists and hands. Annie, our new puppy, helps a lot with that too. She loves to play tug of war and gets my wrist moving in a lot of different ways. We started seeing a new chiropractor as well, someone closer to where we live. She specializes in sports medicine and does physical therapy in addition to chiropractic. I’m noticing more movement in my wrist and less pain in the hip, so hopefully we will continue to see improvement.

Puppy Fun

Annie is getting so big! We are enjoying every moment with her. She LOVES being outside with me, and loves to play with Ben, myself, and our other two dogs. Her favorite toys are pull-ropes and stuffed animals. So far, she hasn’t been very destructive with toys though. She just plays with them and moves on to the next one. We are very thankful to have her in our lives! We’ve been tracking her growth week to week, and I’ve included some photos.

Songs on Repeat

KJ-52- One Year Ago

Grits-My Life Be Like

Start Over- Flame featuring NF

Scripture and Quotes:

Aslan Is On The Move

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more. When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia has been one of my favorite series since I was a child. I shared a couple of quotes above, and I think about them often, especially this time of year.

Living in the snowbelt of Northern Lower Michigan, it’s not uncommon for us to have snow until at least May, or even into June. Some of the “old timers” who have lived in the area a long time, will tell you they’ve seen snow pretty much every month of the year. So by the time we get to this part of the year, we are all ready for spring to come, yet it seems so far off.

I think often of Narnia. If you’ve never read the series, there is a witch who makes it always winter but never Christmas, and spring never comes. When the lion in the story, Aslan, begins to move, winter can no longer take its hold. It has to leave. The lion is more powerful than the witch.

For Ben and I, the last few years especially have sometimes felt like an endless winter. Sometimes it seems like difficult things keep happening. It’s like a cold, frozen, dark season that goes on forever and ever.

And yet, we know the Lion moves. In our Christian faith, the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia is often viewed as being an allegory for Jesus. As Romans 8:28 so beautifully states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Times may be tough, but it will not last forever. Spring will come. Better times will come. Even with all the difficulties we face, we know there is a reason and a purpose, and that better things lay ahead.

Today, looking out the window, we can see the sunshine. Tomorrow, it is supposed to snow. But we know it won’t last forever. Aslan is on the move! Winter cannot keep its hold on us, and eventually, we will get through the tough times of winter and move into a new season. Until then, we have each other, and our faith grows stronger in the trials. And soon, perhaps very soon, spring will finally arrive.

Happy Easter!

Until next time,

Cindy