July 2022 – hannah ananas

That was easy

Not…

My man did the morning workout today, while I went to work the karate tournament way far out. Then, he worked in the yard from about 9am to 1pm. Then we rode together on his motorcycle to the joint yoga-workout class that was a collaboration between our gym and a yoga place. It was ridiculously hot, starting at 97°F, and only getting hotter as we went along with a room packed with people. It was yoga to start, then about thirty minutes of cardio-type work that also used muscles, then a touch more yoga and rest to finish it off.T

hen it was like a party. We got free fancy foam rollers and snooty cookies that are actually delicious, plus sparkling waters and some complimentary chiropractic work. But we had to wait a while for the chiropractic work. It was totally worth it, though. We both got some good spots with our muscles sorted out better, and we got to experience cupping – a first for us both! It was weird but cool. It felt like someone rubbing a muscle and pushing in on it, but just not stopping. And then they came up with a slurp suction of sorts, and the muscles felt even more released and relaxed. It was quite cool.

Then we rode home, change clothes quickly, stopped at HEB for some specific chips and some bananas as the birthday present for the two-year-old birthday party we then attended. I can almost guarantee she will love the present. Her mom and dad agreed. 😛

I kid you not, my man slept almost the entire birthday party… on the sofa, passed out. and nobody minded in the least. We were the only people who weren’t family, but they truly didn’t mind at all. Everyone kept encouraging him – though it wasn’t like he heard any of it – saying how comfortable that sofa was and how they all always napped on it every time they were over at the house, too. Plus, they knew what he had done so far today. It was quite funny, really. Then he woke up at one point, and asked, “Could I have some cake, please?” He ate it and the ice cream I brought him, and then promptly passed right back out. He got a good nap.

Now, we have stumped home and are getting to sleep as soon as possible…

Goodnight, all.

Post-a-day 2022

Get out

Whenever I find myself spending time with repeated thoughts and ideas and conversations in my head, especially somewhat negative ones, I must remind myself: Get Out! Now! That is all… Thank you for listening.

And, you know, it is one of the best things I ever do for myself.

I’ve spent too much time in my head lately, dwelling on some of the same conversations and ideas, leaving myself feeling small and in-the-way and a problem for others and a failure for myself. It’s quite depressing, really. No joke. I’m letting that all go tonight, though, giving it up to God, and giving myself grace and respect. I am capable, and I am worth it. Period. So, let’s keep on improving as we have been doing, pursuing the path on which God has been calling us. We can do it.

I pray your name in gratitude, God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

What would you do-oo-oo…

… for a Klondike bar?!

William Isaly created the Klondike bar back in 1922. That’s a hundred years ago. One-double-zero. Years. He named them after the Klondike river up in the Yukon (in Canada), supposedly because he wanted the name to elicit a sense of cooler-than-cold cold. They were a local item for years and years, sold in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and originally six for $1.49. Eventually, they turned massive, though.

And they’re still famous today.

What is one big part of that fame, you wonder? In my opinion, it was the branding. Sure, they’re delicious. But why do we have some in our freezer right now? Because my man started whistling the jingle the other day, and we haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since. What’s more, they’re a blast to eat, because I feel so snooty and fancy every time I open one up with that fancy foil wrapper. Mr. Isaly knew what he was doing, wrapping them in foil. And Mr. Whoever-it-was was the same when he added the jingle in 1982. Thank you, both!

And thank you, God for such a silly and delicious treat! Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Plenary

I think we are finally starting to get involved in some of the really cool learning stuff for Roman Catholicism. We read each night from the YouCat, the youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. That’s been a good start. But it has been a lot of low-brain topics so far. This week, however, we have found ourselves truly talking about whatever is presented from the YouCat topic, actually looking up further information on lots of it. And it is awesome.

Tonight, in an almost-bizarre twist, we ended up on the topic of plenary indulgences (Just look it up – it’d take me too long to explain them here now!). We even called my mom for her input and read from multiple online articles and dictionaries! What a fascinating topic! And, in doing that research, we got into the topic of how to address clergy properly. So, I found a fun Wikipedia article on how to do all of that for the different clergy (Yes, that, too, is a bit complicated, by the way.)! It was a very good time tonight.

Thank you, God, for this oddly fun surprise. Keep it up, please, and keep us with you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Alas

We had plans to go to a dance class and small social tonight, and we were excited about it. It’s just down the road, not even five minutes away, and one of my good friends was going to go with us. But, after getting home after the afternoon workout – how many times can I use “after” in a phrase??? – my man and I both realized that we really just wanted to stay home for the evening. We both have a long list of things we want to accomplish after all the activities this past weekend, plus all the stuff we already had on the lists. And I start school stuff in another week. So, the pressure is on – I want to get a foot handful of this all handled before then, so I’ve to step it up and get crackin’ big time this week.

Anyway, we stayed home tonight. And I just say that I truly believe we both got a good chunk of stuff handled this evening, and we both are glad and grateful that we chose to stay home this time, even though we had been looking forward to the dancing. Thank you, God, for the discernment.

God, give me the way, the will, and the strength to get it all done this week, please. Bless us both with your grace and power in our endeavors. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

P.S. What, it isn’t 2023 yet? We just had Christmas on Monday. It must be time for the new year now, right?!

Get your head in the game

But, sometimes, the head really hurts when we get too much into it all. Sometimes, we just need to have some cool water and pass out in bed.

God, please, grant me rest-filled, healing sleep tonight. In your name, I pray. Amen.

P.S. Happy Christmas in July!! Guess it is just like the holidays for some folks! 😛

Post-a-day 2022

Better, but… so, butter?

Today was better, but still tough. We were both on edge a decent amount, which was bizarre for us both. I think the fact that, because of other people, our plans were pushed back yet again, limiting us significantly on timing with things where we had intentionally scheduled free relaxation time, really threw us off. And we hadn’t yet recovered for its having happened already so much this weekend.

So, today was really good, but also quite tough for us both.

We’re still exhausted, though we finally got to sleep last night. Hopefully, we can do better and better about getting enough sleep as we move forward these next couple weeks. I have school stuff starting on the third, and then school the following week, O believe, so I kind of need my sleep schedule sorted out by then…

Dear God, please, give me exactly what I need to be my best self such that I pursue your will fully. Help me to let go of all that was in the way of pursuing you and your will. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Smdidirjldnfbska

And some days include a whole lot of stress.

Today was odd in that it had both extremely relaxing – sound bath healing meditation in the cistern, massages, Church – and incredibly stressful – overflowing toilets and faucets in a restaurant, scary traffic scenario, time limits, very mean and nasty people, forgetting things places, not getting anticipated healthy foods or relaxation time – events throughout the whole day and evening/night.

I guess some days just have it all in there like that.

Dear God, please, help us to release fully whatever is tying us up tonight. Help us to release and to allow the space for your love and will to fill the new voids within us and our lives. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Talk about a blast…

This evening and tonight were awesome. Sure, the cooking started and ended much later than they were scheduled to happen. However, the enjoyment of one another’s company initially was awesome, and the merriment had after dessert was spectacular. We ended up calling my man’s grandmother for her birthday after my mom and stepdad left. Today was her 91st birthday, you see. My man has been learning to play the piano, and we had gone through “Happy Birthday”, with him playing the top melody and my playing the bottom’s chords.

But get this: All of my instruments are at his house now. So…, we pulled out the xylophone and recorder for my brother and my sister-in-law to play, and my step-sister, who actually is a singer, sang with all of our playing.

I tell you truthfully, it was absurd. It sounded and felt like a little kids’ beginner band performance. But how else could it have been when the person leading the main melody on piano not only counted off wrong but played all weird timing throughout the entire piece(!)???!!! So, on his, “One, two, three,” my brother came in on the three for the pick-up notes on the xylophone – correctly so. But my man didn’t start his pick-up notes until the next beat(!!). So, it was a rocky start. But he then kept holding notes longer than usual all over the place, messing with all of us. So, that was terrible, right? Well, we also had my sister-in-law playing on the recorder, which was actually not an easy instrument for her – though she is not very musically inclined in the first place. She topped it off, sounding just like the little kid on clarinet whose reed squeaks on all the main held notes at the beginning and end of each phrase.

was

spectacular.

Truly.

And then we played “Heart and Soul” on the xylophone, my brother and I, even though there weren’t quite enough notes on the small xylophone for us to play the whole thing, even with us inverted, melody down low and chords up top.

And then we had an awesome time in general, just goofing around and hanging out, enjoying being ourselves together.

Thank you, God, for this amazing night. Please, grant us all beautiful and effective sleep and rest tonight, that we awaken ready and able to pursue your will fully tomorrow morning. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

She has arrived!

She is here and we have her and it has been awesome! I actually cried when I picked her up at the airport, and very unexpectedly so. It both surprised me and didn’t. I really love and have missed getting to spend time with my step-sister these past several years. And I am so grateful that my man gave me such an amazing opportunity – I think he has only a glimpse of how significant and valuable this is to me and to my family – and that my step-sister said, ‘Yes’!

Thank you, God, for such amazing blessings. Please, help us to pursue your will and to be our best selves through it all – keep us safe, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022