Word for this Year - 2023 - JOY

 My word I choose and used last year was Resilient and it was perfect with all the inevitabilities going on.  A small tribute to a friend of many years who had RE words one year as her word of the year.  I smile when I hear an appropriate "re word" and think of Trudy.   As this new year approached, I knew Joy would be my word and true compass as I navigate life.  

My Hopes for this year are:

1. To continue the many necessary repairs and give attention to the other areas of neglect from the past 18 years since husbands' disability was first diagnosed and as I coped taking care of him, his health, budget with being  mindful of only the most urgent repairs as funds were extremely limited.  Can you believe his Medical bills from his heart transplant (2018) were paid in full just 2 weeks before he moved out in September 2022 and all the others are at zero.  [Yeah Janie!, great coping skills and budgeting].  
2. Budget wise my FICA score is great and I've created Excel spread sheets to assist in managing all my accounts, bills, debts, expenses and the ultimate bottom line and to live within my means. 
3. Declutter all my excesses in 2023.  Clothing, home goods, equipment, creativity supplies, and many other areas with too much..  I truly have enough and feel so blessed (I'm not bragging, just being realistic).  
4. Creativity managed in daily increments is what I hope to realize too.  

• No more putting UFOs off to handle another day but slowly implement their progresses into my daily routines with monthly achievements.  
• Am thankful that I still enjoy cooking occasionally yet am finding it difficult to navigate easily.  Even in this arena I have too much.  cookbooks,  equipment, food stores, etc...  Learning how to best cope- budget wise, maintain a healthy assortment of foods for nourishment all without waste or eating the same dish for 5 meals!
• I have inventoried many of my supplies and I plan to continue that while also establishing  appropriate storage in logical, useable areas.  Considering the art supplies, Accuquilt dies, Books, Quilting goods, even yard tools and garage set-up with how my mind works to retrieve items as  needed and stored sensibly.  Allowing myself a pat on the back here. okay a brag: Hoot hoot! as I  was able to get my Kia into the garage before the first snow storm in December of 2022.  No small feat as a vehicle wasn't in the garage since 2017!  I sorted, cleaned, gave and threw away so much and it took about 6 weeks as I also was heading into Winter and the yard chores to do solo!

So these are just some of my introspections as I reflect and I wish everyone a very

Happy New Year! 

Hello - Still here

 Hello

Many of my followers may have been concerned with my disappearance and diminished postings in the past several years as my priorities shifted.  

I’m healthier, thank goodness.

I’m no longer have husband living here, thank goodness.

Managing MY home (legal separation paperwork so it's truly mine) and years of neglect dealing with disabilities, again grateful and thank goodness. 

Did I know or see this coming- NO - however that is one consistent element of life. “CHANGE”

Am still settling in a “new to me life” as I assimilate. Most important lately is that question -  what do I want?  No more concessions, adaptions, excuses or divisions,   Just me. I’ll return with more hopefully soon as life has handed me many hurtles this past year and realistically my Mom just signed into Hospice two weeks ago.  But my ongoing Mantra is:

 "People over things,  E.V.E.R.Y.T.I.M.E!”

One thing that I haul about as needed and the current project:

Plan on turning those Santa Earrings into a scissor fob and a zipper pull for this project bag.

I just had to include one picture  (will be back to edit post as this is another first for me by creating this on my i phone).  

TTFN - J