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Brian and I went to visit my husband, Harvey, at the nursing home this morning. It was a better visit than many times. He told us that he was glad to see us, and later, when I told him I loved him, he looked at me and said, “I love you, too.” May not sound like much, but it meant the WORLD to me.
It was a mixed bag, though. He can’t comprehend his changed physical condition. He is completely bedridden and it takes three nurses to get him out of the bed and into a wheelchair. He was asking today about the shower in my place, acting as though he would be able to use it. He also wanted to come home. He said he was comfortable, though.
He asked for some highlighters in two colors to mark sentences in the book he’s finally trying to read. He doesn’t realize that there is no way he’ll be able to mark a sentence. His hands shake really badly and he’ll mark up the entire page trying to highlight a sentence. We got the highlighters when we got back and will take them to him when we go back Tuesday. He does seem to be using the bookmark I took him last time.
I told him about the Jake Moriarity Series I’m reading by R. G. Ryan and he wants to read the first book in the series. He isn’t able to work a Kindle anymore, so we will see what we can do about ordering a paperback copy of “Watercolor Dreams” on Amazon, even though the shipping will cost twice as much as the book and we’re not sure how long it will take to arrive. We’re grabbing at straws to find things that interest him and getting whatever we can. The other thing we’re looking into is magazines featuring guns and/or motorcycles…
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Made for Mums
Now that I’m home and free the rest of the afternoon, I’m going to try to do some painting of my sketches. I did several from yesterday and a couple more waiting from before that, so I’m looking forward to diving into that
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HouseDigest.com
I have the windows open and the breezes are blowing all over the place. I just love it. Technically it’s 87 degrees F. outside, but it feels wonderful, particularly since I’ve spent the last month or so cold most of the time. I just walk around smiling. Brian says it won’t be long until I’m griping because the heat will become oppressive and there will be a haze orginating from the farmers burning off crop residue, so I won’t be able to open my windows, but I’m enjoying every day and hoping what he’s forecasting will be delayed somehow.
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Trademark Lawyer Magazine
I’m going to try to catch as much of the Olympic games as I can starting today. I LOVE watching the incredible athletes competing. It’s exciting that the world came come together for this, concentrating on sports, hopefully not anything else, and celebrate the dedication and long hours these people have put in to try to compete here. Celebrating excellence!
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Happiful Magazine
I hope that your weather is such that you can get outside some and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. Breathe in – breathe out – AHHHHHHHH!
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Nanea Hoffman – Sweatpants and Coffee LLC
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Again Nanea is right on my wave length. Instead of New Year’s Resolutions and promises to myself to get more of my to do list done, prioritizing the list so I get the most important stuff done, getting another notebook so I can make a secondary list….
I have trashed my ‘to do’ list. There are still things that need to be done on or by a certain date, but I’ve cut down on those things, too.
My whole life changed in 2025 when I died twice on Feb. 11th in the ER and was given another chance at life via a pacemaker. Now I have shed my old life completely – except for people I love – and moved to Thailand to be close to our son.
The new start had quite a stutter when 2 weeks after we moved my husband had a stroke and is now in a nursing home. Our son and I have built our current lives around 3 times a week visits to make sure he is as comfortable as possible and is getting the care he needs.
Otherwise, we are building our daily routine together, starting with the gym at o-dark-thirty, shower, breakfast and then we review our day. If we have nothing pressing, we enjoy our activities and meet again to share dinner. Sometimes Brian orders an iced coffee for me mid afternoon. 🙂
I move from one activity I really like, such as researching and writing blog posts 🤗, to others, which currently include reading on my Kindle, working on a jigsaw puzzle, working on sketches and painting in my art alcove, taking short walks in the afternoon, doing exercise sessions, listening to music, etc., cramming as much joy as I can into each day.
Nanea’s suggestion really resonates with me. I used to be filled with excuses about why I couldn’t take the time to relax and spend time doing something I loved, trying something new, learning something new, and more. Now these things ARE my day. I’m simplifying my life in every way I can. I spend the end of each day in 5 minutes or more devoted to gratitude. I concentrate on ONE thing I’m grateful for, shut my eyes and just let it fill me up. This calms me down and lately the gratitude has been spilling out, trickling from my eyes.
So OUT with the To Do list – and IN with the TO BE list!🥳
Filed under Attitude, Challenges
Nanea Hoffman – Sweatpants & Coffee, LLC.
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Since I died twice on February 11th, my heart stopping and requiring surgeries for a temporary, then permanent pacemaker, my priorities have changed.
I always thought my husband would die before me. The statistics led me to believe that I would probably live as a widow at some point, although 56 years of marriage to my husband is definitely not enough. When the kind people at the hospital gave me a second chance at life, I decided I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
My husband and I moved to Thailand, deciding to really retire, since our health was suddenly such that we couldn’t take care of our house and 8 acres in Arkansas anymore, no matter how much we wanted to. Our son came from Thailand to help us. We had some serious discussions and made the move to be close to our son. Two weeks after that, my husband had a stroke and is now in a nursing home, bedridden and very confused. He is comfortable, though, and is receiving the best of care.
All this is to say that life suddenly got my attention. My priorities and attitude changed to embrace whatever life has to offer me now. I’m grateful that I can still make myself healthier and stronger and enjoy each day in real retirement – a thing I thought I would never have. I can be thankful that my husband’s stroke happened here, so that we can afford to get him the care he needs. My son and I go visit my husband three days each week, making sure things are going as well as possible, showing my husband that we love him, reaching out for whatever he is able to share now.
Nanea Hoffman points out that we all deserve kindness, peace, and to enjoy the little things that make life so wonderful. Without guilt. squeezing as much joy out of every day as we can, being honest about our feelings, good and bad, and just BEING.
My son has encouraged me to spend 5 minutes each day, eyes closed, sitting up with my feet on the floor, just thinking about something that brings me joy. Right now that is a mental picture of my son kissing my husband’s head, telling him he loves him. It brings tears to my eyes, a lump to my throat, and gratitude simply spills out all over the place. Taking the time to embrace the kindness in the world brings you peace.
I now believe that I can spend my days going from one thing I love to another as I want, such as working on a jigsaw puzzle, reading a book, playing in my art alcove, writing blog posts, learning something new on the computer, taking a short walk, and more.
I don’t feel guilty now that I am embracing life in a new country, meeting new people who are unbelievably kind to a stranger, trying to learn a few Thai phrases, enjoying perks like having a housekeeper for the first time ever, getting a massage every week, getting a mani/pedi every six weeks, having a good haircut at about the same frequency, sharing a chocolate drink with my son…
Life is short. We live under the illusion that we have time. The fact that I’m alive is a miracle for me. I am loving spending time with our son. I’m grateful that my husband seems to be comfortable and shows us from time to time that he is happy we come to visit him. My health is improving and I’m feeling stronger. I’m taking care of myself so that I can enjoy my second life for as long as possible.
Take Nanea’s good advice. We ALL deserve it.
Filed under Attitude
Nanea Hoffman -Sweatpants & Coffee – via Hippie Peace Freaks
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement, Family
Nanea Hoffman – SweatpantsandCoffee – via Lisa Bearnes Richey
Filed under Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
creativeartworksblog 