April 23, 2916

Greetings My Friend, So this is what chronic pain feels like. For a week or so the pain was edgy but doable. Last night and this morning if I were to rate the pain, I would give it an 8. My minds searches for something to tame inflamation and I remember my ginseng tea is one. I need to make some like Now! I wrap my hip and lower back in a heated blanket and out of the blue I do some leg stretches spinal twists and the pain level goes down a notch. I rub some blue goo on and slowly the pain level goes lower to a manageable level. I am trying to stay away from pain medication and so far I have not resorted to not using any. Weight is another struggle I am working on. Since starting this new medication I am gaining weight. I keep telling myself I will become active enough to help slow the weight gain down and maybe even loose weight. I realize my activity level is not where I was a year ago and I need to find a way to exercise besides cleaning the house. I don't walk the stores anymore either. Junior got me an exercise bike that has multiple functions so I can use the one that works for me on a given day. First he needs to clear out the spare bedroom and set it up as a gym and a bed for the occasional guest we have. We have a fold down couch which we can use and have room for some exercise equipment. My guess that stretching and loosing some weight will help with the pain factor. Now that I have the pain under control I am off to the kitchen. I am loving having a kitchen finally. There are many things that needs to be done but for me the kitchen is now workable. Over the weekend I made no knead bread for the first time and from scratch muffins. The next day I decopauged Junior's Bible box at the table and today I am making lemon ginger ice tea, no bake peanut butter cookies, peanut butter dip and maybe home made bread again. I don't know if I can do all of this but I am going to try. I sit a lot while I make these things. I get all the ingredients together and then sit while I mix them and prepare them. It is hard learning to sit so much but if I do I am able to last longer. I know I will take some time outs even a nap or 2. That is what is nice about retirement, I have all day to get what I want to done. I stop a few minutes to look out the kitchen window. This part of the house sets up high, I can see many of the tree tops and some of the leaves are budding a few have tiny leaves blowing in the wind. I still can see a section of the road and the occasional car drive down it. The white clouds look like fluffy clouds of cotton and the sky is a powder blue. I am thankful for the quiet of our country home, it is peaceful. These scenes calm a lot of anxiety that tries to over take me. I thank God again for the conviction to pick up and move out here. In the midst of turmoil with declining limitations I have a picture perfect place to let go and let God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet