With yesterday's thunderstorms, the worst of the heat wave seems to have broken. I am grateful, for I am definitely not a warm weather Otter! The thunderstorms were fun, especially since they are fairly rare in this part of the world. As I went about errands yesterday, I had an opportunity to catch some spectacular lightning strikes. The skies where the type were thunderclouds were gray and foreboding, but just a mile or so away, the skies were brilliant with sunlight. Bracing. Especially because no one got hurt, and nothing was damaged. Just a beautiful light show, short moments of torrential downpours, and then many opportunities for rainbows (none of which I caught).

I am a woman of leisure this week! Enjoying a week of vacation with no trips planned, I get to relax in my own home, explore my own neighborhood, do some much needed spring cleaning – especially on my wardrobe, and refresh myself for the office labors to begin intensely next week.

Let's see, yesterday's blog spoke about many thoughts.

Faith thoughts: My attitude for community worship is still in the dumps. I'm having a great time with my scripture reading, meditation, and personal prayer life. But I haven't been able to get myself to church in more than a month. I'm considering this a period of discernment. One illuminating thought: perhaps I was using church to fulfill something for which I should have been looking to God. No longer hiding from myself, I'm having to question why I attend church. What are my expectations, needs, wants? If I am really looking to God (as I believe I should), has my need from faith community changed? Appears so, and that is where my discernment process has brought me.

Fat & Fitness: Last week I was able to recognize that I am in a weight plateau. Looking at my foods, and using www.buckeyoutdoors.com to record my exercise (visually works better for me than CK exercise recording options); I can see where I have been misleading myself. My exercise, although plenty, has not included enough weight training, and my calorie totals are too frequently sneaking above my calorie goals. I have to be careful about this: I want my weight loss to be permanent (or at least lasting). It cannot be this if I push myself to do things that I cannot incorporate into my usual routine. So, I needn't change the time I spend on exercise, but I should be careful to judge the intensity and make sure I continue to grow and push the intensity. And, I don't think I need to drop my calories, but I do need to make certain that most of what I eat is quality, and not just tasty calories that meet my calorie totals (chocolates with Omega-3 Fats are still chocolates!).

Learning Disabilities: Anyone out there dealing with learning disabled adult (or adults)? I'm coming to understand that learning disabilities are not just about the academic stuff (reading, writing, 'rithmetic) but can also intrude on social interactions and expectations. It can be exhausting learning to communicate effectively with someone who does not understand symbol, or social contracts, or abstract thought. I believe my responsibility is to set clear boundaries, use positive language, never shame, and do anything I can to keep renewing my patience. Those who can do more have a greater responsibility.

Attitude Renewal: These thoughts are bringing me to a better attitude for my work. This is good. Because my attitude has made work absolute torture for weeks and weeks (months?, more?). There is so much I can/could enjoy about the work I have. Yet so often all I see is what does not function. My willfulness does not help. I seek patience, and pleasure in the tasks that I can fully immerse within.

Okay, back to enjoying vacation time, cooler weather, smaller waist, and the company of my sweet, petit HUBBY!

Catch y'all soon. Shalom, -Otter