One Day At A Time

Day 9: TGIM...Thank God its Monday!

2021-08-09T09:48:00.008-07:00

Happy Monday, everyone!

Most normal people don't like it when the weekend is over and you have to face Monday.

Well, I am NOT normal...I always say, "Thank God It's Monday!"

I love Monday because it's a starting point for a new week. It's a day I can regroup after the usually hectic week and the weekend.

Sunday is a Sabbath Day that I do observe. THANK YOU, GOD! It's written in the Bible to say we are to REST on Sabbath Sunday. Whewww! Our Father in Heaven knows best! I loved my Sundays too.

By Monday, I am ready to start a new week, with new intentions and new goals and dreams.

Monday is.... A FRESH NEW START!

Monday is ... Let's try again day.

Monday is ...reset day!

Monday is ...the first step!

Monday is ...full of hope and possibilities for the week.

Monday is ...simply start a list.

What's your Monday means to you, today?....

My Monday is a great blessing after I have had such a long, hectic, and exhausting week with summer memories with 5 young children. The parents came and picked them up on Saturday so at the finale, I had 10 people, 3 dogs and 3 baby rabbits but 2 baby rabbits didn't make it after the dogs found the rabbit nests. Overwhelmed and exhausted until the crowd was gone, Sunday was our REST day to recover.

Monday is slower today than my normal as I am nursing a bit of a sore throat because I am so run down from my weeks of nonstop summer activities.

Today, MONDAY...I get to catch up with weeks behind on my online classes, catch up with putting the Cottage back together, do laundry, and eat up all the leftovers to start a new week with FRESH groceries.

Monday, I LOVE you!

You give me HOPE!

You give me a new focus!

You give me a new start!

You give me the kindness to take it slow to the pace my body can take me into this week.

You give me encouragement to just take it a day at a time, starting with you!

I am so so grateful as I write about my favorite day is Monday.

It's all in your perspective... Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday... A good or a bad day, you are right!

What would you love your Monday and every day to be like for you?

It's a good day to be a good day, today!

God bless your Monday,

Hai

Day 8: Life lessons at camp...

2021-08-06T17:24:00.008-07:00

I just finished feeding the kids and waiting to have a quiet lunch with Grandpa when he gets back from the laundry mat. Of course, our washing machine broke during the grandkids visit with the most laundry to do.

Yup! That's Murphy's law.

Little things like that make us appreciate the conveniences of life's comfort here in America. I look forward to blog or journal my thoughts to be centered right now to chat with you.

While I was feeding the kids this week, I get many comments of what they like and dislike. Mostly good healthy food is not on their most favorites list. hahaha

Sounds familiar?

So typical of many kids. I've learned not every kid likes hot dogs or watermelon in the summer. Really?

Really!

So packing for our camping trip was to cover all bases to cater to our little precious ones with their preferences during their summer time with us.

Some like hot dogs, others don't but ALL of them like hamburgers!!!

As an Asian "Nana" who didn't grow up with the traditions, hot dogs and hamburgers are not my specialities!

As my American parents tried to introduce all the All-American traditions to me long ago , I still personally don't eat hot dogs or hamburger to be an expert on these favorite dishes during our camping trip, still today.

Grandpa is the hero in the hot dogs and S'mores dept on the first night.

Yeah! A break for Nana on the first night from cooking.

I enjoyed watching the All- American camping fun around the camp fire.

I adore the children's chatters with their burning hot dogs and s'mores around the camp fire.

A fun dinner for all and they are so willing to do their own dinner and especially s'mores too.

What a great classic all-American camping dinner memories!! PRICELESS!

The second night, we had hamburgers. Our grill was out of order... another Murphy's Law.

So I used the RV's kitchen on burner & in the skillet to cook the burgers.

I bought the premium "Angus steak burger" patties for a better quality of meat.

I asked how many burgers should I cook?

How many can you eat?

All said, 2 each. WOW!

This crowd was a hungry crow. Our littlest wanted hot dog again so that was easy to make her a happy camper.

I cooked 8 hamburger patties for all (the grandparents are vegan) from my RV kitchen and handed to Grandpa outside for their hamburger fixings with hot fresh french fries from my air fryer.

I holler out to see if every thing is ok with the burgers. Do you need Nana to cook more if it's still pink? No further requests and heard they liked them.

So...the chef was done and pleased to hear from my hot kitchen.

Later, I heard Grandpa found half a hamburger patty in the trash can and another hardly touched hamburger was also in the trash. What?

He asked who threw the good food in the trash? NO one was willing to fess up!.

Grandpas decided that no S'mores for everyone until someone or someones can tell the truth.

SO...We had our own little camping LIFE LESSON to learn to be HONEST on this particular trip!

The group of our precious 5 kids huddled together to find out who will fess up so they all can have their s'mores for tonight. We even encourage them that the truth is very important and they will not be in trouble by being honest but no one will come forth.

It was so interesting to see the whole group's discussion about it because delicious s'more treats was on the line for everyone. This is pretty straight forward scenario we thought, for the guilty party or parties will to do the right thing.

Everyone was so supportive of each other to find the truth and not being in trouble with the grandparents so everyone can have their s'mores together. BUT... sadly that wasn't the case on this camping trip

Hmmmm.... We were perplexed as to why.

After few hours, Grandpa made a hint that there may be two people that need to fess up.

Finally, one admitted with tears of remorse in his eyes and he admitted it was his

BUT.. the second burger hardly touched burger wasn't his.

Lesson learned. A lesson of telling the truth and being honest was on the line. The second guilty one is still at large...

THERE WERE NO S'MORES that night. :(

From these precious 5, there is one that's already learning to hide and to lie?

So young? So soon? So sad...

Will we ever find out who was the second guilty one!

How young or old do they learn right and wrong? Not to mention being wasteful.

It is, not that he/she threw away a good burger , but more importantly to be able to be honest about it instead of being deceitful or being afraid to not tell the truth .

They all are very good kids.

But this is the biggest life lesson concerning for our younger generation has surfaced.

On the other hand, the good news is the premium quality burgers were saved and appreciated from the trash after all! Fluffy and Buddy, my fur children also had a great camping dinner that night! Woof woof!

I learned to save some money until they appreciate good food.

They do like noodles, macaroni & cheese, lunchables and pizzas and lots of sweets.

And so ...they start on the S.A.D (Standard American Diet) for our younger generations to come?

Lessons for Nana...So much for quality! hahaha

AND... I understand it's all about fun memories of the camping traditions, more than the quality of food so, its OKAY with me.

In addition to good fun camping memories, they will learn life lessons fondly from the grandparents as they mature with their own memories and consciousness of the person, he/she wants to be...regardless what we try to teach them in their youth. Reality is each child has his/her own journey to build their own character.

We as grandparents are not a full time influencers in their daily upbringing so we just love them and cherish the priceless time when they are with us.

God knows there will be more life lessons will come in time....

"Bless are the sweet little children"

Hai

Day 7 : Blessings and lessons

2021-08-05T13:02:00.009-07:00

After 2 days RV camping with 5 kids and 2 dogs at an KOA campsite, I am grateful for so many blessings and to take in so many summer memories.

The parents are coming to pick up the kiddos tomorrow.

It has been a quick but very very busy and EXHAUSTING week!

We couldn't ask for better weather, better campsite space with the playground as our backyard for the kids to come and go, play with more freedom as they pleased.

We watched them and supervised from our campsite.

Camping meals were fun with hot dogs by the fire and hamburger with plenty of S'mores as desserts to keep them happy and energized like the everlasting bunnies! hahaha.

The kids played so hard and there were plenty of activities from swimming. jumping pillow, hiking trail and even watched a movie in the RV.

So perfect in so may ways and so blessed all around.

These kids are precious and of course are still learning with adults supervision at all time. I tend to worry about their eating good meals and keeping the campsite tidy, safe with 7 people (little ones tend to trash the place ) and with 2 dogs in our RV.

It does get crowded and organizing is constantly needed to keep it tidy! Candy wrappers and such will bring bugs and critters out too, not to mention all the dirt from dirty socks and shoes.

Meanwhile, my Husband aka Grandpa is all about fun and keeping the RV in shape to function like a mini house on wheels and to travel!

Thank goodness for him. If it wasn't for him, we would not even bother to own an RV. lol

Each summer brings so many memories for the children as well the the adults.

I am new at this Nana thing, especially when they are not mine and dealing with overly concerned parents. How do teachers do this???

The lessons are many for me this summer... Here's one big one.

Many people thought I was crazy to take on 5 kids under the age of 10 years old, all at once for a week.

I replied, "I know, I am so stupid and had to learn the hard way!" hahaha

I've learned NEVER to take on more than I can handle so it has been a learning curve for this Nana for sure. I now know to take one child at a time is a good plan from now on. hahah

I am more aware I don't have the energy. It takes the fun out of it all with a tired and on edge Nana. Grandpa is the biggest kid of them all so it takes its toll on me too. I am more a homebody and less on the go. This week has pushed my envelope to the MAXXX...

I have MORE appreciation for teachers or childcare people to handle as many children as they do all at once . Bless them!

This is not one of my talents. I am more of a one on one , small scale with little people. hahaha :)

We live and learn every day, don't we?

Well, my quite time is up!

Got to run...

Hai

Day 6: OFF the ROOF

2021-08-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I am an early riser to get my coffee in ... hoping to catch up for yesterday and today!

Oops! Take that back... I also got 6 early risers too because they are so so excited about our RV camping trip today to the nearest KOA campground.

4 hours later and after breakfast, I am closing my computer and I have to end this entry... hahaha...

Share more later...

Life is so beautifully full here and the energy level is OFF the ROOF over at the Yellow Cottage Retreat!

We are such blessed grandparents!

Got to run ...

Hai

Day 5: Walmart gets KIDS!!!

2021-08-01T17:57:00.003-07:00

Shhhhh.....I am hiding in my office to finish my dinner in peace and to write my Day 5 for few minutes...

I am actually buying me some quite time to get centered and find my sanity. :)

The TV is in full blast in the other room , even my fur children are hiding with me in my office while my hubby is cleaning up the kitchen.

I enjoy the funny comments, laughter and cousins enjoying each other while each grandparent takes turn to cater to them. Grandpa is in charge... there has been 3 requests so far and the night is still young, while I am writing for MORE popcorn during their cartoon show at 9pm.

This Grandpa is a fun Grandpa!

OK... I am totally exhausted with 5 grandkids and my older kid aka grandpa. LOL

And it's just the FIRST full day! Yikes! I am so in trouble...5 more days to go.

It has been nonstop from morning until bedtime.

If you don't see me here each day or the quality of my writing sucks, you'll totally get it. hahaha

Let's say, I never got to finish my coffee this morning to prepare waffles for breakfast,

...then did 7 shirts with a messy tie dye project, ( I don't know what I was thinking to plan this messy activity) lol

...then lunch,

...then Walmart trip,

...then dinner,

...then, not to mention desserts at Dairy Queen trip in there too!

...then movie time!

Get the picture????

Well, we are also planning a summer RV camp trip so we needed supplies for camp days... 2 cars full of kids and lots of food to last for few days with a short road trip to Walmart.

Our Walmart trip was an epic adventure with my gang!

Just use your imagination shopping with 6 kids at Walmart... Yikes!

I found out "LUNCHABLES" are easy and they like them!!! Forget about the nuritrious values. hahaha

I am laughing and crying at the same time to myself about all the summer fun here. At least, I a get a break in the kitchen with "lunchables"

And...the fun memories will be worth it for them one day we hope! :)

You never know what each grandchild will remember...

For adults, it's all about giving them the best opportunity to have happier times in their childhood with their grandparents.

By doing so, Are we catering too much to them by always trying the "entertain" them?

What ever happened to the good old fashioned way of just being together to chat and share stories?

I remember playing with rocks as my entertainment. hahaha.

It's a different world now.

Nevertheless, it has been a very full Sunday Funday for us all! We are so grateful and blessed

And ...I am too tired to even write.... catch up with you, hopefully sooner or later,

Life is way too full here and we are so blessed , indeed! :)

"Bless are the sweet little children..."

Good night,

Hai

Day 4: I am lost for words on this subject.

2021-07-31T13:37:00.002-07:00

Today, I had a friendly chat with a friend that gave me goose bumps to share in my writing...

She said, you know that we all are in the midst of a Spiritual War globally right now?

Omgosh....This makes so much sense to me and gave me more insights since we all have been trying to understand the chaos happening around the world. Covid is the first greatest fear globally.

Not to mention so many more issues that are dividing each other from one another.

The basic values of "be kind", share love , not hate", "all lives matter , " etc have become an everyday reminder to us all to simply be kind good human beings. There are so many negative vibrations out there in the world right now.

Can't you feel it? I can feel it in my soul.

I no longer listen to mainstream news or be a part of the band wagon of negativities.

My soul has been at war, internally from within while seeking for positive lights to make some sense of the world around me.

Am I the only one to feel this way? Do you feel it too?

Each day, I am consciously feeding my mind, spirit and soul with positive soul food with love & light.

I practice being grateful as the medicine that will cure the negative thoughts and send out only positive energy into our Universe. It is my way to do my part. Radiate your own positive energy out to attract other positive energy .

Interesting enough, my husband & I've made a commitment to read the Bible , chronologically every day since January 1, 2021. We have not missed a day.

This discipline has brought such comfort and soul food to us. Especially to me as I am a sensitive soul to feel other vibrations around me. I am also in a fast track growth mindset with varies studies from coaches.

I am still a newbie to understand everything we read in the Bible but each day I pray to be filled with God's understand and not of my own.

Another discipline that is helping me. Being grateful and prayers are my cures to counter and/or shake off any negative energy comes to me. It works!

I am so open for God's guidance to lead me to a better place within Him when the world is in chaos.

While I learn from varies coaches and reading many motivational and inspirational books in my growth mode, all messages and books kept leading me back to the only ONE BOOK for me to study.

The Bible...

We are currently in the Old Testament in the Bible right now. As we read the Bible of many stories from thousands and thousands of years before us, we can't help to see the same evilness and the wicked ways are happening in our world right now.

There are so much FEAR in all the news and HATE among each other.

YES... it is indeed a Spiritual war with "Fear-Based vs Faith-Based " in everything that we do each day.

Will you let FEAR be stronger than your FAITH to seek GOD?

I am lost for words on this subject. No need to say more but to pray more!

I pray that we as individuals, as a nation and as humanity will not let our FEAR be greater than our FAITH in GOD.

May God guide and bless us always,

Hai

Day 3: Simple Joy

2021-07-30T18:01:00.002-07:00

Hello friends,

Summer is a such busy time for all of us.

Especially, when your husband has 8 grandkids coming to us to make special memories all summer long. What a blessing!

I looking forward to find a quite moment in the midst of getting ready for 5 more grandkids coming our way. I like having this challenge to take a "pause" for me.

I never know what my heart wants to write.

Well... right now it is all about the fun activities in my head to plan for them. There will be 5 grandchildren from age 4 to 9 years old to make memories with. How crazy fun that will be...

I had the simply joy of getting this playhouse ready for them today!

Being around children allow us to be a kid again.

To dream, to laugh, to be silly and be creative with our imagination. They hold a magic that we wished as adults know how to keep it forever.

There is a sense of simple pure joy in children!

I never had a "normal" childhood so I get to play again with them and spark that joy again. I just love their pure hearts, honesty and curiosity.

My dream is for us to create a magical place for them to visit us at our Yellow Cottage Retreat as the grandparents. We adults tend to forget how to dream. But guess what... that kid in all of us will scream back at you ... if you're lucky! I am able to dream again and it feels so good to be living my dream.

My dream is to create a happy charming getaway for families to visit and we will extend it to our airbnb guests in the next few years. I hang on to this sweet childhood dream of mine to keep me inspired.

What keep you inspired?

This dream gives me a compelling future to look forward... not looking back with regrets of the past. Each day, I am creating a piece at a time to add to that dream. And... the sweetest part is that I can add to it, adjust it and change it as I would like it on my canvas of life. I am my own artist with my own life.

Living my dream is simply making this sweet heart wreath and getting their playhouse ready to welcome all the grandkids.

That joy is a part of the journey of my dream today.

It doesn't have to be big or grand. It just has to touch a happy place in your heart to smile and be grateful for the joy of it. It's in the little things that matter most to the soul. It's definitely not the big house, the fancy car or a pile of money in the bank .

Remember, you can't take all that "stuff" with you.

So, if it doesn't spark that child inside of you, it's time for you to go find it again!

Have a fun weekend filled with laughter, everyone!

Namaste,

Hai

Day 2: So, one day she said, NO MORE!

2021-07-29T10:17:00.013-07:00

Hello friends,

Where have I been?

I have been in the "desert" for the last 5 years to reach to a happier place in my life today. It hasn't been easy but I realized that only by LIVING through the tough times that you appreciate the good times more.

Today, I am more grateful for more good days. I was struggling through my new stage in life as a woman going through all the changes with hormones as a natural stage of "menopause" concurrently entering into a new phase of my life turning 50. It was and still is a new decade to embrace, accept and celebrate.

Admittedly, I was a slow learner on my own. It has taken me 5 years to balance my life embrace that season of my life and to be able to grow again. I am now in a fast growth mindset to begin to SHIFT what didn't work for me to get here and now.

I had to reach a painful place the MAKE A CHANGE. I realized only I can make that CHANGE.

I no longer wait for my husband, wait for my family, wait for the world around me to CHANGE.

It is ME who has to CHANGE first before anything else can change. Understand this is simple but doing it is not easy when you feel you are all alone with your inner battle no one could possibly understand.

Honestly, it was a false sense of pride, that I was embarrassed to let people see my weaknesses and the images they hold of me to let go of my automatic smiles on my face to cover the pain.

Being real is a very vulnerable place in this superficial social media world we live in today. While my life seems perfect outwardly in every way, I didn't feel that way at all inside.

It took 2020 with Covid-19 to awaken me and many others to SLOW DOWN the world, to reflect what's life real meaning for each person. For me, seeking for inner soul peace to be happy with myself no matter what circumstances in life are happening around me.

I reached out for help with many different forms of support and coaching. I welcomed help from friends, professionals, and others who are kindred spirits into my world to share & support on this similar journey. There are more women and men on the same path than you realize. I didn't feel alone anymore.

I also learned that not everyone is the right support for me and I had to learn to walk away from them to be able to rebuild my inner strength to create the life I would love no matter how I feel each day or , or, or... We all tend to have many excuses to make a change.

With baby steps, I began slowly, allowing myself to play, create, dream, and smile from the inside again...

I had to rebuild my self-esteem from the ground up and... this journey is still ongoing today and for the rest of my life!

Like a garden and I am a gardener to understand this but I need to be reminded! It is a law of nature.

What you sow, you reap and there are different seasons in the cycle of life to learn to adapt to the constant changes of life, coming to you each day.

Growth happens each day, slowly and surely with little or big progress when we nurture it.

My soul is the only plant that is truly mine and that is my sole responsibility that I must nurture with goodness each day with my positive thoughts and with positive actions to be able to bloom.

My biggest growth is to be 100% responsible for MY thoughts! ( Negative thoughts)

It's my thoughts, my choices, and my actions to make minor shifts each moment constantly.

Yes, it's hard work and a full-time job to pay attention to your own negative thoughts and your own negative words in your head to make real changes.

My hardest practice is to give "attention" to noticing my negative thought and change it to positive thoughts immediately first and foremost in my conscious and subconscious minds!

Yes, you and I will do this at least a zillion times a day with our constant chatter in our minds.

Being mindful is the first practice I had to learn again and again and again each day.

Up until now, my mind was cluttered with old stuff of the past, all the negative thoughts and negative beliefs of myself. I thought negatively, as less than or unworthy and the people around me were uncaring and abusive as my past experiences.

So, one day I said, NO MORE!

I took a stand for that scared little orphan girl who was still in my dark attic.

I, the adult version of myself had to step up to take full responsibility for every negative thought, for every negative feeling from that inner frightened child. I gently and lovingly took her hands in mine to be brave again, trust again and know she has better options and that she no longer has to hide or live a limited life in that dark attic.

The first step was the hardest.

There were days, I tend to run back to what is familiar, even back into the most undesirable place than to face her greater fear of the unknown to change.

I didn't realize my own power yet and that I hold the key to unlock it all along!

You hold the key to unlock it and free yourself. No one can do it for you.

Just accept and be OK that it is a lifetime process and take it one day at a time!

You will not be perfect at it at first but allow yourself to practice it, making these little shifts imperfectly to nurture your mindset to be stronger.

It's a new discipline. Be kind to yourself to practice and don't give up on yourself.

Is your past, old negative self still sentencing you to stay there in the dark attic today?

So today, if you are still in your own dark attic, be brave and open that door and ask yourself where would you love to go from here?

What would you love for yourself at this very moment?

God Bless you always,

Hai

Day 1: I am BACK!

2021-07-28T05:42:00.005-07:00

Hello Again,

It has been 5 years since my last entry.

Wow! Time flies and much of life has happened since.

I was cleaning up my old computer and found my old blog page " One Day At A Time" again.

With my soul sister, Kathleen, we decided to support each other and to discipline ourselves to get back to writing from the heart again with our 100 days writing challenge to accomplish this together.

Day 1 is all about a new start for me and to commit to this challenge by "just do it" and take the first step to write. Nothing happens if we don't ACT on it.

I often remind myself so not to be overwhelmed in any challenges is to take it ...one day at a time.

I am so grateful I still own this perfect blog name for me since I've been dormant for so long.

Google still remembers me! :) Thank you, Google.

There is a saying, you are never too old or too late to start a new dream or a new goal.

Here I am at 55, I am beginning again... And that's OK too. Everyday is a fresh start in any areas of your life you want to improve, grow and change. It only takes YOU to begin with your first step. No one else can do it for you!

I know the real personal rewards will be amazing as I write down my thoughts on any topics with no restrictions as life comes to me , thru me and as me to share.

It will not only to help me discover who I am each new day as I grow but I pray my words & sharing will help, comfort and inspire others to know they are not alone in this journey of life. We all are connected.

Like you, I am a different person from 5 years ago and even from yesterday. Everyday is a new day and we get to create and/or recreate the person we want to be and live the life we love. It's never too late unless we limit ourselves to believe that. Remember, 50s is the new 30s so we have many more years of life ahead :)

I am so grateful each morning that God has given me another day to live and love my life.

Yes, I am still growing, learning and continuously discovering many more dimensions of who I am as you are. Let's never stop growing... together!

What would you love to create in your life TODAY?

God bless you all,

Hai

2017-01-10T11:09:00.003-08:00

Happy 2017, Everyone!

It's a New Year to start again... It's never too late to start ANYTHING again! Start on any day is a good day. I love the beginning of a new year, full of hopes, dreams and making lists...

First and foremost, I am so grateful for all my 2016 lessons, blessings and my ongoing challenges that I get to try again and/or try something totally new in 2017.

I am talking about New Year's Resolutions, of course! So what's yours?... start write them down.

My list is getting longer by the day and its only 10 days into 2017! So, knowing my ADHD personality, I have to limit to 5 things:

Five in 2017...
1. Embracing being 50 & Fabulous and being grounded. JUST BE MYSELF. This is a full-time adventure all in itself to refine, to create and to make more JOY in my life in every aspect of my life.
2. Get back to the GYM after a year OFF! Yes, a year! You read it correctly.
3. Starting to BLOG again after 5 years of being absence. I am curious what will be my own thoughts to write about as I am living through my 50s.
4. Working on a successful financial avenue that actually take off this year and earn an income after 15 years of being a supportive, stay at home spouse.
5. Learn how to play the piano!

Lets take #1 today...
For me, embracing being 50 is HUGE! It's a big deal for me since I don't look or feel or ready to be 50 but I have no choice in this matter. Yet, I have experienced life long enough & I've earned the 50 years "badge" to be free, more brave, bold and need no permission to LIVE my life in my next 50 years as I define it. Life is moving too fast so I am taking advantage of being totally liberated to LIVE ON fully! BUT first... I am slowing down to be kind to myself to simply feel grounded to stay put in one location. This happens to be NC for us. In the past, my husband & I have been "on the go" so much between 3-4 states for his corporate career that I lost a sense of belonging... belong to a home, to a community, to a group of friends and even to having my own daily routine!
I am today slowing down to speed of my own life tempo!... to write this blog...

We all are at different stages in life so your list should reflect what makes YOU happy! ....with total FREEDOM and without the fear of judgements from your spouse, friends & family and especially not based on the hype or pressure of any social media images to just look good for others and not being true to yourself.

There is a saying:
CHOICE.
CHANCE.
CHANGE.
You MUST make a CHOICE to take a CHANCE or your life will never CHANGE.

You got nothing to lose but to put the three Cs into practice this year with NO self- inflicted stress or pressure on yourself so that you can enjoy the unknown journey in stored for you in 2017.

By the end of 2017, lets see where we land in life!

Namaste my friends,

Christine "Hai"

Hello Again!

2016-12-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hello again, my friends,

Remember me?
It has been exactly 5 years since my last entry on my blog as of December 2011. Wow! Time flies.
So much life's memories, joy & struggles have been lived since....

I decided to start this discipline again today with no expectations or goals to meet but to just simply put my day's thoughts here. A very poignant year for me to return because it is a turning point in my life as I've reached that magic benchmark age of 50 since April. Yikes!

For some people, it's no big deal. It's just another birthday. It's just a number.
For me, it's has been a "wake up" call and a soul searching opportunity to re-evaluate what has worked and what has NOT worked in my life thus far in all areas of life.

Being ME...an easily bored, require more fun, sometimes crazy & definitely a free-spirited WOMAN!
Marriage ( Our age differences and our years together, approaching 14 years next April)
Family (Defining what's real, what's a loving family and where I belong and feel at "home")
Career ( ...or lack of it because I have been a stay home wife and taking an opportunity to create a creative outlet to have some form of success in this area)
Finance. (My husband's corporate career is ending so our lifestyle will be different and new challenges ahead to be more resourceful)
Health. ( Menopausal stage in life to accept & a new body to learn)
Self-Esteem. ( Happy in my own skin. Defining MYSELF from others (social media) expectations and/or judgements
Total FREEDOM to be YOURSELF!

I will share my thoughts candidly as I blog these areas as each day unfolds.
It's my personal time to be brutally honest to create the life I really what you live.
You will know when it is the right time for you. I hope by sharing that you will know, you are not alone in this journey of life. It's a gift. Lets give it the attention it deserves.

A common question I have been asking myself this past 6 months....
Does this person/relationship or situation brings positive, joy, peace, happiness or negative, drama or pain in my life?

To change it...Are you willing to learn to walk away from pain & gravitate toward the joy?
Are you willing to learn new disciples?
Of course, some areas will be more challenging than others to change. Learning to walk away from people is the hardest for me but it's a must to reach your peace.

It starts and ends with YOU! It's UP TO YOU. It's YOUR LIFE. Only YOU have the power to change. You can't change people or circumstances around you but you can only change YOU.

We are human. We are still learning...
For me, I can only hope that my next 50 years will be even better when I am open to learn, to share, to express and to explore new disciplines & new perspectives.

This resonates with me today. I hope it does for you too.
One Day At a Time:
This is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone.
Do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come.
Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering. Unknown author.

May we focus on just TODAY... with a grateful heart & with more JOY!
Let's be thankful for whatever God gives us today and make it count.

Namaste,
Hai

Touched by 27 Lil' Angels this Christmas!

2011-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

This picture is so poignant for me on this Holiday.

Like you as a parent, I am just as guilty of easily overindulge our children during this time of the year.

It's so easy to do that and we can easily lose our "common sense" as we get bombarded with so many sales, advertisements & material things for ourselves. Unless we consciously STOP to reflect the importance of Christmas and "define the necessity" in our lives.

We can't solve world poverty alone. But isn't there a balance of what we can do to make a difference from where we are?
Of course, we can.

I love Christmas traditions and this is my favorite holiday! Tradition is important to have gifts under our Christmas tree for my teenager daughter and for my whole family BUT I prayed for something EXTRA SPECIAL this year.

The "Gift of Giving" presented itself to us to add to our Christmas celebration this year. We adopted 27 local children here in our community, who are living at the homeless shelter.

We became Santa's elves with a long list of children with no names and no faces to us.

These Angels only have a letter B for boy, G for girl with a number next to it for their ages on our Christmas list.

We were touched by 27 little Angels this Christmas! They gave us an opportunity to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas!

There are 13 Girls ages from ages 2- 14 and a three month old baby girl along with 13 Boys from ages, 2-11. Their needs were only the necessities, like socks, underwear, hats & gloves & scarves to keep them warm this winter.

Thank you Lord for our EXTRA blessing with your "Gift of Giving" this Christmas.

We pray for each one of the 27 children at the homeless shelter on this Christmas Day. We are so grateful for our EXTRA special gift this year, Lord.

We are so very blessed beyond measures with countless blessings each & everyday. It's more than just what you have or don't have under the Christmas tree when other little ones have so little. As we celebrate and acknowlege the Birth of Christ, may God bless these 27 Angels during His Happy Birthday Party.

It's a joyful party that EVERYONE is invited to...

The true Christmas JOY is in the GIVING. And it is so true!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

With Love & 27 Angels,

Hai

Dealing With Our Hormones

2011-12-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

I do visualize and create my life with no stress and peaceful living and I LIVE IT too! :)

I am truly LIVING my happy, simple life on a peaceful surrounding each day and MINDFULLY enjoy it everyday because... I believe it! I covet it! I value it! I cherish it! I protect it!

Okay, so my peaceful life is going perfectly as planned today. Or is it?

Perhaps, the gently grey rain outside has gotten me to feel so sad today. :( Why? I don't know...

Inside my cottage is filled with JOY of Christmas music, with our Christmas tree sparkled with delights and the warmth of the fireplace is flaming gently. I drink my green tea and looking out into this wet winter day. My surrounding is PEACE. A perfect setting, yet I feel very sad today.

Don't you hate the uncontrollable hormones attack at times? I am directing this comment mostly toward the ladies in the 40's and up, going through with all the hormone changes, like myself.

Others call it "midlife" crisis or menopause, or even depression. Whatever the label is unimportant to me.

I, mindfully create peaceful boundaries for myself to have a sense of stability during this time of my life with all of my hormone changes. BUT I have NO CONTROL over my hormones as I am going through a medical term called "perimenopause phase of life". It's a fact of life. I choose to do it naturally without any options and adviced with " prescribed medications" to dull or numb it. It is NOT an illness to cure but to experience the full course of a natural process of being a woman.

After better understanding that it is a natural process we, women must go through, then I am accepting it fully. It is not easy at times. Each day is different as I maintain my sense of balance no matter what.

I often think of it as just another human emotion we all must deal with. It's not a bad thing. It's part of life. I can't pretend to be happy and smiling all the time so I deal with it, head on, with my writing about it, today.

Life is a journey of going through the sad days with the joyful days to make it a full life with different seasons in our lives.

At the end of it all, we all must accept life and go with the energy flow as each day appears to us.

And so, I must remind myself and all of you to "BE" with each emotion with a grateful heart, one day at a time. I am grateful for all my emotions today, even the sadness.

With Love & Emotions,

Hai

Georgia's Pear Ambrosia Jam Day

2011-11-16T15:54:00.000-08:00

Are you getting a repetitious, even a boring impression that I LOVE my home and what it holds for me by now? Good! lol ha-ha
I love to share my rainy autumn day in Georgia, today.
Today is beautiful!
To me, it's what NOT to love on a rainy autumn day here in Georgia?

Yes, I tend to focus and share so much about my life centered on my home, my husband and my simple heart here at our Yellow Cottage. That's just simply who I am and what I love most, to share most! I am truly a simple home-girl in my comfies when I am in my barbie-size cottage kitchen and LOVIN' IT so much!

A rainy day like this today is so special for me to slumber in bed just a little longer this morning before I get to harvest my last ripe pears to filled a bushel full.

Nowhere to rush out on a day like this but to slow down and to sit down on my porch to peel each pear while my Teddy Bear always sits next to me for company.

The rain has been steadily and gently watering my gardens nicely all day. Thank you, Mother Nature! I love rainy days because I know my gardens love it too!

From time to time, I glanced over my working hands, peeling the sticky pears over my lap as I take in my home, my stillness, my peace to just be with today's dark skies. Simple pleasure to look out over at my gardens and to see beyond our plain two acres of open pastures, feeling the cool wet rain on my face and hear the rain drops against our tin roof porch, I feel all of life in today's presence. It's a perfect day!

I see our working white truck parked nearby a pile of woods as my next task for another day. My thought wished my husband was there right then. He often works on our many chores around our cottage with his white truck.

I miss him. I miss his presence here today to be with me in my stillness. I miss all the noises he makes when he works from one project to the next project, around our home. I miss his labor of love for us, today as I sat here.

I miss hearing his country western music he often plays on the radio to keep him company while he works, sweats and always with his oversized cup of water, sitting nearby.

My true love is presence in my heart today as he is working hard in a corporate office for us so I can be at home. If only he is here to complete that perfect picture on this rainy day for me. So, I set that happy thought aside with knowing that he will be home soon.
I even love the heartaches of missing my husband today with the excitements to meet up at the airport on Friday and meet our friends for the evening in the city. My heart is so full of life, just "being" still.

Well, I got back to "doing" my tasks at hand to get these pears ready to be cooked.

I brought them inside and chopped them up to cubed sizes; add my pineapple cubes and orange slices before I can simmer them slowly for the next 4-5 hours before I get to put them in jars.

So, on this rainy day, I am enjoying making my jams from our orchard. I make it every year, whether it is figs, blueberries or pears each year. I enjoy sending them out to friends and family for the holidays to eat them from our yellow cottage farm. I am making my Pear Ambrosia Jam, today.

I am not an expert or even good at making preservatives or jams but I do attempt at it each year to honor them and then give them away to others to enjoy. These fruits have been given to us so abundantly so I feel bad if I don't at least attempt to use what God has given to us on our abundant little lot of land in Georgia.

I get so much joy of home and the simple spiritual connection in the ritual when I make them. The smell of cooking pears on my stove has permeated our little cottage on this rainy day while I write my blog about it.

I am CENTERED and at PEACE to be with myself. To be so content, safe and grounded at home in this simple way on this rainy autumn day in Georgia is a greatest blessing for me.

I am truly living my happiness, my simple life that I have dreamed so often.
I am standing in the midst of my dream.

My Teddy Bear is always near to keep me company

With Love & Happiness,

Hai

What's your Simply Meaningful?

2011-11-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I watched a show on "Braveheart Women", on defining what's your "simply meaningful" and I knew it right away for me.

It's different for everyone but it reminds us to take note in the simple pleasures of life.

Since I have been traveling so much in this past year and a half with my commute corporate husband, being home on a regular basis this pass 4 weeks has brought me EVEN MORE meanings & appreciation!

I truly appreciate having my simple daily routine to be home more than anywhere else on earth.
I appreciate going to my closet and not to my suitecase.
I appreciate making my coffee from the same coffee pot and reach for the same cup and creamer.
I appreciate waking up and walking outside in my pjs to say good morning to all my happy dogs with my hot coffee in hand.

I appreciate giving them their morning love and treats each day. And while they eat, I enjoy my coffee at our picnic table under this oak tree, like this morning.

I am grateful for what's in front of me, more & more!

HOME is my "simply meaningful" to my soul! I am willing to give up everything else to keep my peace.

So, what's your simply meaningful?

With Love & Meaningful,

Hai

Receive & Accept Warm Morning Kisses

2011-11-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

Receiving my first sight of dawn through my windows...

Are you accepting your warm morning kisses to start enjoying your life, today?...

With Love & Morning Light,

Hai

What are your favorite things to be grateful for ?...

2011-11-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Waking up this Monday morning, I received an amazing vibration of gratitude to feel that..."Everything's going to be all right!" with a "gentle knowing" in my happy heart.

To me, the ULTIMATE gift is a "sense of peace" that we can possess in this material world we live in.

I am blessed to be at home!

I opened my sleepy eyes in my comfy bed to see our wooded hill, greeted me with brilliant autumn leaves, on one side of our bedroom windows and as I turned over, I saw our long gravel road with multi-colored maple trees along the road, leading up to our cottage on the other side of our windows. It is indeed a GIFT to be alive today and to feel the morning's warmth salutation from the sun as I lingered in bed, just a little longer.

I was prompted to acknowledge these gifts and to say my "thank you prayer" for all my blessings before my feet touched the floor! Thank you, God. I am so very grateful today and everyday for these gifts.

I woke up feeling SO GRATEFUL to be surrounded by a few of my favorite simple things each and everyday here, being AT HOME!

To have my beloved lifetime partner to grow old with me!

I've realized even more, in that moment that I have arrived to my simple dream of ... "Living in Peace before I Die in Peace " It has always been my personal life mantra.

A beautiful sight of "home" for me to see my husband being handy & to put alot of our labor of love into our lil' love shack.

My garden keeps rewarding us with beautiful fresh flowers, inside and outside.

I have time to dream, to visualize and to manifest the LIFE we want here together!

Being greeted by my happy outdoor babies, by our picket fence, ready for their treats!

My gardens keep us smiling as we step out of the door

Having my breakfast on our warm patio on a fall day is divine!

Hiking with my four dogs in our woods to be with God and Nature to start our day.

What a beautiful fall day for our walk.

We share our 45 minutess of happy, healthy & serene hike, each day!

Our daily blessing of Heaven, surrounding our "home"!

May you stop for a few minutes to take a look all around you to see ALL the beauty surrounding you, right now!

What are your favorite things to be grateful for, today?

With Love & Gratitude,

Hai

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES!

2011-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

Indeed, EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES for us here at our yellow cottage!

Today's favor at the Yellow Cottage's Garden!

What a blessing it is to be here among Nature and God surrounding me in my simple world.

One of the many simpliest joys I get is to be in my garden...
It is ENOUGH! It is a GIFT for me today!

For my husband to know I am cutting them right out of my garden...lol

My JOY is to share all of my happy "hot pink roses" with you, today!

May they bring you smiles and a gladness in your day, my friends!

No other happiness is greater than to be greeted by these beauties as I step outside my door.

I am honored to be their caretaker. I adore them as they love me back, BEAUTIFULLY!

These roses are my Anniversary gifts from my beloved husband for every year of our marriage!

I love thee with every blossom in return, Darling!

Come right into the heart of our home, pretties!

With Roses of Love,

Hai

Where Have I been?

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Since accomplishing my 100 days of blogging everyday without missing a single day on Oct 14, 2011, I took a two weeks break!

I am in class nowadays with Oprah! I have been in Oprah's Life Classes in my office, with my Teddy Bear nearby on the sofa. I am in front of my computer each day to catch up with all her lessons for me!

My personal classroom with Oprah!

There are SO MANY wonderful lessons Oprah offers to aid each one of us to live our BETTER LIFE FULLY!!!

I have learned so much about myself with Oprah's life lessons thus far, to help me face myself HONESTLY with self-examinations.

I've learned that we all tend to operate our lives from EGO more than we should. I have learned there are so many more of SELF-barriers for me to break through like,

To forgive and let go of anger!

To become what I believe,

To speak my truth will set me free to live the life I want,

To create and share JOY with others,

To know I have a calling and to be who I am meant to be AND it doesn't have to be a HUGE thing like Oprah. My highest calling fulfill my heart is being a wife and a mom in my peaceful charming home.

I am 100% responsible for my life,

To learn to listen to my inner voice more clearly when life speaks to me in a whisper, and...

I love, love the saying, "when you know better, you do better."

I have a current ongoing project for myself~ to create a vision board with the life I dream for myself is SO MUCH fun!!!!!!!

An area on my porch I give myself permission to dream and post them on this framed vision board

Each lesson provides a worksheet of questions for us to answer on each topic. They have helped me reveal the areas of my life that I need to improve more or that I am on track, in order to live a better ME.

I am a working progress...

These are my dreams & wishes that will manifest to me!

I am so grateful to have Oprah as my teacher and my classroom on the Internet each day. I look forward to come in my office, sit down with my coffee or tea to LEARN about my LIFE.

Sometimes I feel isolated in my private, quite world that I have been trying so hard to shut out all the bad noises of the world. I love to keep my peaceful and serene world in the woods and I go out of my way to protect that. Now I have good company with Oprah's Life Classes to tune in and enrich my life even more. Thank you, Oprah! Welcome to my home!

To all my friends and family out there:

May you find your teacher, whether it is Oprah's Life Classes or any other teachings? Please keep learning and exploring about yourself in the environment that compliments you and open the path to your heart and soul.

With Love & Light,

Hai

100th DAY!!!!!!!

2011-10-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

I DID IT! :) I MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE!!!! :) My 100th Day!

I have BLOGGED for 100 days straight without missing a day by taking it... One Day At A Time! :)

Little did I know that my 100th day on blogging would take me back on the RV today!

Making sure I get my last 100th blog in while on the road!

We are on the RV for a day trip to a North Georgia's Montaluca Winery with our good friends .

More adventures are ahead as I close up my 100th day here! :)

I will expand more on these adventures later as today unfolds...

iphone Tere

Co-captain, Rich

Captain of this ship!

With Love & Adventures,

Hai

Here's To Good Friends~ DAY 99

2011-10-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe today is my 99th day of blogging continously without missing a day. I have less than 30 minutes to claim that statement to reach my goal by midnight and onto my FINAL 100th day tomorrow. Woohoo!

As we all said good night, I realized I have not done my blog yet at 11:00PM! Yikes! I ALMOST miss it! :)

Even if I miss it today, it is all worth it because my husband came home to me with his RV and all.

Soon after, our great friends arrived!
I just love looking out on my porch to see them all here at our cottage.

It has been a wonderful day filled with overflowing JOY to be together among the ones you love! :)

It was perfect to be on the porch, listening to the rain while enjoying our wine & food. So nothing can "rain" on our parade, please! Actually, a rainbow came into our view!

Food & Friends... A special celebration .

We've enjoyed catching up with each other, right into the late evening hours with stories and laughter.... until I realized I have to get my 99th blog done! Whew! I almost miss it! LOL

We are so very blessed to have good friends in our lives.
Here's to you, Rich & Tere! :)

P.S. I have 10 minutes to spare...lol

With Love & Friendship,

Hai

Don't Open This Door! ~ Day 98

2011-10-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

OMGosh.... I am a total MESS today!

We have good friends staying with us at our cottage this weekend so I've been busy tidding up our place all day. Pay back is brutal when I've been traveling for awhile. I am always playing catch up around our home when I get home. Everywhere else was easy EXCEPT for this room!

WARNING: DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR!

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!! Lol....

Okay...A confession of truly a girly girl with my closet, shoes and clothes. I know I am NOT alone on this, ladies! :)

When we decided to DOWNSIZE after moving from California to Georgia, our goal was to keep it small in our footage to a little cottage size home and keeping life simple.

It was actually my idea and I've been looking for a yellow cottage all my life as my "dream home." James was sold on the same idea.

I never care about the big square footage of a house after building many monsters of houses in the suburds with wasted square footage that made a house felt cold and not homey or cozy for me, personally. But they sold well for that "city image lifestyle" and I was grateful as a business woman.

Personally, I wanted charm and character of a small cottage in the woods but I still wanted my special space as a woman.

Much like his own space of a workshop! Get it now, guys? :)

As they say, "you can take a city girl to the country but you can't take the city out of the girl." I still love my feminine side to the MAX so I negotiated with my handyman husband during our renovation that I get the closet I wanted with our downsizing to the woods. And so it is... I got my closet! :)

My husband, personally built everything in it. I am a lucky girl to have such a very accommodating husband. :)

Keeping life simple is harder than you think. I don't believe I am there YET after 5 years of renovation but I've had today as my reality check to "DE-CLUTTER" my closet and do a Fashionista CLEANSING scream!

Why is that we, women still hang on to clothes that we never wear anymore? Definitely a letting go issue for me to work on it, here. UGH. :)

However, I must justify keeping up with my closet has been challenging as I pack and unpack so much to travel and I have no time to manage it well.

Yes, it's my own female disaster here, needing this winter to find it's way back to me, again!!!

Notice, I have NOT unpack yet from my trip.

I've had no time to declutter this mess as our friends are coming soon. I think I will keep this room LOCKED until I get enough energy to tackle this disaster! HELP! I need therapy for this! LOL

Aha Moment!!!~ I now know what's my NEXT 100 days challenge will be!!!! :) Stay tuned....

With Love & De-Clutter,

Hai

Bring It Home, Baby! ~ Day 97

2011-10-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

My first cup of coffee today never tasted so right as I am writing my blog and waiting for my honey to reach home to me.

Bring it home and travel safe home to me, Baby! :)

See you at HOME! :)

Leaving our site #197

Everything checked and He's ready!

Beautiful Landscape along the way....

Traveling views

Travel Safe, my Dear!

I will always remember and I will miss this setting as I blogged from our campsite. How perfect is this writing setting?!:)

But... that was YESTERDAY and TODAY has its own perfect setting to blog as well.

Ahhhhhhh...Being At Home! :)

I feel so blessed today and everyday! :)

With Love & Coming Home,

Hai

Migrating Day ~ Day 96

2011-10-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

The title speaks for itself as Teddy and I were on the road today to head South for the winter! :) Woohoo!

We started out early morning

The beauty along the way was breathtaking as the Autumn landscape changed throughout the four States as we reached HOME. The rain is here to greet us tonight! Ahhhhhhhh...

Reaching our destination by night.

It's so good to settle in and be at our Southern home. No better place but the comfort of "home sweet home" for Teddy to heal and just in time for me to get together with my lovely daughter :)

Good night all... this tired bird has landed! :)

With Love & Migration,

Hai

Heading South ! ~ Day 95

2011-10-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

It is ABSOLUTELY a gorgeous Fall day here at our campsite!

Breathtaking Autumn views from our campsite!

What a beautiful and AMAZING last note to say farewell to our beloved Spring & Summer days among our Ohio RV woods.

Our home away from home... What a romantic adventure! :)

The trees, with their turning of colors and falling leaves all around us are saying good bye to us, as we are preparing to pack up to head South! :)

My hubby is getting the RV ready to head out on the road while I write my 95th day blog at this location.

Teddy is hanging on to stay between my legs as usual, as I write my blog!

This has been such a lovely RV campsite spot for us! We could come back again! ;)

Our last campfire to enjoy our morning coffee and we are ready to pack up!

It is time to say good bye on my last day here with great memories of our Spring & Summer experiences and adventures. It has been such a joy and a delight to live this way of life.

Only with my creative and adventuresome husband that I get to experience ALL the spices of life!:)

Thank you, my beloved! :) You are making a better woman out of me by sharing all the adventures, big or small, together, for the rest of our lives!

With love & great Ohio memories,

Hai