Dog Days of Summer...

The "dog days of summer" are here.  August is upon us and here in Texas it's usually our hottest month.  Joy.  But, for this first week of August coming up we have three 80 degree days in the forecast!  Albeit, 89 degrees, but that's almost unheard of for our usual scorching Texas summer!  But, we'll take it!  Any heat relief is welcome...and rain!  We had an unusual amount of rain in July, so let's keep it going!  

Does anyone really enjoy the "dog days of summer?"  What do you love about it?  If you're like me, a well-conditioned air conditioned inside-during-the-summer months kind of gal then I totally get it.  I really don't know how people who have to work outside in 100 degree do it day after day.  They obviously have a good tan!  But, I don't think I would ever stop sweating all day.  That's no bueno for me.

Another couple months of the heat wave and then the cool down!  Ahhhh, I can't wait!  Cool, crisp breezes I'm waiting patiently for you!  Until then, have a "cool" and blessed week ahead!!

The Joys of Home Ownership

If it's not one thing it's another when it comes to home ownership!  Especially once your home reaches 10 years or more.  I'm in that lovely sweet spot of "everything is breaking" or needs repair.  Joy.  Fun.

Last week my garage door wouldn't close all the way, so a call to the repair man was made and it was quickly fixed.  Thank goodness!  And bless him for having to work out in 100 degree weather.  Then on Sunday I noticed my water wasn't getting hot.  So, after a couple days of slightly lukewarm showers I called the plumber.  It was a minor fix and thankfully still under warranty (by a few weeks), so no charge!  Yes!  Again, bless him for having to work up in the attic where it was over 100 degrees.  And finally (hopefully finally), the plumber noticed a hole in my roof and asked if I was working on getting it repaired.  I'm actually way overdue on getting my roof replaced as most of my neighbors replaced theirs 3 years old!  Yikes!  I know, I know.  I've just been putting it off...a little too long now apparently.  But, I had already called my insurance company to come out to inspect it, so I have done something.  So, I started calling roofing companies, too, today!  Ugh.  What a pain!  Thankfully the first one to come out put a tarp up to cover up the hole in my roof since it's supposed to rain Friday night.  And yes, bless the guy for going up on the roof in this deadly heat.  Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Please, please be the last thing for now that needs to be fixed, replaced or repaired!  But, bless my home for it's protection from the elements, for air conditioning that is literally a life saver in this oppressive heat, and for flowing water that keeps me refreshed and clean.

Many blessings to you and your home this week!!

Better...

Last week was a rough week (per my last post), after suffering from sinusitis all week and with my allergies adding to my misery!  But, I'm finally better and it's a new week!  Thank goodness!  I'm just hoping my allergies calm down this week, too!

Are you a good patient when you're sick?  Are there things that you always tend to do while sick?  Do you binge watch Netflix or watch movies all day?  Do you tend to stay in bed the entire time?  Do you eat whatever you want or are you more conscious of what you eat?  Most importantly, do you take care of yourself?  Do you rest?

I don't think I'm the best patient.  I can't spend a day lying in bed watching TV.  I'm not really a binge watcher, so that's probably why.  If I'm tired I'll take naps, but for the most part I need to feel productive or do something.  So, I guess if I'm not tied down to a hospital bed for something serious I'm not the best "take it easy and rest" kind of girl.  Which is pretty much what I did last week unless I couldn't keep my eyes open, then I'd sit and rest with my eyes closed for awhile.  Otherwise, I was up and at 'em...but yes, I was trying to treat my symptoms to try to ensure it didn't get any worse.  Thankfully it didn't and the swelling finally went down on Thursday.  However, I will warn anyone who might get this in the future...the most painful part is trying to blow your nose.  With my allergies being so bad last week, I had to blow my nose constantly and it felt like someone was pinching my nose as hard as they could every time.  It was miserable.  That pretty much lasted all week.  So, just giving you fair-warning in case you have to deal with it in the future...hopefully not!

But, it's a new week and I'm feeling much better (today, at least)!  So, hopefully it'll be an even more productive week and I'll survive the 100 degree temperatures!  Wishing you a blessed last full week of July ahead!!

Self-diagnosis....

Have you ever self-diagnosed yourself after researching your symptoms online?  Yes, I think we've all done it a time or two.  Well, I self-diagnosed myself with sinusitis on Monday.  I started to come down with symptoms on Sunday and it didn't get any better on Monday.  So, I spent the morning researching my symptoms online.  Yep, that's exactly what I have!  Done.  Now, I know how to treat it.  Or at least try all the home remedies to hopefully resolve the problem without going to see a doctor.  

What else have you self-diagnosed yourself with over the years?  I'm sure a lot of emotional diagnosis after much analytical thought...or more likely mind games, twisting of facts, anxiety over situations, and all the other lovely imaginative predictions that have passed through our minds.  And, perhaps some other physical ailments that you've diagnosed yourself with, too.  It's all about being in control...control of our issues, our problems, our ailments, our treatment plans, our solutions...our life!  Right?!

Well, whatever realization you've come to this week I hope it's rooted in truth, facts, and compassion for yourself.  We all need more compassion for ourselves and for one another these days!  But, I'm determined to "cure" myself by the end of the week of this sinusitis, so wish me luck, say a little prayer and stay turned to Sunday's post to see if there's been any improvement.  Crossing my fingers!

Until then, many blessings for a happy and healthy rest of your week!!

Broken...

Are you a homeowner?  Is your house more than 10 years old?  If so, then you know if it's not one thing it's another.  I've been in my house for almost 13 years now and yes, I've said "it's broken" a lot this year!  Sigh.

My dad is usually the first one to hear those words, followed by "when can you come fix it?"  He's fixed my shower faucet, toilet, door knob, garage door, side foundation, etc.  But, once again my garage door is broken and this time I have to call in the professionals.  Joy.  

Oh house...my protection in storms, my sanctuary from all the outside/external noise, my safe haven, my reflection of style and personality...your cracks and faults are showing.  Time wears us all down in one way or another.  And right now my worn down house needs some love and care...and repairs!  Yes, the joys of home ownership! 

I hope and I pray that nothing else "breaks" this year in/on/around my house!  I already have a long list of to-do's to do!  So, may whatever is "broken" in your life gets fixed soon and may you care for and nurture it even more moving forward.  

Blessings to you this coming week!!

Finding Meaning....

We've all wondered at some point in time in our lives "What's our purpose in life?"  It comes in and out of focus throughout our lives depending on what's going on in our lives.  If things are going well we think we've got things all figured out, but when things aren't going well that question creeps up more and more.  It certainly has in mine over the past year.

What's the meaning of all this...the daily grind, the tedious to-do's, my presence here...what's the point?  Why am I here?  What purpose do I have to fulfill?  When will I realize that purpose?  Or have I already and just don't know it?  What do I do until I figure out what my purpose is?  Sound familiar?

"Nothing is ever easy" so they say and so it definitely goes in my life.  And as we look from the outside at someone else's life we may envy how "easy" it all seems to be for them.  That always seems true, as well.  But, we never really know the struggles and the hardships someone else is going through...unless we take the time to ask and really get to know them.  But, from the outside looking in we all assume someone has it better than we do.  That's just the nature of our society and how we've been predisposed to believe that.  It doesn't sting any less even if it's not true.  Life is hard and it's trying at times and figuring our way through those hard times is what makes us who we are...it's what changes us for the better.  Yes, it's hard to believe that as we're trudging through the thick muck of it all, but we have to believe that at the end of it we'll find a better path, a better person looking back at us in the mirror and a better life for having gone through it.

We have to have HOPE!  Hope keeps us going even when you don't feel like it.  Hope keeps a small flame burning even though you don't know why, when or where the next step will come.  Hope keeps light in our lives and pushes out the dark.  Hope is the end-all-be-all toward a better tomorrow...a better life.

So, don't lose hope in finding your true purpose in life if you haven't found it yet.  I certainly haven't.  So, say a little prayer for me that I find mine and can fulfill that purpose whole-heartedly for the rest of my life.  In the meantime, have a truly blessed week and know that your life has meaning no matter what!!

Get With It...

It's time to get back at it....selling books!  I haven't been as proactive about it over the past year or so even though every other week I've been saying I need to do something (in my head).  But, obviously actions speak louder (than the words in my head) and it's time to start engaging in marketing and promoting my book!

So, if you have any new ideas or know of any opportunities...book festivals, adoption events/conferences, adoption support organizations, church events, etc...please let me know!  I'm open to any and all ideas!  Hopefully I can find some supportive and excited organizations to give me an opportunity to sell my book.  Oh, also if there are any adoption-specific publications (online, print, magazines, etc.) that you know of, please let me know.  If you recall, I gave several interviews when I first launched my book which resulted in online stories, magazine publications, and newspaper stories.  You can find links to them on my web site at www.kimfenneman.com.

Lets see what new opportunities arise and I'll obviously be sharing any new news with you all on this blog.  Wish me luck!!  Blessings to you as summer heats up (across the U.S.) this week!!

Where Are They Now?

Do you ever wonder where the sitcom stars you watched growing up are today?  Sometimes you'll see posts online about certain TV stars or every now and then on some of the morning or entertainment shows they'll reunite casts from past TV shows.  And there were some good sitcoms in the 80's and 90's.  Recently, I've been watching reruns of Home Improvement.  I don't think I really watched the show consistently when it was on, but I've found myself laughing out loud at most episodes.  There were a lot of sexist remarks on that show, but I've noticed how important they presented the family unit.  Although the boys could be wild and crazy (as boys are), they also showed them washing dishes, setting the dinner table, cleaning, and helping around the house.  It also always showed both parents cooking and how it was a central part of their daily routine.  So, it got me wondering what ever happened to all the people from the show.  Obviously I've seen Tim Allen on his most recent sitcom with 3 daughters and I've seen Patricia Richardson on a Hallmark movie, as well as, make an appearance on Tim Allen's show.  It's been a refreshing and enjoyable show to watch this summer.

But, there are so many "old" shows that I would love to know what happened to all the actors.  There were some really good and funny shows over the past several decades.  Now, things are either too politically correct, way over the top, too much reality TV, or just plain weird.  Who knows what TV will look like in another 20-30 years.  Hopefully more diversity, more compassion for one another, and more understanding for one another's differences.

Until then, enjoy your favorite reruns and hopefully you find yourself laughing out loud again, too!  Blessings for a joyful first week of July!!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July (for all those in the States)!!  I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend!  Enjoy all of the grilling, quintessential picnic foods, swimming pools/lakes, sunshine, friends and family!  And of course, the fireworks!

God bless America!!!  And many blessings to you and your family!