Tuesday

Yesterday's sunrise, early

I've taken a bit of a break from here.  Thinking maybe it really is finally time to be done.  And surprisingly I haven't been always thinking (like I used to do) of stuff to write about on the blog.  But here I am again, with apparently some need to say a few things.

I made this private, so only the family could see it.  But I think even those loved ones aren't missing this like they thought they might.

Anyway, it's been slightly crazy.  The Husband is still working through all the Medicare Parts A and B and the Medicare Advantage nonsense.  The bureaucracy has been mind-numbingly complicated.  Just when we think we've resolved everything, we receive another snail-mail from them with more issues.  They are determined that we pay a penalty.  Or have to pay a much higher premium.  We have to fight and fight with them, and of course, everything takes three times as long as it should.

Yesterday's sunrise, later

It had been w-a-y long for me to have received my Medicare Advantage insurance card.  So I phoned.  No indication that one had been sent.  So I requested a new one.  And then had to (for the third time) justify why I didn't have to pay a late enrollment penalty.  And still, every day I waited in vain for my card.  Finally yesterday I received - yup, you guessed it - two cards.  I'll be so very relieved if and when this nonsense all gets settled.  And thanks to The Husband for his diligence in taking care of it all.

The side effect of all of this is the swallowing of all our time.  So it's been several weeks that our time has been consumed.  It's been hard for The Husband to get into the kind of routine that he wants to since he's no longer working for someone else.  Though he has relaxed some which has long been his desire.

But:  I've managed to get caught up on the laundry more than once.  I've read a bunch and whittled my stack of books down to something manageable.  Our DVR is once again on the way to empty.  I prepared (and prepared) for the Relief Society discussion that I led on Sunday.  It seemed to go ok, though I'm so crazy nervous / feeling inadequate / uncomfortable in this calling.

We got a new Relief Society presidency on Sunday and I'm so happy - this is a great group of women and they'll take really good care of the sisters in our ward. I thought perhaps they'd want to start over with a new set of "teachers" for Sunday, but Sister President says no.  (I'm thinking they'll probably still have some changes and I'm totally ready for that.  Especially with the new Sunday schedule that'll be in effect in January.)

I've walked and walked on the trail - and loved every minute of it.  We've (mostly) cleaned out the front flower beds, the roses still need some trimming but I've time.   And I've finally managed to get to a yoga class other than the one taught by my neighbor.  I really wanted to go to a different one to see how the neighbor class compares. I thoroughly enjoyed the one this morning, her music was not so loud, her directions clear, her movement from pose to pose smooth and gentle.  I came away feeling pretty good.  The best part: it's a donation only fee. No charge unless someone desires to drop a bit of money in the basket.

The weather has been stunningly beautiful.  Though with little rain.  Our area is already in a bad spot water-wise.  I'll be continuing the prayer plea for moisture, we need it so.

And gratitude?  Yes, I've still gratitude in measurable quantity.  I'm so grateful for The Husband.  I am really loving that he isn't tied to someone else's schedule, I've loved dragging him along on my errands (even when we spend more time and more money when he's along - it's such fun to have his company!).  I'm grateful that so far (yes, it's only been about 5 weeks) we're managing financially.  We'll be fairly frugal as time goes on, perhaps a bit more so than in the past, but hopefully we'll be just fine and still be able to take in the odd ice-cream treat or restaurant meal.  Christmas will be smaller all around, but that's really just fine. I'm grateful for our lovely snug home, that's filled with many comforts of life. I'm grateful for fairly decent health, for a couple friends, for a bit of kindness from others drifting through my life.  And I'm grateful for my testimony of our Savior and the hope that his atonement brings to each of us.