Wake Up, Wake Up, You Sleepyhead

I think I finally figured out what has been causing this extreme sleepiness and lethargy that I have been suffering for several weeks now.

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I thought it was because, even though the calendar said it was spring, we still were having winter weather and it was causing me to hibernate.

I have had bouts of fatigue and sleepiness over the years.

I had an episode of anemia that made me feel like I was wading through molasses with lead weights on my shoes.

I would fall asleep in meetings and at my desk at work.

But this time, it was a feeling of being so sleepy that I just wanted to flop on the couch for most of the day.

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I'm not depressed, I'm taking my thyroid medication (before I was diagnosed as hypothyroid, I felt like a slug).

What could it be?

Ahh, yes!  My doctor changed the dosage of a medication that I take for depression and anxiety.  Of course, she did this several weeks ago.  It made sense to ask her if this could be the cause of the sleepiness.

Yup.  So, last night, per her instructions, I reduced the dose.  This morning, I am wide awake and have no desire to lie down on a horizontal surface and snooooooze the day away.

I think I'll make bread today!

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Dear Winter: You Are Free To Leave. Don't Stick Around On Our Account.

This is what Juneau woke up to this morning.  Yes, THIS morning.  APRIL 26th.  A winter storm warning.  A forecast of 3-6 inches of snow.  Planes delayed because of snow.  On April 26.  APRIL.

I know, I know, I live in Alaska.  But this is Southeast Alaska, people!  Not Nome, Alaska!  Not Fairbanks, Alaska.  We live in a temperate (hah!) RAIN forest.  Not a snow forest.

My friend Elizabeth took this picture this morning:




This is what the weather is doing right now, at 6:07 p.m.: it is 33 degrees.  It is "snaining".  The streets are slushy.

Last year at this time, we had the furnace turned off for the summer.  It is going full blast right now.  I had to dig my parka out of the closet and put my hiking boots back on.

If I sound a bit hysterical, it is because I am.

I. HAVE. HAD. IT. WITH. WINTER.

Theme Thursday: Sky

Clouds at Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska

Autumn 2011

Linking up at Theme Thursday at Clan Donaldson

Because I'm A Mother

 

Because I'm a mother, I grieve for the dead in Boston.  I grieve for Martin Richard, Lingzi Lu, Krystle Campbell, Sean Collier and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

None of them were over 30, and little Martin was only 8.

I can't begin to imagine the horror of losing a child so suddenly, so violently, so senselessly as the parents of Martin, Krystle, Lingzi and Sean did on Monday and on Thursday.  I can't fathom the horror of learning that a child of mine was the perpetrator of such horrible crimes as the parents of Tamerlan Tsarnaev discovered this week, and then learning of his death while police were trying to capture him and his brother.

Because I'm a mother, my heart is broken for the parents of these young people.

I am praying for their families, and for the repose of their souls.

The Annuciation: The Incarnation of Jesus

The Annuciation of the Theotokos (The God-bearer)
Icon written by Charles Rohrbacher

After Mary said "Yes" to the angel, she conceived Jesus in her womb.  This is the day Jesus came into the world as a human being.  Normally celebrated on March 25, because the feast was during Lent this year, it was delayed until April 8.  

Hail Mary

Full of Grace

The Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women

And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus

Holy Mary

Mother of God

Pray for us sinners

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

3 Reasons I Love Catholicism

{1}

The Eucharist

There is nothing more spiritually amazing, fulfilling, satisfying, refreshing, intimate, healing, grace-giving, emotional or blessing-laden than receiving Christ in His Body and His Blood.  Even gazing at the Blessed Sacrament in adoration can give me these benefits, but to actually consume Him in the Eucharist, to become one with Him and, in turn with my brothers and sisters who also do so is beyond description.

Jesus and St. Menas, 6th Century Egyptian Icon

{2}
The Music, Art and Architecture

The music that has been written for the Church throughout history, from Palestrina to Mozart to the Missa Luba, to Bob Hurd's stunning liturgical music, is a gift from God.  To be able to use my voice to sing His praises and lead my faith community in song, as I did for many years, was an privilege.

There is so much beautiful art that has been created for the Church.  Mosaics, illuminated manuscripts, icons, and cathedrals.  They are beautiful works that are gifts to the world.

Dorothy Day

Mother Teresa

{3}

The Church's Preferential Option For The Poor

The poor, the Anawim, the forgotten, the marginalized: as St. Lawrence said, these are the treasures of the Church.

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body.

Christ has no body now but yours, 

no hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

                                                                        Teresa of Avila

Theme Thursday: Funny

Beans asleep.

Paws up with a smile on her face.



Linking up with Cari at Clan Donaldson!

Random Photos From Easter (Because Easter Lasts for 50 Days!)

A messy kitchen is the sign of a happy family.  Phoebe made Easter bread, Miguel made scalloped potatoes and I made whipped cream frosting for my Sunshine Cake.

On Monday, we picked up some Scandinavian Blue paint for our bookshelf.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  It is a gorgeous color.

It is really a violet/periwinkle blue.  The shelf used to be painted dark navy blue and a kind of muddy aubergine purple. 

Our egg collection is getting bigger.  We have some wooden eggs painted Pysanki style, and some blown eggs that we have colored.  We use onion skins.  This year we drew on some onion skin dyed eggs.

Here is a close up of my drawing of chicks.  They look more like sparrows, but I never claimed to be an artist! 

Here is our buffet - I made a Sunshine Cake (here is the recipe, except I used real whipped cream in the frosting instead of using Cool Whip, and Miguel made yellow cake from scratch)!

When we were moving things around to prepare for painting the bookshelf, I noticed that I have buds on my orchid plant.  The kids gave me this plant for my birthday in October, and I was sure that I was going to kill it - but it is thriving!

Finally, here is a photo taken of my brother Marc and me when we were little (I think 5 and 8) with our chocolate Easter treats - he had Cutie Bunny and I had Biddie Hen. It is my favorite picture of the two of us!

I hope everyone is rested up from the Easter Sunday Festivities - I have really enjoyed all the photos on your blogs of food, fun, dressed up kids, lovely tables and decorations!