True

 Lord

You know

My every thought

Take it captive

Purify it

And 

Make it 

Holy and true

Friday

 Loving Greek yogurt and granola

Wordle

Reading the newspaper

New stationery

Finding new blogs

What are you reading?  Need new books to read. Thank you. 

Any wins this week?

Happies

 Happies

Seeing friends

Such good food

Beautiful trinkets

Peace in 

The process

Not the 

Desired outcome

Chilled

 A little chilly

This morning

Warming up

With coffee 

And a hug

And sending

One 

Your way

What’s in my cart?

 What’s in my cart edition 2

A new book 

Magnesium spray

Sweet treats

Love looking at new stationery

Foreign magazines

New recipes

Your turn?

affliction

 Learning is

A process

You will 

Make mistakes

You didn’t know

That they were

And you will

Have wins

You didn’t 

Think they were

Giving myself 

Grace as I 

Would give 

To others

Love yourself

Forgive yourself

You only

Have One

To answer to

My friends

Love you

Be joyful

And blessed

In every affliction

Thank you

 Good morning lovelies. Haven’t done this in awhile. Thought today might be the day. Any prayer requests or praises?

I’m learning

Not to stoop

Not to engage

And trust

The Father

When I ache

When I wonder

And when 

Nothing makes

Sense

To bring 

My anger

My despair

And my rage

For He is

The answer

And anchor

Of my being

Mind

Body and soul

Sunday happies

 Happy for the US yet sad for Canada. I love you both. 

Looking at different fashion magazines for inspiration. Love Porter and Tatler particularly. Vogue and Town and Country come next. I love travel magazines too.  

Happy baseball season is back. 

Enjoyed some chili for lunch. 

Tell me one win for you from this week?

PT and OT are working. 

What are your favorite healthy snacks?  In a food rut. 

Love your neighbor and yourself. 

About to post on rkrsrue.blogspot.com. Stop by if you could

hockey

 It’s Hockey Day in North America

Who’s watching?

Good game fellas. 

Win or lose I love you both

Weekend

 What’s on the agenda today my friends?

Going to relax after having PT and OT back to back yesterday, and enjoy listening to the rain. I may to some dot to dots or word searches or read a book. A boring weekend. I need boring though. 

Have a beautiful weekend. 

Friday happies

 Friday happies

Happy mail arrived

I woke up

My family is well

Two delicious dinners out

Legs are being strengthened

Your turn

My heart

 Thank you so much for your love. I don’t deserve it. I’m humbled by it. You see my heart for what it is, even when my sinful desires take hold. The way you love me is what Jesus preached. I have accepted that my body will not be healed like I once prayed. God knows if He cured me, I might think I didn’t need Him or want Him. As I am, I’m constantly reminded of my need for Him, but mostly my want for Him. And that’s what He wants most from me. And I serve at His pleasure, not my own. 

He’s taking me through valleys I never thought I’d touch again. I’ve touched them, however. I’ve resided there. There is purpose in the pain. Purpose in the process. If I’ve written these words before, it’s because I have. And they still are true. The years that pass don’t nullify their validity. It amplifies them. I’m a human being who sometimes wants things too easily or right now. I’m imperfect. I accept that I will not be everyone’s cup of tea. I have champagne taste on a beer budget. Do I wish I didn’t. Sure do. That’s God’s job to convict me of. If He uses another human being to do it, who I am to question. 

This is not directed at anyone. These are the random thoughts of my heart. I’ve tried to change my heart, but He hasn’t done that yet either. I’m also learning that if I don’t ask, I don’t receive. Do I expect it, no, but if I don’t ask I will never know. And I’ve lived with enough regret for a lifetime questioning my worth. And I refuse to do it any longer. 

Peace, hope and love my friends 

Regine

Have a great day

 Good morning friends. If yesterday’s post left a sour taste in anyone’s mouth, I’m very sorry. I will do better. I don’t want anyone to feel any obligation to me in any way. 

Sometimes, I make mistakes, and seek forgiveness. I’m very sorry. 

Sending love

Your way

And hoping 

For grace

As I learn

And continue

To do so

Every day

Home

 Just came home from another procedure. Let me tell you, procedures don’t get easier. My body is not normal. If I already didn’t know it before, the narrative just got reinforced. I have some new products to possibly consider trying. The health and wellness space in the market are having a field day in my online shopping cart these days. I’m having to read reviews for the best product for my needs. On a lighter note, I’m off to rest. I must say you all were right on target with what you’d send me, but Sheri at Red Rose Alley really has me pegged. I’d love to see what you’d pick for me, if you actually sent something. Wishing you a beautiful afternoon. 

Love,

Regine

Love

 It’s Ash Wednesday. A time of quiet reflection. Of what in me needs to be more like Him. What am I giving up this Lenten season. Self-doubt would be wonderful. 

Now for a fun question

If you were to send me snail mail or a surprise based on what you know about me, what would you send?  No need to send anything, just curious to see your responses. 

Sending love your way

Know

 Who knew the contents of my online shopping cart would be a hit. I guess it will become a regular post. 

Some tidbits about me

My love of unexpected surprises knows no bounds

Snail mail is a love language

I collect lip products. Same for nail polish

I love word searches

I use cream in my coffee. Vanilla preferably. 

In my cart

 So I’ve never found myself very interesting. I’m just a human being in need of Grace, but I was asked to share what was in my cart.

So here is what’s in my cart. 

Head x Veronica Beard tennis skort

Ascent chocolate protein powder

Colace stool softener

These are not glamorous purchases

Would I rather buy pretty pens, stationery and dresses yes. My wishlist is definitely more fun. You didn’t ask for that though. So we’re sticking to the boring essentials. 

What’s in your cart or on your wishlist?

What if

 This afternoon on the treadmill I had a moment of sadness. I remember the days when I could walk on it for an hour with no problems. No fear. No worry. Now, don’t ask how long I can last. It’s not even close to an hour. I started to wonder. Wonder what if. I realized quickly that thought wouldn’t serve me. I just shook my head, and continued walking. 

I don’t know how long it will take for me to recover physically, but it will be much quicker than my mental recovery. There is no doubt about that assessment. I didn’t understand what my therapist meant the last time I spoke with her. I get it now. 

Pray I can forgive myself for something I couldn’t control. Something I never saw coming. The decline was slow, yet rapid in a way I can’t explain. An oxymoron, I understand. To tell you the state of my soul, it feels like my online cart looks like new workout gear, protein powder and supplements. Rinse and repeat. 

Coming out of the weeds of denial is a much harder issue to tackle. It’s being tackled, however, because for grief to be dealt with properly; it must be. 

I’m learning slowly what it looks like to be my own cheerleader, until then my online cart purchases will be. 

Sunday happies

 Sunday sermons by Rich Villodas  @richvillodas

On IG: @jtedscott has posts he calls Sunday sermons. They’re so good. 

My two favorite follows lately

My friend FaceTimed me from a favorite stationery store so I could pick out what I wanted. 

Another friend sent a text that I’m keeping. It meant that much.

And God He shows up when I least expect it. 

What are you grateful for today?

saturday happies

 Any Valentine’s Day plans today?

Loving cinnamon raisin bagels

Unexpected gifts

Snail mail

Not having to cook

Coffee

Cookie cake

 Red and pink

Hearts

Stars and sprinkles

Has me

Dreaming of 

A beautifully decorated 

And delicious 

Cookie cake

For Valentine’s Day

Friday happies

 Happy Valentine’s Day to all. Know you are all loved by me. Sending hugs across the miles. 

To do today

Compliment someone

Smile more

Pray for people when they’re on my mind

Just be kind

Y’all add any I’m not thinking of please

How may I pray for you today?

The plan

 Physical therapy is testing me in ways I imagined, and in ways I didn’t. I anticipated the physical toil. I didn’t anticipate how much. I’m worn out each and every time. PT is followed by nap time. Endurance is what I need, I just don’t know how long it will take me not to be so exhausted by it. This is not the biggest adjustment. 

My mental health is undergoing an overhaul. Gratitude mixes with frustration way too often. Grateful for an opportunity to get better, yet a frustration that my body deteriorated so badly that I don’t know when it will return. 

And I started OT today too. 

Do what 

You do

Even as

I continue

Not to 

Understand

The plan

Joy

 Will be giving a PT update soon. 

Some wins

Seeing some friends yesterday

A nice lunch out

An unexpected sweet treat

Admiring beautiful craftsmanship in local stores

Tell me yours. 

All

 Renew my body

My spirit 

My soul

And my mind

From the 

Inside out

Take over

All of me

Is with

All of You

Hands

 Calm my 

Anxious heart

Soften me

To your wisdom

And leave

My cares

In your 

Willing Hands

Super

 Questions

Did you watch the Super Bowl 

Did you make a feast?

Did you watch the halftime?

What is making you smile?

Instagram handle?

Yes

Chicken wings

Yes

Learning God loves surprising me

@reginekarpel

Sunday

 Loving

Jesus

Online shopping

Italy

Avocados 

Diet Sprite. Even if I shouldn’t. Don’t drink it often

Adventure

 Dreaming about 

A Cortina peak

Covered in snow

As I enjoy

An aperitif

At the foot

Of the Dolomites

Staying sane

Is of utmost importance 

These days

And my soul rejoices

In simple pleasures

Until my body

Is ready for

A dreamy adventure

Friday

 Friday thoughts

Therapy again today. May my spirit rejoice and be glad in it. My wallet may not be full, but my heart is. He’s never cared about dollars and cents, but with my heart. My heart has been on a roller coaster full of what ifs and regret. Wondering if at 42, I let opportunities go, thinking I had time. Right now, I’m getting better, but at a much slower rate. I have to trust, that all I’ve done past and present, He knew would happen. And He’s not surprised, even if I recoil in shock. I have to trust the Author. I just know I’m not Him. 

I love you all if you didn’t know. 

Regine

Self

 Breathing out

Exhaling

As I

Realize

That nothing

Is hidden

From you

Even as

I try to hide

Less of me

More of you

Seems so simple

Yet its execution

Is beyond me

Right now

Flawed

And taking

The time

To do

The hard work

Which is

To look within

At self

Not at others

Externally

My soul is yours

I just never

Really ceded authority

And I’m not

The Author

And finisher of

My faith

Loving

 Loving

Trying new hair products’

Cherry chapstick

Thrifting

Seeing old friends

Eating good food

Your turn?

pray

 Yesterday in therapy was a challenging day. Let’s just say working on my balance left me highly inbalanced. And it didn’t feel too good. I saw old apparatus and equipment that left me shaking inside. I was conquering the fear in real time. My fear was not hidden. My face showed it all. My discomfort and my fear were on full display.  I will say that the others in the office watch me with great awe or craziness. Who pays people to whip them into shape like this. I sometimes wonder if sometimes I’ve lost my mind. 

Please pray that I can stay the course, as I continue to be very uncomfortable, with no end in sight. 

Love you all

Regine

Anyway

 Every day

I’m returning 

To a version 

I recognize 

Yet still is

So foreign to me

I’m letting 

The disappointment

Roll off me

I’m doing

The things

That petrify me

I’m finding joy

In places

Formerly marked

With disdain

I’m not taking

On unnecessary pain

Taking on discomfort 

Is not a 

Badge of honor

Unless he 

Ordains it

Or allows it

I’m fully aware

That my problems

Will never cease

I just no longer

Give them

The power

To overwhelm me

To topple me

I’m strong

Yet very fragile

I’m the contradiction 

The exception 

To every rule

And there 

Is grace

In accepting 

What was once

So vehemently 

Denied

Denial

The river

In Egypt

No longer

Resides there

God says move

This isn’t your home

Not anymore

Anyway

Lord

 Lord Jesus

Focus on You

Not on worldly

Desires and wishes

May me heart

Be warmed

By your faithfulness

Not the deception

Of man’s crudeness

Be mine

Be ever mine

Heart and mind

 Lord,

Guard my tongue

Guard my heart

It really needs it

As much as 

I need air

My Sunday prayer