Things are looking up

After a few really low days, I am back on the upside. Sometimes I'm not sure which side is real; I feel like I'm living two different lives--the life when I feel better and the life when I don't.

But today, I feel good. Not because it is below zero (again), and not because we've had a ton of snow (agian), but because I'm beginning to notice things that I couldn't even think about before. Like the weather. Or parent teacher conferences. Or Lucy's upcoming piano recital and the fact that she hasn't been practicing.

I'm finishing the painting project. The living room is done, now I'm working on the hallway. Slowly everything is coming brighter around me.

With all this cold weather, we have been doing a lot of cleaning. Dennis especially. He says he hates it but I don't think he does. No one spends that much time doing things they hate.

I'm staying off of Facebook mainly because life has been better without it. I'm not wasting so much time anymore. I wish I could have a healthy balance of social media and real life but I have a hard time not going to the extreme. I go on Facebook only to give an update on how things are going once in a while, mainly for Dennis's relatives. But I'm not ready to go back to posting silly memes and dog videos. They just seem so frivolous and such a waste of time now.

So life goes on. I guess that's how you heal. You have no choice but to keep going. It helps to remember there are people around you that have problems and sufferings too.

And I continue to use Our Lady of Sorrows as my rock. Meditating on her sorrows have helped me deal with my own. I haven't prayed to her every day but I try to. The days that I don't are usually when I struggle the most, so it reminds me that I need to keep praying to her for her help. On Saturdays, I want to see if we can try to pray her rosary in honor of her. The kids aren't especially fond of the rosary but I had the thought (as I saw them distracted during the rosary) to not think about it too much and make them do it anyway.

Below are the promises that Our Lady made to those who pray meditate on her sorrows (I believe you must try to do it daily.) A little inspiration. Helps so much with our own sorrows.

1. ”I will grant peace to their families."
2. ”They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries."
3. ”I will console them in their pains and will accompany them in their work."
4. ”I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls."
5. ”I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives."
6. ”I will visibly help them at the moment of their death-- they will see the face of their mother."
7. ”I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.