When This is Over

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Those four words are the ones I’ve heard over and over in the past few weeks. I’m sure you’ve heard them, too. Perhaps you’ve even spoken them. I have.

Just four little words. Not profound unto themselves, and yet they say so much. They point to an equally little word. Another with four letters, but one which holds so much promise.

Hope.

Without hope, there would be no utterance of when this is over. There would be only despair and grim acceptance that this is the way life will be from this point forward. There would be no more family gatherings, no more hugs. No more dinner with friends. No more play-dates for our kids. No more life as we knew it.

Staying Fit While Staying Home

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Here we are at week three (or is it four for us?)  of sheltering-in-place. It hasn’t been that bad for us. Especially for me. Even though I’m an extrovert of the highest order, I’m still a homebody. I love being at home. For one, I’m not like some of you, I don’t get up with the chickens, walk two miles, shower, put on a full face, and fix my hair. I know. My poor husband.

While I do shower daily, I definitely do not fix my hair or put on makeup. At my age, it hardly matters anyway. The freedom that comes with not having to do those things is priceless to me. Now, you must understand this about me. I hate being dressed. If Hubby and I are going out, if only to the grocery store (an odd occurrence these days, huh?), I get up,  put on a full face, and I wash and dry and fix my hair. I even wear earrings and a necklace. And my good shoes. I think it's a Southern thing. Women simply don't go out without being all dolled up. It's ingrained in us from birth.

As soon as we walk in the door, it’s straight to our bedroom where I remove the nice clothes I wore to the store, and I don the most comfortable things I have—grubbies. Sweats in the winter, and usually yoga pants in the summer. I don’t do shorts. Period. And I’ve never done the first day of yoga. But, those pants are so comfy.

One, Two, Three, Kick

Today, we began an exercise routine. I think this old gal overdid it a bit. Now, don’t do what I did. I was keeping up with the forty-something-thing taking us through the routine. It wasn’t that difficult. Besides, it was aimed at seniors like Hubby and me.

Tonight, I’m feeling every one of those leg lifts, and bends, and squats, and grapevines, and whatever. Recently, I’ve had trouble with pain in my left leg. My doctor says its iliotibial something. I’ve overused the tendon and muscles that attach your backside to your hip to your knee area. It hurts. I’m so sore that day one may have to be days done for a while. So, y’all don’t do that! Be sensible. If you do such a routine, don’t go thinking you’re still the age of the gal leading you. I passed that a long time ago. 

New Hobby and a Book

Hubby and I have managed to stay sane through all this. He has his new hobby, genealogy and I’m in my office working on the launch of Grave Consequences. I’m also doing edits on book two, titled Grave Decisions. The cover of Grave Consequences was released yesterday. If you saw it, what did you think?

If any of you reading this would like to join my launch team, contact me by my email available on the site here. I’ll send you an application form. It’s simple. Just your name, email, birthdate (no year, I wouldn’t ask that of anyone older than 20), and your mailing address, for goodies in case your name is drawn in  a give-away.

This is going to be short this week. I’m worn out from that exercise routine. And I need to go rub some good stuff on it. My poor leg flat-out hurts. Hope I didn’t do major damage. Stay tuned for how that works out, pun intended.  

Have you been doing exercises at home? I hope you’ve been a lot smarter than I about that. If you have a good routine for seniors (these days, they say that’s anyone 60 and up, good grief), share a link with us. I think the one we chose was a bit brisk. Y’all stay safe.

TWEETABLE
Staying Fit While Staying Home @DDuPreeWilliams (Click to Tweet)

Anxious Days Call For The Ancient of Days

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Hello all. Here we are, beginning week three of social distancing, but now mandatory shelter-in-place orders are in effect until the end of April. We don’t know if that will be extended at this point. Only time will tell.

These are uncertain times. News changes daily. Warnings change with each social media post. At this point, I’m paying little attention to those. All they do is make me anxious.

But in these uncertain times, we can rely on the One who does not change (Hebrews 13:8).In the book of Daniel, Daniel calls God the Ancient of Days. (Daniel 7:9-14).  Philippians 4:6-7 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but to go to God with our requests. It goes on to tell us that in doing so, we will be filled with the peace of God. I’m paraphrasing here, go to your Bible for the entire verse. While you’re there, just read the entire book. It’s a short one and is full of goodies, just like the rest of God’s Word.