December 30, 2019 Recap of Oil Paintings

This one........... is still not complete. ↓↓↓

December 29, 2019 Fitbit Stats

WHAT CAN I SAY....
January 2019, a free shirt, and a 100 mile challenge.
Who could resist?
Challenge was not reached😥, but I was close enough that RunAboutSports kindly gave me the shirt.

Boy, was that shirt ever BAIT!
Runner I'm not, but a good walk is exhilarating.
January FITBIT totals = 81.09. miles.
February FITBIT totals = 112.68 miles
March FITBIT totals = 110.85 miles
April FITBIT totals = 130.34 miles
FITBIT is a tool to help one keep track of daily steps. The product (lots of watches or wristbands to choose) records your steps, and syncs them to the fitbit app on your phone, as well as computer.
Occasionally, my wrist will vibrate 😂😂😂, thus prompting me to MOVE MY FEET!.
May FITBIT totals = 117.40 miles
June FITBIT totals = 90.7 miles
July FITBIT totals = 91.05
Secretly, I challenged myself to walk 100 miles per month!

A bit 'overzealous', perhaps, but I had become passionate, enthusiastic,  and perhaps a bit fanatic 😎😎😎.
We are fortunate to have excellent stores in Roanoke, for the proper walking/running gear.
FLEET FEET ROANOKE outfitted me for my latest walking shoes. (I say latest, because I'm on my 3rd pair of shoes for the year.... I LIVE IN MY SHOES!).
Currently wearing this 👇👇👇 (Brooks Addiction Walker)

These shoes won't win any prizes for style, but boy are they supportive.
I've worn New Balance walking shoes for awhile, but these shoes made me change brands..... for now.
August FITBIT totals = 120.60 miles
September FITBIT totals = 101. 67 miles
October FITBIT totals = 107.99 miles
November FITBIT totals = 104.18 miles
December FITBIT totals = 86.15 94.6 miles (will change this total December 31st)
I'm just a teeny bit proud of my endeavors for 2019😍😍😍😍😍.
It has been a good year, and I am thankful that I am able to walk.
At age 71, moving is gift!
This year new aches, pains, twists, sprains, pulled muscles, and arthritis showed their ugly faces.
Advil became a good friend!

I love being outdoors.
Walking is as beneficial for mental health as it is for your physical health.
KEEP ON WALKING.

December 28, 2019 DECLUTTER III and REGIFTING

Christmas 2019......... IT's A WRAP.

While the Christmas Season is not officially over, I've been wrapping up 2019 with some official business. 

Who is ready to take the 2020 clutter-buster challenge?
Year number 3, here we come😀.
Read about the year 2018→→ Declutter II
Read about the year 2017→→ Use it, Love it, or Get rid of it.
My 2019 chart clearly indicates fewer items than 2018, but 1125 items have vanished!
That's right, one thousand one hundred twenty five items.
How can people have this much crap and not know it? or have the time to use it?

Yes, we have lived in Casa de Sharpey  for 46 years.
No, we are not quite ready to move to another place.
Yes, we continue to hold on to many sentimental, emotional objects.
IT IS HARD TO LET THESE THINGS GO! 😭😭😭
Rachel Jones, founder of Nourishing Minimalism , includes the 2020 chart on her link.
Print it out.
The challenge is to declutter 2020 items in 2020!
She writes a blog, is on instagram, Pinterest, and offers on-line courses.
The Joyful Space Specialist is admired by many.
Most difficult items (for me) to let go?
THIS ↓↓↓...... how embarrassing is this 😕😕😕

Jammed in a cabinet for 3-4 years,
obviously never used,
obviously not cleaned/polished,
I began separating the "real" silver from the silver plate, silver on copper, etc. Next, I made a 'pile' of keepers, and a 'pile' of donate/regift.  Containers, trays, bowls, maybe someone can use what I no longer need.
Many items were wedding presents 50 years ago 😍, or were handed-down family jewels.
Fast forward a few weeks, a lot of elbow grease, some ribbon = ready for REGIFTING😍
Etiquette of re-gifting ⟶DO IT RIGHT OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL.
Financial guru, Dave Ramsey, gives some advice: 10 Regifting Rules

Letting go of Longaberger baskets...... was tough 😖

Anyone interested in framed P.Buckley Moss prints? (I've got a deal for you!)
 Declutter, donate, regift, live simply.
Lose the clutter, lose the weight.
 *** BEST DECLUTTERING ADVICE WE'VE HEARD ***
Happy Decluttering and Regifting.

December 25, 2019 Christmas with Hartmans and Sharpleys

Christmas Day
Take 2 and 3.
The excitement of a 4 yr old.

The oblivion of  an infant.

The pleasures of the parents watching their children.

Food, presents, toys, sounds of laughter,

Cats, trees, popular TV movies, more food,

He is saying......... ENOUGH..... I NEED A NAP........... haha

Maybe Christmas isn't just a day.
Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store..

Time spent with family was the greatest gift of all.
Joy, love, humor, expressing gratitude. .......simple gifts.
CHRISTMAS 2019

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Eve was celebrated at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church Roanoke, Va.
The Prayer for Meditation:
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light; Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven'; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
Our Pastor, The Rev Robert D. Smith, led the congregation in lighting the Advent Candles, reading scriptures, and singing the oh so familiar Christmas Carols.

The Christmas Eve Seven Lessons were read from scripture, each followed by a Christmas Carol.
First Lesson: God's promise of a future Messiah........ Genesis 3:8-15
Second Lesson:  Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah............ Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Third Lesson: The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary...........Luke 1:26-38
Fourth Lesson:  St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus........ Matthew 1:18-25

Fifth Lesson: The shepherds go to the manger........... Luke 2:1-18
Sixth Lesson: The Magi are led by the star to Jesus.
Seventh Lesson" St.John unfolds the mystery of Christ's birth............John 1:1-5, 10-14

I couldn't help but remember the days of my youth as the candles were lit, singing "Silent Night! Holy Night"

As we left the 5:00pm service, the skies opened up.
The nightly stars appeared, one by one.

Can you imagine what THAT night looked like?
THAT magnificent sky that revealed
THAT Silent Holy Night.
THAT star in the east.......
THAT night when Jesus Christ was born to be the Savior of the world.
Can you imagine suddenly seeing a great army of heaven's angels singing..... Glory to God in the Highest?
OH WHAT A NIGHT!
Joy To The World!                    ↓↓↓