This song, and Jamey’s rendition, brings me to tears every single time. Not trying to make you cry, but take a listen. God Bless Alabama.
Where I Find God
Quite possibly the most incredible lyrics of any song ever written. I always cry when I hear it. No matter where you are or what you’re going through, He is always there with you.
Jordan Peterson Just Spoke To Me
If you’re a woman favored by God, take a listen. <3
New Year, Same Me – Merry 2025
20 Things I Learned in 2020
1-I need to stay away from pet stores. I went to buy wild bird seed in July and came home with another new cat. I LOVE him. Three cats is my limit though.
2-Orange (peach) colored cats shed terribly.
3-Stock up on toilet paper at all times. This one is obvious.
4-There is a reason for everything that comes and goes from our lives. Jobs, people, everything. Find comfort in the fact that things not meant for you will fall away and the things meant for you will find you when they are supposed to. I’m not sure this is a direct result of 2020 but something I’ve just accepted this year.
5-The pandemic has actually made some things easier, especially for introverts. We hate going into crowded stores and suddenly most places offer online ordering and curbside pickup now. This would have saved me a ton of panic attacks had this service been offered in my 20s and 30s. DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart are amazing services as well…you don’t even have to leave your house for a cheeseburger anymore.
6-Don’t take spending time with your loved ones for granted. Not that I have, but actually, I kinda have. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been able to see my Dad face to face since March. Before that I visited him at least once every week or two since he was admitted into the nursing home in 2008. When I was finally allowed to visit him for 30 minutes back in the summer (through a plexiglass booth while wearing a mask and face shield and he didn’t even recognize me at first) I cried. Looking forward to being able to give him a hug again, someday.
7-“Movements” that take place in the United States of America tend to divide people rather than unite them no matter what the original intentions were.
8-I hate to bring up masks because I hate wearing them but it’s another obvious one. You can basically roll out of bed and put a mask and face shield on and go out in public looking like you’re dressed for Halloween and nobody will bat an eye or think oddly of you. IT’S SO WEIRD.
9-Check the diameter of the base of your new Christmas tree before you bring it home.
10-You can cook pasta in the microwave if you have to go without a stove for two months. Also, don’t advertise your old stove on Facebook marketplace and sell it the same day if you don’t know when your new appliances will be delivered. Don’t assume anything will arrive on time anymore for that matter. Pandemic = everything is on backorder.
11-No matter what side you’re on regarding politics, nobody really “wins” elections anymore.
12-You can survive an entire year without attending a concert. Seeing live music is one of my favorite things to do though so I really HOPE this changes in 2021.
13-A frozen glass container of roast beef dropped out of the freezer directly on your big toe hurts like HELL. And then people look at you like you’re crazy for wearing a boot the ortho doc gave you for the broken toe. But you learn to not worry about what people think because if they ever drop a cement block on a toe someday they will understand…although I do not recommend or wish that on anyone.
14-You really are one decision away from a different life whether it’s a small thing like choosing to eat sugar again after abstaining for 14 months (Yes, I did and I’m starting fresh again in January but for now I’m enjoying some chocolate) or making the decision to move from an apartment you rent to a house you purchased.
15- You can’t always have everything you want. And sometimes you get things you don’t want. God really is the only One in control. Might as well let Him do His job and step aside. Let life surprise you. The ride has no meaning if there aren’t a few bumps along the way to make you appreciate the good parts.
Ok, so I was going to make this 20 things I learned in 2020 but I changed my mind. So I guess this can technically be number 16. You always have the right to change your mind and do something different. Starting over completely is always an option. Every single day. Not doing anything at all is an option too. Stillness is a choice. We have all probably actually learned hundreds of things this year! But I think we’ve also learned to be still a little more and to be ok with it.
We made it through the best we could so there’s no need to look back. Looking forward to new adventures and experiences. Happy 2021.
Peace and Blessings,
Stacey ~ iamalive
Home
I bought a house earlier this year. Yes, in 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. I hadn’t had my own place since 2012. My apartment was fine enough but it felt so temporary. It wasn’t mine and that bothered me. I realized I was finally at the stage in my life where I needed to plant roots again. I had been in limbo long enough. I needed something to take care of and call mine again. I had been half heartedly looking for a house for about a year before I found this place. I saw several that would have worked but nothing I fell in love with. With my other two places I had in the past I just knew when I saw them that I had to live in each of them. I wanted that feeling again. I didn’t want to move just to be moving.
So, back in March, when things were just really starting to get super weird with the Coronavirus, Covid-19, the Chinese Virus…or whatever you prefer to call it, I saw the house I am sitting in now pop up as a new listing on my realtor’s website. It looked to be the perfect size, in the perfect location, and the perfect price. It looked like it needed some work but I knew in my gut I had to see it. I contacted my realtor immediately and we went and looked at it two hours later.
From my experience with half hearted looking over the year prior I learned that the market was super fast and if you weren’t certain you wanted the house, you probably wouldn’t get it if you dragged your feet because houses were literally going on the market one day and sold the same day or the next. I looked at it. I knew I wanted it. I made my offer that day. My offer was accepted that same day.
What just happened??? I didn’t even have time to think about it. I just acted. But it felt right.
That is how quickly I went from living in limbo and unsure of where I might end up to making a move and becoming settled again. It happened in one day.
The entire buying process from meeting with the mortgage company, to the home inspection, to the closing and everything in between was just WEIRD. Most businesses were closed during that time so it wasn’t exactly convenient. Neither my realtor nor myself were present during the inspection for FEAR that someone might have “the virus.” I was alone signing all of the paperwork at the title company at closing so that nobody from the mortgage company or my realtor were put at risk. Everyone was just a phone call away but I basically had to maneuver most things during the process alone. I didn’t tell any of my family, friends, or coworkers I bought a house at first. I didn’t want anyone to think I was **crazy** for doing so in such uncertain times. I couldn’t even tell my dad about it because I wasn’t allowed to visit him at the nursing home anymore. Everyone was quarantined. The entire world was on lockdown and Stacey buys a house.
But I made it through it. And I have been in my cute little fixer upper since May 18th. As sure as I was that I wanted this house I do wonder sometimes if I did the right thing. My depression and anxiety come and go like waves these days. I worry I won’t be able to take care of it and it might just crumble around me. I don’t even own a lawnmower yet. I haven’t taken care of many things I need to take care of yet. I just discovered this week that there was no furnace filter in the furnace. I just assumed the previous owner left one there. I have been without a stove for over a month because I ordered new appliances and sold the stove I had prematurely. I have been struggling to eat healthy as a result.
Do I have a clue what I am doing most days? No, I do not.
I still see the number 41 constantly…every single day. My sign for years now that everything is ok and to just keep going. But sometimes I lose faith.
I was sitting outside on my patio this afternoon and a hummingbird came to visit me, twice. He hovered in front of my face as if he was trying to figure out if I was a flower or not. He left and then came right back and did the same thing. It kind of scared me the first time and I ducked out of the way. I wondered if he was going to zoom at my head with those fast little wings and tiny body. But when he came back again I just sat there and looked at him as he fluttered in front of me. I think he was telling me all is okay. You are right where you need to be.
If you are having any doubts during these crazy times, remember, you are right where you need to be too. Trust God, the numbers, your gut, and the hummingbird if you are lucky enough to receive a visit.
Blessings,
Stacey ~ iamalive
