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Cooking health hunting Law Enforcement Life photography Uncategorized writing

Things to Do

Batman Says:

So, here we are again headed towards a new year and all that it holds in promise. If all goes well (welp, cross that off, when has all gone well ever?) this time next year I will have less than a month left to work at a job that has encompassed 27 years of my life. Peach and I will be moving on to different things and honestly I’m ok with that. I have enjoyed this career and will think fondly about it after i’m gone, but only for a few weeks, then it goes in the “bucket” and off we go to do stuff.

I have been pondering ideas around in my mind as what to do with the time I will have. First time must be spent repairing and replacing all the little things around the place that I have let slip with the “I’ll do it later” tag on it. That honestly is not a lot of things but it is a few and should keep me busy for a couple weeks, then what? Peach has informed me numerous times that she will not be giving up her job so I will have to find interesting things to do to occupy my alone time, I will probably do a bit more fishing, I used to enjoy that and my kids called me the fish whisperer as a joke. Run the trap lines with a bit more interest, something I kinda got out of the habit of doing that I really enjoy the challenge of. Exploring new spots in which to hunt is also an option, can’t ever have too many spots to sit and surprise a wary buck. I won’t be going off taking photographs by my lonesome, as that is something Peach and I do together. I may write more, get in the habit of posting small little blurbs as to what my daily plan is and what I did the day prior, basically a record for my family to see and laugh at when I’m no longer here (you’re not that lucky Peach, it’s gonna be a long time still). Peach got me started with this blogging stuff and I don’t always hold up my end and write posts like I should. But, I won’t have the “work” excuse anymore. I have made myself a promise that I would try and write a book of stories, as mentioned in a previous post “writing interesting things” (it was I think) and putting it out there to see if there are any “old country boys and girls” like me out there that might find it humorous to buy a copy and laugh at my “out of the wrong time period” sense of humor and right and wrong. We are gonna give it a couple months to see how things settle down in the Country before we start travelling around, not in the mood for people to freak out if I’m not wearing a mask on the side of the road changing a flat tire for some lady who is helpless roadside (yes it could be a guy too, don’t get all indignant, told you I was from the wrong time period). Once we start traveling, I hope to post interesting tidbits along the way that others who are traveling around may find useful, even if it is a “do not do this or that” mistake we made that saves someone an issue. I know Peach will be posting all kinds of good things as we travel I am even gonna get her a new faster computer to use to do so (no excuses now, Peach). Been rummaging around through stuff on the internet (what a fresh h*** of grossness and stupidity you can find if you’re not careful what you search for) reading about people making money doing blog posts, that is novel. Not sure I got what it takes to do that but if someone wants me to write a blog post for their business or about a product that I am familiar with, and they want a down to earth honest opinion on, and they are going to pay me for it, then I’m your huckleberry (y’all point them my direction will ya?).

Some of you all will remember Peach and I teach firearms usage and gun safety, we have done this for a while now and its a satisfying pastime, plus brings in a little extra income. We plan to do this even after retirement as we have found that it is something people want and need. As an NRA instructor I have 3 certifications: Certified Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection in the Home, and Basic Pistol, all of these are important to some folks, and its something we are happy to provide. The cool thing about being an NRA instructor is no matter where in the United States we are, we can sit down and give a class to anyone that wants it, provided we have the necessary safety precautions in place, and in some instances a range to shoot. Another side project I recently took an interest in to perhaps provide a bit of extra income if we need, but more to keep me active and out of the refrigerator (have I mentioned Peach is an EXCELLENT cook?) is becoming a “Home Inspector”, there seems to be a place for me as one, and it is something I could do when I wanted and not do when I was busy with other important matters (like fishing, hunting, napping is very important to me, also), it would require I attended classes either in person or online, and pass several tests (if you knew me you would know how much I dislike tests of any kind), but I think I could manage to do well enough to get licensed in the State to do it. I think I would be good at it as I have knowledge already from life experience and I have a willingness and want to help people. The biggest issue facing Peach and I as with most retirees is health insurance, but with Peach’s smarts and us listening to each others ideas, I believe we have a plan that will let us do what we want when we want without to much hassle.

It would appear from all the ideas about extra income that we are going to be working just as much as we do now, but that’s not the case, all these ideas are what float around in the mind of Batman when he has to much time on his hands. Y’all keep checkin back in, if for no other reason, you can see what scatterbrained ideas I come up with next.

“Now I get to enjoy some of your awesome chili huh, Peach?”

Categories
faith focus Life Time management

Paralysis

Peach says:

Happy Monday, Y’all! Today was filled with work and chores and learning and connecting and all things important to adulting! 🙂

On the drive home I had several choices for how to spend my drive. I chose to turn on my Terry Savelle Foy book about Vision Boards and Goal Setting. Every time I listen, I get fresh insight and inspiration. I have thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommend!

Tonight, what really stuck out for me, was the principle of focusing on one thing at a time, knocking those things off the the list, so to speak, building off of each accomplishment’s success, like stepping stones. She quoted John Maxwell, who I will paraphrase since I can’t remember the exact words, at this moment: ‘Too many priorities leads to paralysis’.

The thing about truth is, when you hear it, you recognize it! Knowing it to be true!

Turns out that in years gone by, you would see animal trainers go into the pen with the lion or tiger, carrying that four-legged stool and hold it legs outward. Any guesses why? It is said it so occupied the fierce felines trying to focus on each of the four legs, it would weaken, distract and help them into a very still state.

Don’t be the frozen feline trying to focus on all FOUR legs of that stool!!

As for me, I’m crossing those goals off one at a time, thank you!! No more paralysis here!!

Thanks for dropping by!! It’s great to be back!! God bless!

Categories
bible Faith focus Life

Dreams and the Light We Live by!

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Peach says: I can remember dreams I had 15, 20 years ago. I don’t have those same dreams today. Over the last 5-6 years I’ve let them go, and moved on to various other dreams, and I’m probably in a transitional  state of discovering new dreams. Because we should always dream, yes? I have spent the last 2-3 years realizing this and evaluating how I feel about it and what it might mean. And I had a realization about this today.

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Like these two cakes one made it, the other didn’t, some dreams will prove themselves to be just that.  Dreams. Nothing more. Nothing less. The dreams I have let go of, in more recent years, were still good for me, and  still benefited me as well as those around me. Like a plant in the window following the light of the sun, and every so often you have to turn it so it can move toward the sun in in a new way. The dreams I had, that clearly are not happening and not my ‘dreams’ anymore, they grew me. They moved my focus in a direction that had me following the Lord in that particular direction, in a way that helped me develop in a fashion that I NEEDED to fulfill what He had/has for me. Not wasted. So, yes, dreams need goals, and goals need plans. And plans need work. But, when dreams fall away, it’s ok. The progress we make along the way, helps get us to NEW dreams, and The Author and Finisher of our faith is helping us get to His GOOD plan and purpose for us. Never stop dreaming. Never stop setting goals. Never stop planning. Never stop believing He has great plans for you. He’s growing you! In His Light!