Celebrating Christmas with... Memories, Poetry, and Good Food

Just in time for Christmas, I had an article published in an anthology of stories and recipes edited by Donna Goodrich: Celebrating Christmas with... Memories, Poetry, and Good Food. “The Abandoned Christmas Tree” is the story of our family’s first Christmas tree. I found it abandoned at the Salvation Army the first year I was married. It was covered with twisted tinsel and not very attractive. But with our beloved ornaments it grew more beautiful every year and became a part of our Christmas tradition. Finally, after 18 years we returned it to the Salvation Army so another family could find it and keep picking tinsel off it for several more years.

I also contributed a recipe for gingerbread men, also a tradition at our house. Check out the book at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Christmas-Memories-Poetry-Good/dp/1897475802/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1323888498&sr=8-20

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

Last month we volunteered with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in Goldendale, WA. Twenty nine homes were burned, four occupied by permanent residents, rest were summer homes. We helped with clean up and feeding volunteers.

We stayed at the fairgrounds. We each got a little cubicle in the event center. Jim and I of course shared a cubicle. I actually slept on an air mattress and did just fine, arthritis and all! For three nights!

Jim and I in the kitchen

It was such a blessing to be able to serve. People lately have been complaining about getting old, complaining about arthritis, medical problems, etc. I must confess that I have too. Must be the time of the year. With fall here, the leaves turning color, days growing colder, and winter approaching. It reminds us of our own aging. Instead of complaining and lamenting what we can’t do, the increasing aches and pains, let’s be thankful for what we can do and how remarkable it is that we have so little aches and pains.

Answered Prayer -- No Rain

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that increase our faith in God’s care for us. The weather forecast called for rain and more rain for the entire weekend here in the Northwest, including all day Sunday. I prayed the rain would hold off until after the Native Plant Salvage plant sale on Sunday. We helped Sunday after church until the end of the sale at 4:00. The rain started at 4:10! Just a drizzle, then a harder rain. I guess God has a sense of humor too! Hardly a minute to spare.

Native Plant Sale, Olympia, WA

Native Plant Salvage will have their annual fall plant sale on Sunday, October 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our WSU Extension offices at 4131 Mud Bay Rd. West/Harrison Ave. (formerly McLane Fire Station). This is a great sale. Not only do they feature native plants, but also non-native water wise perennials. We volunteer with Native Plant Salvage and will be helping to set up Saturday and after church Sunday.

Visit Native Plant Salvage

By the way, Native Plant Salvage donated quite a few shade-loving native plants to our church. Jim and I planted a sunny native plant garden last year and are now working on a shade garden. The great thing is they won't require water after they're established and they look great.

Temporarily Enabled

Okay, so I was eavesdropping! I overheard one woman talking to two others and using the term, “temporarily enabled” as opposed to disabled. One of the others mentioned how wonderful it is that God makes each of us special in different ways. I joined in the conversation a bit and agreed with both.

I am “temporarily enabled.” In most ways. My arthritis makes life difficult sometimes so I’m not completely enabled. For several years, OCD made life difficult in many ways. Isn’t that the way it is for all of us? God enables each of us to do what He has purposed us to do. At any point I might lose an ability. At this point, I’d be better suited for a different purpose. I think this is one of the ways God guides us.

And the other overheard comment about how God makes each of us special in different ways … how true! We all need to remind ourselves how special we are, about how God has a purpose for each of us, using the abilities and disabilities, however temporary they are.

The Help -- Great Movie

We saw The Help today. It was a great movie. It was about a young white woman in Jackson, Mississippi, an aspiring writer, who got an assignment to write a book about “the help,” the black housekeepers in the white upper-class households. She interviewed the help and included their stories in the book. It was actually quite a courageous thing for these women to do. The movie was based on a novel, but I could just imagine these women telling their stories and the young writer sharing them in her book. The movie ends with one of the housekeepers inspired to write.

We all have stories to tell and we all have ears to listen. Sometimes it takes courage, sometimes just time to tell those stories. Listening takes time, patience, love, kindness. Both are rewarding.

I checked out the website for The Help and found a writing contest there. It says, “In The Help, a group of women risk everything to tell their stories. Through the process of storytelling they become empowered and, in turn, inspire and empower others. In the spirit of these bold characters, The Help Social Action Campaign wants you to share your stories. Our favorites will have the chance to win great prizes!” The deadline is September 5. Check it out at takepart.com/TheHelp

Healthy Dieting

So many people around me have been talking and writing about eating right and losing weight. Or maybe because I’m trying hard to eat right and exercise I’m just noticing it again. I lost 24 pounds a few years ago, but gradually gained about 10 pounds the last several months. I’m determined to eat right and exercise and get back to that ideal weight. I feel better there and look better. Mostly because I feel better. With arthritis in my back, hips, knee and ankle I can’t afford to carry around extra weight. I’ll report in later.

Christmas Article Accepted

I just received word that my article, “The Abandoned Christmas Tree,” and my gingerbread cookie recipe were accepted to be published in an anthology of Christmas stories. Edited by Donna Goodrich, it will be published before Christmas in 2012 by Hidden Book Press.

Donna Goodrich is the author of 22 books and over 700 articles, poems, short stories, devotionals and book reviews. Her latest book is A Step in the Write Direction: The Complete How-to Book for Christian Writer. Her website has a wealth of information for writers. Check it out: The Writer's Friend

Hoarding: When clutter or collecting gets out of control

Hoarding is a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is defined as the acquisition of, and failure to discard, possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. While everyone is familiar with someone whom they consider a “pack rat” or chronic saver, people with hoarding OCD distinguish themselves by the sheer quantity of objects collected, and by their strong emotional attachment to items most would clearly consider useless.

The objects of hoarding can be almost anything, but often include such things as newspapers, clothing, foodstuffs, books, papers, junk mail, and old appliances. People with hoarding OCD seem to overvalue the importance of these objects and therefore develop an overattachment to them that prevents them from discarding the objects. Often, the rationale is, “What if I should need it in the future? I’d better not throw it out.” With piles of clutter stacked to the ceiling and only a little space for walkways through the house, meandering through the cluttered home of a person with hoarding OCD can be challenging.

Dr. Bruce Hyman and I present a treatment plan for hoarding symptoms in our book, The OCD Workbook. The third edition is available on Amazon.com.

Some books about hoarding by doctors who have spent years studying hoarding:

Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring
by Michael A. Tompkins

Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things
by Gail Steketee and Randy Frost

Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding
by David F. Tolin, Randy Frost, Gail Steketee

I found an interesting article on hoarding at www.everydayhealth.com/anxiety-disorders/expert-answers-on-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-and-hoarding.aspx

This website has interviews of OCD experts. You'll learn a lot about OCD and how it relates to hoarding.

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, Summer Lecture Series

The Northwest is a wonderful place to live and summer is the best time of the year. The temperatures are in the low 80s, high 70s. For some of us, that is getting on the warm side! It’s perfect for hiking, strolling, working in the garden, hanging out with friends. Today some friends from church joined us at the Refuge for the first of the Summer Lectures. There will be one every Wednesday at 7:00. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the first 100 people are seated. Yea, they are that popular! There is usually a line forming by 5:15.

Tonight’s lecture was on snow leopards. Next week’s topic is “Puget Sound Earthquakes.” Bring a friend and join us.

God Equips Those He Calls

I’m home from a two and a half week long road trip. We spend our winters in Texas. This year we drove to Washington DC to visit our son and do some sightseeing, then drove across country home to Washington State. We visited some battle fields along the way, revolutionary war and civil war. Visited Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois, and the Wright brothers’ hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Then on to Mount Rushmore and Grand Teton National Park.

We stayed ahead of the storms on our way to DC. On Wednesday, April 27 we were in Vicksburg, Mississippi. It was cloudy and a spring storm went through with rain lasting only 15 minutes while we were at the battlefield. East of us, Tuscaloosa, Alabama was hit by a historic tornado that killed over 200 people. As we listened to the news on the radio the next day, my husband and I were both struck by an urge to help. I remembered watching the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and wishing I could help.

Now we were driving in the direction of Tuscaloosa. We could head south of Tuscaloosa, avoiding the area, or we could be in Tuscaloosa that afternoon. Unlike the year we watched the Katrina aftermath on TV, we were now in a position to help. We were Red Cross and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, trained but not experienced. We headed for Tuscaloosa.

As we neared Tuscaloosa, we began to see trees downed on the side of the freeway. Entering town, we slowed to a crawl. Traffic lights were out. We learned later that power was out in most of the town. We followed the GPS directions to the Red Cross office, but were stopped by yellow tape across the road. We pulled into the parking lot of the nearby shopping center and asked directions.

“The Red Cross office is right over there,” a man directing traffic said.

We walked across the street that was closed to traffic and found the Red Cross office. Broken windows and the door were boarded up, and a sign was on the door. Volunteers were directed to go to the temporary shelter at the community center.

We drove to the shelter and introduced ourselves. Can we help? “Maybe tonight, we’re okay for now,” the shelter manager said.

It looked like organized chaos as people entered and were checked in. We looked into the dining room and saw the familiar yellow shirts and hats of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers. Perhaps they needed help.

We introduced ourselves and were told sure, they could use the help. “Meet us here tomorrow morning. At 5:30.”

Now we just needed to find a motel outside Tuscaloosa, one that accepted pets since we were traveling with our four cats. We began our search outside of town because we didn’t want to take up precious space victims might need and because there probably wasn’t any motels open in Tuscaloosa since the power was out.

We showed up the next morning and helped feed 800 people. The next day we helped prepare food for another 800 before being on our way. More volunteers had shown up so we didn’t feel like we were abandoning them. They had plenty of help and would prepare 2000 meals that day. Lunch and dinner would be served in the dining area of the shelter. More food would be sent out on Red Cross ERVs (emergency response vehicles).

For us, this was rewarding in many ways. We were only there for two days, but considered this to be super-training. And I feel more confident now that I can respond to a disaster. My arthritis gives me backaches when I stand, sit or walk too long. And I get migraines. But my back didn’t hurt at all for the entire 12 hour day. And no headaches. And 10 years ago my OCD would have prevented me from helping with food preparation. I would have feared causing harm coming to the people we served because of something I’d done. No such fears now.

When we first got involved with disaster relief training, I was reluctant. Could I work long days, then sleep on a cot? After praying about it for several weeks, I plunged into it, reasoning that if God wanted me to help, he’d make it possible. I lost weight, received some physical therapy for my back and stuck to an exercise routine. My back began to feel better. Being physically fit enough to serve God when the time came encouraged me to keep the weight off and keep my muscles strong. I reasoned that I would work as long as possible, with God’s help. If only a few days, fine.

We only worked two days and we didn’t have to sleep on a cot, but it was enough to help me know that God really will equip those He calls.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Altimira Oriole, South Texas, 2011

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom m and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

Field of Texas Bluebonnets (Lupins), 2010

Me, not worring, in a field of Texas wilflowers (2010)

The wildflowers in Texas were prolific and beautiful the spring and summer of 2010. After a few years of drought we had rain at just the right time. The spring was cooler so the flowers stayed in bloom longer. This year, the drought is back. We still have wildflowers, but much fewer. But God made our native plants so they could adapt to the conditions they live in. The seeds can survive for years, then burst into bloom when the conditions are just right. Not only are the lilies of the field not worried, but they have no need to worry!

I know what you might be thinking – we have done a lot over the years to reduce the number of these beautiful native plants, but through it all, most survive as a species. As for those that are in jeopardy, there are a few of us who are trying to help.

Headache Days -- With OCD and Without

Yesterday I had one of my terrible headaches. One that laid me up on the couch all day. In my OCD days, I’d worry about the frequency and cause of the headaches and even more about what I should be doing instead of resting on the couch. Today, I trust what the doctors say, do what I can to prevent the headaches and backaches (both seem to be due to arthritis), and cope with the pain when it comes with rest and medication. I cancel appointments and take a day of rest. I read if I can, crochet and enjoy watching old movies. Instead of worrying and being upset about having a headache, I end up actually being thankful for a day of rest. Besides, worry doesn’t solve anything. My kitties love it when I’m ill! Or it seems that way anyway. They seem to like having a warm still body to lounge on. Melody and Little Kitty take turns keeping me company. Melody becomes a nuisance at night though. She seems worried about me and sleeps on top of me all night. She doesn’t realize that makes it more difficult for me to sleep and aggravates my back pain. Oh well, she really does mean well.

Little Kitty thinks she can crochet!

Melody lounging

Butterflies are Free

More butterflies from the

Rio Grande Valley

Breaking Free

We spend our winters in Texas, in brush country south of San Antonio. We have a cottage surrounded by prairie and mesquite trees we call "Quail Haven" because we've seen quail on our property and we're trying to attract more quail by planting more native grasses and wildflowers they like. Last week we went birding down in the Rio Grande Valley and saw lots of birds we hadn't seen before. I'll share some pictures another time.

I also love spotting butterflies and getting their pictures. I can relate to butterflies, maybe because they've broken free from their cocoons, just as I've broken free from my OCD. That correlation started back in 1996 when my son first made my website -- CherryPedrick.com. He was only 14 at the time, by the way. He asked me for ideas for the website and I said butterflies. And cats. Okay, cats have nothing to do with OCD, I just love cats. With only that to go on he created a great website. Here is a pipevine swallowtail from our birding trip.

Rituals – Exposure is the First Step to Recovery

You can use the process of habituation to fight your OCD by arranging for prolonged exposure to the real-life situations that provoke your anxiety and cause you to perform rituals. For example, if you contamination fears, you could touch something you consider contaminated, and then go as long as you can without relieving your anxiety by washing your hands. If you have a fear of leaving things unchecked, deliberately don’t check or check once then go on to do something else. For example, when you leave the house, lock the door, turn and leave without checking again. Then stay away as long as you can. Maybe only five minutes the first time, then longer the next time.

Sounds easy, right? If you have OCD, you know it’s not as easy as it sounds. Make a list of your fears and start with one you can handle. If you’ve read The OCD Workbook, you know this is called a hierarchy. When you’ve managed one ritual go on to another.

Exposure and Response Prevention Uses Habituation

Exposure and Response Prevention Uses Habituation

Exposure and response prevention is the principal cognitive behavioral technique for treating OCD. The purpose of ERP is to reduce the anxiety and discomfort associated with obsessions through the natural process of sensory habituation. Habituation, which is hardwired into the brain, is a natural process whereby the central nervous system gets used to stimuli through repeated, prolonged contact; you might even say the nervous system gets bored with these stimuli. (The OCD Workbook)

When I had a cast on my arm I got used to washing my hands less frequently. I became accustomed to doing a lot of things differently – dressing, combing my hair, the list is endless. This is an example of habituation.

Yesterday my husband and I volunteered at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. As Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, we were at the kids’ scavenger hunt table. The base sound of the band playing in the building next door was so loud it filled the building we were in and was very disturbing. I didn’t think I could tolerate it and didn’t look forward to sitting there for four hours. After two hours I noticed something incredible. The music was just as loud but I was no longer thinking about it. When I did think about it, the music seemed louder and bothersome. But I had actually forgotten about it because I was absorbed in what I was doing. This is another example of habituation.

Hand washing

Well, I’m back. My cast is off and my left arm is not very sore. Funny, how something like a broken arm can interfere so much with your life.
I did discover something OCD-related in this experience. I don’t wash my hands excessively anymore, but I am careful to wash my hands at appropriate times. With only my fingers and thumb free my left hand never felt completely clean. Which was a good test of my tolerance. I did fine.

I also noticed that I tried not to wash my hands anymore than necessary just because it was a hassle. Washing but not getting my cast wet and drying my hands was a bit difficult, especially at first because I didn’t have full use of my hand and it hurt to move it much. I waited to use the restroom until I really had to go just because it was such a hassle. I combined tasks and washed my hands afterwards. For example, I would do some food preparation, and then clean the counter before washing my hands.

This makes me wonder, would it be helpful for others, those with full-blown OCD, to maybe pretend they have a broken arm? If excessive hand washing is a problem for you, try this. Pretend one had is bound up or that it is actually painful to wash your hands. It might help you to think before washing and reduce the number of hand washes.

Ever Typed with a Broken Arm?!

It took me several tries to type the title of this post. Yes, I broke my arm about three weeks ago and it is difficult to type and until now quite painful to type. I'll have a cast for three more weeks.

How did I break my arm at the wrist in two places? Putting my pajamas on, a very dangerous activity! I put one leg in, then just toppled over when I went to insert the other leg. Oh well. So you won't hear from me much for a while.