Friday, July 26, 2024
365 Days of Rest #15
Thursday, July 25, 2024
365 Days of Rest #14
Fireworks at the Bauenrhof
We celebrate on the 4th of July with some fireworks here with the Kotynki family (and my parents and nieces.) However, our boys were out-of-town at a Youth Retreat so when they returned, we did another "mini" celebration and included our great friends the Shraders (who were also at the Youth Retreat.) Their oldest child, Lily, put together this video (with help from her Dad's drone). Enjoy:
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
365 Days of Rest #13
Honestly, this day wasn't particularly restful. I amwriting this in the car on Thursday. But Wednesday was the one day we had to get everything ready to be away from the farm. We were preparing to leave for Vermont for our annual summer jaunt. I ended up having a really hard time during the days leading up to our departure.
I am really starting to see that my “tank” is extremely empty overall right now. My "team" (5-7 good friends/family members that remind me of truth when I need it), has been telling me this, but I’ve never experienced an empty tank before to this degree. WHEN my tank is empty, I have NO reserve so if ANYTHING “triggers” me (and I hate that word), I go crazy in the brain. I start crying and get overwhelmed that someone doesn’t like me and can’t get my mind wrapped around things successfully.
My stressors always involve people liking me. This is a combo of bad thinking I developed throughout my life and my personality in general. I am an ENNEAGRAM 2, and we like people to like us. But I've also developed some PTSD and FEAR in surrounding people being upset with me. This is what, basically "broke" in me. I did it for 45 years, but back in February, God decided he was done watching me do this. He knocked my legs out from under me. I had no choice but to face this demon straight-on.
No more medicating this with actual anti-depressants (although, right now, I am still on them as I learn this.) No more self-medicating with staying busy or food (both of which I realized I have done but wasn't aware of at the time.) I actually think my migraines were coming out because of the stress I was putting on my body as well. (Another thing that I didn't know at the time.) In February, the blinders fell off, and I realized, I was living for men and NOT for God.
The thing is: I AM CHANGING THIS. But in the midst of this change, I am now HYPER-AWARE of this "bad behavior" in myself. So when I do it ... when I let something someone says or thinks influence me, I can sort of tailspin.
I am learning to give myself lots of grace and compassion. But I'm not very good at it. I also have an athlete's brain tucked into this whole intricate system of "stinkin'-thinkin'." I'm really learning. But it won't happen overnight. It's happening. But it's not nearly as fast as I would like.
I need to make sure I have reserves right now so that I can “think straight” when this hard stuff comes at me. As I get more rest …. I’ll have more reserve … and will be able to handle this stuff more. …. I’ve been doing this with people for 45 years and all of a sudden am “aware” of this behavior. When I “do it”, I am not SUPER aware of it and then I get very hard on myself about it — condemning myself etc. It is going to take time to “break this.”
("That's a lot of quotation marks, but, I don't feel like editing that paragraph after writing it.)
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
365 Days of Rest #12
For too long on my own
I wasn't created
To bear it alone
I hear Your invitation
To let it all go
Yeah, I see it now
I'm laying it down
And I know that I need You
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, oh
Had a plan from the start
Your Son for redemption
The price for my heart
And I don't have a context
For that kind of love
I don't understand
I can't comprehend
All I know is I need You
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh (oh)
Long before my first breath
Running into Your arms
Is running to life from death
And I feel this rush deep in my chest
Your mercy is calling out
Just as I am You pull me in
And I know I need You now
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
And my heart found a surgeon
My soul found a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, oh
Again and again
Monday, July 22, 2024
365 Days of Rest #11
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the veil of tears,
then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.
4 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Sunday, July 21, 2024
365 Days of Rest #9
Saturday, July 20, 2024
365 Days of Rest #10
Friday, July 19, 2024
My journey
365 Days of Rest #8
Thursday, July 18, 2024
365 Days of Rest #7
Haircuts BEFORE
And after!
Ugh! Before!
After!
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
365 Days of Rest #6
Today was a harder day. A lot of sadness and learning coming out of me. So I gave myself permission to FEEL those things. To say “I can’t” go to dinner with my parents even though I really wanted to. “I can’t meet a friend for coffee.” Instead, I will recover. I’m learning to listen to my body. To not just push. To live. To slow down.
I took the time to feel some of the hard stuff today. I never understood a healing journey until now — while I’m on a healing journey.
Monday, July 15, 2024
Sunday, July 14, 2024
365 Days of Rest #4
Saturday, July 13, 2024
365 Days of Rest #3
Wimbledon. It's really the only sport I watch anymore. Tennis. I love watching tennis. (I blame Grama Joni for this infatuation.) But even with tennis, I'm tempted to try to clean while I watch. Or do work while I watch. What about just giving myself permission to sit and WATCH. To be. This part of what I am learning. Learning to care for myself on a daily basis instead of going into a year saying, "Well I will get a break in six months when I take that vacation." Each day you can find peace.This morning, I had the kids help me with a fifteen minute cleaning, and I am sitting watching tennis.
Friday, July 12, 2024
365 Days of Rest #2
Thursday, July 11, 2024
365 Days of Rest #1
Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Popping Up Again
I am "popping up" again. This is an exhausting roller coaster, but I am now able to more consistently see "the island."
(John gave me that image. I'm on a raft. In the middle of the ocean. A storm has rolled in. I can see an island. I know I will get there. But right now, when a wave comes by, I lose sight of the island. That doesn't mean the island isn't still there. It's there. Just because there is a wave, doesn't mean I have lost the island.)
Here's the truth: I had NO CHOICE but to face my demons.
That's ultimately what this is about. This is about some faulty wiring and thinking that I was using in my life. What's interesting is that I had NO IDEA I had faulty wiring.
I knew I battled depression.
I knew I battled anxiety.
I knew I had to use anti-depressants to fight those two horrendous beasts.
What I did not know was that those beasts came out because something else was inside me.
That thing inside me was a ton of things I had pushed down without knowing it.
I don't think this is actually that unusual. I think most adults probably did the same thing throughout their younger years to cope. The only question is: how did they cope?
If they coped with alcohol, then they may not have suffered with anxiety and depression like I did.
Or maybe they didn't use alcohol, but instead of it coming out in anxiety and depression, it came out in anger.
(Anger had started coming out for me too.)
The truth is: The Body Keeps the Score.
What you dealt with: be it war or witnessing a mass shooting or abuse or neglect or a loss, your body has to deal with it. Somehow. And it might work for you. And it might work for you until the day you are buried. Or you might be buried as a crabby, horrible person because you never dealt with your demons. And because you didn't deal with your demons, your children have to.
Or ... you can face the demons and stop the cycle and save your children.
I am doing this FOR MY CHILDREN. I am going to teach them amazing things that I am learning about listening to my body and not living to please other people and truly understanding the kindness and sovereignty of God. I am rewriting the script for my life. I will not die a crabby person. I will die as alive as I can be.
(Ha ha -- that was a joke!)
currently have an "adjustment disorder."
Monday, July 08, 2024
Sunday, July 07, 2024
Aunt Jan on my Team
I love this picture of my Aunt Jan … she has been part of my support system during the last six months. I am growing so much! There will be so much freedom on the other side! But it has been a hard road … I’m weary. And I’m so blessed by the people in my life who have stood by me during this time.
Friday, July 05, 2024
Thursday, July 04, 2024
Kotynski/Kitsteiner Fourth of July
2020 Kotynski/Kitsteiner Fourth of July
2021 Kotynski/Kitsteiner Fourth of July (Maryah joins)
Kotynski/Kitsteiner Fourth of July (Tristan stands in for Isaac and Baylee stands in for Isaac)
Don't be discouraged ...
Sometimes, it’s hard to see the results of our hard work.
We often look for success in things we can count and measure.
But true growth often happens inside us, where it’s not always visible.
Remember, every step you take and every challenge you face helps you grow internally.
This inner growth is just as important as any external achievement.
It makes you stronger, wiser, and more prepared for future opportunities.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.
Trust the process and recognize your progress within.
Celebrate your inner victories—patience, perseverance, and integrity. These are the true signs of growth.
Keep going, stay inspired, and know that your efforts are making a difference, even if you can’t see it right away.
Your inner transformation is leading you to a brighter future.
(mastersboot)
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Nervous System Attunement
YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM LOVES IT WHEN YOU ASK:
What do I need at this moment?
NOT
Why is this happening to me?
The above sentiment may seem just "something I might read" months ago. I'd sort of pretend to understand it, but I would actually have no idea what that meant.
But now, it is resonating deeply with me.
I know many people won't be interested in these blog posts I am writing. But honestly, I'm totally okay with that. This Blog has always been my way of sharing and categorizing and explaining where I am in life. I've been doing it for nearly twenty years! This has been one of the hardest and most growing six months of my entire life. I'd put it up there with infertility honestly. And so, my heart wants to make sense of it.
I do that by writing.
I am journaling quite a bit, but I also want to have this to share with others as well. Or just with my children as they get older.
SIDE NOTE: THIS STUFF I AM LEARNING IS GOING TO MAKE ME SUCH A BETTER WIFE AND MOTHER! I WILL TEACH MY KIDS THIS STUFF! IT'S SO HELPFUL AND WONDERFUL! JOHN IS ACTUALLY SAYING HE IS LEARNING THROUGH MY JOURNEY! WE ARE LEARNING WHY WE HAVE ARGUMENTS AND WHY OUR KIDS LOSE THEIR MINDS SOMETIMES. IT FEELS LIKE A WHOLE NEW WORLD HAS BEEN OPENED TO ME!
I really had no idea what my nervous system was if I am being completely honest. I mean, I knew I had one, but I wasn't exactly sure what it did.
I am now learning though that my:
THINKING BRAIN (conscious mind)
and
SURVIVAL BRAIN (unconscious mind)
must be able to communicate.
Huh?!
That survival brain is responsible for my emotional and stress responses. It says "something isn't quite right." This might be when you start yelling at your kids, get frustrated easily, overeat, drink too much, get unknown bodily pains, etc. It could be anything. When these things happen, what do you do?
I know what I did. I basically said "Why is this happening to me? I don't have time for this?" And I plowed through.
But the thing is, my SURVIVAL BRAIN was trying to tell my THINKING BRAIN to "TAKE CARE OF ME!" It was saying: I need rest. I need peace. I need a break. I need better food. Stop staying up so late! Stop saying yes to everyone! S-T-O-P!
And I ignored it.
So my SURVIVAL BRAIN, in order to save my life, basically said "I QUIT!" It knocked my legs out from under me with terrible anxiety and depression and exhaustion -- giving me no choice but to listen.
So I started listening. I'm still learning how to listen. I am still missing the cues. But I'm really trying it.
Right now, that looks like:
- Saying no to a lot of things I would actually like to do.
- Taking more rests than I feel like I have time to do.
- Letting my house be messier than I would like so I am resting more.
- Cutting corners on things when we need to.
- Telling my kids it's okay to take a break emotionally too. This may mean skipping things as well.
I didn't understand at first. Kim (my counselor) would tell me to listen to my body. To have compassion for myself. What did that ... mean ... exactly? I did my Christian therapy and medication and tried to figure out what I needed to do. But a lot of the time, I didn't know.
What do I need?
I have no idea!
Do I need to go on a walk? Call a friend? Get a hug? Sit with this emotion? Cry? Shake it off? Communicate my feelings? Cancel something I really want to do?
I'd never thought about those things before.
But ... by listening to my SURVIVAL BRAIN, my nervous system can up- or down-regulate. (This sounds fancy but it just means I increase arousal and activation when I am very low/depressed and down-regulate it when I am anxious and basically, freaking out.) Our SURVIVAL BRAIN is trying to tell our THINKING BRAIN to help us. Once the THINKING BRAIN starts listening, the SURVIVAL BRAIN doesn't feel the need to be as drastic. It doesn't need to knock my legs out from under me. It can do little things to get my attention and say "You need a nap."
That means, my legs got knocked out from under me because I refused to listen to what my body was saying. My body will do anything to keep me alive. To keep me safe.
If I criticize, shame, blame, and judge myself (which I am very good at) because of the stress arousals or emotions I am feeling .... If I come up with a "logical" meaning or explanation, I am actually creating more stress activation because my body can't trust my THINKING BRAIN to take care of it.
The next time you experience an emotion, stress activation, or bad habit (like drinking for example), ask yourself WHAT DO I NEED AT THIS MOMENT? and see how that feels in your nervous system.
This is all new to me. I am still learning. I'm still digesting. I have a long way to go.
But I'm learning.
And I plan to keep sharing as I learn. I am not sure if any of you are in the dark about LISTENING TO YOUR BODY. But I was.
****I took some of this information from an INSTAGRAM post by: just.erikabustos
People-pleasing Prayer
Dear Jesus,
I want You to be the first thing that crosses my mind every morning and the last person I think about before I go to sleep. I want my days to be inundated with short prayers and random conversations with You — regardless of my moods. I want You to be at the center of everything that I do and every decision that I make. Because You are essential to my well-being. You are the one who keeps me sane when I feel like my patience is being tested. You are the one who sustains me and comforts me when I need it most. You are the one who opens doors for me, who meets my every need and answers my every prayer. So why would I NOT want to be closer to You each day?
See, the desire to want more, in terms of my relationship with You, is there. But I fear that my cravings for attention and validation from others is distracting me from what truly matters. So much of what I do is fueled by my desire to be seen and appreciated by other people. To be pleasing in their sight. I want to be seen as good. To be celebrated for my efforts. I want to feel valued and included. But Lord, it seems like these very desires are driving me to go on social media more often than I pray. And at this point it's like a reflex. I can't get through an entire meal or exercise routine without scrolling through Twitter or Instagram.
Even as I write this, I feel convicted. Because Your word clearly states that I should seek first Your kingdom and righteousness. Not my own needs. My main focus should be on following Your ways, doing what's right and actively seeking you, FIRST.
And in Galatians 1:10, Paul reminds me that if I'm trying so hard to please man rather than You, then I'm not truly a servant of Christ. As someone who struggles with people-pleasing, that one stings. But Lord I recognize the danger of giving other people so much power. And I don't want to live the rest of my days obsessing about what others will think or say about me. I want to care more about what You think, because it's Your thoughts about me that are true, and those are the ones that matter most.
Your word tells me that Your love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth. It tells me that I am chosen by You, holy and blameless, perfect and complete. I am precious in Your sight and totally accepted, regardless of my flaws.
I pray dear Jesus that You'll remind me of these truths whenever I'm driven by the desire to be liked and accepted by everyone else. Help me to always be genuine and show kindness, but also, help me to let go of this notion that I'll be happier if I'm always likable. Help me to focus more on living a life that is pleasing to you. Help me to develop an even deeper desire for You and Your word. To fall even deeper in love with You, to the point where others' opinions of me don't matter anymore. Help me to start seeing myself the way that You see me and not how others do, in Jesus' name.
Sincerely,
Me
Tuesday, July 02, 2024
Each litter, we seem to have one puppy that falls through the cracks or has a harder time getting placed. This time it was M&M (Emmy). She’s a doll and spent an extra week with us here.
Monday, July 01, 2024
Yerrington’s
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Permit!!
Elijah has his permit and is driving! He actually got his permit a few months back but it was right before he broke his wrist so we had to hold him driving for a bit. We were also getting Isaac to the finish line of driving.
Isaac now is driving ... and Sidge is driving with a permit.
Emmy
Sunday, June 23, 2024
The puppies are going home
Elisabeth (a friend from ballet!) got Biscuit. This is their second puppy. They took home "Bean" in the last litter. They kept the tails on both of their dogs.
My Aunt Connie has "George" back in Michigan now!