Free Eye Exams

I am looking at this screen through computer glasses, and when they come off, on will go my progressive lens glasses.  I think insurance has helped us a bit with our glasses, though I'm not 100% sure, as we did pretty well finding good deals before we had insurance for vision. 

With another potential job change coming up, and the possibility that we may not have the same insurance we do now, we may lose our vision insurance.

I was reading some retirement advice that suggested that you might be able to get a free eye exam by ophthalmologists that volunteer to do them for those that can't afford them and need an exam.  If this is you, and you are over 65, it suggests that you go take a look at EyeCareAmerica.org to find an ophthalmologist that will offer free eye exams in your area.

Updated 11/28/18

Life Changes and Mother's Day Traditions

Another Mother's Day has come and gone, and changes in life circumstances can dramatically affect how you view the day. 

I hope the day was a happy one for you, but the reality is, as years go by, there are Mother's Day's in the mix that are not quite all that you hoped that they would be.  There may be the loss of a mother, circumstances surrounding one of your children, difficult memories from childhood...any negative happening in life can change how you approach the day.

I am blessed to still have my dear Mom, in fact I did a tribute to her this year, 7 Things I Learned to Love from Mom, and printed it out and gave it to her with my gift this year. She is such an example to me of how to view the difficult challenges of life, and live with the right focus, one day at a time.  Her life has been both blessed and difficult, and she would probably say that the blessings mean all the more because of the difficulties.  She views Mother's Day and any other day through this positive perspective.

This year was different for us.  In past years I often had everyone here for Mother's Day.  Now due to various things, my brother's, sister and I spend time with Mom separately...I like it as the focus can be 100% on her...not to mention she gets spoiled over an extended period of time.  She has a little difficulty hearing, and being in a large room with many people, or in a restaurant around a large table, makes it easy for her to be in the background as everyone talks with one another...so we enjoyed lunch and a visit together during last week.

On Mother's Day my dear children joined my husband and I at church, and then we had a bite to eat out, then we came back to my home to spend time together.  It was a beautiful day...and I'm a thankful Mom.

Updated 11/28/18

The Hands of a Grandmother

Four Generations of Hands

A year or two I received an email with the following heart-warming story.  As I read it, I immediately thought of my own grandmother's hands.  I remember sitting next to her in church as a child when we would visit to vacation at her home in New England each year, looking at those hands as they held mine.  I look at my own hands now, and sometimes they remind me of hers. Read this simple but beautiful story, and do enjoy!

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Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear strong voice.

'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.

'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

'They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.'

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

Updated 11/27/18

Aging - Exercise Equals Biologically Younger You

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Hello Grandmoms! It's the Happy Nutritionist here. I hope all of you are doing well, and really enjoy reading the different and varied posts from our contributors.

Today I went for my annual physical, thankfully all looks great, I am awaiting results of my blood-work, and do have to schedule my Mammogram, very important!

When I got home, in my inbox was yet another reminder about the importance of keeping our bodies moving...and I thought I'd pass it along.
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Health researchers from King’s College in London have just concluded a study that suggests people who are physically active in their free time may be biologically younger than their less active peers. The research was published several years back in the Journal of the American Medical Association, visit the link for more current articles on physical activity and health.

The researchers looked at the physical activity levels, smoking habits and socioeconomic status of 2,401 study participants. The researchers also collected DNA samples from participants and examined certain DNA characteristics that change as part of the aging process and therefore may serve as a marker of a person's biological age. Overall, the study participants had changes to the DNA characteristics that come with aging, but those who were more active in their leisure time showed less of a change.

"A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to aging-related diseases and premature death. Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases, but also because it may influence the aging process itself," study author Lynn F. Cherkas, of King's College London, said in a prepared statement.

"The U.S. guidelines recommend that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week can have significant health benefits," the researchers wrote. "Our results underscore the vital importance of these guidelines. They show that adults who partake in regular physical activity are biologically younger than sedentary individuals. This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potential anti-aging effect of regular exercise."

Walking for 30 minutes a day is the easiest way to add more physical activity to your life. If you’ve been inactive lately, start off slowly with 5 minutes a day, and then gradually build up to 10 minutes, 15 minutes and on to 30 minutes. You’ll have more energy, you’ll feel better, you’ll sleep better and you’ll live longer. Add 5 servings of fruits and vegetables to your new active lifestyle and you’ll feel better than you have in years - and there’s no easier way to get your 5 servings a day than with convenient, delicious Wholefood Farmacy foods.

Updated 11/27/18

Healthy Aging on National Nutrition Month

Welcome to the first day of March...did you know that this is "National Nutrition Month"?

I came across this article from one of the sources of healthy treats I love, and thought it seemed like a "fit" here, since we as Working Grandmother want to be here to enjoy our grandbabies and grandchildren for a good long time. Some of it we've heard before, many times perhaps, but it never hurts to be reminded again. I hope you'll enjoy, and after you've read it, if you have been at your computer for a while, get up, walk, stretch, move! I'm speaking to myself as well! I'm on my way as soon as I post this.

"According to the Harvard School of Public Health, studies that have followed large groups of people for many years are all drawing the same conclusion:

A sedentary (inactive) lifestyle increases the chances of becoming overweight and developing a number of chronic diseases. At this update in 2018, I heard a report claiming that being sedentary is as harmful as smoking, it is that serious.

Exercise or regular physical activity helps many of the body's systems function better and keeps a host of diseases at bay. According to a US Surgeon General's report, regular physical activity does the following:

* Improves your chances of living longer and living healthier

* Protects against heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol

* Helps protects against certain cancers, including colon and breast cancer

* Helps prevent or control type 2 diabetes

* Helps prevent arthritis and may help relieve pain and stiffness in people with this condition

* Helps prevent the insidious loss of bone known as osteoporosis

* Reduces the risk of falling among older adults

* Relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves mood

* Helps maintain a healthy weight

This article was sent to me by the Wholefood Farmacy, my source for snacks as interesting as their names.

Have a happy, healthy day!

Image Credit: pasja1000 on pixabay

Updated 11/27/18