The older we get, our focus can be on our health as we find that we don’t have the same agility or abilities in movement as we had previously in our lives. I still remember two years ago the Lord told me to get walking everyday not just three or four times a week. As I look back, I see the wisdom in this as our mission required stamina and strength. I wasn’t comfortable walking in Calgary in our neighborhood at certain times as well as the winter months. Erik and I went treadmill shopping and came home with a beautiful unit that made walking a delightful exercise. We both used it until we moved into our cottage and there was no room to set up the treadmill. We walked around the provincial park even on days that were bitterly cold. I remember a week that it was -37C and all you could see of us was the slits of our eyes because every other body part was well ensconced in winter gear. After 45 minutes of walking, we returned home with eyelashes covered in icicles.

While in Mexico, we go to the beach every morning where I love to do deep water fitness. Erik will swim along the coast of the bay while I am doing my exercise. Sometimes the jellyfish are in the bay and you will feel zaps of stings when they brush up against you. I wear full rash guard clothing and I only feel the zaps on my feet and my hands. I talk to the jellyfish and say, “You and I can get along because I need to get my exercise in and you can be here too without zapping me.” I stay in the water for my full 45 minutes but my dear husband needs to get out of the water earlier than me because he is being stung.

Our bodies are meant to move and so I am always thinking about what I can do to improve my flexibility and strength. I was inspired to purchase a rebounder 18 months ago and I absolutely love it. Ten minutes on the rebounder is equal to 33 minutes of running. I have built my core back up and I am happy to say that I have abs and obliques again that are strong. I had to leave my first rebounder in Palmyra with my friend Lisa and she has been using it; I am so proud of her! I purchased a second rebounder upon returning from New York and it sits in my living room where I use it and look out our rake windows to enjoy the scenery. I am still waiting for great weather to take it out to the covered verandah to use with fresh air.

You all know the saying, “Use it or lose it!” Seniors who are fit have a much better quality of life. One of my purposes in staying fit is to be in the service of the Lord; to be able to go and do whatever He needs me to do. It’s easier to go and do when you have mobility.

We came to Vancouver Island to house sit but in reality it is to pet sit our grand-cat. Her name is Inky and she may be the most delightful cat I have met. She is sweet and loving and gentle. She has an automatic feeder and we get her water and wet food in the evening. We found her cat brush because one day she came into the house full of burrs. She loves being groomed!

Last week we drove to Weir Beach and walked the length of it. It felt so good to get my feet in the sand and get grounded with the earth. We went to a couple of open houses to look at property but neither suited us. Should we move to the Island or not? That is the question on our minds. I said that I would never move to the Island because there was no temple but now the Victoria temple will have it’s groundbreaking ceremony on August 22. It won’t be a big temple so I don’t think that construction will take too long. We have been praying for clarity to know what is best to do. Two of our daughters live here and it would be nice to see them more often than once a year.

We attended the Sooke Branch on Sunday and we have met with them a few times when we’ve been on the Island. This Sunday was incredible because there was a missionary farewell and I turned to Erik and said, “This is Michael Murray’s nephew!” We knew a number of people who were there and had a wonderful time with them and catching up. We met the Stake President who has an acreage for sale and the Branch President has been doing renovations for 50 years. Then I saw that there was a Senior Missionary Fireside at the Stake Center at 6:30 pm and said, “We should go to that!” I learned from the Stake President’s wife that the Sooke Branch has a group of quilters….oh, boy, right up my alley! A couple, the Beaumont’s came from Abbottsford to do the fireside. They are in charge of the senior missionaries all over British Columbia and the Edmonton region in Alberta which includes Red Deer. We were able to talk about our mission experience and share information that they did not know.

Like Newfoundland which is lovingly called, “The Rock”, Vancouver Island is also rock. Vancouver Island is mainly made of Wrangellia, an ancient island chain that drifted across the Pacific and slammed up against North American about 100 million years ago. It’s landscape is shaped by hard volcanic mountains and soft coastal sandstone, all sitting above an active fault zone that causes earthquakes. The interior mountains are made of basalt and limestone. In Relief Society, we passed around a piece of basalt which they called the talking rock as each person shared a 30 second answer about the council question.

I was reading this week that being amongst trees is very good for your health. All along our drive, I watched the road side and imagined just walking amongst the trees. There were a number of Bear Signs warning of bears in the area as we drove. Between a serious accident and a few construction sites, we were delayed on the first leg over an hour. My patience was worn very thin with the waits but then, we were able to get out of the car and walk a bit. B.C. has stupendous forests and their majesty takes your breath away.

I have noted that when we are in Mexico, my health is very good. I attribute that to the negative ions from the ocean as well as the natural food. This trip I have noticed my health improving each day as well. Is it the ocean effect? Blood sugars are within normal range and I am thrilled about that! Could it be that I am petting a cat and listening to her purr? Whatever it is, I will take it.

I have discovered that a person needs to be proactive about their health. It doesn’t just take care of itself. I unfortunately, did not receive great genetics for some things, but on the other hand, I have great teeth and great sturdy bones. My bone density is off-the-chart high. Those Scottish and Russian ancestors were sturdy folk! Yes, there are days when I am exhausted and then I don’t push myself so hard but I never go a day without movement. My friend, Pam Lacusta, told me that she has used her Apple watch to govern her activity and I decided to take a page from her book and I have also made sure that I am moving enough according to Apple metrics. As silly as it seems, the little awards that Apple gives out for effort, I’m all over that.

There is a tapping song, that goes to the tune of “Mamma’s Little Baby Loves Short’nin’ Bread. I tap my forehead and my chest and my abdomen while I sing this little song. It goes, “Every single cell inside my body, every single cell is happy and well.” (repeat again). Then sing, “I’m so glad every single cell, every single cell is happy and well (repeat again).” Doing this has helped calm my body and helped me feel better. For a 30 second ditty to do good things is not hard at all.

We bought a grounding sheet before our mission and I really missed it while we were gone. It lays on our mattress and we place a 100% cotton sheet over it. My sleep was uninterrupted during the night and my sleep quality improved. Another factor leading to helping us have better health is our sleep.

It may be a blessing that I have celiac disease because I haven’t eaten fast food in 20 years. It’s difficult to find quality food in restaurants where they don’t use seed oils and other harmful products. By eating natural foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes and meats) we try to keep ourselves on the right path.

I love this quote because it sums up how I feel about health. Small changes can lead to big improvements but consistency is the key as with everything in our lives. I am blessed with a companion who willingly goes along with my changes in lifestyle so that we can become better people who love others more easily and in turn this shows our dedication and love to the Lord. Keeping my eye on the prize of being closer to God is my governance. Think on things that you can change or do differently to make you feel better and healthier. It is so worth it!!