Welcome!

Welcome - 

 Surviving Small

Living Large

with Deana

It has been my desire, rather dream, for the past several years to write a blog. I've got a pocket full of good excuses as to why I haven't made this dream a reality. I realize there are at least 100 and 1 excellent tutorials out there to help one out, but like I said, I got a pocket full of excuses. Until NOW....

And now...I've decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a go.

They say I need to introduce myself to you my readers. Most of you all know me well already, but for those that may not and may have just stumbled onto my blog - My name is Deana. Pronounced: Dean-a. Easy to pronounced when it's seen/explained that way but otherwise most often it is mispronounced. I'm currently single, however not by choice. 2/22/22, don't you just love that date? That's my divorce date. I do not, but do struggle at times, to allow that date to define me. Divorce has hit me hard more than once but this blog is not about that, not really.

The most important things about me are that I love God and I'm a faithful follower of Jesus. This means my faith is very, very important to me and something I talk about often. My best friend, something else I talk about often, has four legs and is furry. She's a rescue but I didn't rescue her. She found me and has over the last, oh about 4 years been an amazing and faithful companion. She's smart and I consider her a rare breed. She is a Mountain Feist / Toy Aussie mix. That Mountain Feist is what usually throws everybody off. Not many know about her kind. I love her so. She has kept me going physically as occasionally the road has been bumpy and I've wanted to hide away. Yes, I definitely feel she has rescued me. I call her Tip as she has a notable white tip on her tail. You will hear lots about her as we are on this life journey together. 

I've been described as an encourager, a noticer, feisty and often comic relief. Sometimes that comic relief is intentional and sometimes not. I do love to laugh and yes sometimes it is at myself. I've also been called a writer and oh how I love to write. Not published but that's another dream. I'm a friend and I hope a good one. And positive. Let's sit on that thought for a spell.

I have no children so this facing starting over in my golden years was quite daunting. I've never had much in earthly possessions and lost most of them in this recent divorce. I do have a kind and gracious sister who has opened her home as I focus on this re-start. I've been living in a bedroom, but of course with access to the rest of the house. (Kitchen, laundry, etc.) The current plan is to continue living small and to graduate to a 350 sq. ft living space in the basement. A studio apartment one might call it. It's not "built" yet so I get to be a big part of that. I will have most all I need there but what thrills my heart most is I will have family still, very close. SIDE NOTE: The first home I owned was 948 sq. ft and the first apartment I had was so small I had to back out of the bathroom to change my mind. Living with less has always been my life so this should be a piece of cake. I'm excited and I invite you to come along with me. The living large....

...that I haven't really ever done. I'm not sure what that is going to look like. I've spent most all my life in emotionally abusive relationships, but by God's grace I have survived - I've just never thrived. I'm looking forward to that, beginning in 2024, beginning at age 65.

I want to be as bold as to want 2024 to be my year. To say that out loud is scary and to mention it to my readers is brave and beyond comfort. I've even been mentioning it to the Lord as well. Please understand I'm not looking for easy, and certainly not expecting easy. Leaning more towards hard, but still wanting a GOOD year. I also realize it will require hard work on my end. I have a list of 2024 goals and along the way I anticipate God may open doors I haven't even knocked on. He's like that. 

As I close out 2023 and flip that calendar page to 2024 I want to thank you readers/followers that I have found on Facebook who have helped me run (sometimes walk, or even crawl) with endurance the race set before me. I'm grateful and as I continue in this race, Paul (some think it was Paul) said it this way: he encouraged us to set aside stuff, all the stuff (sin) which clings to us and hinders us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

On your mark, get set....I'm off