Thoughts on Getting Older

Are you the type of person that keeps journals, or scrapbooks?  I used to do both on a regular basis. I still journal but haven't done scrapbooking in a very long time.  Everything is digital now, I seldom print any of my photos.

During the height of my scrapbooking days I celebrated my 50th birthday. Like every good scrapbooker, I documented the occasion with photo pages, and thoughts and well wishes from family and friends.

I thought it would be fun to see the thoughts I had when I turned 50.

Things I wrote

*I am surprised at how quickly 50 arrived
*I don't feel 50
*Realizing I am now middle aged
*Lot's of changes on the horizon, soon to be Empty Nester's
*Family and friends so kind and generous in remembering my birthday
*Realizing just how blessed I am to have the people in my life that I do

Fast forward ten years.... lots of water under that bridge...and so many changes I never saw coming, that's right I am now 60

My thoughts today

*I am still pretty amazed at how quickly time passes
*There are days when I feel every bit of 60, or what I think 60 should feel like and other days when I don't
*I wonder if I am I still considered middle aged or did I cross over into old age. By definition if I was in the middle of my life span, I would have to live to be 120 to still be considered middle aged....right? Guess I am old..lol
*When I turned 50 I knew changes were on the horizon. The year I turned 50 one son married and another graduated high school and went away to college.
Looking ahead into my 60's, the future is not as clear, there maybe a move to a smaller home, or maybe not, maybe retirement, maybe caring for family...there are so many variables. One thing I learned in my 50's is that life can change in a moment ....but I also learned that I can be sure that God will faithfully guide our steps whatever the path.
*And I am continuing to be blessed with the people God has put in my life..and have been overwhelmed by the kindness I was shown by so many friends in celebrating this birthday...it was truly special.

We spent my birthday simply, doing the things I enjoy doing. My husband had asked if I wanted a party (he asked because I don't like surprises) Because all family was out of state I told him no, I just wanted a day out with him and a quiet dinner someplace nice. We went to Williamsburg, did a little shopping and took some photos out by the river, it was perfect. The only *almost* wrinkle was when I talked about going to a different restaurant then we had planned.... at the last minute. You should have seen the look on my husbands face...He told me that we were not changing our plans....little did I know he had arranged to have flowers waiting for me at our table.

60 doesn't feel any different than 59....it really is JUST a number. If you were to ask me what age I would want to be if I had a choice, I wouldn't pick any other age...no do-overs please! Yes, I would love more energy, and the aches and pains can be challenging.....but at this age I have a history of seeing God's faithfulness in all kinds of situations. It gives me faith for the future....no matter what that may look like.

How did you do with your most recent "milestone" birthday? Did you handle it well?

Fruit basket was from my little Frontier Family, it was a perfect ending to a perfect celebration.

Random Monday Thoughts

This photo was taken yesterday, the temperatures were spring like and the daffodils were beginning to bloom. We went to the Gardens after church for a little walk....we knew what was on the way. You know the saying, if you don't like the weather wait a minute it will change...that's how it rolls around here. Today the temperatures have dropped 45 degrees and it's been sleeting/snowing most of the day (hopefully the snow/ice will provide a protective little blanket for those newly opened flowers)

I have celebrated another birthday, and am a year closer to ending yet another decade. I am trying to figure out how I feel about that...getting older that is. There IS a lot that I like about this age, I love being a grandparent and I enjoy having an empty nest again. (raising sons was fun too) I like being one of  the "older" woman in my group of friends, and the opportunity it gives me to mentor younger woman. Mentoring is a wonderful thing and I would encourage you to befriend a woman who is in a season or two younger than you and encourage them in their journey. I am liking this season of change I have been in, I am beginning to find a new rhythm, my days as a homemaker are full and it's been a good thing.

The things that are more challenging about this age are mostly physical. After a full day of grandchildren I am just as tired as they are. I nap when they do. 

I used to be able to dig out new flower beds, now I just spray the outline where I want them and let the men do the digging. I probably should have been doing that all along. Most lifting is out and I don't see any marathons in my future. (not that I ever did any before) I wonder how things will change as I continue to age. My parents are in their eighties and still living independently in their home, it would be my desire as well. I try not to spend to much time worrying about the future, but birthdays have a way of making you stop and think.

Another thing about this age, I've seen a lot of stuff, I've experienced good times as well as bad, I have had to trust the Lord in some difficult things (and continue to do so) and I have learned that the Lord is faithful. Situations that seemed hopeless, he worked for good, difficulties experienced that he used for his purposes. There are still things that I don't get, situations that seem hopeless, prayers still not answered but I know He doesn't change, I know he will continue to be faithful no matter what the future holds

A Glimpse of Things to Come?

One of my biggest challenges is my memory, I seem to forget the simplest things.

I am not particularly worried, I noticed a direct correlation to my forgetfulness after starting on Arimidex. Arimidex is a drug they use to prevent your body from making estrogen,  I take it to prevent breast cancer reoccurance, apparently estrogen helps you think more clearly, thus the problem!

It is frustrating at times I will admit, but I have found that the best way of approaching this is to relax, go along for the ride and don't take yourself too seriously

Some of the things that happened this week.

I spent a day looking for a book I always keep downstairs, I had forgotten my grand daughter had taken it upstairs to read. I looked for that book for an entire day.

We had been gone a couple of days and had a lot of mail to sort through, when it came time to pay the mortgage I could not remember where I had put it

We had left my SIL's ID card for my children in case anything came up while we were gone...in this case my husband joined in the fun...neither one of us could remember where the card was

Yesterday I decided to include my family and friends in the fun. My husband is getting ready to celebrate a milestone birthday. We decided we would have a party, menu was planned, date and time was picked and emails were sent.

I got my first indication that there might be a problem after a text from a friend about the birthday celebration...when exactly was it going to be?

You guessed it, I included everything in that email but the date and time. Give me much grace Lord!

Embracing This Season of Life

It started out innocently enough, my husband suggested I wear I hat before one of our excursions to the gardens. No, I didn't want to wear a hat, I would wear a visor, thank you very much. My mother wears hats, grandmothers wear hats...I wasn't going there. It was from there the Lord started to work on my heart, show me what was really going on.

We have a lot of things we value in this life, dare I say, things we make idols. The Lord was kind enough to show me several weeks ago that being healthy was an idol in my life, could it be, youth or the appearance of youth was something else I valued more than I should. You are probably thinking, all of this because of a hat? To me that hat represented an older person...old people wear hats. Don't even ask me to explain my thinking but that's where I went. God took it from there.

We live in a very youth oriented culture. Being young, looking young is highly valued in our society.  Had I gone down that same road? A friend had told me quite a while ago when it came to getting older I would go kicking and screaming the whole way (remember that conversation Y?) So yeah it probably is a problem

So where do I go from here? For me the first step was recognizing that it was a problem in my life. Did it effect the choices I was making...it could but, I think it was more of an attitude, I was buying into the world's value system. I needed to reorient myself to what God's word says, what his word says is most valuable...and continue to preach that to myself again and again

Some awesome benefits for being a little more "seasoned" The first would be grandchildren...who knew they could be so much fun. Then there is extra time I have with my husband now that our little nest is empty. Our schedules are a little more flexible and I guess I fit into the Titus 2 description (the older women of the church) but that's OK too, it's actually a role I enjoy.

Oh and the hat, I wore it, in fact I bought two more...time to embrace this new role.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised"
Proverbs 31:30

Looking Forward to What's Ahead

This scripture was part of my bible reading this morning and was quite encouraging.

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green."  Psalm 92: 12-14

Isn't this great news? According to scripture the righteous will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. For someone in their "middle years " (that would be me)  there is more to look forward to. No retirement in God's army, just different assignments, more opportunities ahead.