Senior Citizens + Fun

Been feeling kind of blah the past few days - I hate that. But, surely makes one appreciate the feeling-good days that follow!

This morning I got to have breakfast with some of my Senior friends. (Well I, too. am a senior but of these folks two were 85, two were 87, one 92 and one 76.) They are a delight and always have something to contribute to the conversation and always offer good stuff for a laugh! One of the guys told a story this morning that went something like this:

"A fellow had just gotten these new-fangled hearing aids and was raving wildly about how wonderful they were and how they were allowing him to hear things in such a moment later crystal clear way - he was just over-joyed! A moment later the fellow next to him leaned over and asked him "What price was it?" The new owner of the hearing aid looked at his watch and said "10 after 9"."

Well, WE thought it was funny anyway. But enough for now...Go out and live like it might be your last day. (It might!)

It's hard to believe! Fifteen-plus months since my last posting. How quickly days fly by. SOOOOooo much has transpired since that last posting. My mind can hardly put it all together. What a journey it's been. Some great times, some not so much. There were hilarious times, some regular-every-day kind, and some pretty scary ones. Lots of tear-filled and aching days and some with physical pain...but ALWAYS, the knowing that God "...never leaves or forsakes". How I thank Him for all of them, and for all I've learned through it all.

I can say that one of the things which has changed me most overall during these months is the new depth of appreciation for the "every day" stuff of life...along with how much I appreciate my loved ones. That includes not only each one of my wonderful immediate and extended family, but also all those amazing friends who have shared my journey. Even more, I have come to a place where I can honestly say with St. Paul that "...for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Can It Be...51 Years???

Seems like such a long time since I've last posted - so busy but with so little to show for it.

This evening, however, I must stop and count my blessings! Fifty-one years my wonderful Bob has put up with this old girl! That is amazing?! My, my! It hardly seems possible - until I begin to think about all that has transpired in those years or as they say "so much water has passed under the bridge". God has certainly been good to me...to us. I want for nothing, I need nothing more than I have, and I am content. Wow! How blessed am I...are we! And THANKFUL!

Being Crafty

It's been a few days since I last posted and these days have been full to overflowing. Among other things, it's been Vacation Bible School at our church and I'm one of the craft ladies. We've had an average of 170 pre-K to 5th graders each day - and for this old girl that spells "weary". But it's been so good, too. These precious little ones come in all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, eager to do whatever it takes to create their craft and their eyes are filled with eager excitement when they get to carry them home. Tomorrow is the end day and I think I'm ready. (I knew there was a reason I never wanted to be a teacher.) I think if we could harness all that energy that is generated in our room alone - we could light up the whole city.

What a real privilege to rub shoulders with these young ones. They are our tomorrow! May God bless each and every one!

A Precious Little Bubzie-Girl ~

Just sharing a new picture of our littlest grand-girl. The innocence in her eyes just got to me. Oh, how much life she'll have to experience if she lives a normal life length.

P.S. This is what you'd call a "punked out chick"...right?

Uneventful Day...Maybe

At first glance, my day was quite uneventful. Awake too much during the night so I slept in. Too late to go to Bally's for my swim so decided to do a bike ride. I did. Ended up at the coffee shop with my senior friends and had a ton of laughs while having my coffee. Went grocery shopping and birthday gift shopping for my Bobby-boy, and had my "free" birthday lunch at the Mongolian Bar BQ. Came home, pulled weeds, worked at straightening up things in the house a bit and then took my Emily-girl to her Figure Skating lesson. Half way through, Bob joined me at the rink and when she was finished the three of us went for a burger to Burger King. Then took Emily home and before I could back out of the driveway, her daddy came running out of the house with a beautiful bag of cubed, seedless watermelon! Ymmm.

Now, as I re-think my day - it was pretty darn full of "events". Actually, it was a really great big blessed day. Thank you God!!!

Flowers and Friendships

Friendships are like beautiful flowers. You see their pure colors, their soft petals, their blending in with other blossoms or greens around them. They all have their own individual shapes and sizes - but together they are exquisite.

That's alot like "real" friendships I think. Today I had the wonderful experience of visiting with one of my favorite people in all the world. We've been friends for forty-five plus years - raising our children, sharing stuff that is deep and personal, walking together through the deaths of precious ones, becoming grandmothers - and on and on through so many more steps of life.

Since we live many miles apart, we rarely have the opportunity to do what we did today...just sit on the deck of a quaint little Deli, enjoying our friendship even more than the delicious food. Our time went waaayyy too quickly and then it was time to say our farewells after one last hug.

I LOVE friendships!! I think God gives us friends so we can really know how He wants to interact with us. I feel so rich today.