Celebrating Old!!!....

Sometimes you just get wrapped up in so much happiness that you think life is just a big smile.

Birthday weekend at the lake could not have been any better!

 When you celebrate with water, sunshine, family, and special friends you know that this is about as good as it gets!

 Even mud pies are a little better at the lake!

This is the kind of weekend that makes you wonder if life can get any better than this!!!

Happy birthday to me!!!

Special Friends, Special Night!......

What an awesome way to start a birthday week!

Isn't it funny that no matter how much time goes by, a true friend is still a true friend.  Last night I was blessed to spend three hours laughing, visiting. sharing, and just loving time with these special friends who have been part of my life for about 28 years.

The Silver Fox and true friends.....the best!

Ironically, in the church bulletin Sunday was an article on the mature adult (the socially correct word for the elderly).  As I read it I thought they must be capturing words right out of my head....for what they wrote was exactly what I have been thinking with my 66th birthday approaching.

"Our chronological age is the most inaccurate measurement of our value, our accomplishments, and our spirit"

Well said Family Pulse Magazine!

"Development never stops, but only intensifies as people move through the years.  We should see aging as a true gift.  We have arrived at a place where a new vision of life emerges and we can live with passionate vigor.  Aging is a progressive force designed by God to teach us to be more authentic.  We can embrace it for all it has to offer and engage fully in the process.  In saying "I am old" it is embracing the blessing that I am! I am alive and comfortable in my own skin.  I am thankful".

The words above are pretty much straight out of the bulletin and  exactly what I have been pondering for the last week.  Aging is good.  It is not frightening, for it is the happiest time in my life.  I am enjoying friendships that had been neglected for too long.  I am making new friends and loving what they are bringing into my life.  I am finding places to use the talents that God gave me to serve others and the rewards are indescribable. I am eliminating the fluff that is not necessary and does not make me happy anymore.  I know it is okay to fill my life with what pleases me and leave out things that are no longer gratifying.  Yes I can say no without guilt and move on to where my heart is happiest. 

I know now that my self esteem is not based on anyone's approval of me.  If I know I am good with myself and God that is enough.  Aging is freeing...if you allow it to be and I am accepting it with open arms.  

I have another four or five days of celebration ahead before the big 66 arrives and I know I am blessed to have so many people to share this time with.

Aging is great...if you have the right perspective!

Welcome Home!!!....

Just a day full of family fun!

Everyone is home...at least for now, and there is a new baby on the way!

So much to celebrate....so many reasons to be happy.

And, I was!  There are days I honestly wonder if my happiness could get any bigger.

Sometimes things are so right that you just stand back in wonder and that was our day today.

 Just no words for how many times I smiled watching all the kids play, the adults laugh, and the family be back together again.  God is good.

Oh Happy Day!!!...............

 There just are no words to convey what joy it was to know that after 239 days these precious girls were going to get their daddy back!!!  It was amazing for me to watch Finley who was less two when Tim left have such a vivid recollection of her dad.  The power of SKYPE is great!

 It seemed like the airport wait was forever...though not nearly as long for us as for Tim who spent 30 plus hours in transit from Africa.  It is hard to be patient when you are two and four.  239 days and the last 30 minutes was TOUGH!!!

I don't think words are even necessary!

The love in the eyes of these babies was enough.

Grateful, joyful, blessed, and thankful.

Two weeks of love and hugs.

They got their daddy back today!!!

Find your delight in the Lord

who will give you your hearts desire.

Psalm 37:4

Judge Not!!!!......

Yes, I am that mom.  The one that cannot let go of anything.  Well there are limits.  I can toss everything not related to my children, but if it is part of my kids past history I still have it.

My husband thought when we made the move from Sachse seven and a half years ago that I had ridded us of all treasures that were not necessary for survival.  After nine to ten pick ups by the Salvation Army it seemed I had....not so!  While unearthing some stuff in the attic the other day I found treasure! I am not sure if this is Joey, Johnathon, or Danny but I know that Brookynn was amazed by the ponytail and earrings they were sporting, and these favorites from the New Kids on the Block were very glad to see daylight again!  I bet if I looked hard enough I could find their CD and we could hold a come back concert for all the new Barbies in our toy box.

Find number two...our Fischer Price Village...complete with all of the wooden people that have since been banned.  Hazardous for children I hear.  Cannot tell you the hours and hours of time my kids spent playing with these little men and women.... now passed down to another generation.

It was total de ja vu as I sent the girls out side with toys, a jug of water, and space to be creative.  They were...all day long!  

I do not know the story line of their playtime but, oh, how much fun it was to watch them imagine!

Yes, all those toys that my husband thought were in the Good Will box were repeat treasures for Brooklynn and Finley.  

I am certain that they will not make it to a third generation.  When I am gone bucket after bucket of those things that are dear to my heart will fill the back of a pick up truck and be carted off to the dump.  Sadly what is on the store shelves now is not likely to stand the test of time as did these tried and true favorites.

All Over The Map......

I am alone this weekend.  It is a much coveted rarity at my house.  I do not feel the need to live in solitude but when the opportunity arises to have a few days to exist in peace and quiet, I jump on it.

We are not empty nesters.  Sara is at home and Jimmy is retired.  There is activity in my home at all times and I love it, but, OH how I love those days when there is no TV, no radio, no planning dinner, and I don't even have to get in my car if I don't want to.  Some people find this boring....NOT ME!!!

In my hours of total quiet I was wondering why I always find it easy to fill my time with something.  

It is not wondering what I can do...it is picking from the dozens of things I loves to do.  

Here is my conclusion.....I love free time. I think I was blessed to grow up in a time when you had to invent your own play....cell phone, iPad, and pretty much TV free.  I warned you this was all over the map!

 School supplies are out and have filled the center aisles of all the stores since July 4th.  Back to school catalogs are filling my mailbox.  Pottery Barn reminds us that we not only need pens and pencils, we need to redesign our room for that back to school experience.  As a retired teacher I know that I used to hate seeing these when I still had six weeks of vacation left.  As a mom I felt pretty much the same.  I felt robbed.  My kids were barely into the joy of unplanned days when they were rudely  reminded that another school year was ahead.  

We loved summer and it was not because our calendar was full of activities and playdates.  

It was full of ...whatever!

My kids were happy to wake up fix themselves a bowl of Captain Crunch (full of red dye #6), watch the Jetsons for awhile and then run out the door.  The day might be legos on the patio, big wheels, or whatever creative thing they could come up with.  I did not direct their play.  They might run in during the heat of the afternoon and play Atari.  VERY SELDOM did I hear..."I am bored".  

The big highlight of one summer was when we purchased season passes to Wet and Wild.  Twice a week we would load up with friends and let them run loose in the water park.  That was the ultimate gift...for them and me.  My friend and I would sit in the sun and try to determine if hot dogs would work for dinner. 

I love watching Brooklynn and Finley play.  They have great imaginations.  Yes, we drag out a craft to do most afternoons, but they mostly just play and that is good! They can build a grocery store out of a box and a ladder.  Our storage room in the garage makes a great house and chalk creates parking spaces for their bikes.  

So this weekend while our lake house is home to six people and five dogs...really....I am ever so glad to have time to fill my days with whatever I feel like doing.  I have books, sewing projects, a few Christmas crafts, and time to sit and let my brain rest.  Being alone with yourself is not a bad thing once in awhile.  Everyone should learn how to fill a day or two with undirected play.