11.1.22

 It's November 1st. Why not spend the month listing all of the ways God has been good to me? 

Excellent idea...

I turned 60 in February and it has made me reflect on what is really important all year long.

I'm grateful for a recent cancer blood test no signs of Cancer. With my family history, I don't take it lightly. I had to wait almost 3 weeks to get the results and it was a strange time thinking about all of the what if's. I know some might think it was a waste of money but to me it was totally worth it. Three are no guarantees in the future, but that's okay. 

I'm grateful that although my kids (36, 37), son-in-law and grandsons (3, 1) live out of state (Seattle + Denver) I see them often, and it's all about quality-time.

God is still God. 

I cherish my friendships. We made more friends up north and it's been so nice to get to know them better this past Summer. 

I finally hit my personal record on my Peloton since I had COVID in December of 2020. I'm still quite competitive with myself and that hasn't changed.

I don't feel my age... in my mind. My body shows minor changes (to me anyway!) and the arthritis in my hands is minimal. 

How Great Thou Art (feat. Lauren Daigle) - Hillsong UNITED

Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Carrie Underwood - How Great Thou Art (Official Performance Video)

xoxo

12 years later... My Mom

It's been a long time since I sat in front of my laptop with headphones on, listening to some great music. Oh, how I've missed it...

And I miss my mom. Yesterday marked (12) years since she passed away. Oh, how I wish I could sit with her over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. I would tell her so many things. I would love being an empty nester with her. She was always up for spontaneous outings. I was pretty distracted so much of the time with trying to be the perfect mom to my own kids that I didn't appreciate her enough. 

Click here for the post from 2010 about her.

I hope she knew how much I loved her. 

5.27.22

I love seeing my daughter be a mom.

Ford loves to make Rudy laugh.

Ford is the cutest dinosaur/kid ever!

I really love this picture, but it makes me embrace my wrinkles! ;)

Somebody is in a phase where he doesn't want to wear pants. Those are p.j.'s rolled up as high as possible.

When I was holding Rudy, he insisted that I hold him! Absolutely 100%, yes!!

Grandma forgot how to work the carrier. Rudy got the "most patient grandson" award! 

I love this gorgeous kid, who looks just like his brother, but with darker skin. He is so happy!

 

Wisdom

 Growing up I wished I had grandparents like the rest of my friends.  My parents lost their parents before I was born. At 60, I have had a lot of time to reflect on what was missing because of it.

I feel like a lot of what I learned in my life have come from observing others. When I was young, people thought I was shy since I was pretty quiet. :)

I longed for unconditional love and authentic, shared wisdom from lessons the previous generations had learned along the way. I know it's hard to be open and honest about things, but I was like a sponge ...and I am still that way. I want to be that kind of parent and grandparent. 

Whenever I have the gift of time with older people, I love to ask them their secret to success (especially when it comes to marriage). On our drive to The Masters with Dr. Joseph he answered my question. He said that it comes from the Bible, where two become one. He said that when he lost his wife (of many, many years!) he really feels like he is half the person he was when she was alive. He totally believes in God's plan for marriage. He also talked about how important it is to appreciate what you've got. Appreciate him/her and tell her how much she means to you while you can.  Don't be presumptuous; in your heart realize it. 

He also really appreciates his children. He said that he couldn't live without them literally. 

When we thanked him for his hospitality he said, "The nicest thing you can do for me is come back!" Come on, isn't that the sweetest response? 

I don't take the time spent with a wise person lightly. I can't believe I used to be a little afraid of old people. Now, as I am a little more seasoned, I appreciate any time I get to spend with sweet, loving older people who are willing to share their heart. 

Shared wisdom from Dr. Joseph

 

Dr. Joseph is such a wise man. At 94 years old, I wanted to take in all of the wisdom he had to share. Going to The Masters with him and spending time with him was such an honor.  He copied these and shared them with me...  :)

If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win, but you think you can't, It's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost, For out of the world we find Success begins with a fellow's will, It's all in the state of mind. If you think you're outclassed, you are; We've got to think high to rise, You've got to be sure of yourself before, You can ever win a prize. Life's battles don't always go, To the stronger or faster man; But soon or late the man who wins, Is the man who thinks he can. 

• For as he (man) thinkers in his heart, so is he... -Proverbs 23:7

• Whatever we think, act, believe in, feel, visualize, vision, image, read and talk about... tends to return again as some condition. So we, and we alone, control our destiny. To learn how to think is to learn how to live. 

• ...according to the thoughts we entertain and the things we believe, so will our experience be. -Emmet Fox

• A man is what he thinks about all day long. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Our thought is the magnet which draws to us those conditions which correspond to itself.

• All that we are is the result of what we have thought. -an Eastern Sage

• The greatest discover of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. -William James

• All things are possible to him who believes. -Mark 9:23

• A man's life is what his thoughts make it.

• He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry of the wealth of the Indies with him. -Spanish Proverb

• Our doubts  are traitors, and make us lose the good we often might win by fearing to attempt. -Shakespeare

• Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee... -Job 22:28

• They can because they think they can. -Virgil

• Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abraham Lincoln

• The mind is everything, what you think you become. -Buddha

• Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go any higher than you think. 

• God helps those who help themselves.
• A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.
• Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today.
• Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.
• If you want to know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.
• Think what you do when you run into debt.
• Buy what you do not need, and soon you will sell your necessities.
• The second vise is lying, the first is running into debt.
• Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
• Industry pays debts, while despair increases them.
• The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.
• Keep your shop and your shop will keep you.
• Those who will not be counseled, cannot be helped.

It Shows in Your Face

 

Paul Joseph, D.D.S., 94

You don't have to tell how you live

each day;

You don't have to say if you work

or you play;

A tried, true barometer serves in the place----

However you live, it will show in 

your face.

The false, the deceit that you bear 

in your heart,

Will not stay inside where it first

got a start;

For sinew and blood are a thin veil

of lace--

What you wear in your heart, you

wear in your face.

If your life is selfless, if for others

you live,

For not what you get, but how

much you can give;

If you live close to God in his

infinite grace--

You don't have to tell, it shows in

your face.

(Dr. Paul Joseph shared 4/8/22)