Posted in Moments and Musings

Hello, 55!

Today is my birthday and I’m turning 55 years old.

It looks different than I thought it would look. My mother isn’t here to celebrate with me and my younger daughter is married now and lives three hours away. However, I’m very excited about this particular birthday as I’m now in the pre-stages of senior citizen-hood and I’m looking forward it. I know most people don’t like getting older. However, I’m a firm believer in embracing each year. I run up to it, hug it tightly, welcome it in and offer it some tea. I like to make each year feel right at home.

In the spirit of my birthday, allow a moment of self-indulgence as I list 55 things I’ve learned and discovered over the last 55 years of my life:

  1. Jesus first. Always, Jesus first. Without Jesus, nothing works.
  2. Make your plans and dream your dreams but then give them over to God. He will add His love and perfection to each one and give it back to you more beautiful than you ever imagined.
  3. Life is better with dog.
  4. Sometimes, you need time to sit in silence and just breathe.
  5. Grief is lifelong. Although, its waves aren’t always as powerful as they are in the beginning.
  6. Call people. Stop using apps to stay in touch. (I’m still learning this one.)
  7. Tears are release and healing. Sometimes, I make time for them. When I don’t, they seem to make time for me.
  8. A good ghost story is always a good thing!
  9. There aren’t enough good ghost stories.
  10. Blue is the best color in the world, followed closely by green.
  11. Pray early for your kids spouses. And pray often.
  12. The world may tell you God needs to change with the times but God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He never changes. He doesn’t have to.
  13. The best steak is filet mignon and the best way to eat it is medium well.
  14. You can eat anything you want. You just need to watch the portion.
  15. A good walk or a good bike ride is the best physical stress reliever.
  16. A good talk with The Father is the best emotional stress reliever.
  17. A home should have many many blankets.
  18. The British write the best mysteries.
  19. It’s ok to speak the Truth. But it’s not only to be unloving.
  20. I fully plan to be the woman known for cycling through the neighborhood on her bike with flowers in her basket and a straw hat on her head.
  21. Take heart, God is in the midst of it all and He knows the way out.
  22. Crochet is life. Also, I don’t know how to knit.
  23. Embroidery is secondary to crochet. Because I still don’t know how to knit.
  24. It’s better to excel at one or two things than to be mediocre at a lot of things.
  25. I always looked forward to life in a 55+ community.
  26. Moving in with my 2 older sisters means I’ll be living in my own 55+ community. LOL
  27. Fresca is the best soda.
  28. Tea should be a staple in every home.
  29. Coffee should be a staple in every home.
  30. Chocolate should be a staple in every home.
  31. I’ll never understand people who don’t like ice cream.
  32. Hot chocolate should always be topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
  33. Christmas is the best holiday ever.
  34. We should always make friends with crows. They remember and will bring you stuff.
  35. There’s nothing wrong with counting down to special days.
  36. The next season will always be better than your current one.
  37. Never rush through your current season.
  38. Menopause will make your feel like you’re going crazy. Take heart, dear lady, you are!
  39. Being the youngest in the family doesn’t mean I’m privileged or spoiled; it means I have others to look up to and learn from.
  40. Always spend time with your family.
  41. It’s an honor and a privileged to hold a loved one’s hand while they go home to Jesus.
  42. Funerals and weddings either bring out the very best in people or the very worst.
  43. The world is unkind. Don’t be like the world.
  44. You don’t need to make a difference in the world as a whole; just start with your world right where you’re at.
  45. Prayer isn’t always a labored thing. Sometimes, it’s a moment by moment quiet conversation with God.
  46. The inner voice speaking encouragement and direction to you most likely is the Holy Spirit.
  47. I don’t believe in mean dogs; only mean people who make dogs mean.
  48. Cats are like teenagers.
  49. I believe there’s no perfection to be found in being creative. That’s why I create; to tame my perfectionist ways. Also, so I won’t eat too much ice cream.
  50. I will miss my mother for the rest of the my life. 49 years with her wasn’t long enough.
  51. I look forward to being a grandma someday.
  52. Laughter truly is contagious. One should laugh every day.
  53. You don’t need a big house to be happy. Comfort and contentment can be found in the smallest of spaces.
  54. In any loving home, there’s always room for one more.
  55. Everyone should have cake and ice cream on their birthday.

Happy Birthday to me!

Photo by Robert Anderson on Unsplash

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Author:

By day, I work a fulltime job in corporate America. By night, I'm a fulltime couch potato. I love to read, write, embroider, crochet and watch British mysteries. When I do leave the house, it's to either go to church or to buy yarn and books. I'm a firm believer that buying books and buying yarn are hobbies on their own. I'm also the single mom (happily divorced for more than 15 glorious years) of two fabulous young women, rescue mom of one dog and rescue grandma to one black cat. My older daughter, Shelby is high-functioning autistic and an avid gamer. My younger daughter, Emilie, is married and lives with her husband about three hours away from me and is an avid baker. Both love Jesus fiercely and in their own way.

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