Another Decade Comes and Goes

Well tomorrow I say goodbye to my 50's.  I remember someone telling me when I was younger that the older you get the faster time goes by and boy is that true!!!  I remember too when 60 seemed so old and I feel nothing like I felt 60 should feel like!!  I think the fact that we don't have children, and thus no grandchildren, makes me forget that I could be a grandmother.  It isn't like I don't have four younger siblings that have grandchildren.  I guess I just don't live in reality because as I am making new friends in Colorado and find out how old they are, I am constantly surprised that I am older than they are!  So I guess the blessing is I don't feel old :-)

Looking back on the past ten years it has not been my easiest decade.  I had my gall bladder removed, a partial hysterectomy, then uterine cancer and a total hysterectomy and then my accident in 2005 that left me with 2 years of surgeries and rehab and a permanent disability.  Now I have significant arthritis and cannot walk for a very long period of time or stand for a long period of time.  But once again I am thankful that I have both of my legs (no amputation) and I am not wheelchair bound.

I had to retire from the job I loved most of all in my career. I loved being a Children's Minister and I was blessed to be part of a great church for 8 years before having to retire because of my injuries. Steve retired and we decided to make Colorado Springs our retirement location to be closer to family that lives in Denver. That transition has been harder than we imagined, not because we don't love Colorado Springs, but because we REALLY miss our Texas friends!!  But slowly but surely we are making friends here in the Springs.

God has moved me out of Children's Ministry and into Women's Ministry and I have organized our Thursday morning Ladies Bible Class for the past two years.  Recently I was asked if I would be the leader for the Adult Women's Education Ministry.  I am thankful that God has given me an outlet for my joy in teaching His Word.  The women have been so supportive and affirming of the gift of teaching which I take no credit for, but give all the glory for the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

I had to say goodbye to the best father a girl could ever ask for.  It is hard to believe in about 10 weeks it will be 3 years since my Daddy went to be with Jesus.  We miss him everyday and think of him often, but I am so thankful for the assurance that I have that he is with Jesus.  I also said goodbye to my grandmother, who filled my life with sweet memories.

One of the highlights of my 50's was celebrating 20 years of marriage with a cruise to Alaska.  Such beauty from God in that place and fulfilling my life long dream of going whale watching.  One of the highlights was standing on the deck with strangers but brothers and sisters in Christ before a majestic glacier and uniting in singing How Great Thou Art (after eating hot split pea soup :-))

So I think back over this decade and there were some hard times, but there were also sweet times.  Isn't that every decade?  Isn't that Life???

In tribute to 60 years lived, I am going to list 60 things I am thankful for.

1. My husband who loves me unconditionally and is the best caretaker ever!
2. My sweet Mother who also loves me unconditionally and is my best friend!
3. My siblings who have blessed me with nieces and nephews and now great nieces and nephews to dote on.
4. Living closer to some of those family members and getting to see them more often
5. Too many friends to count!!
6. A great church community!
7. A small group to share life with.
8. Steve and I both being retired and the master of our days.
9. Our financial resources
10. A house that doesn't require a lot of cleaning
11. Seeing Pikes Peak every day from my window and throughout the city when you drive
12. God's beauty in wildlife
13. NO humidity!!
14. Beautiful Blue skies and awesome cloud formations
15. Children old and new that light up my heart when they say "Ms. Lynn"
16. Pain medications that make things easier
17. Doctor's who accept workman's comp and Medicare
18. Facebook, to stay in touch with friends and relatives all over the country
19. A front porch and wind chimes
20. A great garage for storing my plethora of Christmas decorations
21. Ladies who love to study God's word
22. Ladies who believe in the power of prayer
23. People who constantly and faithfully pray for me
24. Ladies who enjoy crocheting and knitting for those in need
25. The sound of laughter
26. A house that allows me to practice hospitality
27. Snow
28. Waterfalls
29. Rivers
30. Pine trees, especially Blue Spruce
31.  Matt Redmond's song 10,000 Reasons
32. Sarah Young's book, Jesus Calling
33. Ann Voskamp's book 1,000 Gifts
34. Downtown Abbey
35. Natalie Grant's song In Christ Alone
36. Precious memories of my Father
37. Hope of Eternal Life
38. GRACE
39. Forgiveness
40. My Faithful God
41. My Savior, Jesus
42. God's promises that I can count on
43. Fireplace weather
44. Baby Robins on my porch
45. My husband's servant heart toward neighbors
46. Aunts and Uncles, cousins
47. Friends who show me what faith in the hard times looks like
48. My trials being temporary and earning eternal glory
49. A God who is faithful to do more than I can ask or imagine
50. Assurance that this life is not all there is
51. Ice cream
52. Cheesecake
53. Chocolate
54. Drugs that allow me to eat ice cream,cheesecake and chocolate
55. Good Mexican food (even though there isn't any in the Springs)
56. mountain getaways
57. vacations
58. The fact that I have everything I need
59. The fact that the overflow I what I have allows me to share others
60. That I was able to think of 60 things to be thankful for!

So now on to my 60's.  I hope when I hit 70 and look back on this decade that I will see that I have been more transformed into the image of Christ and have drawn closer in love and fellowship with my God.  I want the discipline of "giving thanks in ALL things" to be my second nature, not something I have to work at.  I pray that I will have done more to be Christ to the world and that I would have a greater passion for those that the Lord cares most about. I want to walk the walk much better than I talk the talk.  But if truth be told I hope that Jesus will have returned and I will be home with those that I love and our Savior and God!!