CHOOSE: TO CELBRATE LONGEVITY

Longevity. Our life span is not something we can choose.
"God has appointed the number of our days. He has determined the length of our lives." (Job 14:5)

In the last few weeks I have been to 3 funerals for folks younger than I. Many tried to make the funerals a celebration of life. I understand that but it also made me realize, as Daddy used to say, "I thank the good Lord for every day He gives me." Well said, Daddy. Celebrate life one day at a time.

Celebrate life. Celebrate the years. Use the longevity you are given as a time of service.
As folks retire they are rewarded honors for years (longevity) of service.
Today we honored a lady on her "almost 101st birthday." I don't think I've ever known anyone who has celebrated a birthday with triple digits. She is a woman blessed with "multiplied days and increased years." (Proverbs 9:11)

Almeda Burns will be one hundred and one years old on Thanksgiving day----so we celebrated early.
We ate and ate some more. Two desserts, no less. We sang. She blew out her "1" candle. Others at Town Village stopped by to greet her. But....her favorite part was being able to share memories with others from the King's Daughters and Sons, a Christian service organization.
Several were the daughters of her friends, "now all gone," as she said.

Eavesdropping on all those stories, I realized that she was worthy of the honor of longevity of service. Years of service, "In HIs Name."

SEPTUAGENARIAN???

Septuagenerian---who knew??? Obviously Google did and........

......."baby" brother, Bobby. He informed me of that new personal age ID first thing this morning. 

He seems to derive a perverse sense of pleasure from reminding me, especially when I "move up" a decade ahead of him. Oh well, it sounds nicer than sexagenerian!
It's one of those family things that binds you together and I have 2 great brothers who I am bound to by old family jokes, memories and traditions. Sometimes things that only we understand. For that, I am grateful!

18 ways....

.....18 ways to quick start start a day.....

5 --USPS cards
3 --text messages
2 --email messages
2 --on-line cards
1 --singing card
1 --surprise google message *
1 --bag w/ cheesestraws & poundcake
1 --yummy cupcake *
1 --tray of lemon squares
1/2 --salted caramel
1/2 --handcrafted chocolate heart

18 ways to remind one to number her days and be "grateful for each day the good Lord gives." (Daddy aka Grandaddy Brud) (Psalms 90:12)

* Google --"How do it know?"

** my fave white cupcake with buttercream frosting--design by Molly in a "Dotsy" liner 

Happy Birthday, Hubby

I like it when hubby celebrates a birthday because that means he catches up with me.

What is hard about any birthdays at our house is that I buy gifts in advance (usually because they are appropriate AND on sale) Then, I seem to travel down memory loss highway when I put them away for safe-keeping. 

So safe that I can rarely find them in a timely manner.

Even friends have been victims of my "secret stash" forgetfulness. Today was no exception, No gift with his card. Hopefully, I'll find it  eventually----tho I have been known to stretch the "eventually finding" to an entire year or better.

Oh forsooth----such am I!
It is so hard being me when frugal and especially forgetful are descriptors most folks associate with me.

I keep losing said memory piece!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: "TWO"

10/27/13 Guess who turns two today? LUCY!!!!! A 2 year old who loves dinosaurs and can fluently "read" a book with no text----yet, with understanding and appropriate voice inflections.

September 13, a "Medicare" birthday

9/13/11 You know you are old when.....your birthday cards look like these or have messages that say, "a (medicare) birthday is a good time to remember that potbellies can be kind of cute."Another one welcomed me to the "wonder years--- "....wonder where my glasses are, wonder where I parked my car, wonder why I bought bok choy, wonder why everything hurts, wonder if I locked the door,"----you get the idea.

Misery and aging both seem to love company--some one else who understands. So.....it's fun to laugh together and celebrate God's grace in giving us another birthday.

Daddy always said that he thanked the good Lord for every day he gave him. He truly saw each day as a gift. In part, aging brings about that realization of the gift that life truly is, especially as one reflects on loss of friends, who will never celebrate another birthday.

With my MAC (cancer) diagnosis in "09, I, and my friends, made special efforts to get together and share "time" and other gifts of caring. Today 3 of those very friends are no longer living and I realize how important those gifts of encouragement were. It's time for me to give back to folks of God's choosing. So....I've asked the Lord to guide me through the next year in giving gifts each day to those He brings to mind or puts in my path. (The fearful part of me wanted to give self an out and put week, not day) It might be food, notes or prayers, a visit or donation or the wrapped variety---but I want it to come from Him.

I hesitated to write this because it's sort of like standing up at church when the leader asks those who are "willing" to pray, support or go to literally take their stand by getting up out of the pew. It's putting yourself under scrutiny----holding self accountable, as those who see your "stand" will be judging your actions. Though in my case, I think anonymity will also play a part because a "glory hog" is not needed. It has to be His work. To God be the glory.

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (I Thessalonians 5:24)