Facing challenges, in so many different ways

It was a bit of a challenge for our family to just find a time to get together to celebrate my
 birthday!  We finally found a Sunday that we could all be together from noon to 3:00pm.  We had hoped to have a picnic (something that we have been trying to do for years), but the weather was rainy and cool.  So we opted to meet at a fast food place for lunch and then pray that the weather cleared so we could visit a new playground.  As you can see from this picture, we did, in fact, make it to the park and it was a really wonderful time. 

Gwen and Tim had driven by this large park many times, but had never stopped.  It has some really interesting climbing obstacle course like equipment. The kids had a blast!  Even the "adult" kids!

Everybody, with the exception of Grandma and Grandpa tried out this very tricky course.  There was plenty of other slides, swings and climbers for all of the kids to have a great time.  Even though it was sort of spitting rain at times, and it was a bit chilly, we all still had so much fun.  We will most likely be trying that park again - hopefully for a picnic!

So, yes, it was a challenge to find a time to meet.  And then the park had several challenging obstacles.  But we faced those things and even conquered them.  September had certainly seemed to have more than its fair share of challenging things come up for me.  Some of these things have just been sort of small and just plain distracting things.  My car had a tire with a slow leak that needed to be taken care of.  The challenge of this was that our tire warranty was with Sears. And Sears is now closed.  So we ended up having to buy a new tire.  Not a big thing, but still a challenge we were not expecting.  Ken has had a ton of doctor appointments and with each one there has been a change in his medicine.  Again, not a big deal, but challenging when you are trying to sort pills for a week.  And just keeping track of the doses is a challenge.  On a personal note, I joined a gym (thanks to the Silver Sneaker program through Medicare Advantage) and it has certainly been a challenge for me!  Ken and I went to a water aerobics class and after the class was half over, I was pretty done!  My arm muscles were really sore the next day.  Which tells me that I clearly need this challenge very much!  I am happy that Ken and I will be facing these "challenges" at the gym several days a week.  Hopefully there will be some conquering in the future.  

On a spiritual note, I have been very challenged by a new Bible Study I am doing with some of Gwen's friends.  I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about studying Gideon, but the group seemed to want to do this study.

As you can see on the cover, the study is helping us to better understand our weakness so that we can see God's strength.  The first video of this study contained so much great information and had so many direct challenges for me.  Thirty years ago, I was called into Children's Ministry.  I had no college degree.  I had no experience in teaching.  I seemed like an unlikely person to be called to work with children.  But, nevertheless, I developed a heart and passion and a vision for programming that was radically different than what was the norm at that time.  The foundation of everything that came out of that ministry was that God has a plan and purpose for every child and they can hear his voice and be used by Jesus, while they are still children!   The first day of this study challenged me to not forget the call that Jesus put on my life so long ago.   Every day of the study has brought more little snippets and reminders that have challenged me.  So I am working through this study, forging ahead and praying that at the end of the study, I will have conquered some of these challenges. 

My last blog was about my birthday and thinking about the year ahead.  I talked about the things that I hoped to accomplish and what I thought the year might look like.   I felt pretty good about that blog post.......until I picked up my daily devotional and read this...

Have you ever felt like Jesus was looking over your shoulder and then reacting to something you had said?  Well, this was for sure a wake up call for me!  Don't ask for a blueprint of the next year.  Just focus on each day and be flexible!  Boy is that ever a challenge for me.  Don't you just love when a devotion you see and/or read fits with exactly where you are?  

So many challenges, so so many.   I am just very thankful today that I can actually see some challenges conquered.  I can see some that I have at least walked into.  And I can also appreciate the challenges that I am hesitating on, praying about and working towards.  Yes, just as my Bible study says...my weakness and God's strength.  If you are in the midst of a bucket load of challenges, sort of like me, take courage!  You and I are not alone in this struggle. It was so fun watching the adults help the kids on that obstacle course in the park.  Helping a  little hand or foot find the right hold, sometimes giving verbal instructions or encouragement to a timid child.    I am so thankful that I know that Jesus is right here with  me and I have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me through whatever is ahead.  I am thankful for this platform that allows me to share my hopes and dreams, my thoughts and also my challenges.  Life is so much better when you live it in truth and openness.  Thank you all for being a part of this!

Jesus, you are the best friend anyone could have.  Thank you for caring about me and listening to my ramblings.  Holy Spirit, you are always ready to lead and guide me when I am searching for a solution to a challenge.   Remind us all that we are your children and we can hear your voice.  Give us courage to walk on, even when it is new or fearful.  Jesus, I love you.  Amen

Walking into a new phase of life...

I love this picture so much!  It is one of the first photos of me, and I am being held by my sister Julie.  I was thinking about this pictures yesterday.  It was a big day for me....my birthday.  And a BIG birthday at that!  I turned 65 - that's right - medicare age.  I am usually the first to tell you that birthdays are no big deal and age doesn't mean a thing.  But this year, it did seem a bit different.  Considering that this photo is 65 years old, it is a pretty amazing.  Not many people had photos taken when they were just born.  I am so thankful that my dad was a bit of a photography nut, who always had his camera with him and took lots of pictures.  My sister Julie is 8 years older than me.  We shared a room for many years and I have lots of memories of being with her through my growing up years.   I love this photo of Gwen's kids just after Anna was born.  I always think about the picture of Julie and I when I see this photo since there is an 8 year age difference between Lia and Anna. 

It is really interesting for me to watch the interaction between Lia and Anna and I often reflect on my experiences with Julie.  Family dynamics are so interesting!  We are all a product of our upbringing.  As much as we might try to think that is not true!  Turning 65 has given me a reason to sort of stop and evaluate and also to look ahead.

Being 65 isn't quite the same as it was years ago.   I was shocked recently when I read that when Social Security began in 1940, the average life expectancy was 61 for a man and 65 for a women.  According to the "experts", I can expect to life till 87!  And one out of three 65 year olds will live past 90 and one out of seven will live past 95.   So I guess you could say that 65 is the new 45?

Since none of us can know the length of our days, all of this doesn't really matter.  But knowing that there are most likely lots of years ahead for me, having a sense of the direction I am going is most likely a good thing.

I have so enjoyed the last years, not working and being able to spend time with my kids and my grand kids.  There is nothing that is more fulfilling.  These blogs are a testament to the impact my family has had on my life.  I am so thankful to be in good health also.  It was a pretty big deal for me to finally get my Medicare card and my Medicare supplement.  Since Ken lost his job January of 2018, I haven't had regular health insurance.  I decided to get a catastrophic policy that did not cover any smaller things.  And I am so thankful to say that I never had any need for doctor visits during that time! However it also meant that I didn't have any yearly physicals either.   As of right now, I have a great HMO policy that with Medicare should cover anything I need.   One of the biggest perks with our Medicare supplements for Ken and I, are a free gym membership.  Ken had been using his Silver Sneakers card all summer.  It was wonderful to sign up and get my membership established this week.  Looking forward to being able to swim all winter!  Lastly, I am so thankful for the traveling that Ken and I have done over the last  years,   We still have so many places on our bucket lists that we want to see.  There are so many things that we would still like to do.  I had previously mentioned that our September was going to fly by, with so many plans.  I am especially looking forward to a reunion with some of my extended family in a few weeks.  

So my initial plans, looking ahead, will include

1.  Continue time spent with family.

2.  Going to the gym.

3.  Getting to my doctor for a full physical.

4.  Planning our next vacation.  

It would  not be a birthday week without also thinking about the coming year from a spiritual perspective.  I am so grateful for the two women's small groups that I attend.  I seriously don't know what I would do without these wonderful women who support me, encourage me, stand with me in hard times, laugh with me and cry with me.  The challenge to write is still in front of me.  I have continued to move ahead - even though it has been painfully slow.  I am seeking to make it a priority in the next year to work on putting thoughts on paper at least three times a week.  Even though I really want to move ahead on my writing projects (including this blog), I really don't want writing to become a chore.  When I actually find time to sit down and put those words on a page, it brings me joy and peace.  I don't want that to change.  The process of writing is really hard!  Sometimes I feel as if I have a head full of things that I want to write, but it is so hard to actually sit down and do the writing.  Nevertheless, I am committed to more words actually on paper in the next year.  

This has certainly been a year with some hills and some valleys.  There have been times when I have felt especially close to Jesus, but there have also been those times when I know I have grown distant from Him.  I am so, so thankful that no matter how far away I go, Jesus is right there to woo me back and welcome me with open arms.  On one of the last days of my recent vacation, I was sitting watching the sun rise.  It was quiet in the predawn darkness and I felt the strong presence of Jesus with me on that balcony.  Then I heard a gentle whisper saying "each day is new for you.  Leave yesterdays worries behind and skip into today with me by your side."  Not a new or profound Word, but it was filled with so many things.  Each day is new.... you really don't know what the day will hold.  If you don't stop and let go of those things that are weighing you down, it is hard to walk freely into a new day. And lastly, isn't it so much easier to actually SKIP (or hop or run or jump) into your day when you know that Jesus is walking along with you?   I am so thankful for this very short, but powerful direction for my next year, and I don't mind sharing it with you!  Sit a moment and consider that short statement and see if it doesn't change how you feel at the start of each new day!

Jesus, thank you so much for birthday times that give us a reason to stop and reflect on the past year and on the year ahead.  Thank you for your guidance and protection.  Holy Spirit, continue to bring wisdom to us so that we make good choices as we walk each day.  Thank  you for family, for friends and for fellowship with you.  Amen 

Ending our time away....

 We spent the last several days of our time away from home at a rather unusual place for a couple of old fogies like us.  Gwen and Tim had actually stayed at this resort several years ago to break up a trip to Baltimore.  They loved the beach and knowing that we were looking for a beach closer to home, they encouraged us to try out The Breakers at Cedar Point.  The interesting thing about this place is the amusement park that is directly around the hotel.  And I mean right there!  A perk of staying at the Breakers is a short walk to both the regular park and also the newer water park as well as early entry to both parks.  Of course admission tickets for the parks are NOT included in your hotel fee, which was great for us!  We did not want to visit either park!  We really came for the beach and the pools.  It was an different experience for us for sure.  I could not get over the noise of the big steel roller coaster that was directly behind the beach.  The rumbling - and the people screaming - were an interesting back drop to the lake view.  It did make for some wonderful sunset photos....
I call this one "Going Down!"

I am sure that Ken got many more great shots during the time we spent on the beach at sunset.  And the beach was mostly empty with the majority of the guests at the parks.

As you can see in this picture, we had the beach to ourselves during this time.  This was the last week that the parks were open, so they had an earlier than normal closing time of 8:00pm.  So after that time the pools and hot tubs were jammed with people.  This suited us just fine, since by 8:00pm we were quite happy to be relaxing in our room or on the wonderful screened in balcony.  We spent some time on the beach during the morning, when all but a few people were in the park.  The weather, though sunny, was not very warm.  We had been told that Lake Erie was shallow and the warmest of the Great Lakes.  However, thanks to rainy weather and very cold temperatures the lake was COLD!  Even the pools were not really warm enough to be comfortable.  The hot tubs were great and we enjoyed the indoor pool and hot tub when the wind was cold. There were many sitting areas scattered around between the pools and the walkways to the parks and the beach.  We found a great place to relax in one of these areas when the outdoor pools and beach were too cold and the indoor pool area was too hot.  It was secluded enough to be out of the wind, and had another amazing feature...

Even on the balcony of our 5th floor room we would see hundreds of monarchs flying around.  Apparently they were especially attracted to these flowering bushes that lined the walkway. When someone walked by there would be a cloud of butterflies rising from the bushes.  It was memorizing to watch the play of the butterflies against the plants and the building.  It was a great way to spend several hours.  

It is good to reflect at the end of a trip, to remember the really great things and to discard some of the not so good things.  Those hotel surveys sure make you take stock of your trip, don't they?  A conclusion of this recap for both Ken and I was that we would not go back to Cedar Point.  We were glad we tried it, but we would look for a different beach on our next trip.  We were extremely glad that we visited the Flight 93 - 9/11 memorial park.  It is  in such an out of the way place that we might never get back to that area.  While we finally made it to Cooks Forest, we did not get to tube or kayak on the Clarion River.  The last two times we tried to visit, the park was flooded!  This time it was cold and the river was very low.  Still, thankful to finally see another place that was important to Ken from his childhood. I got to visit an old friend and see a new (to me) city.  Ken got to revisit an old childhood home.  Yes, lots of positives from this vacation. 

I think all travel is beneficial.   It helps you to see from other people's perspective.  You get to encounter all kinds of new people along the way.  We got to try out lots of new to us places to eat.  I recently saw a video about a 57 women with early onset Alzheimer.  Her biggest regret was that she would never be able to travel - something that she had been putting off for her entire life.  When her son heard this, he decided to make her dream come true, and arranged several international trips with her.  She was able to see the places she had dreamed about.  How often do we make the mistake of putting off something, even if it seems like a good reason?  I know I have certainly been guilty of doing that.  I am so thankful that Ken and I have made travel a priority during these years - while we are still young enough to enjoy the journey.  It is, however, really good to be home! 

I began these blogs about our vacation talking about running into September.  And here we are, in September.  Last week was cold and rainy and certainly felt like fall.  Today, however is 82 and sunny.  Still, it is clear that the season change is upon us.  We saw more than one tree that had begun to change color.  The kids are all back to school.  Yep, soon enough we will be pulling out those winter coats.  I can't image living in a place that never had a change of season.  I really enjoy marking the time by the season changes.   Before I know it, September will be gone.  

Yes, time is going by and it is easy to put off those trips, those visits with family, or just that coffee with a friend.  I don't want to have a list of regrets in the years ahead.  Instead I want to have scrapbooks full of pictures of great adventures and the faces of all my loved ones.  I want to have memories of times spent laughing and talking with family and friends.  I want to have tons of hugs that will warm my heart.   

I am so thankful today.  Just sitting in my own little chair, reflecting back on the last couple of weeks.  I am feeling very happy and very blessed.  It is so good to stop and reflect as the seasons change.  It is good to add to your thankful journal all of those memories.  And it is good to look ahead to the next season. Yes, life goes on!

Jesus, thank you so much for this beautiful creation.  Holy Spirit give us courage to keep on seeking new adventures.  Jesus thank you for butterflies and the reminder that you will totally transform us into new creations!  Give us gentle nudges when we start putting off those things that will bring us joy.  Keep our eyes turned to you, Jesus.  Thank you for family and friends and home.  Amen