Growing Older is Fun, as Long as You Do It With the Right People

This is my dear friend, Jo Silvey Our birthdays are just a couple of weeks apart so we celebrated and "caught up" yesterday.
Jo has been our family's hair stylist for years along with the many other attributes she has that has blessed our family for a very long time. She drove to Tulsa from Frisco to give my Sweetheart his last haircut on this earth. She opened her home to my kids when they moved to Frisco while waiting to move into their new home. She continues to have a full schedule of clients who come to her home for their hair appointments. We have "widowhood" in common and we are living audaciously in this season of our lives.

We talked about our husbands and the trying times during their illnesses -- hers was lengthier than mine, but she persevered with relentless determination -- caring for him while carrying on her very successful hair salon business.

We talked about this Road of Life being unpredictable despite our most careful planning. Our best-laid plans in life were upended by unexpected changes, which were both challenging and exhilarating. We've come to realize that setbacks, losses of loved ones, illnesses or accidents, broken hearts or troubled souls, are not uncommon occurrences in our lives. On the other hand, at another turn in the road, we have found unanticipated blessings and exciting experiences.

Going through life, we've both confronted setbacks and losses and that's when we heard clichés abounding from others. We're advised to “Ride the waves, get on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride, and roll with the punches,” etc. And though we've complied with all that advice, we are still sensitive and emotional beings, not robots. We've shed tears and wondered if we could make it to the end. And, based on the faith and determination that she and I both have -- no doubt we'll not only make it to the end, but we'll be riding that wave in and yelling "What a ride!"

We know what it is to gather our thoughts, remind ourselves how strong we are and we do overcome. We've both come to appreciate so much good in our lives. She recently took her granddaughter for a graduation trip to Colorado. I just returned from a trip to Austin to see and make momentous times with my grandchildren and returned to make even more memories with these Frisco grandchildren.

We talked "girl talk" -- what we're doing to maintain and sustain good health and fitness habits. That's typical for women of our age. But, most of all we talked about the blessings of God and the "fun" we have celebrated, along with the joy of having the Lord as our companion as we travel on down the Road of Life. He makes the journey fun and He fills our days with sunshine, even on cloudy days.

I’m happy to report that Jo and I both feel that with each passing year, the ordinary feels more extraordinary, simple kindnesses matter more, time with family and cherished loved ones becomes increasingly precious, and life’s small enrichments bring greater contentment to our hearts than any material riches ever could. Now that's what I call FUN!

Psalm 91:16 "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

About Time

Day 210 of Photo Inspirations -- About Time
We saw movie clips from "About Time" where the main characters -- father and son -- are able to travel back in time.  They are able to go back and change for better some things they personally did in their past that they regretted.  By doing so, they learned to live more on purpose in the present.  They realized the importance of living on the positive/optimistic side of life, enjoying the present moments, and doing what they could to make life better for someone else.  I was certainly inspired about the way I want to live daily.

That being said, yesterday, was that for me.  My girl, Staci Wallace​ and granddaughter, Alexia Wallace​, came into town late Friday night.  That meant that yesterday was a day of making memories, cherishing the moments, embracing each other in the routine and special times.

Staci and I woke early to "catch up".  Sweet morning time together.  Then we headed to my community's First Saturday Breakfast. It was such a joy to introduce my girls to everyone. Then it was to the theater to see a cute movie (I love AMC Southroads where the chairs recline and are so cozy -- I admit....so cozy I dozed a little -- LOL!).  From there, we did what we love to do -- resale shopping where we browsed and found Lexi a couple of cute items at really great bargain prices).

After lunch at Schlotsky's, we headed to ORU's campus.  We casted vision and dreams about the potential of Lexi perhaps attending there for her undergraduate studies toward her Veterinarian degree someday.  Going there was her idea.  Great photo opts -- with the praying hands AND the geese.  

We left ORU -- and headed to Great Granny's house.  It's always a talent show whenever the great grandkids go to see her.  Today was no exception.  Lexi seranaded her with several songs.  We were able to cherish sweet moments and memories with her.

Then, we headed to LifeChurch.tv - Jenks campus for the 5 pm service where Lexi & Staci had their photos taken with the Star Wars characters and we were so touched by the movie clips during "At the Movies" -- this week's was McFarland USA .  Lots of life lessons as we watched and heard the inspiring message that went along with it.  We came home and walked over to a neighbor's house where we ended the evening with sweet fellowship, talking about God's goodness and faithfulness, and then the big finale was having a precious time of prayer together.

At the end of this day....we know we made the most of every minute.  We made every minute count.  Why?  We will never have this day again -- so we squeezed everything we could out of it.  Even if it were possible, we would never want to go back in time travel to change a thing about this day -- because we lived it to its fullest.  We lived it with no regrets.  How would our lives be improved if we lived each day as though it could be our last?  Wouldn't we squeeze all we could out of it?  We did.  And how sweet it was.