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This coming week I will turn 60 years old. I love birthday celebrations dearly (ask Keith & my family!), but this one has a new feeling for me.
In the 21st Century anyone’s 50th decade still places them in middle age (or that’s how I’ve felt), but turning 60 is another matter; it has a different connotation…the adjective ‘Senior citizen’ becomes attached to your name, for the duration.

I thought this devotion by Max Lucado was so encouraging & so true.
I pray my latter chapters will be filled with Godly wisdom, discernment, family & friends, sweet joy, & contentment in all things:)

Daily Devotional by Max Lucado
“the One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaks”

“The Oldest and Choicest

Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.
Isaiah 46:4 (NCV)

Growing old can be dangerous. The trail is treacherous and the pitfalls are many. One is wise to be prepared. You know it’s coming. It’s not like God kept the process a secret. It’s not like you are blazing a trail as you grow older. It’s not as if no one has ever done it before. Look around you. You have ample opportunity to prepare and ample case studies to consider. If growing old catches you by surprise, don’t blame God. He gave you plenty of warning. He also gave you plenty of advice.

Your last chapters can be your best. Your final song can be your greatest. It could be that all of your life has prepared you for a grand exit. God’s oldest have always been among his choicest.”

From: He Still Moves Stones
Copyright (Word Publishing, 1993)

 

Leaves

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.

by Elsie Brady

Last Friday Skye came home from Boone, Seth got off work early & picked up Kelley, Cameron picked up Holly, I got off work a few minutes early, & we rendezvoused here with Keith–he usually gets off work before any of us.
All this to see/hear Brian Regan:)

After eating supper at Panera Bread (& Skye catching up to us), we carpooled to Durham to the new Arts’ Center to spend the evening with our favorite comedian:)
The DPAC is new & this was our first concert there. It’s pretty cool–lots of glass & a great overview of downtown Durham:) The Center is located beside the Durham Bull’s ballpark so it’s pretty easy to find.
Friday evening was misty & gray, & the lights by the ballpark & from the DPAC sparkled & glistened, shining across the city of Durham.
And situated near the entrance to the Center is an impressive beam of light shooting straight up from the ground to the heavens! (Guess you can find the DPAC by this light if you forget your GPS:))

After being seated in the 2nd balcony, Leigh Pittman (a friend & neighbor), there with all her family, threaded her way through the crowd to thank Skye for introducing them to Brian’s humor:) It was great to see her/her family–we waved to Joe, Katie, & Sam:)
Seth’s friend Choppy sat with us too, with his 4 lady friends:)

I won’t go into any details of the show; I will say check out Brian online: brianregan.com.
If I had to describe him, he’s like Jack Benny & Bill Cosby rolled into one:)
We laughed for 2 hrs.!
He made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt!!

A GREAT way to spend a night, especially with family & friends!!

“You too”!

 
Rain on a September day.
Welcome rain:)
Arriving in intermittent showers.
Colorful fallen leaves water-flattened against asphalt.
Welcome droplets.
Splashing onto dry ground.
Sweet clean scent of rain.

 
Friday, September 11th, Keith & I set out on a 40th anniversary trip to Williamsburg, courtesy of dear friends (& ecstatic newlyweds) Alex & Kathy Fuller.

Keith sent off for biking information from the Va. area, the boys & Kelley agreed to watch Wyatt, Keith put in for days off & I arranged to be off work Friday AND Monday (thanks to Yvonne & Lauri!:)

Three whole days!
What a gift, what a treat!
And with our bikes.
We’ve ridden the Jamestown trail, then Historic Williamsburg yesterday, & today, Sunday, we biked part of the Yorktown trail.
For icing on the cake, the weather’s been perfect:)

In between, we’ve enjoyed lunch at The Cheese Shoppe & a steak/seafood dinner in Willimasburg, Ben & Jerry’s in Yorktown, a quick stop at The Prime Outlets this afternoon, a hot tub, no responsibilities, & only one request from anybody–Skye:)!

Ah, why return to everyday life??
Especially when we’ve found plenty of fairly flat shady bike trails that could take at least a week to explore:)

Tuesday afternoon, September 1st, after far too long, Keith loaded up our bikes & we headed out to the ATT. We parked at White Oak & biked north into Chatham County’s new section, towards Durham. The Town of Cary is building this part of the ATT Rails To Trail, and, for us amateurs, we appreciated the smooth ride on the paved section. They have about 1/3 of the path unpaved for horse riders & joggers, etc., & the other 2/3rds for bikers & walkers, etc.:) We rode until the trail became pure red dirt then turned around. We ended up putting about 9.5 miles on Keith’s odometer.
The weather has been so pleasant recently, the trails are calling our name!
Hope to see you outside:)

 
My Bible study “sisters” tend to have a number of things in common, which is neat since we do have an age span of 10-almost 20 years.
All of us are moms.
Some of us are single.
Most of us have at least one college age student.
And 2 of our group have daughters that are now living with The Boyfriend.

Which leads to my pondering….
Do our Christian kids understand purity or holiness? Do they believe it’s important to God?
(Us adults don’t grasp it all either, but for this blog, it’s about the young adult kids)

Now I know that living together has been the trend for a number years for young (or any age) people who “aren’t ready to make a commitment”. And throughout the last 30-40 years the idea of abstaining from sex before marriage has taken a massive beating, even in the most conservative of families. Doing a “trial run” is the thing to do to see if you’re “compatible”, and no one bats an eye (or at least not publicly)!
And especially since young folks are waiting so long to marry, abstinence is extremely difficult to maintain without spiritual fortitude (and that’s not foolproof).

As Christian moms what do we say when our son or daughter lays down the gauntlet & proclaims that “‘sweetie’ & I are moving in together”?
What is a wise, God-inspired, response?

I have survived one of my kid’s “wild hair” times. It was not pretty. I pleaded with God for wisdom for —– & for me! More was involved than just living together, so it was tough! Did I say it was TOUGH?!!! UGH!
Wedding plans were made even as I silently pleaded with God to bring it to a screeching halt! I asked every friend I knew to pray for the situation, and miraculously, in time, the relationship fell apart, thank God!!

I don’t have the answers.
As an older mom, I should have some sort of wisdom to impart.

But this one is where mom gets to talk to God a lot, and in between listens for His advice–she tries to be quiet enough so she can hear what He says…..
Remember, God loves our children more than we do.

My few suggestions:
Enlist prayer warriors, and fall on God’s mercy—then pray for purity of heart for everyone.

This is one of my very favorite excerpts from Max Lucado.

“Words of Strength

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger.
Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)

Before you speak, ask: Will what I’m about to say help others become stronger?

You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would. Then won’t you do the same for their hearts?
Your words are food and water!

Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged.

Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down!

Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you.”

From: A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2002)
Max Lucado

Today, this rainy August afternoon, Kathy & Alex were married before a church filled with joyful friends & family:)
Our Peace church family has been so tickled over Alex & Kathy’s romance & engagement:)

Great joy:)

Since Keith & Skye were the official photographers (& I was the assistant) I have no pictures yet to post of Kathy & Alex. But I will, asap:)

I quickly snapped this photo as Kathy & I dashed from the ceremony in the sanctuary to the fellowship hall reception—which involved some rain dodging:)

A day filled joy:)
Lots of laughs & giggles & smiles:)

A wedding filled with great joy!

 
Yesterday, Saturday afternoon, a few of us gathered for a Bridal Tea to honor our dear friend/mother/mother of boyfriend, Kathy:)
Our small group of girls shared a special time together relaxing & enjoying a calm, delicious, High Tea at The Pineapple Tea Room in downtown Apex:)

Next Saturday things will be much different! It’ll probably be a little hectic before the wedding ceremony commences at 2pm:)

Surprisingly, Kathy’s mom & dad are hoping to come. Her mom’s been recuperating from a stroke for a year, so it’s amazing they are going to try it:) Which means her sisters will be able to attend also:) Kathy’s excited!

Here’s to you, Kathy Gosnell Worrell:) By Saturday afternoon, you’ll be Kathy Gosnell Worrell Fuller. May your life be richer & “fuller” than you have ever dreamed! Hang on to Alex’s coattails at times–he’s has more energy than the Energizer Bunny:)
Alex, cherish Kathy & honor her in every way:)
And let her rest now & then:) Maybe even let her sleep in late (which she LOVED to do before meeting you!):)

God bless y’all!