When I'm Sixty-Four

When I get older, losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine?
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

If I'd been out 'till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me
Will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?

And most of you remember...it goes on and on.

When the Beatles sang this song back in 1967 I was in the 7th grade.
As I ponder that now, I remember thinking that it was so far in the future and almost unimaginable,

assuming that I would one day be sixty-four years old...I mean that's ancient, right?

Oh...the thoughts we think when we're young and foolish....

Oh...the thoughts we think when we're old and foolish.
Did I just call myself...O-L-D??

Recently, I had too much spare time on my hands (and I wonder why am not getting things done!)

and I found myself playing around with some of those crazy apps on Facebook...

...you know, the ones that show you what you might look like as someone else.

So the "curious-as-a-cat" part of me clicked on a few of them but never shared them on my page...
...I was merely trying to entertain myself!

But just for fun, I saved the photos.

This one is my rock star alter ego coming out. 

And many times during my life, I have dreamed of being a red head.
A few years back I told myself if I lost 50 pounds, I'd go red.
I never did so I never did.

Yes? No?

Or how about me on the cover of a magazine...AARP maybe??
These days, the crazy features on our phones let us be anything we want!

A leopardess...

...an alien from outer space...

...a....rabbit??
These don't really look like bunny ears to me...

Carmen Miranda?

I have no idea who this is....somebody named Flo, maybe.

So tomorrow I turn the big SIX-FOUR.

In a year I get that lovely red, white and blue card to carry in my wallet 'til the day I die. 

Four years ago "Sixty is the new Forty" was my mantra.

So what will it be as I turn sixty four...or seventy-two...or eighty-nine...
...or if I am blessed to live as long as my mom, ninety-seven? 

 Seriously, y'all know this is just my feeble attempt to be funny.

I have never had a desire to be anything or anybody other than who I am.
Well, maybe the red head. 😉

At this stage in my life all that matters is living my life how God would have me live it,
admitting that I fail Him miserably in one way or another on a daily basis.
But He gives me grace to go on and His mercies are new every day!

The song in the video below is my mantra for as long as I have breath in my body.

So I think I'll just stick to what I know really matters.
I'm a child of God...YES I AM...

...a sixty-four (and counting) year old child of God.

 

God's Timing is Always Perfect

I seem to be talking about best laid plans a lot lately.

Remember the trip to Tennessee that didn't happen last month?

That was kind of like the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, there was sickness on both sides and it was God's perfect timing...
 ...because He already knew all about it.

God's timing is always perfect.

Anyone who reads my blog knows of the plans we have for our retirement.

They included selling our home here in NC this spring or summer,

moving to Tennessee and live in our RV for a while
while we build our farmhouse in Adam's meadow in Haywood Hollow.

Now I am not one to share a lot of health information about myself...

mostly because I have always been quite healthy and rarely had many issues. 

You know how at church when they ask for prayer requests?

Well, I really struggle when it comes to asking for prayer for myself.

I am really struggling just writing this post.
But I think of you as my friends and thought I'd share with you what's going on.

So back to best laid plans...

Without getting into all of the gory details (you certainly would not want me to share them),

just let me just say that a health issue from a decade ago has decided to revisit me.
Back between 2007-08, I had a very sick gallbladder that resulted in a biliary stricture.
That meant that bile was backing up in my liver and making me jaundiced and very sick.
Several stents in the bile duct and removing the gallbladder and I was all good...

...for ten whole years!

Fast forward to August 2017, right before my brother passed away.

I started getting sick and was all too familiar with the symptoms.
Another stricture had indeed formed, another stent was placed,
and then removed this past November.
So about a month ago when we all got sick, what I thought was a nasty stomach bug wasn't.
I knew I needed another stent so last Monday it was put in place...
...a different kind this time that can stay in longer.
(This is done by an endoscopic procedure, just so you don't think I was cut on all those times.)

I get to keep this one for at least 6 months, maybe longer...
BUT...and that's a big but...I have to stick around a while, as it would seem.
You just can't up and leave your trusted doctor who has been there from the beginning...
and your insurance when you need it most!
Nope, can't do that!

I will know more after I see my doctor in six months.

Until then, we will continue on with the plan...
just knowing that the timetable is a bit off from what we had hoped for.

Here's the good news...it gives us more time to get it all done. {{smile}}

God's timing is ALWAYS perfect.

Closing the Door on 2017

At the risk of sounding redundant, I just can't help but say it again...

...you probably already guessed it.

Where did this year go?

I just don't ever remember time flying by as quickly as it does now. 

I guess it's God's way of letting us know that we're getting ---o--l--ol---d---OLD...
...there, I said it!

But this will be my mantra until the day I die...

or how about...



And then there's always this truth...

How would YOU answer this question?

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?
~Satchel Paige
I'll have to ponder that one for a bit. 😉
~
As I look back on my posts from this year,
it would seem that most of them were in the format of a hodgepodge.
Like it or not, I really try to make them as newsy as possible...or maybe you haven't noticed :)
But scattered among the usual trials and blessings that any new year brings,
2017 brought about more much needed updates to our home, some sweet surprises,
a milestone or two and the heartache of losing a beloved family member.
~
We began the year by having the whole house turned upside down by getting new floors...

...springtime brought about an opportunity to meet a sweet blog friend, Deborah...



...our oldest grandson, Dacey, graduated from high school in June...

...Jim earned his red, white and blue card by turning 65 in July...

...and late this summer my oldest brother Bob, lost his battle with cancer.



As you know, plans were put in motion for our upcoming retirement and move to TN.
The thought of that seems to have taken my brain captive on most days even though I try not to let it.
I've said before...we can have our plans but ultimately, it must be in alignment with God's.
So far, no doors have slammed shut so we continue to move forward.
~
As I was taking down the Christmas decorations yesterday,
it became more real that it would most likely be the last time I would be doing that here.
I specifically sought out the mini tree that I had among my other decorations,
anticipating that would most likely it would be the only tree I would have room for next year.

So here we were are...New Years Eve, 2017.
Whatever God has in store is yet to be seen but of this I know...
...2018 will most likely be a very HECTIC INTERESTING year!
~
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your love and support throughout the year
and that 2018 brings you many wonderful blessings!