Crepe Skin

The other day there was a commercial on TV about "crepe skin."  I thought what is that. I looked at my arms and there it was. Age and gravity are a woman's enemy.

I already have lines and dots  - and now crepe paper skin.

I tried to imagine what I'm going to look like the more I age - lines and dots, crepe paper skin, turkey neck, jowls, crow's feet, and I'm not sure what else. What a sight I'm going to be. And I'm sure there is no reversal. All the miracle creams and exercises in the world won't fix age. 

 

The wonderful thing about age is that it is only a number. Whether you are still in your twenties or nearing your seventies. They are just numbers. What matters is what age you feel in your heart and mind.

 

You grow old by deserting your hopes and dreams. I know my body doesn't do all the things it use to do. I can't jump as high or run as fast. I tire more easily. My get up and go got up and went.

 

But in my mind and heart, I still feel young. I think the secret to growing old gracefully -  HANG ON TO YOUR DREAMS.

 

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

An Eagle When She Flies

I just found out that a dear friend of mine has passed away.  Judy Newcom. She was a great friend who was always there for me and my husband. We first met her and her husband, Perry,  in 1989. She was a member of our church in Kentucky. She was a faithful, loyal servant of God. She helped head up our nursery and volunteered to work in our Christian School.

One of the things I liked about Judy - you never wondered where you stood with her. She was straight forward and always spoke her mind.

I am going to miss her so very much. When my husband was sick, she was always there for me, loving me and praying for me. She also had leukemia and fought the battle with determination. Her grand daughter, Gwyndolyn, told me if prayer and determination was all it took to get well, her grandma would probably outlive us all. I'm so thankful I was able to spend a little bit of time with her this summer.

A couple of years ago, she told me she wanted the song, "An Eagle When She Flies" by Dolly Parton played at her funeral. I downloaded it for her and put it on a CD.  The song is a perfect picture of Judy.

Eagle When She Flies

By Dolly Parton

She's been there, God knows, she's been there
She has seen and done it all
She's a woman, she knows how to
Dish it out or take it all
Her heart's as soft as feathers
Still she weathers stormy skies
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies.

A kaleidoscope of colors
You can toss her around and round
You can keep her in your vision
But you'll never keep her down
She's a lover, she's a mother
She's a friend and she's a wife
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies.

Gentle as the sweet magnolia
Strong as steel, her faith and pride
She's an everlasting shoulder
She's the leaning post of life
She hurts deep and when she weeps
She's just as fragile as a child
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies.

She's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies
Oh, bless her, Lord
She's an eagle when she flies.

At The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Judy and her husband, Perry

I love you Judy and I am so thankful that God allowed you to be a part of my life.

Sunshowers

The other day I looked outside and the sun was shining along with a rain shower. To me that has always been so amazing. I know science has an explanation as to what causes the sun and rain to happen at the same time, but I have my own explanation. It is God letting  me know that He loves me.

Our life is going to have good times and bad times. We're going to have the greatest days ever, but every now and then a trial will come along. Sometimes, we'll wonder why. The most amazing thing about a sunshower - it is always followed by a rainbow. God's promises are always there  giving us hope through the trials. And sure enough, a little bit later I looked out and there was a beautiful rainbow showing me that there is always HOPE.

Texas

I just returned from a visit in San Antonio, Texas. I love San Antonio, but the weather this time was HOT!!! 

It is still one of my favorite places. The best part was spending time with my son, Mark, his wife, Maria, and two of my grand kids, Alexis and Gavin.

We weren't able to do a lot of adventures, because of the hot weather, but we still had the best time ever. We ate, had water balloon fights, ate some more; Mark, Maria and the kids went swimming, we went ice skating, we ate some more, went shopping, played sardines, ate some more and did a lot of laughing.

If laughter is the best medicine, we should be the healthiest people in the world. We laughed, laughed, laughed, and laughed some more. 

One day while they were at Schlitterbahn (a huge water park), I ventured out on my own. Driving in San Antonio can be a little intimidating. It's the seventh most populated city in the United States.

I went to a mall and walked around. I also went into Saks of 5th Avenue. I felt really out of place in my $4.00 shirt and $6.00 capris from Walmart. But I took time and looked around. I found a dress that I really liked, but I could not find the price tag. All their price tags were hid inside of the dresses. I found it and about passed out. It was on sale for $2390.00.  The regular price was $2990.00. Needless to say, I did not buy me a dress. To even try it on, I probably would have had to give them my driver's license or made a small deposit. And it was just a plain dress, but it had the fashion label AKRIS on it.

I told my grand daughter, I have caviar taste on a hot dog budget.

The best part, we had a lot of fun and made a lot of good memories.

 



The Long and Short of It

Another First
Eating Crab Legs for the first time.  YUM!

 

Ice Skating. I made it around twice (holding on to the wall)