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Embracing My Gray

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In December of 2018, I made the conscious decision to allow my hair to turn to its natural gray color. I had done these earlier, but I just did not feel that I was completely ready to embrace it, so I had returned to coloring it.

When I tell my friends that I am “going gray” I get the inevitable “Why, you are too young!”

Allow me to take just a few minutes to explain my thinking…..

Several months ago I began posting on Instagram more frequently. It is a great place to share my Bible journaling and a great place to find inspiration from others. During one of my casual strolls through the recently posted photos I discovered “Advanced Style”. This is the blog and Instagram account of Ari Seth Cohen. In the photos of his account I saw the faces of men and women who embraced their age and tried to show everyone around them that even “senior citizens” can be young at heart. These men and women had personal style and flair in the way they dressed, their hairstyles, and the way they embodied being “old”.

While I would never wear many of the outfits that some of these women wore, I admire their spirit! They truly live that quote that says,

Life in Your YearsThe men and women whom Cohen photograph make the most of every day they are given. The color of their hair is simply a minor detail, not a controlling factor.

Women like these…..

have inspired me to allow nature to take its course.

Phillipians 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” I am ready for that crown of splendor! I have earned it and I want to wear it proudly!

If you have been toying with the idea of embracing your gray hair or if you just want to be inspired like I am, go to Cohen’s blog post “These Ladies Will Inspire You to Let Your Hair Go Gray”. Notice the smiles on the faces of these ladies, see how truly ALIVE they are! Perhaps it will inspire you too! If nothing else, perhaps you will see how age can be just a number and gray hair can be just a color……

 

Faith

Alone VS. Lonely

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There is a big difference between being ALONE and being LONELY, but it has taken me a few months to realize this.

Being ALONE is a physical state. It has to do with being the only person in a particular area. I have been ALONE in my house for a few months- forgive me sweet Truffles, but you are a dog and you cannot talk to me.

Being LONELY is a mindset. It has to do with how I allow myself to feel. I allow myself to focus on the fact that there is not another human being here and I allow myself to sink into the negative feelings relating to that.

As a Christian, I had to come to grips with the fact that I did not have someone here to greet me each night and ask, “How was your day?” I did not have someone to help dig into the laundry or the dishes when I had experienced a long day and just wanted someone else to help. I did not have someone to curl up next to for warmth during a cold snap.

What I DID have was someone that was ever present, always there to listen and offer support.

I truly think that God has presented me with an OPPORTUNITY– an OPPPORTUNITY to read my Bible more, an OPPORTUNITY to experiment with my creative talents, a OPPORTUNITY to grow as both a person and a Christian!

One of the things that I have been doing with some of my time is Bible journaling. Here is my entry for today:

Alone vs Lonely

I have had this particular Bible for months. It has been sitting here in my craft room, still in the box, untouched. I was feeling a bit intimidated by all of the empty space on a page and wondered if I really had the creativity to fill it. A few weeks ago I finally got up the nerve to open the box, take out the Bible, and put pen to the pages. God has given me that creative strength!

This entry uses a watercolor tutorial from Jenna, over at Scribbling Grace. If you are new to Bible journaling and you are feeling a little intimidated, check her out! She will definitely inspire you.

I do not know when this time of being ALONE will finally end, but I am so thankful that God has provided me with the security of knowing that I do NOT have to be LONELY! He is always with me!

 

Faith

Sometimes God Says, “NO”

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This morning I went upstairs to do my usual Bible reading and devotional. At the present time I am working my way through ByTheWell4God‘s “Liars and Thieves” study. Today’s subject was supposed to be feeling inadequate. I read through the devotional text and was all set to admit my feelings of not being good enough and do an entry about that when I opened my bible and started reading the full text from God’s word. It was then that I came across these particular verses:

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Then I looked at the bottom of the page in my study Bible to read the study notes and it was pointed out that God said, “No” and No really is an answer.

What?

Wait a minute- Look at that again-

Yes…. Three times Paul pleaded with the Lord and God’s response was to say, “No. My grace is good enough for you. My power will help you through this time of your weakness.”

I have been praying for quite a while now about some personal things and I have not received an answer. Or at least I THOUGHT I had not received one. Perhaps God was speaking to me and saying, in his own gentle way, “No” or “Not yet”. Maybe I am just being a bit too impatient or maybe God has a better answer for me- one that I have not considered. Either way, my focus at that very second totally switched.

Instead of thinking about being inadequate I found myself focusing on God as my father, gently taking my hand and saying, “No, my child. I know best.”

Yes, indeed he does!

And with that….. here is today’s entry in my faith journal:

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It has nothing to do with inadequacies, but it does serve as a reminder to me that sometimes God really does say, “No” and that too IS AN ANSWER!

Faith

January Check-In

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The first month of my “Thrive at 55” year is now behind me. In keeping with my accountability I wanted to do a check-in to show my progress.

Goal 1: Daily Bible reading, prayer time, and Bible journaling

I have been able to do this every day this year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I took part in the Daughters of Promise lettering challenge this month that was hosted by Move the Mountains and it allowed me to stretch myself. I also did my very first devotional from BytheWell4God. This was the “I AM” Bible study and it focused on the book of John. I was in awe of the stamps and products that I received and I still have a bunch of them left for my future pages. I am hooked on these kits! I have received my second one and I am anxious to jump in! I have been doing journaling in 2 separate Bibles. One of them uses primarily colored pencils as the medium, but the second has thicker pages, so I am able to try some watercolor and other mediums. (I have more exciting news coming about my progress with this goal, but you will have to wait until next month for that.)

Goal 2: Eat better

Thanks to my sweet hubby I have been able to do very well with this goal also. He bought me an Instant Pot for Christmas and I have been using it and my crockpot to cook more and eat less “fast food” type items. I have not gone NO carb, but I am eating LOW carb. I am using wraps more and eating less bread. I have also let the fries go aside for now- I actually tried to eat a couple and they just did not taste as good to me anymore.

Goal 3: Walk more

I have been able to do very well with this goal. As a matter of fact, I have done better than I anticipated. I wanted to walk 5.5 miles at least each day and I have been able to do that all but 4 days in January! Thanks to some unseasonably warm days I was able to go above and beyond my goal on several days.

All of this combined to help me really surprise myself! Here is my actual stats report

January Stats

I am so excited! Even with a sinus infection and a Polar Vortex this month I was able to come out smiling!

January selfie

Moving into February I am anxious to see what I can accomplish!

Faith

Faith in a Difficult Time

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I have been doing quite well with my “Thriving” new year- until this past weekend.

I had been walking at least 5.5 miles each day and eating better, I start each morning with prayer and Bible study, and I have been having a much more positive outlook on things. THEN…..

I got sick.

Thursday I went to the doctor and got 2 shots and a prescription for antibiotics for a sinus infection, but I tried to keep my good attitude.

Friday I went to visit Glenn and Kari. I enjoyed the day, but seeing Glenn with his health issues and Kari trying to deal with some things on her own it really tugged at my heart. I left both of them that day with tears streaming down my face. All I wanted at that moment was to stay with them and not have to drive away.

Then Saturday morning I woke up with my sinus infection really getting me down and I slept most of that day and Sunday. It was bad enough to be sick, but even worse to be sick and alone.

Flash forward to Monday morning when I opened my morning devotional to discover the passage beginning with this verse:

hebrews-11

At this point in my life the number one thing that I hope for is that our house will finally sell, giving us enough money for me to make the move to the Corbin area with Glenn. Deep down in my heart I keep telling myself and God, “I thank you God for the plan that you have for us. I know that in your time you will reveal it to us. You are working even now to bring us a buyer so that we can be reunited as a family.”

At the same time, however, I feel my faith as shaky. I ask God’s forgiveness for that shakiness, but some days (like those this past weekend) it becomes very difficult to stay so upbeat and positive about everything. It has been 14 months since Glenn left here and settled in his new job. I am so glad that he enjoys it there and that his stress has minimized. I am also glad that God has provided some new doctors that seem to have his health challenges headed in the right direction. Yet, I am so unhappy that he is there and I am here.

Everyone keeps saying, “Why don’t you just go?” But, I can’t just leave the house. It is the only BIG thing that we own and, though it is sad to say, I do not think it would be safe to leave it empty. We cannot just rent it either; we really need to sell it in order to have the money to find a new home and begin our new lives.

I know that God is using this time in my life to strengthen my faith. He and I are spending a lot of time together- time that I might not have had if I was caught up in setting up a new home. I have the assurance of knowing that one day I will look back on this time period and realize WHY God had us wait so long to be together, but that doesn’t always bring me comfort right now.

I will continue to try to THRIVE….. as soon as the weather clears and I can return to my daily walking outside or at school. I will continue my morning sessions with Bible study and Bible journaling and I will continue to wait on God’s plan to be revealed- but it is definitely difficult.

Faith, Family

Investing in Myself

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This weekend I made an investment- it was not an investment in the stock market or an investment in a cd or banking account. It was an investment in MYSELF!

If you know me very well, you know that I hate to spend money on myself. I will wear clothes until they are worn thin. I will buy a palette of makeup and use it for a year or more until it runs out. I never get a facial or a manicure, though my nails could use some help!

Instead, I prefer to buy things that I know others need. I will pick up something that I know one of my children would love or when I see the special little something that would add a twinkle to someone’s eyes I splurge and snap it up!

This time I allowed myself the personal freedom to make two major purchases that would be an investment in my own physical and spiritual well being.

investment

I have devoted this year as my year to get my body and my spirit in top notch shape. I want to THRIVE in all things- but especially in my health and in my faith.

I purchased a new Study Bible and a brand new pair of Brooks athletic shoes.

Now, these purchases did not come without a little twinge of guilt. I went to five stores before finally picking the right pair of shoes. I tried on several lower priced pairs, but I kept hearing my daughter’s voice in the back of my head. “Mom, you need to get a good pair with support. You are walking a lot and you have to take care of your feet.” You see, my daughter has been a runner for a long time. She was on both her high school and college cross country and track teams. Over the years we have purchased many pairs of shoes, but Kari always kept coming back to the Brooks brand. She swears by them!

In the final store I actually tried on and even picked up a different brand, lower priced and on sale. I was not sure if they would offer me the support that I know my aging, over-pronated feet need, but I was willing to take a chance. Then the worker from the shoe department walked up and said, “Can I help you?” After some conversation he made his recommendation and, lo and behold, Kari was right. Brooks it was going to be!

As for the study bible I had already conducted an online search, but I really wanted to hold the Bibles in my hands, flip through them, and see what I thought in person. I found several study bibles at a lower priced discount store earlier in the day, but none of them really spoke to me. I already have a King James Version as well as an NIV, but I wanted something else that would help me delve deeper into God’s word. The one I ended up selecting was a CSB- Christian Standard Bible. I picked it because it provided the easy to understand text and also had notes that were based on the original languages in which the bible was written. (NOTE here- I was able to use a $10 off coupon for the purchase, so that helped ease my personal twinge of guilt just a bit.)

Yes, these two purchases were more expensive than I am used to making- especially for something for my personal use, but I know that they are an investment in me and in my well-being. I look forward to many miles of walking in those shoes and many hours of deep and meaningful Bible study! And…… who knows? Maybe these purchases will help ease my guilt twinges the next time I see something that I would really like to buy- just because I deserve it!

Faith

A Snowy Thanks

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My usual morning routine involves heading straight to the shower, getting dressed, and then heading upstairs to complete my morning devotional and Bible reading. This morning the devotional mentioned having thanks like a little child.

If you are a parent or you have spent much time around little ones you have probably heard their list of things they are thankful for, especially in those bedtime prayers. Of course, they list the big things like thank you for Mom and Dad, but they also notice the little things like Grandma’s macaroni and cheese, and the fish they caught when they went fishing with Grandpa.

Too often, we as adults, forget to notice the little things. We give thanks for our home, our spouse, our children, and our job, but we find ourselves too busy in our day to day life to take notice of the little blessings that come our way.

After my devotional study I ate my breakfast and then headed out for my morning walk. Overnight we had been graced with a small snow, one of the first real measurable ones we have had this year. As I headed out on my walk I found myself flashing back on my devotional and paying more attention to those little things that made the experience so wonderful: the melodious praise songs coming through my iPod and headphones, the soft crunch of the snow beneath my feet in those few silent seconds between tunes,

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the green grass peeping between the snowy piles which serve as a promise that spring and its warm weather will return,

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the beauty of the snow covered Kentucky landscape,

 

the memories of my little children playing and laughing in the chilly air,

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and even the intermittent pain in my shins which remind me that I am strengthening my body.

Maybe it was the fact that I gave myself permission to slow down and just enjoy the experience.

Maybe it was the fact that I was the only one out and about this cool, snowy morning.

Maybe it was that God was using the walk to reinforce the devotional that I had read this morning.

Whatever the reason, this walk and the opportunity it provided for giving praise was one I will cherish. It also reminded me that I need to notice the little things more often!

Please, allow yourself a break from your typical daily hustle and bustle so that you too can notice the little blessings in your life! Get out and go for a walk or look back through some old family photos. Pay attention to the little things that God has blessed you with and give him thanks!

 

Faith

A New Year- A New Mindset

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Happy New Year! It does not seem possible that another calendar year has come and gone. The last 365 days have been so eventful for me and for my family: a cancer diagnosis, a college graduation, a wedding, 2 new jobs, and 2 moves between us all.

Looking ahead to 2019 is even more “iffy” and “foggy” for me. Will we sell our house? Will I lose the weight I need to? Will my husband’s health get back on the right track? What do the next 365 days hold for my parents? My children?

Though I cannot see the future, there is one who knows it all.

Jeremiah 29 11

The Lord knows exactly what his plans are for us all in the coming year. He plans my future and wants me to keep pressing on, trusting in him to be my guide and my support.

When I picked my word for the year, “THRIVE”, this is one of the verses that kept coming to mind. God doesn’t want me to just sit here, waiting for his plans to come to fruition. He wants me to get out there and LIVE- Live a life of hope, a life of joy, and a life that is abundant!

It may sound easy, but for me, I am sure it will not be. I have always been an emotional being- I sense sorrow more deeply; I overthink choices; I always see both the positive AND the negative (sometimes focusing more on that negative side, unfortunately).

I have already taken certain steps to try to get on the right path: I am doing daily Bible readings and Bible journaling, I have ordered my first inspirational book, I have placed an order for some health products that should help me maintain a better lifestyle, and I have signed up for a Step challenge- 2019 Miles in 2019. (Sidenote here: I also purchased my daughter a membership so she could team up with me. I do not think I could ever do all 2019 miles on my own, but I will sure give it a try!) I also plan to post updates here regularly.

I would LOVE to get some supportive comments back from anyone who cares to leave them. What are your goals for the new year? What do you hope to achieve? Do you have any advice to help me THRIVE? Help me be accountable- keep me in line- I can use all of the help I can get!

Faith

Let’s Give It Another Try

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A while back I thought I had selected my word for the year. I posted about the word STRIVE and why I had selected it. THEN…… God intervened.

I got up that morning….. as usual.

I showered and dressed…. as usual.

I went upstairs to do my morning devotions…. as usual….

AND GOD spoke!

There written on the page in my devotional book before me was the following verse, “He says, stop your striving and recognize that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

That made me stop and think. Was God trying to tell me that I had strived enough? Did I just need to trust him to follow through?

This year has been a tough one. My mother’s dementia worsened, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I was responsible for doing much of the help with them. My husband started the year recovering from a broken foot, moved to another county over an hour away to accept a new job, my son moved away to take a new job, and my daughter got married and moved away to start her new life. Through all of that I had worked to try to sell our house and to maintain a new “Perspective”- to lean on God more for guidance, and to try to rebuild my Bible study and devotional life.

It has all taken a toll on me. I have had some bouts of depression, I have begun taking medication, I have felt lonely at times, and I have gained weight. It has been a lot of work, and I have often felt like I was merely waiting for the next shoe to fall and the next battle to begin.

After encountering this Bible verse, I felt that I needed to pray, to really think about things, and to seek advice from others. In doing so, I found a wonderful devotional called You Were Meant to Thrive. As I read through the words, it was as though they had been written just for me, though it had actually been written back in 2014. I kept thinking about one of my favorites songs, “Thrive” by Casting Crowns. Maybe I have been trying so hard to push myself to maintain a smile, to make it through one day at a time, to literally just survive until our house finally sells and I can be reunited with my husband. Maybe God wants more of me; maybe he wants me to stop my striving and allow myself to rest in his grace and allow myself to Thrive!

I want to thrive as a witness for Christ.
I want to thrive as a loving, supportive wife.
I want to thrive as a mother who is learning to mother adult children.
I want to thrive as a creative person who shares her talents with others.
I want to thrive as a human being to get in better health.
Deep down I know that God can help me do ALL of those things. I just need to allow him to. I truly think that if I pray about it and do my best to listen, God will show me the way!

Crafting Fun, Faith

Crafting a Purpose

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I have been taking part in the 100 Days of Grace and Gratitude since November 1 and it has been a true blessing! Here is today’s entry:

 

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It focused on the fact that God has a purpose for each one of us. Over the years I have come to realize that part of my purpose is to use my crafting skills to bless others. I crochet, quilt, stitch, and paint items for those who request them. When they ask my price and I tell them, they are often surprised. My husband and family tell me that I underprice things, but I feel that as long as I am making a small profit, that is enough.

My biggest craft item in recent years has probably been the memory bear. Several years ago someone posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew where they could get a bear made from clothing from a loved one. At that point I had never made one, but I had sewn a lot of other things. I decided that I would give it a try.

As I cut into that first shirt I said a prayer that I would serve the memory of the owner and represent their love to the loved ones left behind.

Bear 1

Since then I have made many bears. Each one is a blessing. If there is a stain, a ruffle, a special piece of lace or embroidery, I try to keep it and use it as a part of the finished bear because it is part of the special memories for the family.

What many people don’t realize is that the bears as also a blessing for me. When I deliver a bear to the owner and I see the look of love on their face, it touches my heart. I am so thankful that God blessed me with this talent and helped me to realize that I could do this as a blessing for others.

I truly believe that this is part of God’s purpose for me!