Thank you, Soldiers!

It is Memorial Day and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of the active, reserve and retired military personnel who have made many sacrifices to keep us safe.

Thank you to my Dad who served in the Navy in World War II, who lived to the golden age of 93, until we lost him of heart failure last year.

Dad

Thank you to my big brother who served in Vietnam. I was only three when he went there. I remember taking him to the airport and it was the first time I had ever been there and I was fascinated by the planes. I remember my brother waving goodbye and Mom crying, and my Dad comforting her. How hard it must have been for them, and for all of the parents who had to watch their sons and daughters go off to the Vietnam conflict. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families who have mourned today for the lives of their loved ones who died for our safety and continued freedom.

Garden 2020: A Reflection on Growth

Pandemic. We are all tired of IT, and the word itself. But, I would like to talk about one great thing IT caused in my family’s life- we started gardening again! Last year was the first time in years we had planted a garden. My hubby and my 16-year-old son worked hard to get rid of all the years of weeds, trees, grass, and the old fence in our garden patch. Hubby tilled and all of us worked together to install a new fence, and Voila!- we had a blank canvas to plant our favorite veggies. Like life, we had a some struggles- half dead tomato plants via mail, not enough sun because of trees that were overgrown; but, with lots of prayer and hard work, we managed to have some wonderful meals from what we harvested from our garden. We also had some pretty flowers grown from seed we found in the back of the crisper drawer.

A Bee Enjoying one of our Giant Sunflowers
Zucchini Flowers are Beautiful!
All from harvested from our property!

The garden was not only beautiful and delicious, but also healing. What a Blessing to take a patch of overgrown land, work together with my family and make it a place of beauty and a source of food.

We just planted this year’s garden, on Memorial Day, which was the exact same day we planted last year. The sun felt wonderful, the birds were singing, I could hear a woodpecker in the woods and the neighbor’s chicken’s cackling when they laid their mornings eggs. I was working side by side with my husband, which is always wonderful. A lot of things have changed in this past year, and life is even busier, but I am determined to return to my garden oasis as often as possible, and listen to the garden grow.

What is convenience?

What is your idea of convenience?  In my world, it is usually things like automatic bill payments, my cell phone (texting hands-free via Siri while commuting, digital calendar reminders, and shareable notes), and Uncle Ben’s 90 second microwavable rice.  The word “convenience” is defined as the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty.” Do these modern conveniences really help one proceed with little effort or difficulty?  Yes, absolutely!  But, they are not without flaws. Billing mistakes happen, digital calendars disappear (oops iPhone 7S) and Uncle Ben’s rice explodes if you don’t vent (lol, senior moment).  Enjoy and be thankful for the conveniences in your life when they work, and when they don’t work.  After all, isn’t every area of life like that in general, hills and valleys?

Let’s pledge to embrace life and be thankful every day, even if we are in the valley!

Mary Kay
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First blog post-Sunrise, Sunset?

IMG_1894Is this picture a sunrise or sunset?  (FYI- for some web browsers, you may have to click on the title of post to see the picture.)  Bear with me, it fits with my first blog post, eventually…

I’m must be crazy!  Why am I doing this?  I woke up this morning, on my 26th Wedding Anniversary and truly realized that  I am middle-aged.  Yes, a diagnosis of peri-menopause three months ago and letting my hair grow out to its gray reality helped to usher this self-realization .  But today, I owned up to it.  And I want to share with others out there like me that we can survive this time with grace, humor and just let life flow with its natural ups and downs!  Join me in this new avenue of life.

This blog is not to be my gripe and moan place, but a place to share victories in overcoming life’s daily challenges during middle-age.  I want to share what works or fails for me, to help you through this avenue of your life too.

The picture above is a sunset, taken by my daughter on a bicycle tour in Uruguay this past summer.  A sunset has been traditionally used to signify the older years of life.  I see this sunset as a representation of letting go of my youthful expectations and embracing this new era of life. Join me in this adventure…

Mary Kay

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