Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What's So Boomin' About Being a Boomer?

So, I turned 54 years old this week. Wow! How did that happen? Just yesterday I was 29 and giving birth to my first child! It's true what Mom has always said, the older you get, the faster time flies.

This seaon of my life brings so much change and I just do not do change well at all. My father-in-law died DEC 2005; our older son got married Summer of 2007; our younger son began college Fall of 2007; and my father died 2 years ago Thanksgiving. While all are natural occurrences in the cycle of life, they bring change. One positive change has been our purchase of a coastal home in the Florida Panhandle. Yes, we are blessed by this luxury and my hubby has reduced the stress in his life by enjoying salt water fishing. But....this second home is still a change.

Maybe I'm sounding a little whiny, so let me reflect on my many blessings I am experiencing during  this stage of life.

My mother, who has suffered debilitating anxiety and depression over the years, is actually coping fairly well with the loss of my daddy. I am coping very well with the loss of my daddy! If you'd told me before Daddy became ill that I would have handled his illness and death so well, I would have disagreed with you. Surely it was and is the grace and mercy of God, and the fact I was able to spend almost every day with Daddy after the grim diagnosis.

Being a mother-in-law has not been nearly as difficult as I had imagined. Our daughter-in-law loves our son and The Lord! What more could a mother ask for her son! 

As for parenting our adult child who is still living at home, this, too has been relatively easier than I anticipated. At the age of 22, he works and attends college and respects house rules while contributing to the care of home and property. His joyful spirit is a light in our home and we will truly miss him when he creates a home of his own.

Our 29 year marriage has not been without bumps in the road. My hubby and I have remained committed to our wedding vows and God has honored that. We enjoy our time together, but also appreciate our time apart. I am pursuing my writing career while he pursues the biggest fish in the sea!!!

We are so very blessed that our mothers are independent and healthy, continuing to live alone, attend church, and enjoy their families and churches. We are so very blessed that our finances and health are stable. We are so very blessed that we have loving and attentive children who serve the Lord with their time, talents, and treasures.

So, what is so boomin' about being a boomer? GRANDCHILDREN!!! Our first grandchild, a little boy, is due in 5 weeks. His name is Judah Nathaniel, which means, Praise God for He has given!

Merry Christmas y'all!

Soon to be Grandmother Mom and loving it!