It is official. As of Sunday, I am over the hill! It sure doesn’t feel like I’ve been around for 40 years, but here I am.
With Riley’s birthday two weeks ago and Ben’s last week, parties have dominated our social calendar lately. To celebrate my birth we had a party in our backyard Saturday evening (44 people showed up). The guests brought side dishes to accompany the barbecue, cake and ice cream we provided. Rick and Sharon Robinson gave me a bag full of medical items I’ll be needing to face the upcoming years (and after emptying the bag Sharon said, “Oops, I forgot to put in the e-ma!”) I think everyone had a good time. I sure enjoyed sharing the time with some of the people who are special to me.
Sunday afternoon Vicki cooked chicken lasagna for supper and we ate over at Pauline’s. Mom and Aunt Mar brought the chocolate cake we all fight over. Since this time we’ve had a lot of leftovers. Nate made the following observation the other day at supper: “Hey, we had this lasterday!”
It really wasn’t my intention to be reflective, but I must say that God has blessed me these 40 years. I have enjoyed good health to date. I have been blessed be born in a home with two people who have loved me, stood by me and prayed for me. That blessing has even extended to a community of relatives and neighbors who have been important parts of my life. God favored me when He sent Vicki to be part of my life and He has blessed us with three wonderful children.
Each day my goal is to brighten the day of everyone I meet, even if they’re already having a good day. Sometimes I let the wear and tear of life prevent me from doing that, or maybe I just get plain ornery. But that’s the basic idea I want to live my life by. I feel it’s one of my purposes in life and I just hope I live up to it all my days.
Joe
