90 years

Yes, it has been so long since I posted last but I'll explain and celebrate in a future post. However, all week I've been thinking about my desire to post about my Grandmother's 90th birthday. Last weekend my family threw a very nice open house for her. When I arrived I hugged her and she said "This is the best birthday I've ever had."

That statement, along with simply thinking about how many years 90 really is, made me reflect - all week, because it took me so long to make time for blogging. When I'm 90 (I can only hope), will I say the same thing? Or will I look back remembering more fondly of when I turned 21 or some other "prime age"? I believe that she has made the conscious decision to decide that she is going to view the present as the best time in her life. She probably can't do everything she could 50 years ago, but she is happy because she has a positive attitude about the life the lord has provided her. There is definitely something to think about here.

As I said, I've also started to think about how many years and how many moments 90 years contain. The party venue was decorated with the numerous marriage and baby quilts my grandmother has embroidered in her life. The whole family also submitted photos that were linked together in a slideshow set to music. Both of these symbolically represented so much of her life. However, I also reflected on the history that she has experienced. She has lived through the depression, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, WWII, JFK being shot, the lifestyles of the 50s, 60s and 70s, the farming crisis of the 80s, the death of three children, the marriage of five children, the death of her spouse, September 11, the construction of interstates, getting her first automobile, the addition of television, and the microwave. Obviously, when I start to think of it, this list could go on and on.

She is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, and child of God! She has experienced so much in 90 years and lived her life as she saw fit. There is truly reason to celebrate!

A garage sale high!

There are a variety of things that give me an adrenaline rush and a feeling of accomplishment. They include a well-executed event, a great workout, a long-procrastinated task finally completed and more. This morning I added something new to that list. I achieved a high from going to a garage sale!

This was not your ordinary garage sale. It was a specialized baby and kid garage sale with racks and racks of clothes, strollers, furniture and even a full size swing set. It was far beyond my imagination. Over 70 families contributed to all the merchandise, some still bearing original tags. Outerwear, which looked barely worn, included London Fog and other high-end designers.

I called my oldest sister proclaiming my discovery and inquired what she might need for her 4 month old, partially because I can only do so much damage not knowing what sex the little person in my belly is. After more than an hour of pilfering through racks and racks of clothing, I checked out and proudly dialed my husband to inform him that "I hit the garage sale motherload!"

The best piece of information I picked up is that this is a regular occurrence. They do it this weekend every September and have another in mid-April. I'm marking my calendar now and may invite friends!

If you have read this far, you probably think I've lost my mind, but think carefully about the things that excite you! We all have our strange little addictions!

Warm apple cider

I find myself on the verge of a crummy cold. J has been fighting something for about a week and I think I got it. I haven't taken time to look up what I can and can't take for it but in the mean time, I've decided a warm beverage and an early retirement will be my treatment tonight. While I was at the grocery store tonight, I bought a gallon of apple cider and I'm looking forward to heating it up and letting warm me from the inside out.

I'm questioning why I never get sick during a week that I don't have much going on, when my body could rest and I could feel somewhat reasonable about taking a sick day. With a big event scheduled for Friday, I just don't think I can afford to be out but my body may not give me a choice.