REFLECTIONS ON "GROWING OLDER"

I would say there are four seasons of life: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. I believe I am presently in the "Fall" of my life and since "Spring" and "Summer" consisted of approximately the first 50 years of my life, I would say I am right at the beginning of the "Fall" of my life and, the Lord willing, may even live to be one hundred! (smile)

Fall is my daughter-in-law's favorite season and this season of my life is, thus far, bringing me great joy.

You know you are getting "older" when ....
* Staying up all night does not sound "fun" at all.
* You start losing your balance and falling ... usually due to carelessness and not
accepting that you are not as young and agile as you used to be.
* Your kids get upset at you for saying you are getting older
* You have grandbabies to spoil
* You stop hair doesn't grow as much, as quickly ... and may even thin out
(on your head and your legs!)
*You start getting used to gray hairs trying to make their appearance
* You start getting pimples, age spots, moles, fatty cells, etc. etc. .... all kind of
strange little "growths" on your body
* You start doing things your mother used to do that drove you crazy!!!!
*Even though you have always been a pack rat, you start getting tired of all the
"stuff" and want to get rid of it
*As you see your kids with their kids you often reflect ( and cry) about the "years
gone" by when you were the young parent caring for your "little ones" ...
* You start understanding how your parents felt when they were your age ... with
young adult children and grandbabies living far away
* Your body hurts in places you never knew there were muscles or bones that
could hurt so bad
* You become more adventuresome ... trying things you never did before, or rarely
ever did, when you were younger.
* You start thinking about preparations you need to make to make it easier on your
kids when you pass on to your heavenly reward... Hoping you will never be a
burden to them.
*You get excited that you are down to, or close to, the "single digits" in years to
retirement ...
* You are getting close to the age of those "Senior Citizen Discounts" and the
Golden Buckeye Card!!!

* ETC., ETC., ETC.....

I am enjoying "growing old" with the one I love. We have become so much like each other over the 34 years we have shared as husband and wife. We are so blessed to have children who really try to assure of us their love and try to make sure our grandbabies know who we are and get to see us as much as possible. Life is good. God has blessed us so richly throughout our lives. Wow! I wonder what He has in store for the last half of our lives?!? No matter what comes our way we will always live by our favorite motto:

"Growing old is inevitable but Growing up is optional!

Live, laugh, love, seize the moment, rejoice in the Lord and don't let today's sorrows rob tomorrow of its joys. Enjoy the "Fall" of your life!!!!