October Musings

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."  Dr. Seuss

"You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old."  George Burns

As a fifty-something woman, my life these days is full of musings.  

I am sure this has a lot to do with more than five decades of living gone by, 

with a variety of sweet memories and sad remembrances.  

A musing is defined as a period of reflection and thought.  

"October is the one month when temperatures moderate in the daytime and invigorate us in the evening.  This month and change in the weather is conducive to reflective thought, exhilarating exercise, outdoor labor, charitable endeavor, courtships 

and pleasant romps with babies and small children." 

~Russell Baker, NYTimes, Ode to October~

Just sitting still for a few minutes on this beautiful October day, my mind wanders back to when our children were small and there was little time to be still and dream.  

Life was all a whirlwind, active and full.  

 Our life today, though definitely different, is just as much fun, but only if my husband and I make a conscious effort for it to be so.  On Mondays and Wednesdays, we go to a Hot Pilates class together on our local Marietta Square.  We prepare light evening meals to share afterwards.

We both enjoy the football season, time with friends, and frequent visits to nearby Blue Ridge Lake. 

This past weekend, we took a trip to see our son and his beautiful bride in their new hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. They thoughtfully planned a visit they imagined we would enjoy including a visit to the stunning Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (pictured above), the GROVE neighborhood Fall Festival, a stop at the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, a walk through the nearly 1,400 acres at beautiful Forest Park (pictured below), a treat at the famous Ted Drewes, a frozen custard stand founded in 1929, and a Sunday morning breakfast at their favorite coffee shop, Cafe Ventana.  

Even with all of this, when we were not in our hotel room, 

we still had plenty of time to simply hang out at their homey apartment.  It was such a fun weekend!

Both our daughter (as of 03/29/14)and our son (as of 06/21/14) are now married and have begun a life on their own with their new spouses and 

we couldn't be happier with their chosen partners and the lives they have before them.

While our son, Walker and his bride live more than 500 miles away, our daughter, Leah and her husband are nearby.  We will celebrate Leah's 26th birthday this Wednesday, October 8th!

Life is Good.

Just as we started our lives as a young couple more than 32 years ago, 

the four of them are beginning theirs.

The beat goes on...

Leaving a Legacy: Part One

"Many times from those who die, we learn how to live."  ~Diane Sawyer, American Journalist, in the days following the 9/11/01 tragedy

My alarm chimed at 5:15 a.m yesterday to remind me that I had promised to drive to Thomaston, Georgia for the day.  My husband of 32 years grew up there and his Dad, Don Page was going to be the speaker of the week at the local Kiwanis Club.  I was really glad I was able to be there to hear my father-in-law tell about his life's mission of serving others.  At nearly 84 years of age, after a tumultuous, impoverished upbringing, Don rose above to be the first in his family to attend college, followed by Law School at the University of Georgia.  As I listened to this brief talk, I considered the strong legacy Donald A. Page, Sr. has built for his children, his grandchildren and future generations-one of service, kindness, godliness and love.
As I drove home alone in silence, I pondered the challenge of leaving a positive legacy when we pass on.  I often repeat the anonymous quote:  "This isn't a dress rehearsal.  We only get one chance at this life."  What kind of legacy do you and I want to leave?  I find myself invited by Don to rise up, to live the best life possible while there is still sand in the hour glass.

I hope you'll check out one of my favorite songs about this subject: Nichole Nordeman's "Legacy"

Grammar and Such

I'm a little out of practice, so please forgive me for the couple of grammar mistakes. I honestly must blame it on my IPad !!! HaHa, in the past, my blogging has been done on a laptop and now I am working on this...it, or perhaps, I am, temperamental! More posts to come, hopefully, with less mistakes ! Stay tuned!

50 Something Woman: LIFE as a 50 Something Woman

50 Something Woman: LIFE as a 50 Something Woman

LIFE as a 50 Something Woman

I am so happy to be resuming my 50 Something Woman Blog and I look forward to you joining me on this journey , as together, we encourage each other, our daughters, sisters, girlfriends, granddaughters, nieces, and all the beautifully made women on our lives to be strong and courageous.

Recently, our pastor, Ike Reighard said:  "The day our memories are greater than our dreams is the day we are dead in the water."  I don't want to be dead until the it's time come to be dead, until the sand runs out in the hourglass. So , let's dream and live while there is life!

What are your dreams?  "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."  -Marcel Proust-

TIME FLIES

Okay, here I go again! My last published entry on this blog was January 31, 2010 and I have covered a lot of ground since that day. I am certain that you have, too!
Now it is November 4, 2010...276 days later and I am reminded how quickly the moments, the days, the months fly during this season of my life.
Since my last post, our son made a decision to go to a college far from home and our daughter began her senior year at a university nearby.
That leaves my husband of 28 years and I in an infamous "empty nest". I have been enjoying some substitute teaching in addition to my ministry projects that I take care of as they arise.
What about you??? Has your 2010 flown by, as well?
I trust that as you ponder the details of your year that your heart is content. I continue to be convinced that the three things that matter most are...
FAITH*****FAMILY*****FRIENDS

BE BLESSED!

OUR DAUGHTER

These past few days must be recorded in the memory bank! Our daughter and eleven of her college friends came for a visit with us in the North Georgia Mountains. This group of young people, along with three other 5o something couples, enjoyed a most incredible long stretch of hours. As I sit here in the quiet, my heart is overflowing with happiness and joy over how this time was spent and I am grateful to God for the blessing of life and living!
As I think about our daughter, I recall her saying how much we would like and enjoy these friends she was bringing home. She was right! These students were polite, gracious, helpful, and fun to have around.
As I sit here in this now serene setting, my mind wanders back to various seasons in our daughter's life... a laughing infant in my arms, a two year old running down River Street in Savannah feeding the pigeons, a six year old crying because she did not like the clothes she had to wear to school, an eleven year old tomboy, short hair, biking, climbing trees, loving life, a seventeen year old soccer player who is furious at her parents because we could not let her stay overnight at a party place that we considered undesirable, and presently a strong, beautiful, confident, friendly and smart young adult who brought home 11 friends for the weekend who appear to be on a good path to a truly bright future. Perhaps we are now experiencing some fruit of our labor as we have worked hard to be the kind of parents that I believe we are called to be.


"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."

Author Unknown


I love you, Leah, and I thank our God for the gift you are in my life, and you were right, your friends are great people to know!