Senior woman holding up birthday cake with lit candles

I snatched this picture off the internet……notice the words under the picture that describe it!

Senior Woman! Yep that is what I am for sure. Our youngest called me this morning as did our twin daughters. The youngest reminded me that now I am legally old. 62 is most definitely a milestone and one that I have been waiting for.

Yes, I have already gone and signed up to draw my social security. I went months ago and you have to be 62 for a whole month which eliminates January and then they keep you a month behind so February is my full month to be 62 and then my direct deposit goes in in March! I am excited about that. Me Money is on the way! Ha!

All joking aside, how do I really feel? I feel wonderful! As the lady in the picture I have the turkey neck going on and I have the age spots all over my face and I have the aches and pains that are the normal facts of getting old.

In my mind I am still as young as 17 and feel that I can do most of what I did then. I just wake up the next morning feeling the effects of most of what I do.

I am a very blessed woman indeed. As I was awakened this morning by the sound of a text message coming into my phone and the many birthday well wishes that I have gotten and still continue to get on this day are all reminders of the many friends and loved ones that I have. I am rich indeed!

When we got pregnant with our fourth child, my father-in-law made the statement to Mark that he would never be a rich man. That is true in worldly riches but in the riches of what really matters that is far from the truth.

Mark and I don’t really care about financial riches and never have. We have all that we need and more and what matters to us is the sphere of love, family, and friendships that we enjoy.

Never was our abundance of love more evident than when Danny died. I remember crying on the way to the church the first night of the visitation and telling Mark that I just hoped that there would be a few flowers and some people there. When we got there it was astounding at the number of people that came and even the ones that never got in the door and had to leave. We left there that night with so much appreciation in our hearts. I remember Matt telling us later that there were a few of his acquaintances there and some of Rachel and Melinda’s but he said, Mom and Dad, most of those people were there for you and Dad and that is a lot to be proud of.

I also know that lots came because of Danny himself and how he was loved.

We have 4 children, 2 of whom are like me and 2 of whom are like Mark. We got the best of both worlds. We each have children that carry on our personalities.

Back to being 62…..the years have flown by. I can’t believe I am this age and the age of 62 is looking younger all the time! I have been blessed with good health and a strong will and attitude that enables me to do a lot for other people. These are the years of my giving back for the many blessings that I have received and it lets me pay it forward to a lot of people that I meet along the way. I am probably the happiest right now than I have ever been. I can pretty much do as I please since we are both retired and have the extra time on our hands.

Your life is not washed up at 62 but in some ways just beginning. Because of Mark’s careful planning I was able to be retired early and that was such a blessing. Now after this birthday I will be able to financially contribute to the life that we lead.

I can look back and see that God has had His hand on my life from the very beginning. I have had the best years and the best family and the best friends and I never forget where it all comes from. The Good Lord has provided it all to me and I never had a birthday feel so good as it does in turning 62!