(Wrote this about a week ago…couldn’t decide if I wanted to publish it because it’s very personal, but–here goes!)

Well, I’m 62 today!  Used to seem sooo old to me, but from this vantage point doesn’t seem so bad. Unless I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, that is…so I try not to hang around mirrors much.

It’s been a few weeks since I actually wrote an original, written-by-me post.  I do apologize to those of you who are reading my blog.

The thing is, the sudden death of my brother-in-law a month ago kind of knocked me sideways–more than I expected it to, and so I really couldn’t come up with anything to write about–just sat at the computer drawing a blank.

I promise to do better now that I’m gathering my wits about me again (although there might be a few people that would dispute that has happened).

Some reflections on this day of my birth…

First…I had a big plan to retire by today that didn’t come together quite as I had hoped. To say that’s been discouraging would be a gross understatement. It wasn’t helped by the fact that my iPhone decided to remind me yesterday while I was at work that it was supposed to be my last day at work…forgot I had set that appointment for myself.  So, I have to regroup and rethink my plan…now I’m giving myself until June.

Second…I thought I’d have gotten into better shape than I have (no one’s fault but my own), but nevertheless, it’s disappointing.  It’s hard when the buck stops here and it’s yourself that’s holding it.

Lest you think all my thoughts are negative, I’ll move on to some more positive things I’ve determined:

I’ve reached a decision about my art.  I want to use it for ministry, so follow me to see how it works out.  I already do drawings for military families, in memory of or to honor their family members who are serving or have served.  I want to design a line of  cards that can be used for circumstances that aren’t currently addressed by most greeting cards:
^ adoption congratulations cards
^ sympathy cards for someone experiencing a miscarriage
^ congratulations cards for families taking in foster kids
^ thank you cards for active military personnel and veterans
^ cards that can be used as focal points to assist with meditation/stress relief during difficult times, such as undergoing chemotherapy, recovery from surgery, childbirth…

Fourth–I want my blog posts to make people laugh and cry, but most of all I want people who read it to THINK!

Fifth–Finally get my sweet dog Lucy trained as a therapy dog so that we can go to visit patients in hospitals, help children recover after catastrophes and Rick can take her to therapy sessions with some of his clients.  This dog needs a vocation!

So, that’s my next plan…onward and upward I go–straight on ’til morning.

P.S.  If you have ideas for unusual situations that greeting cards do not currently address, please send them my way –I can use the help!