In a little over two weeks, I turn 50. Like the card we got for a friend last year says: “Turning 50 used to be something old people did!” Yet, here I am!
The first decade of my life was spent moving. I remember 10 houses that we lived in during the first 10 years of my life. A few weeks after my 10th birthday, I would enter 5th grade and the 5th different school.
The second decade of my life brought a lot of new experiences. We moved to Germany when I was 13, I moved back to the States when I was 16, lived with my grandmother and finished high-school. After 2 1/2 years of college, I got married a few weeks before my 20th birthday.
By the time I turned 30, I was fully wrapped up in my role as wife and mother. With a 9 year old, a 6 year old, a one year old and a baby on the way, I had plenty to do! Between turning 20 and 30, hubby and I had moved to Germany and started our ministry here.
The fourth decade of life brought even more changes. Now a mother of 5 children, school life was our life! Heidi turned 18 and started college. So, although our family had grown, we were already starting to empty the nest. We bought our house and for the first time in my life, I felt settled without thinking about moving in the near future.
And here I am turning 50! Two daughters married, adding sons-in-law to our family. Four precious grandchildren have also joined the family. All of the kids are finished with school, I started teaching English and also tutor a number of students. Hubby and I started a church and keep busy loving and reaching out to our church family as well as people in our community.
Here are a few things I have learned:
–I have been blessed far more than I deserve
–life will bring changes
–my relationship to God is the most important part of my life
–my relationship to God influences all of my other relationships
–my work will never be done
–I need to enjoy every moment of life