Wiser Older Woman

The MOPS, (Mothers of Preschoolers), group at our church, has invited several older women to host a panel for the younger moms to ask questions about parenting, marriage and the spiritual life of their family.
Paula has been attending MOPS for several year, Andrea and Amanda started this year since they are home with preschoolers. And I have helped with the preschoolers for a couple of years also. The Moms have a meeting, the preschoolers have a Bible class and playtime.
I feel honored to be asked to be on this panel. Not that I am wise, but I have experienced many of the same situations that concern these Moms.
The Moms submitted a list of questions and concerns for the panel. I am so excited to be able to share some things that helped me when I was home with preschoolers.
This has inspired me to examine my own spiritual life, and do some intense Bible study.
Also to remember the woman I consider to be my mentor in my walk with Christ. Patsy Jackson was my children's first Sunday School teacher. Patsy taught the 2 year olds at Woodhaven. I still remember her teaching Brad "God Made The Birds That Fly In The Sky". I now have the honor of teaching my children's children and more children that song.
One of the first scriptures that I went to in my Bible study was Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman. She works from the rising sun to the setting sun, grows her own food, makes her own clothes, is kind to others, her family praises her. How can we even begin to be a virtuous woman?
Thankfully, Jesus loves us even when we are not that virtuous woman. The love that Jesus gave, unconditional love, eternal love, we need only to accept it to receive the peace that passeth understanding.
Somehow I want to share with those Moms what Jesus has given me. The gift of salvation, the love of Jesus has helped me grow and find happiness. I have been poor, I have been sad, I have yelled at my children, and husband, I have been despondent, embrassed, ashamed, I have sinned. But I know that Christ has forgiven my past, present and future sins.
Please pray for me as I prepare with prayer and Bible study for this panel, that I will be able to share and help these young Moms as they strive to be Godly women.
Also, please share with me your favorite scriptures that help you and guide you.

March 5, 1977

(Istanbul Turkey 2008)

Happy Anniversary Kay and Jim!

Ron and I along with Kay and Jim, will celebrate our 32nd anniversary Thursday, March 5.

What a great adventure this has been! The years have gone by so fast.

Three children, three homes, three weddings, 5 1/2 grandchildren! So many blessings! So many experiences, happy and sad, that we have shared.

I don't feel like a 53 year old woman that has been married over 30 years, my mind tells me that I am still young. But then I remember how much more I know now. I have experience and knowledge that only comes with living for 53 years and being married to the same man for 32 years. I have so much knowledge to share. I know it all, just ask me! Just joking! People just tell me I am a know it all. The older I get the more I realize what all I don't know.

But I will be happy to share a little of what I have learned about being married for so long.

Have God in your marriage. God will direct your path in marriage as in other parts of your life.

Marry your best friend. You will be spending a lot of time together, you should really like each other.

Be quick to forgive, back to having God in your marriage, he tells us to forgive. You have to even if you don't want to, and you may be the one needing to be forgiven next.

Laugh a lot, at yourself and with your loved one. I fell in love with Ron because he made me laugh! He still does.

Don't take yourself to seriously, think, 30 years from now, will this matter.

Treasure each day, we never know how long we have together.

One last bit of advice, marry a good person!

I wrote on my profile that Ron is a good man, I have called him a lot of things, not always nice, but he is a good man. I think that is a nice thing to say about him. Ron is one of the few people that I know that has read the Bible front front to back, every word.

Ron obviously loves his family. His favorite vacation is to take the kids and grandkids anywhere. It doesn't matter where, he just enjoys being with them all.

Ron has built a business that even he never could have imagined. He works hard, works smart and attributes any and all success to the grace of God.

Ron is patient, kind, compassionate, funny and I think he is still pretty cute.

And for some reason, he still loves me, even though he knows all of my many faults.