THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

July 2, 2025

LIFE IN THE FOLD

Yesterday I celebrated my 60^th birthday. I love celebrating birthdays, even at my age! I try to make the celebration last as long as possible; and this year was no exception.

It began a couple weeks ago when my sister and I went to Missouri to spend a few days at our family home. A good friend had contacted my sister and asked if she could stop by and surprise me. She brought me a present, cake, and the three of us went to lunch together. I hadn't seen her in a long time, so that was a nice surprise.

Then on June 21^st, I got another huge birthday surprise! My sister, her daughter and two daughter-in-laws, and my nephew's wife all took me out for a really special birthday lunch. I thought my sister and I were going to do something different, and I was absolutely shocked when I walked out to the car and saw them all inside.

I got to spend my actual birthday with my sweetheart! Jon took the day off from work and we went and got a couple's massage, which was nice and relaxing. He took me out for a nice dinner the night before, then we went out for brunch on my birthday. He gave me a beautiful necklace and a fun novelty t-shirt. We had a really good day together!

My celebration isn't complete yet! This Saturday we are having a big family reunion in Missouri, which I told everyone this is what I most wanted for my birthday -- to spend time with family.

I hope I never ever get to the point where I dread birthdays!

A few weeks ago I had to go to ER (thought I had a possible kidney stone, but didn't.... I'm fine!). The ER doctor came in to talk to me. Something was said about age and she was like, "In July I'm turning 50!" She was hating it!

I told her that I was turning 60 and said, "My fifties was one of my best decades! In fact, I think each decade just keeps getting better and better." She was like, "Really?!?" I told her that I enjoyed my 50's and think it was because I finally came to the point to realize that it's okay to say no to people when I don't want to do something.... I no longer feel pressured by people to do things.... I realize that things that I used to think were so important, really aren't.... I can get by more easily saying what I think.....

This doctor said, "Thank you so much! That really helps me a lot to look forward to being 50."

As with most things in life, I think it all comes down to perspective. Yes, I have some arthritis now that I used to not have. I tire more easily when babysitting kids than I used to. I prefer staying home than going out.... well, I've always pretty much been like that! My skin is saggy and I'm getting age spots. But I still have good health and am able to do pretty much whatever I want (within reason) and I enjoy my life.

I've been thinking about Mama quite a bit here lately. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was in her early 40's and passed away at 48. Yes, I know that she is extremely happy being with Jesus and completely whole! But if given the choice, while she was still on earth, she would have chosen to be healed and to be able to spend many years here with her family. She would have loved to have been there for all of her daughters' weddings and being able to know all of her grandchildren. As it was, she only got to be there for two out of five of her daughter's weddings; and only know her four oldest grandchildren, never getting to be here for the births of the other twelve. She wasn't there for my high school graduation. She would have loved to have had the opportunity to experience all of those things; but God had other plans.

Again, it's about perspective! How can I possibly complain about getting older and experience these years with family? I've already lived twelve years longer than my mom did; and it's been even more years for my sisters.

Compared to Old Testament people in Genesis who lived for hundreds of years, I'm still a baby! Especially compared to Methuselah who lived 969 years! Noah lived 950 years. That seems crazy, right?!? When they were my age, they were just barely getting started in life!

I truly do recognize the fact that I have been incredibly blessed. I have a wonderful loving family, I've always felt safe and protected, and I've always been healthy. Most importantly, I've always had Jesus!

Jon and I recently had a conversation about how people can get their lives so messed up that it causes them to make the choices that they do. Coming from our backgrounds, it's hard to understand the hows and whys. My conclusion was this: when a person doesn't have God in their life, it causes them to look to things in this world to fill that emptiness and void and pain. Having a relationship with Jesus changes everything!

Psalms 139 is one of my very favorites! It begins by saying, "Lord you have examined my heart and know everything about me." God knows everything about me! He knows when I'm sitting, standing, when I'm traveling or away from home. He knows my thought. He knows everything I do. He knows what I'm going to say even before I say it. (I bet there are times when He would like to clamp His hand over may mouth to keep it shut!!!)

The chapter continues by saying that I can never escape His Spirit.... I can never get away from His presence. Never!

God created every part of me and knit me together in my mama's womb -- and watched me as I was being formed. That was back before ultrasounds. But God could perfectly see each tiny part of me as it was being formed, much clearer than what would ever show up on an ultrasound.

God's thoughts toward me are precious. In fact, they are so numerous that the cannot even be numbered.

One of my very favorite verses that I think about often is 16: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

God already knows what this day, this year, this decade holds in store for me. How? Because He recorded it in His book and wrote about each moment, each hour before I was even born! That's pretty incredible. So even though I have no idea what lies ahead for me, God already knows and has my story written!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

I do remember as a young kid thinking that Summer lasted, like, forever. And then each school year felt like it might never end. Each year was an extremely long time.

But now, I've been married for twenty years, and many of the years have gone by very quickly.

I think it's a matter of ratios. When I was 10, a year was 1/10^th of my life. Now, 5 years is 1/10^th of my life. Now, when I've been in heaven for 1000 years, my entire lifetime will be less than 1/10^th of that time (I expect).

Once in awhile, I think about things I might have changed in my life. If I could go back and tell my younger self something useful... Honestly, I suspect people told me those things, but as a kid, I assumed those adults didn't know what they were talking about, or that it didn't apply to me. But if I could have convinced my younger self of several things, or would have listened to when I was younger, my life might have been so much better in some way or another. Maybe.

So, what are those things we are being told now, that we will think back on and wish we would have listened to? We don't have any 1000-year-old friends giving us advice. But we do have God. When He speaks to us, listen! In a thousand years, we would wish we had.

ON THE MENEWE:

Coffee Creamer Homemade Ice Cream

You can use any flavor of coffee creamer you desire, depending on what flavor ice cream you want.

Add all ingredients together, except for the whole milk.

The original recipe, when given to me called for 1-1/4 cups sugar -- the lady told me that they like their ice cream really sweet. I ended up only using about half of that amount (listed above). But mix it all up, then do a taste test before freezing and adjust to your liking.

Pour mixture in your ice cream maker canister; add whole milk to the fill line.

Freeze according to freezer instructions.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

On February 15, 2024 I set a goal of exercising every single day until my 60^th birthday on July 1, 2025. I have never consistently exercised that many days in a row, so knew it would be a challenge! I am very excited to say that I met my challenge and succeeded!!! There were times when I was riding my exercise bike late at night before going to bed; but someway, somehow, I exercised every single day without missing even one. I didn't see the results that I wanted, as far as weight loss or a change in my body size, but I met my challenge. And I am quite proud of myself for doing so!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

You will never influence the world by trying to be like it. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org