groups

I live life to the fullest when I wake up each day, at the age of 73 and am able to stand up, give thanks and realize it is “still a great day to be above ground.” A full life continues, each day, when I am able to have breakfast with my best friend of 60 years and to know that sometime during the day one of our children will either email, call or walk in the door and spend a few minutes inquiring about us and always saying, “I love you” when they leave. Living full means still being able to go into my art studio and work on my newest work. view link Or to go into Avalon’s Stained Glass School’s Studio view link and work on one of my newest projects in fused glass. view link Additional fullness arrives when a royalty check from one of my books comes and I am able to send it to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. view link Or when someone still wants to take one of my workshops view link Fullness of life comes when one is able to accept “out living” one’s friends and even two sons and being able to have their memories bring a smile to your face when you think of them or gales of laughter when you retell a story about them. Living life to the fullest means trying to learn something new each day and sharing it with others. It means accepting and surviving cancer, a stroke and dealing, daily, with the aches and pains of growing old with joy in my heart. Living life to the fullest is never letting fear take over my life, never to be bored or be boring to others!

I live my life to the fullest each day when I begin the day with brief exercise and then time for prayer and Scripture reading. At the age of 60 I returned to seminary for a nine-month updating. At that time I took a full schedule of classes, worked 20 hrs a week work study in the library, spent 20 hours a week as a volunteer chaplain in a hospital, and studied Greek for the first time. Since then I have served as pastor in two churches, visiting the homebound, preparing and preaching sermons, taking the elderly to dr. appointments, shopping, and out for lunch to celebrate their birthdays. I now live hundreds of miles from my children and grandchildren but have been "adopted" as a member of several families in the parish I serve. Today, at age 69 1/2 I live each day with excitement and enthusiasim. I find it hard to believe that I am as old as I am, for my spirit is much younger.

Hi Everyone. My story starts when my husband passed away in Oct 2001. Prior to that I had gotten two degrees, raised a family , took odd jobs and contented myself with being a housewife to the man I loved. I had two degrees in art but I had barely scratched the surface of my supposed art career. I had always told my children that "The world was your oyster and you could do with it whatever you desired". When I found myself alone for the first time in my life I decided to heed my own advice. I went back to school and started my art career up again. I also got involved with a lot of social activities. I decided to tackle my five acres and joined a garden club. I now belong to two arboretums and a art association. I have a large social network of friends and joined the "Red Hat Club" I enjoy my grandkids; do whatever pleased me; and am busier and happier than ever.
Clansdreamer