January ~ looking back and ahead

It may be a new year...

but not all things were new in January.

We started the year with the snow left-over from 2021.

On New Year's Day, we walked carefully along the Vedder River trail...

a path through the snow.

School never opened as scheduled after the Christmas break...

while the 'powers that be' made new plans to deal with the rapidly spreading Omicron virus. 

Maggie and Lucy came for a sleepover.

They played in the snow, started on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, played games and stayed up late.

After a few weeks of snow and record-breaking cold temperatures...

the rain moved in and with it an ice-storm.

Very pretty...

but not so welcome.

Many were without power for days.

Our trees did not fare so well!

We had a crew come in and clean up the mess.

Many of the trees are smaller now...

and three are totally missing.

A friend was spying on us...

...and sent us some drone photos taken shortly after the ice storm.

There are eagles everywhere in our neighbourhood right now...

and easy to spot while out and about.

Yesterday morning there were nine eagles sitting in the large maple tree behind our house.

'Tis the season for spotting eagles!

Let me close my January post with a photo taken a few weeks ago. 

As the sun sets on January...

I am still celebrating the milestone birthday I celebrated this month.

Yes, that one!

Thanks for the many birthday wishes.

And now, I am looking forward to February and whatever it may hold.

Every day is a gift!

I may be a little late in posting my February re-cap.  

Just saying.

Thanks for visiting 'my front porch'! 

70 is a Big Number!

How can it possibly be that I have reached 'threescore and ten' years so quickly? It seems like only yesterday that I was 40 and now my children are all in their 40's. Where have the years gone?  My birthday was almost a week ago...but when you reach this age the celebrations are not a one-day affair.  I'm still celebrating!  Why not? 

We spent one night at Whistler...and soaked in the outdoor hot pools at Scandinave Spa.  So beautiful in every season!  Maybe it was appropriate to commemorate this birthday there, surrounded by snow...as I now find myself in the 'winter of my life'. 

Last night I celebrated the occasion with our family.  They gave me a gift that will go on giving...even when I am at that age when memories start to fade.  

They filled a jar with little notes...their memories of me as their mom and their Grammy.  I came home and read them all!  Some were SO funny.  Some were very touching. Some I had all but forgotten already. All are precious memories!  You never know what they will remember about you!  I will never regret time spent with my children and grandchildren. 

Turning seventy is a good excuse to reflect on life. I decided this milestone birthday was a good time to make a list of 'life lessons learned'.  Here are my 70 thoughts at 70...

1. Every day is a gift.
2. Getting older is a privilege. Enjoy the age you are at, and don’t wish to be any other age.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
4. Laugh often.
5. Have fun.
6. Keep trying new things…even if they scare me.
7. Hard work never hurt anyone. 
8. Be persistent.  Don’t give up!
9. Take time to stop and smell the roses. And the lilacs. And the peonies.  And the hydrangeas.
10. You don’t have to agree with someone to love them.
11. Family is the most important.  Make time for them.
12. Family brings the greatest joy (and the greatest heartbreak). 
13. Parenting is not over when the kids leave home. You love them for always.
14. I made many mistakes as a parent. There is no redo!
15. Kids grow up too soon! 
16. Get the stories from your parents and grandparents…because, before you know it, it is too late. 
17. Grandchildren are one of life’s greatest blessings.
18. Seeing things through a grandchild’s eyes helps me rediscover the beauty around me.  
19. Nothing is better than a hug and ‘I love you’ from a grandchild. 
20. Be better…not bitter. Be quick to forgive and forget. 
21. Don’t let your age stop you from doing what you can still do! 
22. Be positive. 
23. Joy comes from inside out.
24. Be thankful! It’s hard to be bitter when you count your blessings.
25. Express your thanks / write thank-you notes. Appreciation is always welcome. 
26. Keep moving.  If you don’t have your health, the rest doesn’t really matter. Eat well, sleep well, exercise.
27. Be kind.
28. Don’t make decisions when you are angry. Wait a day or two. 
29. Words have power. Think before you speak. It’s hard to unsay what you’ve said and or take back what you’ve written.
30. Keep a journal of some sort.  Photo books and/or a blog help bring back the memories.
31. Everything seems worse at night. Things will feel better in the morning.
32. Apologies are often needed.  
33. Friends are important at every stage of life.  I can’t imagine life without friends.
34. If you don’t have time and energy, say no. 
35. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
36. Read the Bible.  Read it through from cover to cover.
37. Memorize scripture.  It will always be there when you need it. 
38. Pray.  Prayer changes things.  (The circumstances or me).
39. Bad things will happen. Look for the good within the bad and focus on that.
40. Life is not fair.  Accept that.
41. Stuff weighs us down. It all needs to get looked after. In the end, you will never wish you had bought more things.
42. Never quit creating…sew, paint, knit, bake, cook, whatever.
43. Make your bed first thing in the morning. It feels good.
44. Get outside. It is healing. 
45. Gardening is rewarding.
46. Music makes life sweeter. Sing.
47. When the job looks too big, start with a small part. 
48. Travel!!!  See as much as you can. Its a wonderful world!
49. Home always looks better after being away.
50. Curiosity is a good thing.
51. Life is about change.  Accept it. 
52. I should have quit colouring my hair long before I did.
53. Two are better than one!  Marriage is a wonderful thing. I’m appreciating that more and more as the years go by.
54. It won’t always rain!
55. Sunshine on my skin feels great.  Especially during those grey winter months!
56. Flowers make everything more beautiful.
57. Food matters. Conversation is always better around the table.
58. One cup of coffee is never enough!
59. Farming is the best way of life…and sometimes the worst!  I could write a book about that one.
60. Don’t spend what you don’t have.
61. Look after things and they serve you well. If it breaks fix it.
62. Never quit playing…games, puzzles, ping pong, tennis, pickleball, whatever.
63. It’s important to gather with other believers. That really ‘hit home’ during the pandemic.
64. Remember that nothing is impossible for God.
65. God’s plan is greater than my plan.
66. We have this moment today.
67. Celebrate life – the milestones, the anniversaries and seasonal occasions and just the ordinary.
68. This world is not my home. I’m just passing through.
69. The best is still to come.
70. And my final thought…whatever is ahead for me on this journey, I want to end well. 

'Life is a gift to you.

The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one.' ~ Anonymous