Is this a symptom of aging?!?!?

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: 

If you’ve switched to email reminders for when to renew your car tag in Oklahoma, CHECK NOW to make sure you didn’t miss it. I know 2 people who discovered too late that they didn’t get their notices & are paying the penalty! I won’t say how late it was; I would laugh if it weren’t so expensive.

(OK, I’m laughing anyway.)

To top it off, there’s a good possibility the reason it was finally noticed was because I was cruising around with the top down on the red Mustang on a borderline chilly day.

At least I wasn’t speeding. AND I had just left the tag agency, where I renewed my drivers license that might or might not have been deemed expired on the final day of March.

BUT — I did get a warning (JUST a warning) for not signaling long enough before changing lanes as I weaved through slow city traffic!! What? At least I was signaling!!

The kind young Norman police officer also gave me the “good news” that he wouldn’t tow my car, which apparently is an option when the tag is that out of date. He even let me drive on to pick up a friend to take to the airport in OKC!!

Amazingly & thankfully, I was able to get the new tags on the way home from the airport. (I also put my insurance verification where it belongs — in my car! Fortunately I wasn’t cited for its absence.)

I got home in time to prepare dinner & then took a walk, grateful to relax as I continued to count my blessings! 

#gladigotmyDLrenewedbeforehestoppedme #March31 #gettingoldkindasucks #notagingwell #praiseGodanyway #praiseGodalways

Acting in faith

After church I called Pam & ended up going to visit her & Rhonda 1 1/2 hours. And Angel. Very grateful. I told Rhonda I would take her to the airport. Lord, I want to & it seemed like the right thing to do, even tho it may be inconvenient & shorten my time on call w/Patty. I probably need to confirm the timing w/her, to be sure I have time. While there, I got a text from Penny that I have not yet replied to. I want to be able to call. After buying groceries, I didn’t get home until 3 or so. Put groceries away & finally sorted laundry from trip. I’m on treadmill now while I log & maybe play Wordle. I texted Patty & we moved our call to 2:30 but I still may not have time to pick up Rhonda for the airport. One other thing on mind is that I asked Gene to get something out of freezer for dinner. I’m not thrilled w/his choice. I pray to let it be satisfying & to be grateful. I’m also praying to use the opportunities God is giving me to help me let go of material things so I can more freely nurture friendship & serve others. 

Last night Carrie asked if I could help with her mom & I said yes. She ended up not needing me. I get the feeling Gene may resent me saying yes to helping others when my own space is a mess. I don’t guess I can blame him. I wish we had a moderator to help us see each other’s positions better & reach more supportive understanding of our differences. 

 

Stan

This is a placeholder to write about Stan & Pam. I thank God for them. 

Classic!

The 2025 Bassmaster Classic ended a week ago today. I hope to write about it soon. No time tonight. 

Birthday

I’m beyond blessed to have a great family & so many friends who wished me a Happy Birthday! I’ll try to respond to each one, although likely not tonight. I was grateful to be able to spend the day with my love, enjoying simple things like taking advantage of beautiful weather for an afternoon walk & a top-down drive to dinner at Victoria’s Pasta Shop. I’m blown away once again by the extravagance of gorgeous & fragrant yellow roses. I don’t take them for granted! And lest I forget — the celebration began Monday when another beautiful day allowed for me to catch a birthday bass & watch Gene catch several as well! So very grateful!

Earlier writing:

I’m grateful for each step of faith & progress. I enjoyed my birthday. I want to say I enjoyed my birthday. I did. I also feel guilty or ashamed because I think I was very unproductive & self-focused. I also struggle w/loving my roses & the tradition they continue but hating how expensive they are. It’s hard to wrap my head around. Meanwhile, I’ve backed myself into a corner of too much to do w/too little time. Steve can’t go fishing, so I will. Suddenly I’m overwhelmed again; when will I have time to do laundry, exercise, share flowers, visit, help others, get ready to go to Stillwater on Sat & to Fort Worth next week? Plus, it seems like I’m eating too much bread & gravy. It hasn’t added weight, but how can it not? I lift these things up to God, praying for help to know what I can & can’t do & then help to act in faith & let go of results. Breathe. Trust God. Pray, act in faith, trust, give thanks. Pray & receive God’s peace. Trust God & not my own thinking & understanding. Yes. Gratefully & humbly. 

(And that next time fishing ended up being a great day to bookend my birthday!)

By sharing his sorrow w/the disciples He took w/Him to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was clearly demonstrating that it’s okay to share my heart’s burdens w/others. Just because I have God in my life doesn’t mean I have to be poised, stoic & invulnerable. It’s okay to say, “Hey, would you mind coming along w/me for this?” & give someone else the opportunity to pray w/me & for me.

Jesus displayed a beautiful openness in inviting his closest disciples to come alongside him.

No, we don’t depend entirely on our loved ones. Nor do we act like faith erases them from the picture.

What am I trying to handle alone today? Has God shown me specific people I can share my heartaches & my dreams with? Am I willing to be invited into another person’s burden, even if it means sacrificing my time & my pursuits?

Heavenly Father, Help me grasp the fact that asking for help or asking for prayer does not chip away at my faith. Help me to be humble enough to invite people I trust to come alongside me on my faith walk. Amen.

Quiet gratitude

My start to Lent didn’t involve ashes or worship at church, but it did include quiet gratitude for hot water late Wednesday after two days without. The heat & air guys got quite a workout bringing things up to code as they replaced our 42-year-old (!!!) water heater! #focusonGod #faithinGod #lent #startwhereiam #daybyday #gratitude #ThankYouGod

(And I was able to participate in Ash Wednesday worship (without the ashes) via the Whaley United Methodist Church livestream! Thank you!)

The party

I’m still in need of that spiritual reset. I didn’t celebrate Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, unless my usual lack of discipline counts! 

I was thinking I’m not ready for Lent. On second thought, how I am may be precisely ready, at least in the sense of being in need!

In a year that has started with the sports teams I follow starting strong — & then tumbling mightily — maybe it’s fitting the Aggies are beating #1 Auburn on Fat Tuesday. It’s the first time Aggie men’s basketball has beaten the top-ranked team, & this win ends a four-game losing streak for the Ags.

I think there’s a spiritual message for me, I’m just not sure what it is. 

Maybe the party’s over?

Bring on Lent!