Amazing Grace Filled Life--a blog by and for, women baby boomers

Just The Two of Us.

March 22, 2017 by cheriwoolsey

Just the two of us

Forty years ago today I walked down the aisle to meet the love of my life, my soulmate and my best friend at the altar. We had already made a commitment to each other for life, and this step was a joyful celebration with our loved ones of that commitment. The golden haired, blue eyed boy I loved then is still as handsome as then and eyes are still a beautiful blue. He wore jeans, boots and cowboy shirts that snapped up the front, probably a reflection of his time in Montana.

He still wears jeans and boots. He still loves me, he still takes care of me, he is still my safe place in the world.

Marriage is not easy. Anyone who has been married knows that. It is full of hills and valleys, highs and lows, love and anger. It is not speaking for days, it is holding hands, weeping together, worrying together and praying together . It is the awareness that this person knows you better than anyone else on earth does.

I’m not sure how we came to have such a firm grip on our life together. I came from Continue Reading

When Good Pictures Go Great!

March 18, 2017 by cheriwoolsey

I posted a blog about this picture a few weeks ago, and have been having second thoughts since. My husband also says he thinks I fell short on the message for this picture, so here I am to try again! My main point about this picture is that while it looks like a fail, it is actually one of my favorite pictures of our grandkids. Wish I could take credit for it, but my talented son took this picture. It has a place of prominence in a frame on my sideboard!

The story behind this picture is of Easter Sunday at Nana & Papa’s house. After handfuls of candy from Easter baskets, an Easter egg hunt and then getting dressed in matching outfits, these cousins had had enough! The sun is in their eyes, causing:

Naomee, the oldest, to be so blinded that she was crying and throwing her head back with a not-great look on her face. Riley spitting up in her lap didn’t help, lol!
Evan, second oldest, because of the sun in his eyes, is hiding behind Morgan whose face is red from the heat.
MK, bless her heart, is contemplating the quickest way down!

The Dream & The Reality

March 16, 2017 by cheriwoolsey

Every year around this time (almost Spring!) I get a little antsy. While throwing the ball around the yard for our German Shepherd, I started making a list of projects and cleanup that need to be done soon. I’m just waiting for the ground to dry out a little. (All right, those of you who live here in the Northwest with me, stop laughing!)

I guess my point is that I love a garden full of flowers—lush, colorful and gorgeous flowers and bushes:

Spring bulbs—tulips, daffodils, crocus—a sure sign we are almost through winter.
Followed by spring bushes like forsythia and lilacs (ohhhh, the smell of lilacs…).
Then the delight of those flowers that start at summer’s beginning and continue their show all summer: petunias, lavender, roses and my very favorite—snapdragons! You can never have too many snaps, never. I have a whole garden bed just for them. ?
In the heat of the summer, of course, we get the daisies, the butterfly bush, the gladiolas and the dahlias.
Heralding autumn, my favorite time of year—mums in all their glory and gorgeous colors.

So, here’s my dream and how it starts—beautiful beds of tulips to lead the way.

But here is the reality so far, this year—a couple of hardy and errant tulip bulbs doing their best to shine in my garden cart! Because here is my reality:

I am notorious for not following through with bulb planting and garden cleanup in the fall.
My garden beds are so abundant that it takes me 2-3 weeks each spring just to weed and rake them all. I do get it done, though—grumbling all the way.
As usual, I have not pruned my roses nor my butterfly bush this winter. However, I know from experience that they will bloom just fine with a little pruning right now. And even though I have been told that butterfly bushes are a weed, I love the huge branches and purple flowers all summer, so there!
My lilacs and forsythia are going wild—but that’s ok with me. I like an abundant, lush look. An English garden, mine is not!
I won’t even go into how often over the next few months I will “rearrange” my garden beds. Drives Rory crazy when I ask him to dig out a patch of daisies and move them across the yard. (I rearrange my living room furniture a lot, also)

My Aha Moment

March 14, 2017 by cheriwoolsey

During the Lenten season, Rory and I host a small faith sharing group on Monday evenings. This group is composed of members of our church community. While one or two participants may come, or go, we have a core group that are very comfortable with each other. The emphasis is on sharing with each other, not arguing the finer points of our Faith, and I personally learn so much from group members. Many (probably most) of them are cradle Catholics and being an adult convert, I am always curious about growing up Catholic.

This year we are reading a book called Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly, a down to earth Australian who calls it like he sees it. My kind of study guide! Last night we were discussing the chapter in which he talks about “Aha!” moments. An Aha moment happens when suddenly the lip service we have been paying to our Christianity makes sense, when He wakes us up and lets us see the truth. Matthew likes to call these Pentecostal moments; I call mine my Epiphany moment. Here it is.

My Aha Moment

Probably 12-13 years ago, at Hope House (you knew it would be around Hope House, didn’t you?), I was working the front desk. The front desk is the center of the action—responsible for welcoming those coming in the doors and for helping those going out with their bags, etc. I call it air traffic control, and it can be busy.

The door opened and a woman walked in carrying a little girl maybe just shy of 2. So adorable, with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes. When I asked the woman how we could help her, she said they needed some hygiene supplies and clothing. Noticing the little girl’s bare feet (it was February!), I said, Continue Reading

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Just the two of us

He still wears jeans and boots. He still loves me, he still takes care of me, he is still my safe place in the world.

My Aha Moment

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