Living Simply: Retired and Back to Blogging

Welcome back to a restart of sharing my life, happenings, and thoughts.  I truly enjoy blogging and writing about my everyday adventures, but over the last few years, my life has been so fast-paced and hectic, time constraints have simply hampered my good intentions.  I love writing and have always dreamed of penning a book.  As I do not readily have any ideas or thoughts that come to mind at this juncture, that dream may be difficult at this point, but I think blogging in small snippets might be the next best thing since I have a little more "me" time.

I've retired, again.  I hope this time for good.  I was a business classroom teacher for 31 years and retired from Jonesboro Public Schools.  I served as the administrator at Ridgefield Christian School for six years.  Thirty-seven years seemed like long enough so here I am at home and I am loving every minute.  There have been enough concerts, plays, and ballgames. I used to laugh that I needed a cot in my office because sometimes I didn't get home except to turn around and head back to start yet another day.  I enjoyed my work--it was challenging and if anything, never boring. No two days were ever alike.  I worked with a wonderful staff and loved the kids.  I especially loved and appreciated the ladies in my office.  I've envisioned this milestone for years and it has finally arrived.  It came quickly and unexpectedly, but God is wonderful to orchestrate plans and facilitate every detail when we don't even know He is working behind the scenes pouring out totally unexpected blessings in our life.

With that being said, blogging is one of those activities that has been on hold. I'm beginning again and will share with anyone who is brave enough and has enough time and interest to follow my musings and commentary.

But to give a brief recap of my life since the end of March, Collin and I traveled to New Orleans during Spring Break to visit Micah and her family.  We had a marvelous time.  Its always good to see our family.  We enjoyed a camping trip during April and again Memorial Day.

We traveled to New Orleans again in June when our second grandbaby arrived, a beautiful little girl, Anne Kathyrn. Now we are planning for some other summer adventures.

I've also spent quite a bit of time with our two mothers.  I was fortunate to travel with my Mom in April to Branson.  The trip came up at the last minute, but when you're retired, you can drop everything instantly and change your schedule.  We had so much fun and are planning on some more excursions.

I'm having lunch with friends.  Never done that before.  School lunches of 15 to 20 minutes didn't allow it.  I'm noticing that everywhere I look, stores, students, and parents are already beginning to think about "back to school".  Not me. I've been going to school since I was six years old and this August, I'm not going back.

And then there are all my projects that are waiting and activities on hold that I enjoy.  I've never had time to read.  Rarely even could sit still long enough to look at a magazine.  That has changed.  (I opened an account on Goodreads.) I told the staff that I'd like to trade in my stadium seat for the big comfy chair in the corner of my bedroom and read.  And guess what--as a special farewell in a chapel service, every student PK3-12 gathered and every class as well as the staff selected favorite books and presented them to me.  I was so touched--they could not have done anything more to please me and create a wonderful lasting memory.  I'm reading.

I also bought a bicycle.  I love to ride and I go in the mornings for exercise and we take our bikes now when we go camping.  It's kind of bright and very cheerful.  I didn't want to get run over.

I've also discovered I enjoy coloring.  I have colored pencils and have downloaded some drawings a little more simple for a beginning adult.  I never thought I had any artistic ability at all, but I can do this. Its creative, (I get to choose the color of the pencil) and its very relaxing to me. No pressure. You lay it aside when you get tired or need to do a chore and it's easy to pick back up where you left off.  I highly recommend it.

Now I'm also doing projects in the house and cleaning.  I love to cook and am trying some new recipes.  My personal cookbook which contains our family favorites needs an update.  That may be a winter time project. I've done redecorating and moved things around. I had my piano tuned and I actually sit down and play.  There's lots of yard work going on around here.  In addition to mowing and continually picking up sticks, Collin and I have created a rock garden to enhance the landscaping. We are so pleased with the outcome.  More on that later--I'll devote an entire post to our new outdoor space.  We're also gardening--what's summer without tomatoes?

At any rate, my lifestyle has changed.  I sit on the deck and linger over morning coffee. I'm not quite so hurried and an unexpected change of plans or schedule is no hassle.  Morning communes with God in scripture and prayer are precious. I'm happy and I'm content.  When you slow down and consider what you have, you recognize and appreciate God's provisions afresh and anew every day.  I have been blessed with family, friends, health, and every daily need is supplied.  I want to make every moment and every day count. I don't need more stuff and nothing fancy.  I just want to sit a little, view life from the porch swing and. . .

LIVE SIMPLY

I hope you'll join me and as the new life journey begins.

Marcia