Aging GRACEfully

3:36 Today's project is to celebrate my husband Steve's 55th birthday in a joyful, yet low-cost manner. Now that we are on disability, pension and investment income, we really have restricted windows of time to spend money on "extras." That's okay! The entire past week, God graciously sent us bonus income from a variety of sources, including my Mary Kay customers calling to buy products. He is faithful, always, and cares for His kids!

We enjoyed a wonderful worship service at Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley, along with our son Steven, here for the week. Heidi and Pavel sat across the aisle. Pastor John gave a challenging message on serving where God wants you, out of III John v. 5-8. In verse 5, Gaius is commended for his service of active hospitality: "Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you." (New Living Translation)" Kind of reminds me of our ladies' visiting and helps team! The fellowship afterwards was sweet as well, because we were blessed to see our sister in the Lord have a full sign-up for her Heart to Home crochet class; and one of our roommates for Ladies' retreat now has her full fees paid!

Steve and I dropped Steven off at home, because he has a strict bodybuilding competition eating schedule, and then we headed off to the "secret location" I had planned for Steve's favorite lunch, a cheeseburger platter with fries and Dr. Pepper at Farmer Boys. And we even had a coupon! Today is pretty low key, and Steve has already just enjoyed his hobbies of walking the dogs and working out in the yard. Heidi is now regaling us with stories about all of the chocolate treats at a bridal shower she attended...good family times.

For 55, Steve is very fit, active, and rarely sits still. He spends an hour and a half in devotions and Bible study each morning, especially enjoying the Horizon online devotional by Mike MacIntosh and the accompanying Bible-in-a-year program. It works so much better than his regular Bible, because his Alzheimers tends to cause his eyes to wander around the page. But talk about God's grace! Steve's life exemplifies it. He may not be able to work for a living any more, but he does a wonderful job keeping up the landscaping, the RV, and our garden. Yes, his encroaching mental disability is a reality of our lives, but we count on God's mercy to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (Peter 3:18) as the years come our way. Hear the prophet Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:22-24:

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"