Pressing On

A new year. A new decade. A new decade for me--50!  Strange, the catalyst for this blog 10 years ago was turning 40. It just seemed like the time to start something new. It seemed exciting somehow. I thought the same would be the case for 50. I was caught off guard by an older friend talking about someone else turning 50, and how their advice had been to really think about slowing down, you can't do all the things you used to!  What? I've been waiting all these years of diapers and printing workbooks and chore lists to get to a place where I can begin afresh and do some exciting things, but I'm supposed to be slowing down?!? Shoot. I read an article once on a bunch of women who hadn't really begun to do anything great until they were 50. That is much more inspiring to me. Not that I need to be GREAT, just, something would be nice. So, on that note, I'm going to dedicate this year to taking the baby steps toward my post-50 life. The one where my children...

Just got one more all clear from the doc!  "An almost boring exam" she said. I LOVE  being boring. What sweeter words could one hear? How about - "Your 5 year mammogram is great - go home!"   That's what I'm looking for come September. I was extra anxious to get this last exam out of the way this week because that meant I could book my next exam 6 months from now, which meant that my doctor could order my annual mammogram for September, which meant that, Lord willing, I could have a 5 year "all clear" by the time my 50th birthday rolls around in October. Phew! Of course I'm working on the presumption that I will still be disease-free in six months, but since I don't want to think of the alternative, I might as well make plans, right? I'm thinking trip. Somewhere warm. With people I love. A celebration of milestones! There are a couple of other people who are having various milestones this year with whom I'd like to celeb...

Or it might be Sandra "Lyn". Or possibly even Sandra "Lynne".  Can't remember without fishing through a lot of paperwork.   Anyway, on Hallowe'en 1969, a baby girl was born and given the name Sandra Lyn(n)(e) by a young unwed mother. She was then whisked away 7 days later to her new family (a mother, a father and a two years senior brother) - eventually to grow up and be... me! The adoption laws provide "non-identifying information" to an adoptee, meaning I have the first name my birthmother gave me but no last name. I know I have a full brother 11 months older than me, but again, no name. I have at least two 1/2 sisters and I have lots of aunts and uncles, but no way to know who any of them are. And of course a father, who seemed to be in a rather unhappy marriage based on his extracurricular activities. I would absolutely LOVE a picture of my birth family members - any or all of them. I don't even necessarily want to meet anyone, just a p...

Well, today is the first day of my 6 month odyssey to 40. That's what this blog is about. 40 itself is not a big deal however it is nonetheless a cultural milestone and comes at a time when I'm ready for a new phase of life; where I have the opportunity to make some changes, a chance for some re-creation. Why now?  For the last 10 years I've been VERY busy having four beautiful children (1 boy, 3 girls now aged 9 through 1)  and falling behind in every other area. I have barely kept up with the having of babies never mind keeping physically, spiritually and mentally fit, my marriage needs a tune-up big time, I have no idea who I am or how to enjoy myself anymore.  The things I did when I was in my single 20's come to mind but thankfully I realize they are wholly inappropriate! What *does* a Middle-aged, Married, Single-income, Christian, Homeschooling, Mom of 4 do for fun anyway? How is she supposed to look? (have you noticed that middle-aged women's magazines all h...