Hello there!

Over a decade ago when I retired the 20-year moniker of homeschooler or homeschooling mom, it was tempting to just say "I'm retired" as an explanation of where I'm at in life.  But I found that is a woefully inadequate summation of life at this stage. Thank goodness.

While it seems there is finally plenty of time for things like needlecrafts, Bible study, helping and serving others, even working part time...  it's also true that there still isn't enough time in each day to accomplish all one wants to accomplish.  Added to that, with more freedom of time and things to choose from, and having way less time ahead of me than behind, it somehow seems more important than ever that I get this right.  All the while time slips away faster and faster and a sense of desperation in finding my purpose in life has begun dogging at my heels.

And then I'm reminded...  There is no need to feel desperate about any of this.  My time was never truly my own.  My life is not meant to be lived only for myself.  And none of us knows if we even have tomorrow.  My purpose is tied directly to who I am, not necessarily what I do (though, certainly those two things are connected).  As a child of God, redeemed by Christ, helped by the Holy Spirit, my purpose is lived out in the everyday, sometimes mundane activities of life.  A life lived imperfectly.  In regular need of forgiveness.   Growing more and more aware of the changing nature of this fleeting life, and thankful for the steadfast and redeeming nature of my Heavenly Father.

Roles and life's activities are always shifting, it seems, and after a couple of years into my "retirement" I found myself in roles I never quite envisioned.

Some of what I've done with my "retirement" time:

For a little while, I enjoyed being a English language partner (or ESL tutor) to non-native-English speakers.  I considered it a joy to become friends with a few women from other countries and be a soft place in a strange land to them.  In turn, I was overwhelmed by their seeming gratitude for simple things like kindness and a genuine welcome. And yet, it's not surprising.  These are among the most treasured things for us all as we travel through life.  

Up until recently, I was on the sound tech team at church where I enjoyed running the sound board at least once or twice a month.  Over 20 years ago, at another church we were attending at the time (and sadly, no longer exists), at the ripe old age of 45 I responded to a "call out" of sorts for volunteers who would be interested in learning to run the sound board.  It wasn't the first time I'd considered doing this, but for some reason this time felt like it was now or never.  So I jumped on it and found myself being trained by a very kind and patient (also middle-aged) man who encouraged me endlessly.   I only wished I hadn't waited until my 40's to learn to do this.  It seems, though, that I've been a late bloomer all my life.  While I recently took myself off the schedule for this ministry, it remains one of the more interesting and enjoyable things I've done during the last half of my life.

But the most profound and meaningful thing I've had the opportunity to do was be a part-time companion care giver for a lovely elderly woman who had dementia.  When I was first asked to consider doing this (for the regular care-giver who was going on a vacation) I honesty did not believe I was cut out for this type of work.  What does one do all day?  What is the level of dementia?  Does this woman feel comfortable with a stranger coming into her home?  Goodness, how hot is the house kept?  Okay, the honest truth is that was probably the first question that came to mind...

I asked these and other questions for an hour - which, looking back, I can see that I must have been just a little intrigued.  I mean...  I could have just said "No, thank you" and that be the end of it.  Even so, I felt a little apprehensive and resigned when I agreed to help out for two weeks, sure that I'd prove once and for all that I am not cut out for this kind of work.

Well, no one was more surprised than me to find that not only did I fall in love with the woman I was keeping company with, but when the two weeks were up I hoped that I might have opportunities to come back.  In fact, I was making plans for coming back just as a visitor - I enjoyed her so much.

Not only was I called back to work, but I was fitted into the schedule in a way that didn't take work away from the normal caretaker.  

Oh, the things I began to learn about this precious lady and the subject of dementia.  And the things I began learning about life, and life's purpose.

This job (for this particular woman) was a true gift in my life during the season I did this work.  I didn't write about it much here because out of a sense of privacy of the one I'd been entrusted care of.  But with permission of her husband I've occasionally shared some pictures and stories and examples of things we did together.


So that leaves other things I enjoy doing with my time now:

Gardening

Crochet
Embroidery & Cross stitch
Cooking
Finding time for relationship building with friends
Engaging with adult sons when they'll fit me in.
Reading

and what should be most important:
Bible study, prayer, and growing in my faith.  This summer (2025), with some girlfriends, I'm going through the study, The Gospel on the Ground by Kristi Mclelland. This is the second study by Mclelland we've done together.  I recommend both this current study we're doing, as well as Jesus and Women.

What is quietly and continuously going on in the background of my life:
Downsizing!  In November of 2021, we moved from a 1964 split level in town (that we'd lived in for 23 years) to a rambling ranch in a country neighborhood.  Being in a one-story house was the goal, owning a acre lot was not.  But I have enjoyed having a garden again, and we both really appreciate the peaceful, quiet neighborhood.  While we got rid of a lot of stuff before moving, downsizing our belongings remains an ongoing process.  I write about it sometimes here.

Mostly (at this time) this blog is about the fun, creative things I get to do now - mostly crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, a little knitting...  It's a space for me to write, share what I'm creating, and share a little bit of my life with like-minded others.  And just like life, it's always subject to change here.


Updated July, 2025