Monday, September 24, 2007

Birthday Musings #2

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 9/25) I will be 60. The time has flown since I wrote last year's post on this subject. Not much has changed in regard to the aging process since then - the vision, the brown spots, the loss of flexibility, the memory, the exhaustion - pretty much the same. I still have the least gray hair among my siblings.

This is a very significant year for DC and me. He turned 65 in July, I will be 60, and we will celebrate our 35th anniversary on December 28.

My sister was born two weeks before my first birthday, so we loved being "twins" for two weeks every year - except we always got the same gifts from everyone, so I always knew what I was going to get. We finally started opening our gifts that came in the mail on the 18th - halfway between, sitting on the floor back to back so we didn't see what we got if the other one was faster on the draw opening the packages. We did the same at Christmas. Everyone was afraid to get us something unique, I guess.

When DC and I started dating, we spent my first birthday week-end taking a ride to view the autumn colors in the mountains. You from the Midwest and East Coast don't think our coloring is that fantastic, because we don't have a lot of red. But when you're driving through the mountains and suddenly you come upon a sunshine-bright patch of yellow aspen in the midst of evergreens, it is a glorious sight. I have a memory book that my sister gave me when DC and I started going together. It has pockets for each month's memories, and places to write a little bit each day. I checked Saturday to see what the date was that year when we went to the hills. It was the 23rd, this year Saturday was the 22nd. Exactly 35 years later. Here is what I found when I opened the September page and looked in the little pocket:


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That night we took a busload of teen-agers from church about 70 miles east of here to hear David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge, speak. Little did I know that someday we would be so thankful to him for starting that program (see sidebar for Kevin's and my story, if you don't know what I'm referring to). Obviously, we were much younger and had more energy in those days!
I found several other treasures that I will be sharing in the days ahead. But for today, here are some shots of our trip two days ago. I'm so glad the rain held off until today!
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33 comments:

nancygrayce said...

What beautiful pictures! I know what you mean about the aging. I'm having some eye issues today and had to go this morning and get my night guard adjusted because I grind my teeth at night so bad! I can't decide if that is age or children that do that to me! I learned that if I didn't have a sense of humor about my oldest boys, I would be in a psychiatric hospital somewhere and i'm not sure we can afford the nice spa like ones so I have to stay home! :) Life is verrrrrrrrrry interesting!

Unknown said...

How beautiful! I do love the aspens in autumn. We so enjoyed driving through the mountains 2 years ago. It was the first week of October I think. We left early on a Wed morning and flew home. When we listened to the nightly news that evening there was a story about Denver having their first snow of the season.

Brrrr.

Happy, happy birthday to you! I turned 50 in June and I am finding some of the same things beginning to crop up. I can't do near what I used to be able to do 10 years ago. Growing old is not for sissies you know!

Barb said...

Happy Birthday, half a day early, Dawn. 60 is a milestone. I'll be facing that in 3 short years. I'm not sure how I feel about it. LOL

Look at those quakies turning gold already! I hope they're still this gorgeous when Krissy and I drive through to mountains in about 3 weeks.

Linds said...

It is an hour until your actual birthday, so I am a little early, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dawn! I hope you have a wonderful day. I loved the photos of your drive. The trees are turning here too, and I just love it!

Susie said...

Happy Birthday Dawn (just a little early!)
Love all the fall colors in these photos. We don't get anything close to that here (except on the grape vines, does that count?)
Hope you have a wonderful day and do something really special for yourself!
xo

Unknown said...

Dawn, to answer your question ... yes, I have read about your twin grandbabies and the scare y'all had with them. I was so happy to see that all worked out fine.

God is SO in control. I love the quote from the 3 young men in Daniel, just before they are thrown into that dreaded furnace. They are trusting their God to deliver them, and they promise to praise Him when He does, but ... they say ... 'even if He doesn't'.

So powerful.

Tammy said...

Oh, Happy 60th birthday, dear Dawn!

How special to have those pressed leaves from 35 yrs ago! And how ironic that you saw Dave Wilkerson as a dating couple and would years later have a son whose life was so helped through his work!

Hope your day is wonderful!

(Oh, and to answer your question on the Father Tim series, I believe it comes out in Nov.!) :)

Linda said...

Happy Birthday Dawn!!! I pray this year will be filled with special blessings from the hand of the Father who loves you so.
The pictures are lovely - the gold really is spectacular. I'm so glad you had good weather for your trip.
Have a very special day tomorrow.

Unknown said...

Have a fun birthday tomorrow, Dawn!

My husband and I will celebrate our 11th anniversary on December 10th, when is your anniversary?

You live in a beautiful part of the country and you always show us such great pictures!

someone else said...

What lovely memories and beautiful photos!

Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I'm not far behind you.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Happy happy birthday, dear friend. 60 doesn't seem nearly as old now that I'm nearly 44 as it did when I was younger.

Gorgeous pictures of the changing leaves and scenery. Our trees are just beginning to show the least bit of color but it won't be long before they're changing.

Love and hugs,

Diane

Sue Seibert said...

Well, first of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And what glorious pics...especially the golden aspens and the stellar's jay. Raf was 65 in July, too, and man has our insurance gone down plus what we pay the dr. Also, the property tax is now less than half!! Glory be, there are perks for us, yet!

nancygrayce said...

Happy Birthday to you! I hope this is a wonderful day!

Sheila said...

Hi Dawn, just popped by from Pea's blog to wish you a Happy birthday..!
Your Fall photos are lovely.

Carole Burant said...

Happy Birthday dear Dawn!! I hope you're having breakfast served in bed right about now?? lol I do wish you an absolutely wonderful day!! I so loved the pictures, you're right, just seeing that golden yellow in the trees is breathtaking! xox

Baba said...

Wishing you a special "Happy Birthday"... My sister turned 60 in May.Have a great day and enjoy the week-end. Baba

Anonymous said...

Came for Pea's to wish you a very happy 60th birthday! I hope you do something special (my husband turned 50 this year and my little brother turned 40 and it's my 30th high school anniversary!)

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!
HAVE A GREAT DAY

Robin said...

Happy 30th birthday. X 2.
I hope you have a wonderful, blessing filled day! Your pictures are just breath-taking! I'm leaving for our mountains today!

Barb said...

I just ran back over here to tell you Happy, Happy Birthday today, Dawn! Remember. 60 is the new 40. Right? Please tell me I'm right.

LOL I hope you have a wonderful day. Kristen's birthday banner is so, so cute. She's so talented!

Anonymous said...

really nice photos. what a nice forest. nice ww

kpjara said...

I hope you have a fabulous birthday and get to indulge in whatever it is that makes your day! or your week, month and year for that matter!

God bless, my friend!

groovyoldlady said...

Happy, Happy, HAPPY Birthday to you, my friend!

:-)

Nancy said...

Happy Birthday to a very special blogging friend. I hope it was a great one and that God blesses you in the next year. Thanks for always sharing from your heart and having a place where I always feel welcome when I stop by. You are SPECIAL!

Sherry said...

Happy Birthday!! Hope your day was great! Congrats on retirement this year:)

Midlife Mom said...

Happy Birthday Dawn!!! I hope it is a very special day for you as you are a very special person! I have so enjoyed getting to know you over the past months. I feel like you are a friend that I could walk down the street and pop in on for a chat and a cup of coffee! Love your new fall look, Kristen sure does a nice job on your site! Thank you once again for writing Kristen and Kevin's stories for us to learn from. I will still be praying for the twins and so glad to hear that Fiesty got a clean bill of health. Your pictures are beautiful! I love the last one with the bluejay in it! Take care and have a piece of birthday cake for me!! xoxox

Talk..to..Grams said...

Happy Birthday!! I hope you enjoy your day!
Beautiful pictures,too!! Grams

Rising Rainbow said...

Happy Birthday. From someone who's been 60 for months, it doesn't need to slow you down if you don't want it too. I don't let any of that stuff stop me.

Chris said...

Happy birthday a day late, (today is Wed.) Hope it was a good one. I will see 60 in 16 1/2 months.

Myrna said...

Beautiful pictures!

I'm still catching up a bit and have been reading through your recent posts. I notice you have told the faculty that you will be retiring! Congratulations! I know you may not be quite ready to hear that word yet--it has to sink in first. I retired before I had planned to and it really took some getting used to. But, you know, a slower pace is a good thing! And--there is more time for grandchildren!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Happy belated birthday. i have been feeling a bit rough so I am woefully behind on my blog reading! Love the photos!

Jada's Gigi said...

Happy birthday!! what a beautiful sight the mountains are in the fall...

Sharon Lynne said...

Those pictures took my breath away. Oh so beautiful. (Then again I live in Southern California)...but I love the Aspen yellow. We do have Aspens in CA but not around every corner...mostly in the North.

Happy Birthday! 60 doesn't sound that old to me...ever since I turned 51.

There are still plenty of people older than you who are looking back at you and laughing....they say..."and she thinks SHE's old. eh! eh! eh!"

It's our wedding anniversary today...My husband just asked if I want to go riding tomorrow--just the 2 of us--on the motorbikes up in the mountains. I'm starting to think I'm getting too old for those rough trails...but I'll probably go because It's hard to pass up a little adventure.