here goes nothing

...at a meeting last week I was advised to start journaling. Funny thing is, I have not had much luck in the past journaling. Call it stubbornness or lack of discipline if you wish, but the truth is for nearly 20 years I wrote for a living - and when you write for a living you expect someone to at least read what you write - even if it is someone who edits with a vengeance - it is at least there for someone other than ones self. So, while this may seem like a vanity project, in my own way it is just the opposite.

I anticipate posting musings and observations about life - and how I see God in the midst of the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. I find this to be especially relevant today because we are just so busy - and sometimes we need a reminder to try to see the world as God sees the world - His good creation. When we do this we are more likely to see that we are part of something bigger and better than we can even imagine...please feel free to edit or correct me if I am falling short of this goal.

Now, more about me...

the name - 49 and holding is in defiance to the reality that in just 8 months or so I will hit the half century mark. While this does not scare me, it does freak me out just a tad. For a number of reasons -

1) 50 seems REALLY old,

2) my mom never made it to 50 - she died at the age of 47 - and I am still trying to figure out what it means to outlive one's parent,

3) well, I am likely more than halfway through my life - and I have so much more to see and do...

And now for the nuts and bolts: I am indeed still (just) 49 and I am an ordained elder in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. I was appointed to Trinity UMC in Waverly, Iowa in June of this year. I have the privilege and the challenge of serving a wonderful community of faith in this town of 8,000 or so in Eastern Iowa. I am so blessed!

I am the proud mother of 4 children (two girls in college ages 21, 18, and two boys at home ages 15 and 11) plus a step-son and his family who live in coastal South Carolina. I love my children and grandchildren very much. In January my husband and I separated. I am sure this will come up from time to time, but let me just say it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am the eldest of 6, and between us we have lots of children and lots of fun. My dad and step-mom (Jay and Bonnie) are just 90 miles away in central Iowa.

Enough for now...we'll see how things go...I can always hit delete!

in Christ, together

deb