Turning 50 and Looking Ahead

It's not the load

that breaks you down.

It's the way you carry it.

Lena Horne

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post.  I've missed blogging and spending time with you my friends.  It seems 2011 has been a blurrrrr of activity for my jewelry business and now finally I have time to spend some much needed administrative time for my business.  Earlier this year, it seems I could barely keep up with creating enough product for the events I was a part of.

Many of you know that I was on a family vacation over our schools Spring Break last week, and having turned 50 while spending a week in the beautiful Playacar, Mexico resort community, I have been pondering my previous 50 years of life and am choosing to look forward to the next 50.  Along with the looking forward I am analyzing, and planning on what I want to do better and differently for the next 50.  Have you thought to do this at an age milestone in your life?  If so, I'd love to hear how you approached it and what you destined to change and/or enhance for your personal life journey.

Quality time with my daughter is to be a bigger priority.  I spent many years so consumed with my jewelry design business, that I know the words "just a minute" were uttered quickly from my mouth, when my only child, Emily beckoned me.  I've really worked hard the last several years to change that bad habit and to make the time when she wanted my attention.  Believe me, for those of us that have teenagers in our household, we all know that often they aren't asking of our time, and many teenagers don't even hardly talk to their parents during these trying years.  Thankfully, I saw the light before it was too late, and I truly consider my daughter a great kid and friend, and hope that we can continue to nuture and build our Mother and Daughter relationship in the years we have ahead of us.  Emily will start her Senior year next year and than it's off to college and an empty nest.  It's never too late to nurture and take time for our children.

The mega watt smile on my childs face alone makes time spent with her well worth my time.  Even if it is costly things like shopping, lunch dates, and such activities that draws you together, it is well worth it.  These are the days to be building upon and the moments and memories to cherish.  I remember only fond memories of similiar times spent with my now deceased Mom and cherish those memories that are etched in my mind and heart.  

Spending fun and relaxing time with my husband is another priority I am hoping to obtain.  Times such as this long walk we took together on the Riviera Mayan beaches while on vacation.  The shadows appeared one day while walking together and I thought they'd be fun to photograph.  We had a great time strolling to this rock formation and out cropping about a mile south of our resort area.

Jon at the destination of our journey, and obliging my love of capturing memories of our family trips via photos.  I was tempted to post the one of him posing like a girl would, but thought I best not. :)

Several years ago, I had taken photographs of Emily at this very place (the same rock formation south of Playacar, Mexico) and have them in a window project I created for our cabin.  Fond memories of another family vacation to this area when Emily was 11.

Along with spending quality time with Jon and Emily, I also wish to take in the beauty of God's earth more frequently.  Too often I get consumed with jewelry design, and all that it takes to create and run my business.  When I do this I tend to neglect God, my family, my health as well as rest and relaxation.  I am reevaluating things I've previously thought to be so important.  I hope to get my priorities stronger as the years go on to be God, my health, my family and my personal rest and relaxation, and than my awesome jewelry design business that I love so dearly.  If I can do this, I believe I will continue to find success.  If I don't, than I know that my health will be the first to continue to decline.  I plan to add more exercise and stretching into my daily routine, or I won't be able to do this wonderful vocation I so love. 

Sometimes, I feel like this lone Palm tree with its roots entrenched deep into the rock, and I struggle to find my way.  I truly hope to be more balanced my next 50 years should the Lord choose to give them to me.  I tend to try to live each day to the fullest and not to look back.  To be more daring.  To live more fully.  To be more in tune with my body and what those achey, damaged muscles are telling me.  And to take time and smell the roses.

Wish me the best as I try to be more of the woman God intended me to be, so that in the end I am around to live a grateful life and to glorify Him in all I do.