There comes a time when you finally stop arguing with the mirror.

You stop counting the gray hairs and the wrinkles, stop worrying about the extra pounds around the middle, the scars that never quite faded, and all those little imperfections you once thought needed explaining.

And you realize something.

This body has carried you a long way.

These feet have walked beaches and hospital hallways, dance floors and funeral homes. These hands have held babies, steering wheels, cold beers, fishing poles, and the hands of people we weren’t ready to lose.

These eyes have watched sunsets that made us believe in something bigger. They’ve cried tears nobody saw. They’ve squinted into morning sunlight after nights we probably shouldn’t have survived.

And that heart?

That old battered thing has been broken, patched up, broken again, and somehow still keeps beating.

So maybe the goal was never to stay young.

Maybe the goal was to get used up.

To spend ourselves on love and laughter. To collect scars and stories. To wear a few wrinkles around our eyes because we laughed hard enough to earn them.

We’ve been sold this strange idea that we’re supposed to spend our lives trying to look like we haven’t lived one.

Forget that.

Let the sun put another line on your face.

Let the years silver your hair.

Wear the swimsuit.

Take off your shirt.

Dance barefoot.

Order dessert.

Jump in the ocean.

Kiss somebody like the ferry leaves in five minutes.

Because someday, sooner than any of us would like to admit, we’d give almost anything for one more ordinary Tuesday inside this imperfect body.

One more sunrise.

One more swim.

One more song on the radio with the windows down.

One more chance to tell somebody, “I love you.”

So love the skin you’re in.

Not because it’s perfect.

Because it’s yours.

Because every scar is a latitude and every wrinkle a longitude, and together they make the map of everywhere you’ve been.

And somewhere between the mistakes, the heartbreaks, the sunburns, the celebrations, the people who stayed, and the ones who sailed away, something beautiful happened.

You became you.

So pour something cold.

Find a patch of sunshine.

Turn the music up a little louder than necessary.

And raise a glass to the face staring back at you in the mirror.

It’s been one hell of a voyage.

And you’re still here.

That’s worth celebrating.

Carroll with Gail

 Devo shower, I left about 8:15 to head to Carroll to get the Prius serviced.  Gail joined me there and we went thrifting.  We ate Chinese at Hunan's. With Spanish speaking staff.One more thrift store and then she headed back to Atlantic to go dancing inCreston tonight.  I headed home.  Denny is at Rods's spraying off the engine.  Lord, guide our day.  Bob P needs help to put up the big tent.  Mandy and Kelsey were both in the Dementian walk soon Saturday inStprmm Lake. 

Alta and Soccer

 I was up for devo and shower and was in Alta by 7:15.  Diane and her husband brought 2 van loads from Cherokee.  They were happy to see another pair of hands to move bags and boxes into the store.  I carried in boxes of household and stacked them.  Then I worked with Linda and sorted bags of clothing into summer/ winter/ household.  Lots of bags.  Around 11:15 I asked Eve if she wanted to eat lunch little early.  It was good to visit about my family and hers.  I decided to buy a stand for the electric skillet on the porch next summer.   Hopefully it will work.  There was no golf today, but I had arranged to meet with Jenn for her to buy 4 Iris rhymes.  Jen G. came to the OB and she bought 4 resoles for $7 each and she bought the bouquet I made for the golf doorprize.  YES!!! more (flower) drug money for me.  Jenn and I walked around OB and she bought a couple of things.  When I got home I sorted things I got and made supper/late afternoon for us.  

Reading

 Up for studying the SS lesson.  The Airbnb family was leaving for Des Moines.  Cute little family Fun to  have a short visit with them.  After church they had a quarterly meeting.  At home we read.  Luke and Karen went to church with Pete, helped him load the car for the airport, and headed home.  In hind sight I should have probably taken the rocks for Lincoln, plant for Karen and some clothes for Rose to IG for them.  We read in the afternoon.  The dede with run tomorrow.  We made the 2 beds.  I finished the book To Live Well by Alan Noble.  I got it when I visited an Omaha church that supports Jensens.  It was not an easy read for me.  A lot about Josef Pieper, not as much use of the Bible in determining house to live well. 

Finished flowers

 Up for Coffee., devo.  We went to Doses at noon for a going away party for Ukrainians, who didn't come.  Joann's 2 sisters and kids and grands were there.  It was a nice get-together.  From there we went to Dean and Janet M. party 70 years of marriage Dean turned 90.  Another nice get-together.  About 5 the Airbnb came, changed, and headed out. Denny and I just chilled in the bunk house.  All the flowers are ready to go tomorrow for golf and 6 small vases for Olive Branch and a 12 bunch arrangement for church.

Alta Cherokee

Up for devo, shower, and coffee, then to Alta.  I helped there until 10:30, then headed to Cherokee.  I did BSF from 12-1pm when the boys got out of school.  We went to some garage sale.  I gave each boy $2.  At the first one, they bought a container with a scooter and bike that had wheels that moved with e peddle.  Before we headed home we stopped at New Leaf and the boys got a zip lock full of 20 painted cars.   They played with them when Mandy and I went to Anthon for Found and Made.  It was fun to walk around at look at cool stuff with her.  The bees were out in full force.  We got glass tumblers with wooden lids.  They are so pretty!!.  At home Denny did not go Rodd's.  Bummer .....

pB. Visit Susan

 I went into play pickleball at 8.   Then I texted Goodenows and visited with Susan until about noon. At home one Airbnb is empty.  Denny headed to Denison.  I planted the iris.  I put 2 black with daffodils between them in the west triangle.  I planted 4 pink on the area by the peonies with daffodils between them.  That area is SO grassy.  When I dug into the ground it just crackled with grass roots.  Oh, my. Lord, help the grass die.   I finished my. BSF lesson.   These ar the iris I got to plant. 

Denny to Rodd's. hopefully

 Up for devo and coffee.  Plans are to mow and pick up CSA.  Prayers go to KISC.   Lord, continue to guide and lead Jensens as they make decisions.  Denny did get to go to Rodd's.  lOrd, please keep Rod healthy. 

Clay Fair

 Up for devo, shower, move cars, load Rav, leave for Spencer@6:45.  It took me all the time until 10:30 to get my exhibits on the floor.  UFFDA!!  Denny waited patiently in thee Rav.  A sweet gal Ardis was a super friend and made all the tags for the entries.  AND she was SO sweet, positive.  We parked and walked around thru the vendor buildings.  I had fried cheese curds .. greasy , but good.  We spent time with Bergmans at their site.  Brenda said she would pick up my entries when the shows were over.  We walked around that building.  And loved every display.  SO fun!!  Denny and I ate a Weasel's for supper.  We shared a pork loin meal After we got home we fed our addiction to Facebook reels.  and watched tv before falling asleep.  Good day. I had about 12 first place ribbons, 8 second place, 5 third and 3 honorable mention. No money in HM. :(. I really don't know why I like to share/compete my flowers.  It is a lot of time/work.  

Rainy Golf

 I went to Spring Lake and it was rainy Rainy Rainy.  We played euchre and ate lunch and then I headed home.  I stopped at Odebolt thrift store and bought a few trinkets for petite floral arrangements.  Then I went home and played with putting small arrangements together.  Denny brought out a treat and we put the Prius in the machine shed.  Next supper and a down pour and wait until it stop[s raining to go to then CSA barn and work on back boards for the 6 small arrangements. The airbnbers are not here yet.     I texted Julie and said she looked like Sophie C.  Quite the cute look.  

Raabs for dinner

 devo, coffee and out tippet flowers together for church.  So pretty.  I texted Nancy from where I got the glad bulbs snf dry hot s pviyutr snf yhsnkrf her.  There was a very good speaker for both SS and ;church.  Stacy and Bill.  After church May Kay and John came.  Denny fixed steaks and pickle and hot poppers.  We had corn, bread, and Asian salad.  It was a great meal, eaten with fun friends.  So good.  We had coffee and cashews and chaolate covered almonds on the porch rockers.  After they left we napped.  I didn't go to pickleball and realized at 5:30 I had planned to meet Beth G. and borrow her glue gun.  I felt awful.  I arranged flowers for door prize tomorrow, put together a bouquet for Beth and went to her house.  She has quite a load to carry.  her mom with dementia , a house full of things to sell. an addition to build in Moore head. a scaling hed to make at their place.  When I got home we watched the angel movie.  The impossible.  Lord, watch over all the Nepale devastation.  

Chopping down the Lilac

 Devo, in the afternoon Denny tried to pull out the Jananeze lilac tree .  It has not been used by me for bouquets.  And He couldn't budge the tree, so he tried from the south side.  Salme .. not budging and she got the bobcat and the chainsaw.  It looks kinda bare with out it there.  .  Hopefully Tardon will Kell the roots.  Lord, guide me.  I need to plant the hydrangea I got at Reifff's.  I picked some exhibits incase we go to the clay county fair on Tuesday.  Lord, help me decide what to do.  Is it a matter of recognition I seek?  Am I being selfish?/. I love the flowers,   Do I need more than that??   In the evening we were watching the ISU IA game and Missy called.  Lord.  Keep them in true center of your will.  Give them strength and health and sleep to meet the challenges before them.  Give the wisdom and fortitude and a very real sense of your presence leading and  guiding them.  I am so thankful you perform miracles.  I claim the center off Your will for their lives.  

Cherokee

 I ws up for devo and heading to Alta to volunteer until 10:15.  Then to sit in parking lot and join Zoom BSF study.  At 1 I inlet the group and got Tyler.  Jack rode the bun home, he wasn't aware of the note in his backpack.  Tyler and I went home. We played outside: The go cart really goes fast!!  Jack found Tyler's glasses.  Of course the day Mandy called into order a second pair, BUT she called and canceled.  We went to as estate sale.  Jason has set up the same person to do an estate sale on Hank's stuff.  I came home and Denny and I walked arouond toes all that he had done.  Odor airbnbers are related to Lynn N.  Another great night at the farm.  

Heading home

 I went to the pond with Keith,  Quick visit with Craig, stopped by Bruce's then pickleball, then headed home.  I stopped at Reiff's greenhouse north of Floyd and bought a hydrangea.  Then straight to Susan's for Study.  I left after prayer time was over and headed home.  Denny has been really busy trimming the undergrowth of the pine trees, and mowing and getting ready for Airbnb guest.  What a husband!!!

Visiting Marilyn

 II got up and played Pickleball with Jan'e friends again.  So fun!!!  I went to see Bev at BSF and from there we went to see Marilyn.  She was having lunch and so we didn't use the cCasey's pizza I had ordered.  We visited at her lunch table, out in the patio, and in her room.  She read from the story book she had written when she was in 9th grade.  It is always hard to go when it is time to leave.  Hard for her and us.  Bev and I took a ride to a Waukon Amish grocery store, but it wasn't as good as the one north of Cresco.  I bought cottage cheese, and cream cheese.  She bought some containers for Church bazaar food.  

Visit Amish grocery store

I like to get up and listen to DAB while I lay in bed.  I went over for coffee and then 3 of Jane's friends came to the shed to play pickleball.  It was fun, we laughed a lot.  Keith even came into the shed to see what all the ruckus was about.  Fay came and she Jane and I went adventuring.  We stopped at Seed savers, the Depot and then to Vantage Amish grocery store.  That was fun!!!  At night Bev and Merlee invited us for supper.  Great time visiting around their table.   

Drive to NE Iowa

 I left about 9 and got to Keith's around 2.  Craig was with Marilyn, when I called Diane and she invited me to join Dean and Ardie for Tom's birthday cake.  It was good to visit.  I stopped at Bruce's to do a quick visit with Fay and Jerry and Bruce.  I slept out in the shed in the upstairs bedroom.  

To the Airport

 Up and devo.  Showoer and we left for Omaha at 8:45 and to the airport about 2 hours later.  Their 6 bags got checked thru and Missy and Phillip were off.  Desination Nepal on Tuesday.  We left for Candlewood Church and got there to hear then last half of Rory's sermon.  Fun meal and visiting at Corner Kitchen, k Next we headed to Glenwood to drive by Behl's home.  It looks really nice.  We got home and chilled in the home place.  It was raining hard.  Another good movie from Angel.  

Home, flowers, Jensens

 We were slow getting around this am.  I took family call at 7 and caught up on my blog. I worked on flowers and Denny cleaned and cleaned the bunkhouse.   About 3 the Jensens got here.  All 6 - 50 pound. bags got packed,  Denny fixed his pickle bacon wraps.  We ate them with cashews and rocked and talked,.  Missy went for a run and Phillip went tfor a bike ride.  Brats, broccoli and asparagus soup for supper. in the candle light.  We got airbnbesr at Prairie While over night.  I made Nan arrangement for Dean and Janet's 70th and took it to church. 

The Branch and Cherokee

 I was up and ooff by 6:30.  At Olive Branch 7 until 11.   I was at Mandy's during her lunch break and stopped to give Jan flowers before picking up the boys on an early out.    We used Andrea's golf cart and checked with the club house and went to hunt golf balls.  Fun slow afternoon. It was hot.  They found 15 golf balls.  The Cooks have been spending the nights at Jan's to be there after her surgery. 

Study

 We worked arouond home in am.  I went to study at Sue's.  Denny is working on updating pictures in Airbnb.  We went to REC meal at the fair grounds at 6.  Haley and Wyatt got jobs and a home in Glenwood Iowa. 

At home!!

 I pulled some weeds,   We were at home all day.  Denny worked on Airbnb pictures/ updates.  I worked on weeding and making room for daffodil bulbs, tulip bulbs and iris.  Uffda!!!  The grass roots are thick. Kids are getting along in Minn.  they ate lunch with Becky and Wyatt.  Oh, and I ordered 50 lily bulbs. Uffda!!

Happy Birthday Luke!!

 We are so thankful for your life!!!.  May God continue to lead you every step of your life !!  

Denny headed to Study while I was still in bed.  I left for Ogt.  Such nice people.  In the afternoon we mowed the lawn.  Jensens met Johnsons for Luke's birthday meal. At night we watched Angel.  Love that app.