"60 is the new 40!"

I turned 60 years old on Friday, and I was a little cranky!! I am not going into old age with an attitude of graceful acceptance. Lonny and I spent the evening with good friends from church, our Friday night small group that gets together weekly. Low-key and relaxing.
Then Lonny suggested we see Indiana Jones on Saturday, and when we got home, I was surprised to see Stephanie and Mandy and their families here. There was a birthday sign in the yard, streamers inside and out, and a Pin the Tail on the Donkey game on the door!! They had all the food for dinner, which they prepared and cleaned up. The grandchildren (and son-in-law Firmin) had brought their bikes to ride on the Rivertrail with Lon and me, and I had a *wonderful* birthday party!
My blessings at age sixty hit me full force as I sat opposite my wonderful man at the table, in the midst of the noise and laughter of our girls, their husbands, and their beautiful children. Holding the baby boys, Ethan and Ben, playing Apples to Apples with the girls, Jordyn and Brianna, enjoying the antics of Josh and Alexander, pinning the tail on the donkey with the whole crew, I felt so loved and fortunate beyond words. Even missing our youngest daughter Laura and her Rick, was a reminder of how much I love these dear ones.
With years come experiences, privileges, and blessings. And to some, wisdom. Usually, I do not feel much wisdom in my mixture. This weekend, though, I think I gained a little wisdom. God has granted me, in these 60 years, wonderful parents and a crazy-great brother. I have the man of my dreams whom I love with all my heart, and he loves me back! My baby girls have grown up to be warm and accomplished women, and they married three "sons" for us to love. Our grandkids, present and future :-), are blessed to have these men and women as parents. The children, of course, are indescribably awesome! This is quite a reward for being 60.
Besides, as Josh said when the birthday cake came, the 6 and the 0 candles blazing, "Anyway, Grandma, isn't 60 the new 40?!?" I do believe he's right!