messy and beautiful and that's okay...

I went to breakfast with a couple of good friends yesterday and we chatted about our lives and families as women tend to do as we lingered over coffee. As one talked about the retirement years and what that would look like for her and another reflected on still having a teenager in the home who is just starting to date, it got me thinking about my life right now and how differently it looks than I would have imagined even ten years ago.

If you'd asked me then, I would have told you that we would be empty nesters and that I was looking forward to retiring in a couple of years and spending time crafting, gardening and maybe even moving to a little farmhouse with a few acres of land in the country.

But then life took it's twists and turns and I find myself three years into retirement with a full, noisy, messy house and that's okay. If things had gone according to my plans there would be so much of life that I missed out on both good and bad. You see, I've felt joy during that time that has been indescribable and pain that I would have thought insurmountable. Those ten years have showed me who I am and cemented Whose I am.

Yes, my home might be cleaner and my garden might be lusher and I might be able to craft uninterrupted into the wee hours of the night but I wouldn't have had the chance to experience all the other life moments that have happened along the way and that would not be okay...

When I look at the outward appearances of the lives of the women around me both in real life and online, I have to be careful not to focus on what their lives appear to be or even what I imagined my life would have been but to purposely celebrate the messy, beautiful life that I have.

xo, Patty

7 comments

SusieJuly 21, 2015 at 9:49 AM
Patty, This is a sweet post. I almost feel you have had family move back in with you. That would most times be temporary. My daughter, her husband and two children stayed with us for 4-5 months while they totally remodeled their home, they tore it down to one wall. So it was like building a new home. I thought I would go nuts at times. But I miss my children and grand kids. Not to live with but to see as much as I would like. LOL... it will be special memories when the children are older. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Kathleen GraceJuly 21, 2015 at 12:06 PM
One of the things I love about you is the truth you tell. It's would be easy to just talk about your crafts and fun things, but you wear your heart on your sleeve and tell it like it is and it rings so true to the rest of us who have messy, beautiful lives. I'm pretty sure that would be all of us! Hang in there, you may still get that quiet house and hours to craft and garden, but being part of the messy is part of what keeps us involved in life, and ultimately, that is a good thing.
Jen KershnerJuly 22, 2015 at 5:44 AM
I wholly agree. The hard stuff makes us who we are and gives us the ability to truly, deeply appreciate the good.
DebbieJuly 22, 2015 at 5:47 AM
God's path never looks like the one in our heads, but the reward is so much sweeter at times. You'll have great memories and some not so great, but they will all add up to whatever the Lord wanted to share with you. As the Word says, we go through things so we can comfort those who come behind us, and that is exactly what this blog is about :)

Blessings to you Patty!
RueJuly 22, 2015 at 8:06 AM
Everyone's life is messy and everyone has things going on that are good and bad. I'm glad you're doing well despite the bad times and that you're enjoying the good times :)

Oh and thank you for sharing your trip to SB! I haven't lived in those parts for over 15 years, but I still miss it sometimes. I'm glad you had a great time. You deserve it!

xo,
rue
Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysJuly 22, 2015 at 11:33 AM
We have things in common, Patty.
UnknownJuly 22, 2015 at 4:51 PM
Thanks for the reminder Patty. It's so easy to forget each day is a blessing from God. It may be hidden behind sorrow or under pain, but it is still a blessing. Love you my sweet friend!!