Is your empty nest dull and bland? Are you looking for ways to spice things up? There are countless ways to add zest to your nest and I’ll share 20 of them in this post and the next! These are activities you can do alone, with your spouse, your family, or your friends!
Read MoreHow do you handle your big milestone birthdays? Are they days to be concealed or celebrated? As I approached another “big one”, an unexpected surprise on the shores of Lake Michigan along with childhood memories, brought inspiration and peace.
Read MoreWhile I had some ideas for how I’d spend my time in retirement, I looked forward to a blank slate. I figured once my days were free, I could explore the endless possibilities and decide which ones to pursue.
Unbeknownst to me, God had already drawn up some big plans and I was about to receive a message on that empty slate.
Read MoreAre you making way for ducklings in your nest? Is your college kid returning home for the first time and you don’t know what to expect? Do you have a “boomerang” flying at you and you’re not sure how to catch it?
Here are five tips to help you avoid potential pitfalls and conflicts, forge lasting relationships, and discover the benefit of the “Boomerang Bonus”.
Read MoreNext winter, when I’m retired from my school job, every day will be like a snow day! I can sleep in. Take a long bath. Read lots of books. Watch lots of shows. And even though I might deserve a life of leisure after 35 years as a speech-language pathologist, I’m already a bit uneasy about the prospect of that much downtime.
Read MoreNow that we’re older (and hopefully wiser), let’s reset our view. God’s Word is a great place to start, as the Bible is full of inspiration and instructions to keep our focus on “things above”. Here are six ways the Bible reminds us to look up–to find joy and hope–regardless of our age.
Read MoreLike the typical stance on my road bike, looking down at one’s wheel on the road or your feet on the path steals the glimpses of beauty that surround you. And yet, many aspects of aging do cause our eyes to look down. Our bodies’ depreciation keeps us focussed on ourselves and our problems.
Read MoreIt struck me how closely joy and grief resided in my heart. I’m not sure why it surprised me, as those two emotions have been playing tug-o’-war in human hearts for as long as human hearts have had feelings. And the battle continues.
Read MoreWhen we consider anniversaries, we may not all be lucky enough to make it to 64 years. Whether we hit ten years, the silver 25, the ordinary 33, or the golden 50, our next anniversary together is never guaranteed. And so we celebrate while we can.
Read More…But where did that leave me? I had spent eighteen years caring for, teaching, and raising this child. I was his advisor and biggest cheerleader. And then, as fast as you can say “meet me at the dining hall” it was all over. He was off and gone.
Read MoreAs we embark on any new journey, we can find promise and possibility by chasing the joy, rather than focusing on the pain. It’s true for biking. I’ve discovered it’s also true for empty-nesting.
How then, can we chase joy in the empty nest?
Read MoreAs empty-nesters, we’ve been forced to give up the lives we had grown accustomed to. Gone are the days of simple meals for two, lower grocery bills, quiet evenings, empty guest rooms and uncluttered hallways. We now run the dishwasher once or twice a day instead of every other, find an empty coffee pot by mid-morning, and have given up our “assigned” chairs at the dinner table. Our empty nests have been interrupted.
Read MoreBeing an empty nester has its perks. For one, when your kids live across the country you have a good excuse to travel. For another, when you arrive, you have your own private chauffeur to meet you at the airport.
Such was the case on our recent trip to Austin, Texas, a city we’ve had the privilege of visiting twice since our son moved there two and a half years ago.
Read MoreTwo years ago, when we entered the empty-nest stage, we suddenly had all the time alone that we had once dreamed of. But even with all this time alone, we’ve discovered it still takes work and intention to keep the love light burning.
Read MoreWhether or not you’ve followed our earlier episodes, I hope you’ll take a moment to sit down with a bowl of popcorn (or Gummi Bears, Junior Mints, etc.), and catch this latest blockbuster! Trust me, there’s no need to review, or even know the characters, and you’ll find the plot easy to follow.
So here goes…(cue Star Wars music).
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Read MoreIn my younger years, the “Hearts at Home” conference was my happy place.
One of the speakers who always impressed me was Jill Savage, the founder of the organization. So imagine my surprise when my path crossed Jill’s again, this time when I was two years into my empty-nest years! It all happened through a series of fortunate events.
Read MoreWhen it comes to empty-nesting, I don’t consider it an either/or question. My glass is both half-empty AND half-full. And looking back, my whole parenting journey has been balancing the emptiness with the fullness.
Read MoreTwo years ago my husband crushed his elbow in a biking accident. He was disappointed to miss out on what had become an annual tradition for us…the Michiana Ride for Hospice. While Tom, arm in sling, sat at the registration table, our son Seth took his place so I wouldn’t have to ride alone. (Truth be told, he was riding for the free beer at the after-party!)
Seth and I had a great time bonding through biking.
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