50 Is Nifty

So, I've been 50 for one week now, and it is pretty "nifty." Right around the time of my birthday some really great things have been happening. Beth is putting her heart and soul into Weight Watchers and I am also trying to eat better. I've lost 20 pounds, which is making her mad (she tells me guys have it easy and lose weight much easier than women) - so I apologize for that! But I'm glad to be a little thinner. I've been eating less, and a little bit better - but Beth is way ahead of me on that. She is eating healthy, balanced meals and losing weight at a really good pace. I'm proud of her. I'm also enjoying a new work assignment and schedule. The hours make it hard to get a good, long sleep time - but the work itself is really something I like to do and have done well for years, so that's a good change. Beth and I are both getting ready for a new adventure in ministry. She's the Administrator for a regional church planting movement and I'm learning/training to be a lay catechist (lay pastor). The process is revealing some pastoring and shepherding gifts I wasn't fully aware I had. Turning 50 seems like more like a re-birth than an "over the hill moment." God is really working on some deep issues with me, and healing me, too. And he's not worried about "age" - so I'm adopting his "age-less" view of things. That IS nifty!