In the last week of August 2021, I had an unexpected conversation.  I was going on and on to my son about my upcoming birthday, then I asked him what I should plan for it.  He took a breath and said, “What I am about to say may not be encouraging but it’s my perspective.  You are about to turn 50, which means it’s downhill from this point on.  If I were you, I would just relax and go down.”  I laughed so hard I cried.  I was not expecting this commentary.  The next morning, I thought of his advice and for the first time it hit me:  I am not getting younger in age. The last time I had so many emotions around an upcoming birthday was when I turned 40. 

I am going downhill and I have a choice:  I can go down rough, or radiant filled with grace.  So I made a decision to give it my all to go down Radiant.  I don’t know what “aging gracefully'' means, I do know in my mind floats names of women who in my opinion arrived there or is clear that is the goal they are aiming for. I know God will define it if I stay close to him. Accepting the words “you are aging” brought about emotions about all the ways God has carried me and led me on adventures I never even imagined going as I grew older. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12 says, “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” 

I know how to “do good”, at times I am clueless about how to “be happy”. Hebrews 12:2 does give the secret of being content in every situation. Focus on Jesus.  I am still learning to internalize this Truth. Working on this book is another blessing God has placed on my heart to help me grow in internalizing this biblical truth that I often need to remember. 

I have a plastic storage bin full of journals of my prayers and personal reflections which I will be going over and then journal the things God wants me to learn or be open to remembering lessons He taught me that I forgot. 

I know I am about to open a memory box that will build my faith, call me to repent, remind me of the ways God has been carrying me, deepen my need for God and more.  I look forward to being built up by the miracles God has done in my life.  I also look forward to writing them down to share with those  who have for years, months, weeks, days or minutes been a part of my life story till today.  The journals and papers in the bin are not in any particular order.  I trust God will put the exact one He wants me to reflect on and share about.  It may be devotional, a thought, a poem or simply what I wrote without editing.  I don’t know what this will look like, but one thing I do know is that it’s going to be encouraging, because I don’t believe I can look back at the ways God has worked in my life, the valleys He has brought me through, the way He has save me over and over, the visions He had for me and made reality and not be reminded that I serve an awesome God.

What you are reading and will read if you choose to continue reading is a gift God put on my heart as a keepsake for myself and my family and friends.  At the time I embark on this project, it will be six months before I turn 50.  The book will be completed either when I have 50 keepsakes or as far as I get by February 2022.  I look forward to seeing what comes first.  

I hope it encourages you.  I am already excited to wrap this keepsake in celebration of my 50th birthday.

I love you and thank you for being part of my life story. 

Olivia

“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” I Thessalonians 2:8 NIV

P.S I finished the project. What came first 50 Keepsakes or Feb 2022. You will have to read and see!