Happy 50th Birthday to me!!

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. Psalm 39:4

50 is the new 30!

50 is the new 30!

I am in awe that I have arrived at this milestone, somewhat sane and alive. When I think back over the previous 50 years, I can see God’s hand of protection over me.

Some people are stunned that first, I tell my age and second that I am not terrified of being 50. I am healthy and for the first time in 30 years, free from abusive, stifling relationships. I remember thinking this time last year, “I don’t want to go into my 50s with a man hitting me and cussing me. My life has got to be different.” I resolved that the next time he hit me, that was it. That was February 4, 2007 and I made my plans to get out of that living hell.

This is a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to do it different. I feel as if God gave me a “do-over” and I am so grateful. My goal is to live up to the gift that God has given me. I am reminded of the life of King Hezekiah. He prayed to the Lord to heal him and the Lord gave him 15 years . I hope to receive that and many more from God and make good use of the time I have left. To praise God, to use the abilities He has given me, to make someone’s life a little easier, to pray for my friends and enemies alike.

So my plans for this year: Run my first half marathon. I have always wanted to do an Ironman, but after my first century, I said, there is no way I’m running 26 miles after being on the bike this long. So I kept training, kept hoping and became more realistic and accepting of my abilities. So I thought, a half Ironman can be within my reach. But I could not mentally conceive of running 13 miles. I could see the 1.2 mile swim, I’d be last out of the water, but I know it would be doable. I could see the 56 miles on the bike; I’d be fresh enough off the bike to run. But 13 miles…my cycling coach said if I would run a stand alone half marathon, he would train me for a half ironman. So I signed up for Lost Dutchman Half Marathon, February 17. It has also been designated as a marathon by National Black Marathoners Association, so it will be nice to run with people of color.

So as I start my life anew, I am happy, healthy and somewhat of a sane mind. Now if God could just do something about those hot flashes!