When you were 45.......

Yey, it's my birthday!!  :)  I made myself a promise that I would never become a "Debbie Downer"  {sorry all Debbie's out there} and that I would always be grateful for seeing another birthday.

Of course its made me think, why wouldn't it?  Only I'm not a typical thinker, so I want to share with you where my thoughts have led me on this birthday.

What if I could sit down with some of the women in my family that I never knew when they were 45 and have a cup of coffee (or tea)?  What would I tell them?  What would I ask them?

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My paternal grandmother Emma Bryn Clark, who was 45 years old in 1950.

 "Grandma Clark, you were so brave to leave the Dakota's to come to Indiana and be a farm wife.  How did you leave your Bryn family behind and come and join the Clark family of whom the only one you knew was your new husband Frank?  What was it like being a newly wed and having your mother-in-law live with you? Would you believe that in 2 years you'll be pregnant with your tenth child?!"  (an awesome gal that I call Aunt Sarah) "You are so calm, thoughtful, and never say a negative word about anyone.  I need to strive to be more like that!"

My maternal great-grandmother Bertha Magdalena Vash, who was 45 years old in 1945.

"Great Grandma, what a strong woman you were!  You immigrated to the United States in 1913 and made your way west to Knox County to the coal mines.  In 1945 you had a beautiful, healthy 2 year old granddaughter, but you also had a 3 year old severely handicapped son.  You even had your daughter and granddaughter back on the farm living with you while your son-in-law was in Europe in the war.  I picture you kneading a bowl of bread while speaking Hungarian to little Stevie and wonder if I could have been as patient."   

My maternal grandmother Irene Pearl Goyer Taryayni who was 45 years old in 1966.

"Grandma Mother, how proud you must be to have a daughter who has graduated college as a teacher!  I know you helped work hard to be able to send her to ISU.  You must be busy planning her wedding.  I've already seen the pictures and I can see just how happy that day was for you.  Grandma, I don't think I'm quite as bossy as you, but I do think it's from you that I get my gumption to dig my heels in when necessary."

I've got a lot to live up to, including my beautiful mom who I did know when she was 45.  Trust me, she put up with more then she deserved from me.  But because she knows Jesus, I know forgiveness and grace.  

I will be celebrating all weekend and why not?  ;)