What turning 54 means to me. by Debbie Havens

Yet again, another birthday rolls around, this one, 54 years old today.   I know we all say it but seriously how in the world did this day come so quickly.  Looking back on those "big" birthdays makes me kinda laugh, what was so big then is really a peice of dust today.  Turning 16 equaled DRIVING, at the time, a major deal,actually today driving can be quite a chore.  Then 21, LEGAL, omg, couldn't wait for that one and today, drinking usually entails 64oz of water a day, alcohol once in a while and even then I limit myself mostly because I don't appreciate those morning afterwards.  25 was the next milestone, I was engaged and getting married and moving on, entering the real grown up days.  By the time I hit 30, it was about babies, paying bills and navigating life as a wife/mother and friend.  40 was fun, loved celebrating that big number with friends and family and was still in the baby-life stage having just had our youngest 3 months prior to this birthday.  I remember 50 as another biggy, this time Tim and I were able to take a weekend getaway to celebrate.  Bittersweet knowing you can leave 4 kids(half of them half grown!) at home and all will be well.  So really 54 isn't a big deal, the kids are really growing up now, the two here at home are slowly stretching their boundaries.  Won't be long and it'll just be Tim and I with Michael in the house.  It has been over 20 years since we've just had one child in house.  Now that is something.

So what does turning 54 really mean to me?  This year has brought many changes.  Changes in my employment, stepped out of my workplace of 15 plus years to enter into the RETIREMENT years.  Also began my "rebuild" phase, having knees replacement so that the next 20+ years can be enjoyed without the nuisance of achy knees.  And of course there is that beautiful new grandbaby that Jen and Eric  gave to us this year, nothing sweeter.  Sadly this year has also brought closer to home the fact my dear sweet daddy is truly slipping away.  I pray for him daily and thank God that he and my Mom brought me and my sisters into this world to begin this legacy of our family.  Jesus is good.

I suppose that was 54 means to me, appreciation for it all, God, family and friends.  Without these, I am truly nothing.  So thank you all for being who you are and thank you for celebrating this awesome day with me!

Love.

It's a New Knee, Take #1

One week ago today it happened.  I embarked on journey that was a long time in the making.  These knees of mine were destined to be replaced.  Thirty years ago, a procedure was done that delayed the inevitable, for that I am grateful.  Time caught up with me (and them) and the deed was done.  August 27th, 2013 knee replacement number one was completed.  Three days in the hospital, released to home bound care is where I am today.
My days consist of many things:  Pain of three kinds-deep achy behind the "knee" pain and or top of the "knee" burning, stabbing pain and or swollen inside knee pain (like when socks are too tight and are binding.  If I'm lucky I will wake up with little to no pain.  But getting up out of bed will trigger any of the above feeling if not all of them.
The biggest blessing of my days of recuperating is my awesome husband, Tim.  Without him, none of this could be possible, to fixing my first coffee of the day to shuffling the boys out the door to school, picking up medicines, organizing meals, encouraging me through the exercises (that are intense), keeping the laundry caught up, all the while maintaining his own work schedule.
Our boys have also been a big help and a positive pair of cheerleaders as their Momma whines about it hurting, being too cold, too hot or just bored out of my mind.  For them I'm grateful too.  A call from the oldest son added to the support, very much appreciated.   Jen (the oldest) took time away from her little family to come and spend the weekend with me as well, a Mom needs her daughter time.  And my very own Momma is coming to spend days with me as well. Blessings all around.
As each day passes, I'm told I will see and feel improvements.  So I'll try to maintain a positive outlook, push myself through the torture of therapy.  The end result will be so worth it.

A whole new world? Cafeteria Style..

The way I figure it, I've worked at St. Agnes Cafeteria since 1998, at least that's the earliest pay roll stubs I can find.  Those early days I worked as the "pot scrubber", working when our baby girl was in preschool and kindergarten  My days of working alternated to two and three days a week as she got older.  And as each new baby boy was born I would take leave until they were in the same preschool/kindergarten schedule.  It was ten years (almost eleven now)ago that I became an official five day a week employee, so I have some time invested in that place. 

This past November, of 2012 an opportunity arose and my co-worker and I took over the actual running of this cafeteria.  Its been a lot of hard work, challenges and disappointments but ultimately breakfast  is being served to approximately 80 children daily and lunch to an average of about 125 each day as well.  As each year passes, new regulation are implemented, new standards created, more paperwork, more computer work all in the name of progress for the school lunch program.  

So time marches on, administrative decisions are made and the new school year will find the school cafeteria being managed by an outside food vendor.  I'm still working out how I feel about this.  There are only so many hands to consider in this matter.  On one hand (if you're counting), how dare you take away an institution that has been in operation for I don't really know how long.  Its not broken, meals have been prepared, bills paid, salaries paid, Work Comp insurance paid and repair bills being met, all handled out of that hot and ill equipped kitchen.  

But there is the other hand that says, finally, let someone else handle the orders, the planning, the scheduling.  Let someone else face the parents who are convinced they could do it better, healthier and oh so much "greenier".  Just tell me when to be there, how to do it and when I'm done, I'm done.  

Of course there is the "other hand" that is waving like crazy over here.  Wait, maybe it is time, time to move on to another phase of working here.  While someone else can perhaps do it better, I can still be here to do what apparently I love to do.  I love to be around food (obviously, ask my Weight Watcher leader) and I really love to be around these kids, mine included.  With that in mind, stay tuned, time will tell how this all plays out.