A Blog Post 10 Years Ago

I thought it would be interesting to look back and see what I was doing 20 years ago today.  Not much has changed.

Women Over 50 or 60 or 70 or....

 Elizabeth "Libby" Day  7/06/2015

As a general rule, I believe women over-60 are more comfortable in their skin than younger women. Why do you think that may be?  Well, I've given it some thought, and have come to a very simple conclusion.

Wisdom, maturity and fulfillment are huge boosts to one's sense of well-being.

Usually, by the time a woman turns that big age corner, she has achieved a degree of wisdom in at least one subject.  If she has been married for a while, then she is wise regarding the male species; if she mothered at least one child, then she is wise enough to not have any more at the age of 60.

Maturity is not necessarily the same as wisdom.  Maturity means one does not have to wear the latest fashion trend any longer; she can wear red lipstick to the grocery store if she wants to; and she can embrace every wrinkle or ounce of cellulite because she knows shes earned them.

Fulfillment comes with having done just about all the hard stuff life requires before getting old.

We have time to enjoy being alone or with carefully selected friends.

By now, we have a pretty good idea of what is important in life and can let go of what isn't.

 We still care about staying healthy and living long enough to enjoy our great-grand children.

We no longer have to fit into an expected mold but can be free to express ourselves as we feel comfortable and appropriate for us.

We 60 and above aged women are a very blessed age group, I think.  And, I love it!

There are a few things though that I think are worth thinking about regarding clothing for us wise, mature and fulfilled women.

The challenge, I think is simply finding wearable, modern clothes to fit my lifestyle, budget and figure.

Keeping up with trends can be even more difficult because many fashion magazines ignore women over a certain age.

 

As a matter of fact, practically any fashion trend can be adapted if you know some general guidelines.

Some Real Quick Tips:

•  To keep current, dressing sexy doesn't mean you have to bare every body part.
• Show your sensuality with luxe fabrics (silk, leather, cashmere, fur) and rich colors (wine, chocolate, plum, champagne and midnight).
• Watch your handbag: it is usually a dead giveaway to your age - proportion to your size.
• Know that today you don't have to trade style for comfort and ease. Shop for wearable, updated shoes. Wear stretch fabrics whenever possible.
• Use accessories to create maximum impact.

• 
  Getting older and looking great while you're getting there can be a challenge but an exciting one.

Here are some Don'ts:

Be healthy but Don't get too skinny and don't gain too much weight!

Don't wear baggy, shapeless clothes, but tunics are a great item for all shapes.

Don't wear ditsy and fussy prints like tiny florals.

Don't wear overdone, fussy styles or details (gold buttons, gold trim, etc.). They are terribly aging.

Don't think you have to wear skirt suits.  Pants are generally much more youthful.

Don't shy away from all black.

Don't expose your upper arms and neck: these are both tricky areas for most women over a certain age.

Don't wear fussy, frilly evening attire. Go for tailored instead!

Now some Do's:

• Do think young. Be unpredictable.
• Do effect a natural look in beauty.
• And finally, Do follow the old adage: Aging is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!

Every day is a gift so wrap it up and make it special!

What I Love Wednesday

I am deviating from the usual Wednesday Hodgepodge today and thought I would reclaim a post I did in 2012 entitled "What I Love Wednesday."  In that post, I wrote about "Beauty is God's Handwriting" and featured some of the beauty around me that I loved seeing.  It was interesting to go back and read that, and should you want to go back in time, this is the link:

What I Love Wednesday 20122

So, what can I share today, 13 years later and older.

1.  My sis and I shared reading-the-Bible-through with a chronological plan last year.  We enjoyed doing that together, so I bought us the "Day to Day Chronological Bible" for this year.  Unfortunately, during her recent move, her copy disappeared.  I miss being able to share this study with her, but have found it a most enjoyable way to read the Bible every morning in context.  I highly recommend this as a Daily Reading with study guides and plenty of room for notes.

2.  Another book that I read along with my daily reading is "The Spirit Code" by O. S Hawkins.  He shares 40 truths about the Holy Spirit that every believer should know.  Reading a chapter every morning has been a most beneficial addition.  By the way, O. S. Hawkins oversaw Guidestone and "Mission Dignity", which provides funds to spouses of deceased ministers who served in the Southern Baptist Convention.  Our mother benefited from this ministry and it is one our church, and Dick and I support.

3.  Summer salads are something else I'm loving right now.  I think my favorite is combining cucumbers, avocados, tomatoes, and shrimp, tossed with a citrus dressing.  It is so refreshing.

4.  Since 2012, we have moved to Plano, TX.  Although I don't love the hot summers here, we do love living here.  We love our little 55+ gated village that consists of 29 buildings.  These buildings are made up of units, of which there are 128.  Our streets are safe walking paths, and the location is unbeatable. 

All exterior upkeep is provided by the HOA, which is a huge blessing.  Of course, the HOA dues pay for it, but we are relieved from those responsibilities, which is enormous.  Although I no longer serve on the HOA Board of Directors, we are still very much involved in the day-to-day activities.  Moving here was definitely one of God's blessings to us.

Village at Prestonwood

5.  I love that my two oldest sister granddaughters are enjoying family time together in Athens, Greece, where Cassidy now lives.  This is such a treasured time for them and their babies.

This is a good wrap-up of what I love this Wednesday, while I focus on the beauty of God's handiwork around me.  What are you loving today?

Summer Time & Greats

It's all about summer on the Hodgepodge today.  I don't know about where you live but, I'm not ready for the North Central Texas heat at all.  I'm yet to find anything pleasant about weeks on end of such intense temperatures.  So let me suggest you get a popsicle, sit inside where it's cool, and join in on the questions Joyce shared with us this week HERE.

1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)...what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?

 

We grew up in rural Central Louisiana, and summers were spectacular.  That is, to a kid with little to no responsibilities other than staying out of the house and behaving commiserate as a preacher's kid.  My sister and I spent our time in the woods, climbing trees, riding bicycles, and pretending to the height of our imaginations.  We didn't recognize the extreme southern temperatures and humidity because it was all we had known, and there was no air conditioning until much later.

Now?  I can't think of much to like about summer as an adult here in North Central Texas, where temperatures have already topped 100 degrees.  Simply walking to get the mail is an experience when you think your face has melted.  I am, however, very grateful that I don't have to be out in the heat very much.  Needless to say, I am a fall and winter girl!

2.  Something you'll celebrate this summer?

First, I hope to begin the summer with an NCAA Baseball National Title for our LSU boys.  We should know Wednesday night if our Tigers get to play this weekend for the National Championship.

 We don't have any big celebrations this summer, except that our great-grandson #2 in Indiana will be 3 in July.  Also, long-time friends from Georgia will visit in early July, and our son and DIL will be here at the end of the month.  We look forward to both these visits.

3. Summer tastes like?     Watermelon and lemonade

    Smells like?     Heat rising from concrete

    Sounds like?    The interior sounds of a recycling air conditioner

 

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day...what's the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today? 

I'm not normally a splurger, so I don't really have any plans to change that.  We had single pizzas for dinner on Tuesday night.  That counts, I think.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.

Summer Time 

This is what always comes to mind when I think of "summertime" - Leontyne Price singing from "Porgy & Bess" - "Summertime, and the livin' is easy."

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It has been quite a while since I updated you on all our great-grandchildren.  By the way, they number seven now.

Our Cunningham family added a big boy, Sebastian "Bass," in January, and  Landon turned 3 in April.

Our Indiana Day family added Navy Grace to join her big brother, Jax, last September.  She was our first great-granddaughter and as you can see, is a beautiful blue-eyed doll.

In Arkansas, we have Jasper and Juniper "Junie," who are two and 4 months.  They could be twins, they look so much alike.

Living in Greece is our Noah or No'a, the Greek spelling.  Cassidy & Angelos make their home in Athens, where Angelos runs his family's exclusive pastry shop.  They are celebrating the 100th anniversary this year and welcome the 5th generation.  We haven't met the sweet baby yet, but Cassidy shares lots of pictures.  They do not wish to publish his face, but trust me, he is a Greek beauty.  He is also a big boy - meeting all the standards of a 7 1/2 month old at 4 months.

The Cunningham family is currently in Greece getting acquainted with each other's newest boys, born three weeks apart across the world from each other.  Spending a few weeks on the Riviera will be nice as well.

What A Man!

I first posted this in memory of our dad, William Porter Lazenby, on the 25th anniversary of his death 25 years prior. Today, I'm posting it again as we remember and pay tribute to him for Father's Day, 31 years after his death, and marking his 106th birthday on May 15, 2025.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.  We love and miss you!

WHAT A MAN!

 Elizabeth "Libby" Day  1/18/2019

Twenty-five years ago today, we lost our dad due to complications following surgery.

It was a sudden, unexpected, and earth-shattering event for our family.

Who was this man whose death would leave such a chasm for family and friends?

He was a strong man, a tall man with large hands; he loved the outdoors and seeing things grow;  he loved building things with his own hands; he had the most amazing deep-set blue eyes; he was a friend, counselor, encourager, and pastor to many.

He was forever a student who read ferociously and retained most of what he read. 

He was serious and somewhat of an introverted man who preferred being alone rather than in large groups although he never met a stranger.

He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.

To me and my sisters, he was Daddy.

To our mother he was Porter.

He was Poppa to his seven grandchildren.

To his brother he was Dick and to his children, Uncle Dick.

To many, he was Preacher.

He was Bro. Lazenby to those who either didn't know him very well or used it out of respect.

But who was this beloved man really?

"He was a complex man and highly intelligent who thought deeply about life.  The world he left behind is a much better place for his having been there."

After his death, my youngest sister, Sarah, compiled a book of collected memories about what Daddy meant to people who had known him from all walks of life.

These are bits and pieces from that book.

Three of his grandsons wrote the following:

"William Porter Lazenby, my Poppa, was the greatest, smartest, and most generous man I I have ever known.  He was everything good rolled up into one great man.  I have many fond memories of him."  (Doug) 

"Poppa was one of my best friends.  When we spent time together, the world stopped

for a moment to see the joy this wonderful man brought into my life.  I love him with all my heart.  He was 100% love."  (Chris)

"Poppa was a great man.  He was always kind to animals and nature.  He never disliked anybody.  He loved to build things.  Poppa was a perfect role model for anybody.  I miss him and love him very much."  (Ben)

My son called him "the wise, gentle giant!" 

One of his best friends titled his "memory" this way:

"A Gingerly Generous Giant"

He went on to explain it like this:

"Gingerly?  Yes, he was gentle, cautious, careful, and delicate in his dealings with others.  Generous?  Yes, in spiritual things, in material blessings, and in spirit.  A Giant?  Certainly, he was that in his undying devotion to God, to his family, to his friends and to all mankind.  He was a kind, loving, and compassionate person, and we're glad that we were counted among his circle of friends."

The following are just words that people used to describe him.

"My Pastor"

"My Counselor"

"My Friend"

"The wisest and kindest man I know!"

"He always had words of comfort and encouragement when I needed them."

"Quiet dignity"

"Porter was an encourager.  He saw life in beauty and felt other people should too, so he encouraged us to so live."

"He would always tell me how I had a pretty smile, but to me, it was his smile that was pretty.  His eyes would light up when he smiled.  I can still hear him say, "Come sit, girl, and let's visit."

My own memories of Daddy were summarized in a "Thank You, Daddy" letter that I had given him for Father's Day back in 1986.

The final line went like this:

"...for giving to us all the greatest gift one person can give another - an example of God's love."

To us girls, he was the best Daddy anyone could have had.  He was the model of a Daddy to our friends.  He was the model for the man we hoped to marry one day.  He passed on his great love for people to us.  His love of nature and animals to my sisters, and the love of history and writing to me.  He exhibited unconditional love and acceptance not only to us but to everyone with whom he came in contact.  He showed us Jesus every day of our lives.

Perhaps the most comprehensive and sincere, and inciteful look at who Daddy truly was, was from our Mother.  They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a month before his death.

Theirs is the most beautiful love story that lasted until Mother died in 2005.  Yet, it lives on in each of us who knew and loved them and were touched by them.

"Porter, a man!  Gentle, loving, kind, patient, unselfish, and yet so strong, uncompromising in his convictions, always hopeful. Committed first to God, then to us.  How else could it have been the supreme life?"

"Porter, a teacher!  Not only was he my pastor for 50 years and a teacher in spiritual matters but he taught me many things:  to see beauty and appreciate it in everything around us....very few days passed in those 50 years that he did not bring me a flower or maybe a pretty leaf and would say, 'this says I love you!''

"Porter, ever hopeful!  Hope was a vital quality in Porter's life.  There was always that assurance that God was in control and would supply all we needed.

"Porter, the romantic!  Yes, the lover, the poet, the dreamer.  What a three-month courtship that was!  I have kept and will pass on the love letters from that time and it is only as you read them that you will know that part of this man.

"Porter, the father and grandfather!  Oh, how proud he was of his three girls.  He was interested in every phase of their lives.  He was never too busy to listen or counsel, or to encourage.  He saw each son-in-law as the special 'chosen ones'.

"The crowning glory for him was his grandchildren.  Oh, how he loved and cherished his 'grands' and sought to develop the character traits he saw in each one.

"WHAT A MAN!"

Yes, what a man, what a Daddy, Grandfather, and friend he was.  I want to believe that he continues to live on through those he left behind.