I COUNT MY YEARS IN DECADES NOW

Posted on January 22, 2018 by oneta hayes

oneta sammy

LAST YEAR I told you about my “birth” day.   So today I will pick up my story beginning at ten years and and hitting the highlights of each decade of my life.  As I thought this project over, I realize I wrote about myself as an assignment for Blogging University I think in 2015.  I find my past has not changed from what my past was three years ago!  Therefore, I’ve hopped back and copied most of what I wrote then.  So here I go again as a memory activity to recount the highlights from each decade of my past.

I HAVE A PICTURE of my family when I was ten.   There are my adoring parents still – however, at this time they are adoring my little sister who came along that year. I always hated the picture because there I sat on the ground with my brother – horrible picture of him and me. But precious of the baby! I hated the picture, but I loved the baby. As a teen, I made choices that strengthened my childhood love for Jesus.  Another thing happened that year that seemed to make the grown-ups happy. World War II was winding down. For some reason, they made a big deal of D-Day. I think it was June 6th or something like that but it couldn’t compare with April 28th the birthday of my little sister!

IN MY TWENTIES, now married to Sammy, I had two babies, sons, to adore. I had a “state” job – at Services for the Blind. I resigned there shortly before time to go to the hospital to give birth to my first born. My husband was working and going to college. I returned to Services for the Blind and worked there until my second son was born. I worked at Tinker Air Force base; it was a good job – but only drudgery, endless typing of job descriptions.

I GRADUATED from college on my 31st year. Bachelor of Arts in Education! A dream completed! Our family of four lived in a one room college apartment in Alamosa, Colorado. Cold, cold, cold. Sammy was high school principle in Saguache, fifty miles away. Wasn’t great but we didn’t expect things to be great in those days. We lived for reaching goals, and I had reached mine. That year we came back to Oklahoma. I started teaching in downtown Oklahoma City, a job I loved dearly.

FORTY!   Is that supposed to be over the hill? My sons were 14 and 20. They were our reason for being. Our social life was wrapped up around our sons, our church and SW college  where Sammy worked. I was teaching elementary school in OKC. Our careers were blossoming.

FIFTY! Boys are grown. We lived in Claremore, OK. Riding high with bills paid finally.

SIXTY!   Retired and back in Oklahoma City, adjunct teaching at local colleges.

SEVENTY!   Still working. When I quit full time work, I went on staff at my church with the responsibility of loving and visiting senior members of the church who were confined to homes. After a life time of good health, I faced tough health situation in this decade.

EIGHTY – Wednesday I will be eighty-four!   So I count my years in decades now. There has never been one that I would have chosen to swap back to a previous one, – well, I’d like to have my health back from early seventies.  But I am doing well with the things God gave me plus what the doctors stuck in here and there – pins in hip bone, artificial aorta valve, pacemaker.  😀   Oh, yes, and now my hair is blond!

And you, my friends, are another added plus for my 80’s – actually,  my 9th decade.

What will the future bring? I don’t know, but to show my optimism, may I share a chorus that I wrote a few years ago. I goes like this:

I’ll count it all joy, my King; I’ll count it all joy
I’ll follow in everything and count it all joy.
My steps are all ordered by thee, my foot shall not slide,
By faith I don’t have to see, with you as my guide.

About oneta hayes

ABOUT ME Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
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22 Responses to I COUNT MY YEARS IN DECADES NOW

  1. ghostmmnc says:
    January 22, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    How wonderful to look back over your decades fondly. Let me wish you a very happy birthday for Wednesday. 🙂

    Reply
  2. calmkate says:
    January 22, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    what a busy and fruitful life your living … looking forward to hearing about this decade in retrospect, if I should live so long!
    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  3. Jenny says:
    January 22, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    Such a lovely post! I only hope to look back at my life like that one day. I am in my third decade so I still have a bit to go and some more life to live.😊

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 22, 2018 at 12:59 pm

      And the joy of fulfilling many of life’s purposes for you. The Apostle Paul we move from glory to glory. That’s life in the Lord. I’m going to go check your blog, Jenny. See you there!

      Reply
  4. Deb says:
    January 22, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Advance Happy Birthday my dear Oneta!!! I always enjoy reading your posts!

    Reply
  5. kiwinana says:
    January 22, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    Beautiful, loved reading it. Happy birthday for tomorrow.
    My Husband will be 81 tomorrow 24th January, as I celebrate it I shall remember you, and hope you are having a wonderful day also, may peace be with you, my friend.

    Reply
  6. Julie (aka Cookie) says:
    January 22, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    WOOOOOWHOOOOO!!!!!!!! for this celebrated life!!!!

    Reply
  7. judyjourneys says:
    January 22, 2018 at 8:07 pm

    What a neat way to summarize your life. I enjoyed reading it. I’m looking forward to what you write at ninety, Oneta!

    Reply
  8. beholdinghimministries says:
    January 22, 2018 at 9:10 pm

    Too cool…Happy Birthday! God is good!

    Reply
  9. Faye says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:45 pm

    I will be eagerly watching your blogging as the years continue to unfold. If you make ninety and still are blogging, may Grace abound to me also. I would then have reached eighty. Like you the decade of the seventies has been my most challenging health-wise after a wonderful six decades. Only God has been unchanging and ever faithful. Blessings and special thoughts tomorrow 24th here. xx F. (Great Blog….ordinary life yet at the same time extraordinary! ) Thanks.

    Reply
  10. Shreya Jindal says:
    January 23, 2018 at 5:08 am

    Happy bithday in advance and may u live many more years. You are such an amazing person . so fit so heathy and interesting also.

    Reply
  11. Julie (aka Cookie) says:
    January 24, 2018 at 6:50 am

    Ok, I’ve come back to this post because today is the BIG day!!!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ONETA…
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!

    Reply
  12. RobbyeFaye says:
    January 24, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    Happy birthday!!
    I am enjoying your blog.
    Have a wonderfully blessed day and birthday!
    Blessings~

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 27, 2018 at 11:11 pm

      Thank you, RobbyeFaye. I’m being slowed down with computer and eye problems, but hope to see you again when everything is working well enough to follow you home. 😀 I’m not reading much right now.

      Reply
  13. Dawn Marie says:
    January 26, 2018 at 8:34 am

    It is quite obvious, that as the spirit goes, you will merely be 84 years young! Your enthusiasm and encouragement keeps many of us young at heart and I treasure the short time I have known you! Hugs & 84 blessings to you!!!!

    Reply

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