Wow...it's been a long time.

Okay, so I've been busy? No really, I haven't felt much like blogging for many months and was actually surprised to see there have been 17 viewings. Color me shocked.

Anyway, a lot has been happening in the past few weeks. A year ago my nephew Christopher invited me to join Facebook so I could see photos of my darling great-niece, Anna Jo Stokdyk, who is now a year old. She has got to be the most adorable child I've ever seen. Next to my daughter of course....

Since being on Facebook, I have reconnected with many classmates from PHS class of '76. Four women in particular I have rekindled friendships with and they have been the most supportive and caring friends I can remember from high school (Diana and Debbie excluded because they do not have Facebook). The four I must mention are Julie (Whitaker) Dirrim, Denise (Otiker) Brehmer, Mary (Davis) Coons and Diana (McElheny) Mantock. There are several others (male and female) who have been in touch and/or requested to be friends and I've accepted them all. It's so fun to catch up, hear about their lives, children, grandchildren, loves/losses, etc.

Within the last two weeks, I've been on the phone with two former classmates and my best buddies my senior year (possibly junior year as well, but I'm too old to remember). Diana (Kanippe) Caldwell and Debbie (Kreh) Seiler. Sad to say, but within the past few months these women have had their fathers go home to heaven. Most recently, Dianne McElheney's dad, Mr. Robert McElheny, our guidance counselor, also went home to Jesus. It didn't take me long to pick up the phone and call my own father and thank him for his health and longevity and, Lord willing (and the creek don't rise....) he will be out to visit me again this winter.

Lunch break is almost over, so I'd better get back to earning some money. Planning to blog more often now, but you know how it is about the best laid plans of mice and (w0)men.

Blessings to all. Talk to you soon.

Monday revisited on Tuesday.

So, last night I received a phone call from a friend I have not spoken with in over 20 years. What a joy that was! AND, we talked for a little over two hours. This friend was, and I have already told him this so it won't be too big a shock if he reads it here, "the one that got away." BIG sigh. How fun is it to go back in time and relive the good memories? Too often, we remember the bad or difficult memories more often than not, so this was an amazingly pleasant surprise and I have found myself smiling at odd moments throughout the day as a result.

To this dear friend, I say thank you for the memories of a life long past. There have been many times I wish things between us had turned out different. While it didn't end the way I wish it would have, if nothing else, I have my friend back in a more tangible manner and for that I am abundantly thankful.

Still smiling....

Monday, Monday...so good to me.

Okay, so maybe I'm dating myself by using words to a Mamas and the Papas song from the, oh, mid-60s. Who cares. I'm old and I know it. (Hence the name of my blog.)

I LOVE Mondays. It's one of my two days off of the week. Today is laundry day. Sunday is my "be a slug day." Other than church, I pretty much lounge around, read, watch some of what I have DVR'd. Just generally recharging after a week of typing my fingers to stubs. My paying job is as a third shift medical transcriptionist. Yes...third shift by choice.

On the agenda for today is reading, crocheting, wrapping Christmas presents and trying to get a family Christmas present finished. I cannot say it here in case someone in my family actually reads this blog, although so far I don't think anyone other than yours truly has read anything I've written. Big sigh.

The new church yesterday was awesome! It's quite large compared to where I used to worship. I went to Phoenix First Assembly in, of course, Phoenix. What a difference between a small, family oriented facility and one that pretty much has an unlimited budget. Just for being a first time visitor, I received a coupon for my choice of (a) A CD of a prior sermon; (b) a free cup of coffee at what I assume is a church-run Starbucks or (c) 30 days at a fitness facility also run by the church. Hmmm, haven't decided yet but could really use the free 30 days.

Besides reading and writing, my latest hobby is volunteering. Yes, you read correctly. I have made volunteering a new hobby. My daughter, Ronda, tells me I need to get out more because I work from home and I have noticed a couple times since the 6 years I've been doing transcription from home that I tend to become isolated to the point of being close to agoraphobia once or twice. Thank goodness it was brief and I've long since gotten over that.

While I could stay at the keyboard writing all day, now that I'm over the flu that had me sidelined for a few days, I've got things to do this a.m.

Decisions, decisions.

The past week has been a tough one for me spiritually. After much soul searching and prayer, I have decided to leave my church family of almost 3 years and transition to a new one. I almost feel as though I've been through a divorce (again). The weirdest part is that I feel like I can breathe again, almost as though staying where I was had been smothering a part of my spirituality. I know I made the right decision, but knowing I will no longer be seeing close friends once or twice a week (sometimes more) is going to be difficult.

On the positive side, I met a neighbor. For those who know me well, I may seem outgoing, but to let someone into the personal side of my life takes quite a bit. I'm pretty sure the reasoning behind this part of my personality is because of something from my past which, thankfully, has finally found its place in my life...the past.

Forgiving myself has occurred many, many years ago. I find I still hold onto some of the old hurt on occasion to the point where I would get pulled back into those old feelings, guilt and pain. Sorry to say it has taken me well over 10 years to get to this point, but hey, getting there is half the journey, right?

While I do not know if anyone else has read this blog as of yet, I will continue to write in the hopes at some point there will be a following of sorts. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but it could happen.

For now, I must get ready for church and then the final Nascar race of 2008. My how time flies.

My entrance into the world of blogging.

Hello world of blogging/bloggers. You are now reading the premier of Old Woman Stokdyk's blog. While I love to read and write, the determining factor in establishing a blog was whether or not anyone would want to read what I have to say. Nevertheless, I decided to plunge feet (and fingers) first into this genre.

It has been interesting to read several blogs since first being introduced to my nephew Christopher's in early 1996 by my now deceased (and sorely missed) brother, also known as my hero, Bruce Claude Stokdyk. My mom always wanted me to choose journalism in one aspect or another as a career, but as I told her many, many years ago, "journalism is my hobby, not a career." Who knows mom...maybe someday I'll actually have something that will make you proud of me (even though you, too, are in Heaven with Bruce rejoicing at the feet of our Lord).

Another deciding factor in starting a blog was to offer reviews of books I have read. Thomas Nelson (who are publishers of my most recent favorite author, Colleen Coble) has offered books if you're willing to provide a 200-word review of one of their offerings on a blog. Hence, the birth of "There was an Old Woman." Later on I'll explain the choice of a blog title.

That's it for now. I'm off to work on tree decorating. Yeah, I know it's not even the middle of November, but this is the first year since mom has died (11 years and counting) since I've been so completely filled with the spirit of this season. Usually I endeavor to embody the spirit of Christmas (and thereby the Holy Spirit in giving and sharing) all year 'round, so I am embracing the fact that I'm excited about the upcoming Christmas for the first time in quite a while.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned.