Tom retired a year ago, after what I like to call three soft-landings. It was strange for him to switch from a “work to save for retirement” mentality to a “let’s live on what we’ve saved for retirement” mindset. I get it. Such a paradigm shift for those who have spent their entire lives working. He enjoyed his career, but he has learned to embrace retirement. It has become my favorite season so far!

Which leads me to this week’s Friday Favorites List:

What We Love About Retired Life:

1. Slow Mornings – We have a slow morning routine. We have our quiet time separately, but together. We talk about what the Lord impressed on us during our time, which we never were able to do while he was working. After this we fix breakfast–either he will cook or I do, whoever is in the mood. Or sometimes we cook together.
2. Free To Move About The Country, (As Tom likes to say) – Since all of our married kids and our 8 grandchildren live in three different states, it’s nice to pick-up and go when we can. This year has been a bit challenging as Tom is helping his Dad care for his ailing Stepmom. They live in CA. I am grateful Tom has had the means as well as the time to go and help him. We look forward to a long-awaited vacation this Fall in Montana. Someplace we have never been.
3. Dates Anytime We Want – Our weekly dates nights have been on Monday nights most of our marriage. Now we can call any day a date. We have, and we will! 🙂
4. Household Responsibilities – There are parts of housekeeping that I have never enjoyed. Mopping is my least favorite, and cleaning the shower is right up there with it. It just so happens that Tom enjoys these chores and doesn’t mind doing them. Yay! That’s a win-win for both of us. It gives me more time to write for me and bake for him.
5. Ministry – More often then not we are able to say yes to ministry opportunities. We host a Marriage Community Group in our home in 6 month intervals. It has been a dream come true for both of us. Our next group begins on Sunday night where we will take 8 couples through Gary Thomas’ excellent series on, Cherish, the one word that changes everything.

Retirement comes with adjusting to a new norm. If you know this going in, it won’t surprise you like it did us. We have finally found our stride , and we are sprinting to the finish line in the grace God supplies.

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Intimacy Prompt: Talk about what your retirement will look like based on the choices you are making today. It will be here sooner than you know. Those who plan for the future aren’t surprised by the shift in seasons.

Helpful Tip: Dave Ramsey says, “Live like no one else by saving, so that one day you can give like no one else when retired.”