While not as sonorous as 100 years old, 90 years old has a certain ring of its own.
A Chocolate Birthday Cake for my Ninetieth!
At the insistence of our daughter, Karen, our family celebrated my 90th birthday with a party at our house. It was a truly wonderful occasion with our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in attendance! The great-grandchildren, running and playing made it a noisy, active, thoroughly joyous event!
Our house, which is usually rather quiet, was filled with the excited laughter and screams of little children playing; bringing back memories of past years when our children and grandchildren provided the excitement. Since we have lived in that same house for almost 48 years, our grandchildren can remember when they were the little ones playing on the floor; now their children are playing in the same rooms!
As a young man, I never had thoughts of being 90 years old; my life was too full of people, places and past-times to let such thoughts even momentarily drift through my mind.
There had been two older men in my youth that influenced my perceptions of being old; my mother’s father, Dave, and my father’s father, Bob. My name, Robert David Bower came from them; since Bob and Dave were already taken, I got Robert David. I was impressed by their age and appearance and thought of them as being really old.
In retrospect, I do not think of them as all that old; Bob died when he was 73 and Dave died when he was 74; for me, that is almost ancient history!
My parents divorced when I was 2, so I have very few memories of my father being an influencer in my life. He died in a car wreck when he was 69.
No Plan for the Future
I decided to retire when I was 71 years old; there were changes in the wind that suggested a change in my situation was timely. By God’s grace, I was in a financial situation that permitted me to consider retirement as an option so I retired in September of 2004.
I had no idea what I would do after I retired; I had always had some sort of job since I was in junior high and was living on my own and fully supporting myself by the time I was 18. It was going to take some adjusting to not think of going to work and doing something.
It really didn’t matter as the Lord, in his grace, had already planned my retirement and would reveal his plans to me at the appointed time. I can say, with great enthusiasm, that the years of my retirement have been gloriously rewarding and filled with unexpected opportunities and challenges!
Building on a Solid Foundation
My wife and I got married while we were still children, at least legally we were children; she was 17 and I was 19 and we decided we would finish growing up together. I had been living in a furnished room and she spent too much time worrying about me so we figured it would be easier on both of us if we lived closer together.
Now, over 70 years later, that arrangement is still working for both of us. I have written more on that in a 2-part series that starts with: “A Husband’s Perspective on Building a Successful Christian Marriage.”
Our marriage has served as the foundation for my life and I continually thank and praise the Lord for his grace in giving me his servant, Adele, to be my wife! Our love for each other has continued to grow each day and has provided the necessary component to make our marriage the happy adventure it has become.
I continue to welcome the future, knowing my times are in the Lord’s hands!
davidbowerkingwood 
Happy Happy Birthday
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By: Kathy Scharer on February 27, 2023
at 6:24 am
Thank you, Kathy!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 7:38 am
Happy Birthday, David.
I pray that our Father in Heaven continues to bless you and sustains you in your outreach, and as the spiritual leader of your family.
Best,
Terry
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By: Terrence Richard Manning on February 27, 2023
at 6:32 am
Thank you Terry, our Lord has always been my guide and Savior!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 7:41 am
Happy Birthday David!!
Loved your monologue today!! A life well lived, love for your beautiful Adele and praises to our Faithful God! Thank you for your post today David as it delighted my heart on many levels.
God willing, James R and I are praying for more years for you and Adele to share life together this side of heaven.
Love and so appreciate you two…Jim & Elaine
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By: James R Hastings on February 27, 2023
at 6:49 am
Thank you Elaine, Adele and I value your friendship!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 7:43 am
Happy Birthday David!!
Loved your monologue today!! A life well lived, love for your beautiful Adele and praises to our Faithful God! Thank you for your post today David as it delighted my heart on many levels.
God willing, James R and I are praying for more years for you and Adele to share life together this side of heaven.
Love and so appreciate you two…Jim & Elaine
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By: James R Hastings on February 27, 2023
at 6:49 am
Thank you Elaine and Jim!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 7:45 am
Happy 90th Birthday!
Sent from my iPhone
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By: Debbie Collier on February 27, 2023
at 7:35 am
Thank you Debbie!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 7:46 am
Happy Birthday David. God Bless you and your wonderful family.
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By: Anonymous on February 27, 2023
at 8:07 am
Thank you!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 8:40 am
I love your story because it has our sweet savior Jesus woven all throughout it in big bold beautiful colors. God is good and faithful! I’m so grateful that you’re my earthly Father. I love you dearly ❤️
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By: Karen Adamson on February 27, 2023
at 8:40 am
Thank you my beloved earthly daughter and eternal sister in the family of God!
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 8:44 am
Stupendous!! 🥳 Thank you for sharing your joyous day and words of wisdom- I’m going to read the post on “A Husband’s Perspective…” now!
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By: Lisa Beth on February 27, 2023
at 7:41 pm
Thank you Lisa Beth, it’s from November of 2021 but those principles don’t change.
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By: davidbowerkingwood on February 27, 2023
at 8:02 pm