Hi Y’all, I’m Beth

I’m Beth Gramling Sanders, an empty nester, married since 1986, and mom of two wonderful grown women.

Way geekier than most women my age, along with my oldest daughter, Elizabeth, I stood in line for 12 hours in 2007 for the very first iPhone.

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Hi Y’all, I’m Beth

I’m an empty nester, way geekier than most women my age. I consider myself too old to be a hipster and too young at heart to be a geezer. I’m a Christ follower, life-long St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, crossword puzzle nerd, wordsmith and all-around technology freak and early adopter.

I was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years, as my husband, Jim, and I raised our two daughters. I enjoy my girls as adults more than I ever dreamed and love being free from enforcing curfew, nagging about homework, and throwing down a four-course dinner every night.

This blog is my personal thoughts and insights on life, family, faith, the expression of experiences and wisdom gained through 60+ years of life, and things I enjoy.

My professional self is on my website, aptly named BethGSanders.com.

Latest Post

When it Rains …

When it Rains …

it Pours. :: Heavy Sigh :: Yesterday, just as I'm beginning to recover physically from surgery, I log on to my patient portal account and see the report of my lymph node biopsy from the procedure. I had been waiting for it, but felt pretty confident that my prognosis...

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I Survived Mr. Potato Head

I Survived Mr. Potato Head

Remember Mr. Potato Head? Better yet, remember when you used an actual potato to play with Mr. Potato Head? I do. The older I get, the more nostalgic I become. Maybe it's because I have increasingly more things to look back on. What I didn't remember is that,...

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Moments

Moments

Yesterday was an epic day in my baseball world. We went to AutoZone Park to enjoy a Redbirds baseball game, some postgame fireworks and the main attraction, the World Series trophy. The same trophy former manager Tony LaRussa held proudly after the historic 2011...

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It’s All In the Letting Go

It’s All In the Letting Go

A very long time ago, when I had a tiny baby, someone told me that successful parenting is a series of letting go moments. I didn't believe it then. But now that I've lived it, I know it's true. I remember holding her, rocking her, inhaling the baby smells, feeling...

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The Last of Life For Which the First Was Made

The Last of Life For Which the First Was Made

25 Years of Marriage Twenty-five years ago this moment I was doing my nails and fluffing up my 80s hair in preparation for my wedding. The Back Story Jim and I dated in high school. I was two years older, so I had to drive on all of our dates. He had a shiny new...

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Holiday Challenge: Say the Unsaid

Holiday Challenge: Say the Unsaid

For the past few years, I've made a complete Thanksgiving dinner at our house before we celebrate with extended family. It's the one time each year we get out the china, silver and Waterford crystal and eat by candlelight in the dining room. It takes all day to...

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From First Steps to 26th Mile

From First Steps to 26th Mile

Race Update Elizabeth finished the Atlanta Marathon with an unofficial (as of now) time of 4:40. She's exhausted and hurting all over and on her way back to Memphis. Congratulations, sweetheart, we're so happy for you! Here's what she had to say about it on Twitter....

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The Louisville Slugger Museum and Why Pujols Makes Bank

The Louisville Slugger Museum and Why Pujols Makes Bank

I'm not much of a museum person. But this one is different. It's a baseball museum. Precisely, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. For $10, you get to see the museum and take a tour of the factory where the famous Louisville Slugger bats are made. If you've...

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Surgery Week Two: Unremarkable. But Also Remarkable

Surgery Week Two: Unremarkable. But Also Remarkable

Unremarkable. It means ordinary, lacking distinction. Not something we generally consider a compliment. But medical terms are strange. A test result that is negative is usually a good thing; positive means you have whatever awful thing they are testing you for. So...

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Hot Coffee, Cold Beer and Dell

Hot Coffee, Cold Beer and Dell

I'm going to preface this by saying that sometimes I have weird dreams. And weird thoughts. So maybe this is one of them, but it's a kind of a fun mental game I've been playing for quite some time. A few weeks ago, on the way home from our last lake trip, I shared my...

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Slow Down: One Week Post-Op — A Personal Update

Slow Down: One Week Post-Op — A Personal Update

Yesterday marked the one-week point since the hysterectomy. I've always believed that there is good to be found in any situation. Here are a few thoughts after one week: A good support system is a must. But it's crucial to actually let them help. I don't like being...

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Surgery and Romans 8:28

Surgery and Romans 8:28

I'm having major surgery this coming Monday. A hysterectomy, to be exact. Not too long ago, I had a minor procedure that involved a biopsy and they found some abnormal cells. Not cancer, but precancerous. For any cancer survivor, the word precancerous is actually code...

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Naked

Naked

You know that dream where you're naked in front of a room full of people? Yeah, I do too. A few nights ago. Even in the dream, I wasn't really naked in the literal sense. But it was that feeling. I often have weird dreams. Usually I can't tell whether they mean...

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Memstorm Tree Damage

Update: 1:31 p.m. I just made it to the other side of the house. Wow. This is our neighbor to the south. I wasn't home at the time, but today's storm did a bit of a number on our backyard. Our neighbors got it a little worse, as this large tree fell on their roof. All...

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Words and Memories

Words and Memories

As much as I love writing, there is writing, and there is ... writing. I was asked to write an obituary for my beloved 95-year-old grandmother, who passed away a few days ago. I consider it an honor to have known her, to have loved her and to offer this final tribute....

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Merry Christmas and Hallelujah!

Merry Christmas and Hallelujah!

I'm a fan of tradition, especially at Christmas. Some of our traditions are warm, loving and spiritual. And some are downright ... um, quirky. Candlelight and Carol service at the church we grew up in Mass family sleepover on Christmas Eve at my mom's; all the kids...

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Advent Prayer: Knocking for Opportunity

Advent Prayer: Knocking for Opportunity

This morning as my husband, Jim, and I got ready to leave for church, I put on my coat, scarf and gloves to stay warm in the 20-degree weather and single-digit windchill. I had to decide between brown gloves to go with my pants or black gloves to go with my coat;...

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Empty Nest Countdown: One. Week.

Empty Nest Countdown: One. Week.

This countdown is getting serious. She leaves in One. Week. What do you do the last week before your last child leaves for college? It's busy for her as she says goodbye to her friends, packs and cleans her trash pit dumping zone room. Busy for me as I plan the...

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