Be Still and Know...Then and Now

It’s really cold today, but knowing that this is just the beginning of the cold weather is a bit daunting. I have set my kettle on the stove anticipating a nice hot cup of tea to help take the chill off my frozen tootsie's. I have taken a break from my bible study preparation, we start back tomorrow and I think it would be bad form for the facilitator to show up unprepared. However sometimes you just have to step away for minute. I recognize the signs when the words on the page blur together and my mind starts to wander off and I begin to make my grocery list in my head. Still waiting on the kettle to whistle…… Anyway, one of the things that happens to me at the beginning of a new years is sort of an odd mix of O.C.D. and self loathing. I begin to look about my house and I recognize all the things that make me crazy. It doesn't help that I have just retuned from my sisters house where every room is awesomely decorated and all her sink fixtures and light fixtures coordinat...

It’s a line from a John Lennon song. Today as I read some of the blogs out there I noticed a defiant theme. Folks were contemplating the year that had just gone by and looking to the new year ahead. They were making plans for things to come, for habits to break and for new things on the horizon. I think we all think about the things we want to achieve in the new year. It’s part of turning over a new leaf and a new year. You look back at the previous year and you dissect your mistakes and you chew on your irritations. I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions however there are a few things that I know will continue to do: I will continue to love my husband, children and my dog. I will continue to study God’s word. I will continue to spend time with my accountability sisters every Thursday evening. I will shamelessly boast about having the most beautiful granddaughter on the planet. I will continue to ask the age old question “How hard could it be?” I will continue to have as many l...

No it’s not some secret code deciphering the exact moment of the second coming. As I looked back at this past year I visited some of my more memorable post, gave my pictures a review and thought about all the things that  I have done over the course of the last 365 days.  Including this post I will have graced y’all with my opinion of life with 186 post added to the old published folder. I have taken a whopping 5,043 pictures, yes you read that right 5,043 . Out of 365 days this past year I missed a total of 64 days without taking a picture. That means 290 new digital folders to commemorate 2010 . I completed 5 prayers shawls this year and am working on a sixth which will have to wait to be completed until some time next year. I got to ride in a Race Car and enjoyed it way too much, but that did not even come close to the joy I experience watching the hubs take his turn behind the wheel! We spent 10 days traveling to 8 different states and visiting 6 National ...

Well another 365 days have passed us by. Before I dive head first into 2010 I wanted to take a moment to revisit 2009. So here goes…2009 consisted of 193 posts, my 5000th visitor and nearly two years of blogging under my belt. I went back and took a look at all my previous post and I have compiled a list, y’all will get to that in a minute, of some of my favorite posts over this past year. It really is a fairly accurate description of my year over all. So many things have happened to me over this past year. I became a grandma, that one was kinda huge for me. My DD experienced major surgery , I in turn experienced a new sense of complete helplessness as I sat by her bedside and then a new awareness of just how exhausting it is to care for someone in their recovery. We gained a new family member of the canine variety. the joys and turmoil our sweet Buster has brought to our life has been a new experience for us all. I still have moments even now after all this time when I ...

Well, I see many of you are doing an end of the year retrospective so I thought I would toss mine on the heap as well.  In thinking about the past year of my life I have to share that there have been many new things, many (many, many, many) difficult things, many painful things, lots of laughter and nearly as many tears to accompany the laughs.  I began this blogging journey on February 14 (ya know it did not even conncet with me that I started this love affair with blogging on Valentines Day, kind of cool I think) but 126 post later I have found this blogging experience to be one of the most rewarding avenues I have journeyed down this year.  Over this past 365 days I have encountered so many amazing faith filled bloggers. As I have read your post and you have read mine we have opened our lives and our heart up to each other. I have received comfort, support and a belly laugh when I needed it most.  Thank you seems very inadequate but it is all I have.  Contemplating what I ...