Daylight

This year is off to a great start. I have my health, family, friends, church family and am praising the Lord for all of them!
My small group (Bible study) is beginning a short study of Forgiveness tomorrow. I have glanced at it and am eager to begin.
My mother and I (and maybe a sister) are going to start crafting together one night a week. We have been ‘talking’ about it for a good year now and are following through with action :-)
I woke this morning to a sheet of ice for my road – yikes. However, the main roads were fine. Walking from my car to work was a challenge! “Baby steps” and looking for snow to walk in helped.
As I left work the other night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the sunset ~ we are on the “upswing” for daylight. Yahoo!!

BRRRR, It's cold outside

It has been downright chilly the last few days here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m sure there are other regions with even colder temps. Our highs are in the low 20s with our lows as single digits or in the teens.

I am continuing to do my daily workouts (yay) and have some satisfaction in seeing those cute little stickers on my calendar :-)

My church has a Women’s ministry group that hosts events for the women of the church. Tomorrow is one such event – a women’s breakfast. My small group is going along with my (married) daughter. It should be a wonderful fellowship event!

I am excited to see how the year 2013 unfolds for me. I am sure there will be hardships and joyful events throughout. I do know that God is good and He will provide and care for me. Praises!!

S N O W



Wow ~ we definitely received some snow over the last few days! I have gotten some great workouts (yes, I do count snow shoveling as a workout).


The snow creates some beautiful scenery. I love it when the trees are covered in white. The roads are a different beast. The hard packed snow turns to ice and is no fun for drivers.

The Inland Northwest slumbered Tuesday night to high winds which melted much of the snow which is good because we are heading into a frigid few days of low 20s for the daytime highs.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

This is a verse from my devotions earlier this week and it struck me that anything I am struggling with can be considered a mountain. It was definitely eye-opening with regard to some things that I am struggling with -- thank you Lord for revealing this to me!

2013

Blessings to each of you for 2013!

The Lord continues to do His work in us and I am mighty thankful for that!

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being ... — Ephesians 3:14-16 tniv

This is my prayer for each of my family and friends for the year. Of course, it isn’t my only prayer, but a very important one :-)

Last year I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions; however, I am making some for this year:
 Growing more in my prayer-life.
 Being more conscious of the Lord in everything.
 Doing at least one workout each day.
 Going from room to room and re-evaluating my stuff (this means moving and removing items).
 Planting a garden.
 Canning from my garden.
 Being aware and thankful for each blessing bestowed upon me!
{I am also printing this post, putting it on my fridge and hanging in my cubicle.}

I look forward to updating my progress as time goes on.

Joy

My mother gave me some paperwhites to start at the beginning of the month. Wow ~ they are amazingly fast growers :-)  I have been told that they are very fragrant. I’m not sure that they will be blooming for Christmas; however, I will be enjoying them whenever they do bloom!


It is almost time to celebrate Christ’s birth! This year has flown by with so many life changing events.

~ An engagement, landscaping projects, a wedding, becoming a single empty-nester, family trips & visits, volunteering opportunities, a new vehicle and now celebrating the birth and life of my savior, Jesus Christ ~ Yahoo!
I give thanks to my Lord this Christmas season (and throughout the year) for my loving family and friends, both near and far.

Celebrating!



I can’t believe it is almost time to celebrate Christ’s birth! This year has flown by with so many life changing events.
Yesterday started the season of Advent. I downloaded a great ‘day by day’ from Fresno Pacific University which includes verses along with reflection writings.

“The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself.” [Dennis Bratcher]

I hope you are as blessed as I am during this season of Advent!

Ouch



I had a wonderful time visiting my Dad and Jeanine in the greater Portland, OR area. It was very rewarding to watch my Dad heal physically during the 5 days I was there. What a scare for all of us! He is such an experienced driver that there were no other casualties – kudos to Dad :-)


The picture above is one of the truck a couple of days after the accident. My Dad came out of the accident with no broken bones -- only bruising, lacerations and swelling along with soreness.

The Lord is good! I cannot praise Him enough for all of the miracles and blessings He gives to each of us every day.