New Year… So what’s new?

-

It’s been a whole year since the last time I blogged so surely there is something new to report. In 365 days of living, life must have made its appearance in some positive form or maybe even a less desirable interaction. So, on the eve of the dawning of yet another new year, let’s take a look back at where God has taken me in 2012, what I have experienced as well as lessons learned or maybe should have learned.
Yes, as I blogged last year, I have continued on with pursuing my dream of a college degree. At this time, I am just three classes shy of completion. Fifteen weeks of class time ahead and I will be a graduate! It almost doesn’t seem real. I have also continued with piano lessons. I will most likely never be a concert pianist, but I can  play a bit of music, simple but fun, and I enjoy it. In my eyes, that is an accomplishment and it makes me happy.
I did make it through a whole year of work and life without any major illnesses or surgeries. In comparison to recent years that is huge! I am very thankful to God for that blessing in my life. My family has been healthy and nothing drastic has occurred, so again, very thankful. Smile
One life lesson I have gained from my online college experiences is to be a better planner of my time. A little less procrastination and more pre-planning has allowed me to accomplish so much more. Between work, piano lessons, church, family and life in general I have had to be proactive to stay on target. I will not say I am always successful with organization but I have definitely improved in that area. If that was the only thing I gained from the college experience, it would almost make it worthwhile, but I have learned much more than that from my classes that I think will be useful in life and in work. I actually love learning new things, and I have enjoyed it thus far.
As a family, we have taken vacations and had more time to spend together this year which was awesome! We are getting closer and closer not only to my graduation May 4th, but to seeing our sweet daughter walk across the stage as a new college graduate, May 11th. She is an aspiring secondary level social studies teacher and I could not be more proud of her as she begins student teaching in two weeks. She has truly grown into a lovely young woman and I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for her and her fiancé. The wedding date is set for February 15, 2014! Yes, the planning has commenced!
A few of my friends and family have experienced loss this past year and although it was certainly difficult to watch them go through the pain, I counted it an honor to be able to stand by their side and walk the road with them. In this year, some have welcomed a new baby into their family. What a joy to be able to take part in that celebration! Others have been battling illnesses, job loss, or in even big moves because of a job move. It all is such a reminder of how life is truly a process; there is a joyful beginning, living in the middle and a tearful ending but it is all a part of God’s great plan. He is with us through it all bringing blessings of joy and comfort in times of sorrow.
Weddings, funerals, births, graduations, illnesses, and change each have been a part of life this year for those closest to me. For some, though, this year was just life as usual. The truth is no matter how mundane life  seems, how exciting or how difficult it becomes, there are always reasons to celebrate and along with that there are sometimes occasions to mourn. I was blessed to be able to see God in all of them. My prayer for this coming year, 2013, is that with my eyes wide open and with a receptive heart I continue to observe and recognize the hand of God in everyday things as well as life’s extraordinary moments. Somehow, I want to impart that blessing of recognition to others by strengthening my relationship with Jesus and encouraging others to do the same.
May God bless us all in this New Year and always!


Popular posts from this blog

Faithfulness in Waiting

-
Image
  25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss [ d ] your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (NIV) Can you imagine waiting many, many years for something that was promised to you? Waiting day after day for that life-changing offer to show itself? The very thought of being that patient seems foreign and impossible to many of us beca...
Read more

A beginning, Day 4

-
Image
Wow! Day 4 already. Time sure flies when you are learning something new; a new skill, a new strength, a new attitude. This week has marked the start of greater dependence on God for something I have said I have asked Him to do in me, but I think maybe it was a less that honest request. I asked God to help me learn to exercise.  Yeah, I know it sounds kind of mundane, but you have to understand that like many people daily exercise is not something I have made a priority in my life. The mere idea of getting up a bit earlier to walk, run, do calisthenics was as far away from my to-do list as chocolate is from bitter herbs. I did purchase a treadmill last spring that I thought would be the answer to my dilemma. "Have it the house where I can use whenever I want," I said. I was determined and I searched high and low to find just the right one. The problem came when it was delivered and assembled. Not all of the parts were there. I had to wait for almost a month to get it completed...
Read more

God's Flashing Neon Sign

-
Image
It’s time for confession. I’ve been really struggling with a lack of motivation, self-discipline and self-control for some time now. Even though I would love to blame my problems on the outrageous and unpredictable state of the world today, it’s not about covid-19 or being on lockdown. It’s not about being cooped up in the house for days or even the seemingly unending period of rain and gloominess.  It’s about the troubled and unsettled condition of my heart. I have been battling thoughts of unworthiness, disappointment, and destructive behaviors. I have spent money I don’t have. I have procrastinated on work that needs to be done. I have gained close to 30 pounds in a never ending cycle of feeding my insecurities and the shame of having let things get increasingly unmanageable.  This has to stop! I began a new personal Bible study in an effort to seek God and regain some measure of order. When I am not in communion with God as I should be, life gets chaotic...
Read more