Intentions for the New Year...

My cousin created a list of resolutions on her blog, found Here, which are similar to some of my own goals. I wanted to share Laurie's with you, because it inspired me to put mine in writing, which I had not intended to do. Maybe it will inspire you as well.

Too often, resolutions fall by the wayside. After a slip or two, the goal seems insurmountable. One of my former supervisor's gave me a tiny pebble when we were facing a huge project. It was a reminder to approach a mountain of work, one little piece at a time. That is how I'm approaching this year, a pebble at a time, being thankful for what I do accomplish, and remembering my joy is also in the journey, not just the destination.

My focus is on:

Health - Making better food choices. Exercise daily. Listen to my body and rest when needed. Don't be afraid to make changes.

Spirit - Pray with thanksgiving. Sing. Laugh. Love. Forgive. Be generous.

Soul and Mind - Write daily. Read more. Make time for family and friends. Learn something new. Tap into my creativity. Be true to myself. Be inspired!

It sounds like a lot, but many of the things listed are what I have already been working on. I want to continue improving, learning and growing. There is no downside to making these resolutions, because failure is also a learning experience. I'm ready to greet 2015! It's going to be an amazing year! Believe it!


© 31Dec2014 ajj

Christmas Traditions, and These are the Days of Our Lives...

I'm surprised Days of Our Lives has weathered the demise of the soap opera, but it's been around for a long time. It was mom's favorite. When I lived in Phoenix, before the advent of VCR's, mom had to work when the show aired. She convinced me to watch it for her and call her with the highlights once or twice a week. It was a connection with mom, and I became a fan of the show.

I haven't watched it for many years now, but while switching channels today, I inadvertently came across the end of todays episode. At Christmastime, they have a tradition on the show where they decorate the tree with special ornaments. The family members names are on each of the ornaments. It brought back a flood of memories of my mom, and made me think about the importance of traditions in families.

We still hang stockings by our fireplace, and every Christmas I have certain ornaments I love to decorate with, because it has become part of our holiday tradition. I have several given to me by my mom and my grandparents that are special to me, I have one with my dad's name written on it, some gathered over the years such as "Our First Christmas Together" which we purchased the year PJ and I were married, an angel given to me by my in-laws, ornaments I bought when our boys were born, and so many others. This year we had a tiny tree, and many of our ornaments are in storage, but I managed to put a lot of my favorites on our little tree. There's a special feeling I get from following our family traditions. I think they're important, and they definitely give me joy.  I hope each of you celebrated your holiday with traditions special to you, and I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

The Very Changeable November...

I'm a November baby, which adds to my love of this month, to this time of year. I have the fake fire crackling on the TV, accompanied by the soft background music of piano and cello.

My husband is preparing a Sunday brunch, well lunch really, because we slept in after a late night. We stayed up to watch BSU play in the 9 degree, freezing cold. It felt good to be curled up on the sofa in front of the television, while seeing the frosty breath of the players and the loyal fans who attended. It was also nice to see them pull from behind and win the game!

The arctic blast stole the last bit of autumn weather this week. We got a lot of snow, almost 10 inches, and it's been so cold. It's funny to see leaves still on the trees, but covered with snow and ice. They were so beautiful, but are now brown and scraggy looking, and under the snow are the leaves we hadn't gotten raked up yet. That's going to be a soggy mess when everything melts.

Even as I'm typing this, I still love autumn in all it's varied forms! When I step outside, the cold is bracing and the world is white and lovely. There is more than frost on the pumpkin, there's a layer of snow. It all looks beautiful to me. November is one of the most changeable months. It varies from year to year. It's full of surprises, which makes me happy to call it my birthday month!

Burning Leaves...

Vintage Autumn Print

November is filled with so many memories. One of my fondest is raking up piles of oak leaves. My sister and I would have fun jumping in the leaves, while grandpa continued to rake under the birch, the crab apple, and the willows, then he would take them, one wheelbarrow load at a time, and roll them out to the burn barrels. I still love the smell of burning leaves during autumn. That aroma is much more rare where I live now, as my little town has grown so large. The fields have been replaced with houses and shopping centers, and there are restrictions on burning in city limits. I may have to toss a couple leaves on the barbecue, and see if the smell still evokes the same feelings.

© 11NOV2014 ajj

Fairies and Imaginings...

The woods are full of fairies;

The sea is full of fish;

The trees are full of golden leaves;

Let's make an autumn wish.

~ Anonymous

Today, I'm thankful for imagination. From my earliest memories, my imagination protected me from some of the harsh realities of my life. It also enabled me to visit exotic locations and have amazing adventures! 

My imagination was, and still is, fueled by books, music, television, and movies. As a young child, books played the largest role. Nancy Drew, Mary Poppins, Lassie, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and a little book published in 1919 called History Stories for Primary Grades. That little history book was where I first read about Joan of Arc, who became one of my heroes. Grimm's Fairy Tales fueled the fantasy side of my daydreams. There were princesses, queens, fairies, and there were children in terrible danger from evil witches or a stepmother.  They managed to somehow overcome and survive the abuse. Imagination helped make me a survivor, and fueled my own creativity.  Spend some time today with your imagination, and delight in the places it can take you!

© 06NOV2014 ajj

November...

This lovely autumn picture is a Jane Berry Hudson illustration.
It was a shared image, courtesy of Bumble Button.

I'm thankful for this beautiful autumn day! November is one of my favorite months of the year, and not just because it's my birth month. It's the beginning of holiday time and brings back so many happy memories! It makes me long to get together with family and friends. There's the coziness of a warm house in contrast to the crisp, fresh air just outside the door. There's the smell of leaves, and sometimes rain. The vibrant colors. The shorter days. Planning for the holidays. I'm loving November!

To Friendship...

I'm sitting here enjoying a snowy episode of Gilmore Girls, eating a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart, sipping a cup of Starbucks Pike Place Roast coffee. And no, I get no compensation for name dropping of major brands. ;)

I'm feeling very blessed. Both sons are home today. They're visiting and video-gaming in the other room. My husband is out getting a haircut and doing some shopping at the mall. I have a large pan of my grandma's Spanish Goulash baking in the oven for later, and the house smells terrific!

I'd been missing two of my closest friends so much. They've just been on my mind. I found out yesterday that DeAnn hasn't been well, but we texted some messages back and forth, and it made her seem closer. In reality, she lives not too far from me, but life seems to be pulling us in different directions, and we just don't get together much any more. We're going to try to fix that, and very soon! We met many years ago when she began dating one of my childhood friends. One of our first nights together, at a church retreat, we spent much of the night talking after all the other ladies had fallen to sleep. Over the years, we've watched our sons grow up, worked on many Harvest Parties for the kids Sunday School classes, had years of Church Camp, dinners out, and game nights! When we're together we're either laughing or breaking out in song, or sometimes both! She is such a dear friend!

Carol lives several hours from me, in north Idaho. We became close because she married my cousin, Paul. They lived in Meridian for several years which is when our friendship really began. We discovered we are "kindred spirits" and have so much in common. It was because of her, I began blogging. We both love books and writing, music, and so much more. We can talk for hours. She has introduced me to so many new ideas. She has a great love for animals and gardening, and she is an excellent cook and hostess. She's an actress in local theatre and has also appeared in a short, independent film. She has a strong Christian faith and has been a constant inspiration to me. I mentioned to my husband, just this morning, how I was missing her. He went out to the mailbox a few minutes later, and there was a card for me! It was from Carol, and on the envelope had a picture of a couple Lab puppies (I love Labs), and "Best Friends" was printed on it. To the side, Carol wrote in "and kindred spirits" which made my heart smile!

I have many other dear, close friends, but won't write about them on this day. If you're reading this, and you are one of those, please know each one of you is precious to me and holds a unique place in my heart.

Here's to friendship!

Thoughts about Hoarding and about Letting Things Go...

I had pulled out a box of depression glass, I'd had stored in my garage, in preparation for a yard sale last month. Only a couple of pieces sold, so the rest went back into the box until another sale a week ago. I just finished rewrapping the leftover items to send to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and happened to look at the date on the newspaper I'd had them wrapped in. It was June of 2004, exactly a year after my mom had passed away. These items were from her home and had been packed away for most of the intervening years. I'd pulled them out one other time a few years back for a sale, but when nothing sold, placed them into the same box wrapped in the same newspapers and returned them to the garage. They hadn't been enjoyed by anyone for over 11 years. That's what happens when grief hits and you can't let go of things, or if you're just one of those people who hoards things thinking you will use them some day.  It's really a shame nobody has been able to enjoy the pieces all these years.

I was able to sell a few pieces in the sale last Saturday. From what was left, I selected two milkshake glasses I love and two small bowls, which match my dishes, and placed them in my china hutch. They are pieces I will use and enjoy. The remaining dishes are packed up for their trip to St. Vincent's. It's time for some other bargain hunter, like my mother was, to find them and take them home to cherish.

My 5K Walk...

I signed up for a 5K Walk, which was very optimistic of me, since I have barely been able to walk down the hallway in my home. I haven't even been walking to the mailbox, because I've been so weak and off-balance. This 5K was important to me though. It was to raise money for the NOCC, National Ovarian Cancer Commission, and I walked in memory of my mom and my niece. They were both taken from this life much too soon, mom at 65 and Lizzy at 17!

I was in the Virtual Walker category, since the actual walk was in Arlington, Texas, so I walked on my treadmill. I broke the walk into 5 parts, and the final leg was 22 minutes. It took me 108.51 minutes to walk a 5K, broken into those 5 parts over a 6 hour period. A 5K walk would have been a breeze a few years ago, but age and MS have changed many things I once did easily. Even so, sometimes it's important to push our boundaries. To challenge our limitations. I was completely prepared to accept it, if I was only able to walk a quarter mile or less. One important thing I've learned, during the past 14 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis, is to recognize when you've reached your limit. That's why I had to break the walk into parts. Each time I stopped, I didn't know if I'd be able to get back on the treadmill. I rested, drank lots of water, and began again.

I'm proud of raising money for this cause. I'm proud of pushing myself and making it to that virtual finish line. As I walked, I imagined mom and Lizzy cheering me on. I imagined a world where no one else would have to lose a mother, a daughter, a grandmother, a granddaughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, or a niece to this deadly disease.

Thoughts...

After a fun day with my family, it's been such a strange evening. Too many serious thoughts invading my happy space. It started out with sorting through some old magazines I'd saved. Then it dawned on me, many were from the summer of 2000, which was a rough one for my family. They hadn't even been read, I'd just saved them, because I was determined to make a time to enjoy them some day and forget about all the sad which happened that year.

It's now fourteen years later, and I discover them tucked away on a shelf in my linen closet. I started flipping through them, and I did rediscover the joy of who I had been at the time. Some were for landscaping my back yard, and tucked in between was the master plan I'd drawn up. Some had craft projects I'd been in love with and was going to make. Many were Christmas items to get done in the summertime, well before they are needed for home or for sale.

It was a lot of fun, until I started hearing those little nagging voices pointing out all I had not accomplished. I almost let those voices win. Then I reminded myself of what we'd all gone through, and how we pushed forward one step at a time, overcoming each sorrow and each obstacle.

Life happens, bringing sorrows as well as joy. What ultimately should define us, is what we made of it; what we did accomplish, not what we did not do. Now I've got all those "feelings" off my mind, I'm going to take another look at an old issue of Victoria magazine and allow myself to really enjoy it!

One Pebble at a Time...

Earlier, I shared about my mom's work ethic as a waitress. Now, I'm focusing on her work ethic in her home. She always took such joy in every place she lived. It didn't matter what condition it was when she moved in, it was a better and more beautiful place in no time at all! She loved to decorate, repurpose, and rearrange. I used to have that love for my home, but somewhere along the way I got lost.

Today I'll try to channel my mom, finding the love I used to have for this space I call home, attempting to bring back the joy of changing, improving, repurposing, and rearranging, with a whole bunch of cleaning and clearing thrown in for good measure!  A supervisor once told me, this job is a massive mountain, but if you pick up one pebble at a time, eventually the mountain is gone. I'm off to remove a pebble or two!

Wishing each of you a beautiful, blessed day!

Thoughts on Tipping and Waiting Tables....

I shared the following on my FB page yesterday, after seeing one article after another posted about tipping:

I keep seeing articles about how people should be tipping more. My mom was a server for years. She also loved to go out once in a while, and couldn't always afford to leave a 20% tip, but she would always leave something. She started a very good book about being a great server. She made many "0" paychecks, but was an amazing, friendly server even when her customers weren't. She also treated every customer like they were royalty, even those who came week after week and didn't, or maybe couldn't afford to, tip well. 

People loved her, remembered her, and when she had medical bills far beyond what she could pay, guess who started sending her checks... all the people she treated with so much respect and love. It goes both ways, and I really think what you put out there comes back to you in one way or another. If you dine out, please remember your server. If you're a server, give it everything you've got. I believe goodness comes back around, often when you least expect it.

Progress...

We have a treadmill! After sorting through stacks of boxes, there it was. That area is now cleared, and I can once again do my daily "mini-walks" two or three times a day. I'm only able to walk 5 minutes or less, but I've found it really helps with my muscle control and balance to make the effort. My goal is twice a day, and increase as I can. I am so grateful I can still walk, as many with MS have had that taken from them.

Having one area cleared, gives me the motivation to keep going. My husband keeps offering to help... "I'll toss that for you!" Haha! But seriously, I want to be able to do the household organizing myself. I've often turned down offers of help from other family members and friends. It's a pride thing, I guess. I just want to be successful at something. I'm giving myself 3 months! If I don't have my home organized by then, I'm swallowing my pride, calling on my husband and some of those other offers, and getting it finished.

Now it's time to take my walk!

My Saturday...

I have had a somewhat productive Saturday. While my husband is at his favorite car show in Emmett, Idaho, I've been sorting through boxes of keepsakes and dividing them into keep, donate, or sell stacks.

In the background I've been listening to some Martha Stewart Christmas programs on Hulu. It's the perfect time of year to be creating handmade cards, ornaments and gifts, so they're done well before the holidays arrive. Right now Aretha Franklin is singing "Silent Night" and I can't help but think of mom, who would pull out Christmas movies every summer during the July heat.
"Sleep in Heavenly Peace" Oh my, nobody can sing it quite like Aretha!

MJ is off to a summer luau with friends. EJ is hanging around here and has offered to help me bake a batch of cookies to send to church camp, for the kids to enjoy this coming week.

I'm having a great Saturday. As Martha would say, it's a good thing!

A Sense of Humor...

Having a sense of humor goes a long way to help any situation seem better. Occasionally, just for fun, my husband or I will read the Horoscopes in the newspaper. This morning he read his to me, which made us both laugh.

"You have enough energy, motivation and stamina for two people, which is good because your partner might be dragging. Match his or her pace first, and then slowly pick it up."

"Might be dragging." Oh my, how true this is! After reading it to me, he smiles and says, "If I start where you're at, it may take me a long time to get up to speed!" We both had quite a laugh about that! I'm so thankful I have a husband who is able to laugh about the difficulties we face with my MS, at least some of the time. The ability to laugh and to find humor in what life throws at you, makes the journey so much easier. Fretting and getting frustrated, which if I'm honest we both do at times, makes it all seem harder. It's better to find that little grain of humor. Something to take your mind off the negative and lighten your mood and your heart. It certainly helps to have a husband, a partner in life, who has the ability to laugh and find joy in the midst of it all! His ability to make me laugh is one of the first things I loved about him. I am blessed to have him in my life!

Summertime...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've spent the past few days inside my air-conditioned home beating the heat.  Stepping outside is like entering a very hot, dry sauna, which many love, but I'm more of a 60 degree gal.

What do you do to pass the long, hot summer days? Camping, swimming, fishing, tubing, sitting in a dark movie theatre? I've done all of those in the past. This summer has been a mix of projects, family time, a bit of reading, and just enjoying what life has given us.  We've had a good variety of birds visiting the feeder in our backyard. Our gooseberry bushes produced a lot of berries this season. It's the little things.

My husband helped me with an idea I'd had for a while. I wanted a curtain on the back patio cover, to pull when the hot sun is hanging low, which made it impossible to enjoy sitting out there. It was just too hot. I'd purchased a cotton drop cloth a while back, so I gave him my idea and he helped make it happen. A length of plastic coated wire, a set of grommets, and some "S" hooks along with the drop cloth, and we now have a bit of shade for the patio. Another bonus, it helps reduce the heat in the family room! It's more shabby than chic, but we love it!

Remembering mom...

Eleven years ago this afternoon, my mom left this life for the next, and I still miss her. The laughter, the conversations, the advice, just her presence. I have written about her many times, so this will be a brief remembrance.

Mom's "Glam" photo. She loved to dress up!

Mom loved a good joke. She loved country music, classics from the 40's and 50's, and a little rock n'roll from the 50's and 60's, especially Elvis. She was a yard sale fanatic, a great decorator, a bargain hunting queen! She loved her kids, her grand kids, her friends. She loved animals of all kinds, and was rarely without a pet in her home. She loved life and had a spirit of adventure. She is loved and missed.

Happy in her redecorated kitchen with her new Country Charm stove!

Mom holding me, and my aunt is in the background.

 Mom, sending you my love... today and always...

An Unmade Memory...

Since my last post, I've become acutely aware of the passage of time. It sneaks up beside us, races quickly on, and before we know it, life has changed in so many ways.

On the 16th of April, my 49 year old cousin, Kristin, passed away in her sleep. It was shocking. It was too soon. It was heartbreaking. At the memorial service, her little brother looked at me and said something to the effect of "Last time we were together, we promised next time would be for something fun, but here we are..." The most recent event, where many of the cousins had seen each other, was at grandma's memorial service in 2010. Every one of us intended to make more time for one another, but life has a way of interfering with the best of intentions.

It was both wonderful and agonizing to see so many family members. We shared a lot of tears. We shared some moments of joy. Memories permeated the room like strong incense, pleasing yet making it difficult to breath. I'm still finding it hard to breath, as I write this. Oh, for one more moment to chat with Kristin. To see that smile and hear her laughter. I have to be satisfied with knowing she is in the arms of a Heavenly Father, and is with so many who love her, who made the journey before she did. And there is some peace in it, but the peace doesn't erase the wish in my heart, that I had made even a small window of time for one more conversation shared over cup of tea, to have created a moment spent together, however brief. It's the regret of an unmade memory.

Grandma Martha and Kristin...

What we never regret are the times we have spent together. The photo above captured one of those special times. I took this picture of my grandma and my cousin. It was a such happy day. Grandma was thrilled to have some of her grand-kids visiting, and we were enjoying it just as much as she did. Their smiles say it all, and this precious moment lives as a treasured "made" memory.

© 05May2014 ajj

Where Does the Time Go...

My commitment to post a few times each week seems to have lapsed, but I guess it's a good thing when life is keeping me busy. I've spent a lot of time scanning photos and updating my Ancestry.com tree and Find a Grave memorial pages. I've been doing more research on my great grandmother, and finally found the location of her grave. A volunteer in Wyoming went out and got a photo of her gravestone. I don't know why, but it made me feel closer to her just by looking at the photo.

I never knew the first name of her second husband, but family lore was she met him while working in Canada. I'd done online searches many times, but this past week I had a new idea. Based on what I knew about her workplace in Canada, I did a search of Canadian Census and Marriage records with her nickname and his last name. There they were on the 1921 Census! They were living in Saskatchewan and her children were also listed, so I knew I had the right family. The Wyoming Find a Grave volunteer also sent me some newspaper clippings and documents she discovered.

There is a deep satisfaction I get from working on my family tree. I love imagining what my ancestor's lives were like. Every piece I fill in on my family puzzle, brings me closer to them.

Wishing each of you a day filled with family, friends, and joy.

Another Year...

Today is my mom's birthday, and I'm surprised at how quickly another year has slipped away. Mom would have been 76, and has been gone almost 11 years. I still miss her, and yet she remains close in my thoughts and my heart. I love this photo of her, and thought I'd share it again. I originally shared it in this previous post... Two Years of Blogging

My Beautiful Mom...

Spring!

Free Image - gifted from Dawn of The Feathered Nest

Spring officially arrived yesterday, and the first day of spring was beautiful in my little town, I know many friends are still dealing with snow, so I feel fortunate when I see all the green peeking out in my garden! Today it's already about 59 and sunny! My favorite kind of weather! I freeze in winter and wilt in the high heat of summer, but spring is just right.

Today's plan is to continue organizing, with a few "spring clean" projects added in. Sweeping the sidewalk and patios; shaking the dust and winter out of comforters, afghans, and quilts; cleaning the patio furniture; switching out winter decor items for something more bright and cheery!

For my organization project, I ordered two huge boxes of file folders. They arrived this week, and I already began filling them. I started with medical records, college paperwork, and because they have closed ends, I'm using some for vintage cards, documents, and photographs.

Well, blogging will not help me with my projects, so I must say farewell for now! Wishing you a lovely spring day, whether you're in the snow-belt, sun-belt, or somewhere in between!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The last three weeks were filled with some illness and other minor inconveniences, but we've sailed through the worst of it once again!

Today was so beautiful! I've been looking forward to warmer spring weather and it arrived. My hyacinths are blooming! I love their soft fragrance.  I've been doing more organizing. I know, I know... by now I should have the most organized home on the planet, but I get so distracted by every little treasure I find. This week I found a box of photos I thought had been destroyed. It was mislabeled. It was the happiest discovery I've made in a while. There was my little red photo album my mom made for me years ago! It held so many childhood photos, including my elementary school group pictures. It was such fun reminiscing.

I've lapsed terribly on my writing goals, but my characters are speaking to me again, which is a good sign.

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Even if you're not Irish, you can still celebrate the coming of Spring!

Free Image from The Graphics Fairy

Things We Take For Granted...

There are things I often take for granted. Oddly, my health is one of them. Even with the struggles I've had, I still forget it's something to be thankful for, to be cared for and nurtured. Over the past couple of months, I've had some big reminders as I struggle against some setbacks.

Time with family is another. When everyone is around, I tend to forget to focus on the moments as they're happening. I get wrapped up in the busyness of activity. I need to remember to be taking those mental snapshots, pasting them into my memory. Physical photos can disappear, but the things we carry in our hearts remain with us.

Since Valentine's Day is approaching, I've been thinking about the things I love and what I hold dear. My greatest treasures are my husband and my sons. Each one is irreplaceable. Each one is unique. Each one is loved. I don't often try to put my love for them into words. It's not easy to describe adequately, but they are my heart! I love them beyond measure, beyond words, beyond anything else in my life. If I had nothing else in this life, they would be more than enough!

Busy week ahead...

I've got a long list of "must-do" jobs this week.  I began with an unplanned root canal today, but I'm glad I got the process started.  I'm already feeling much better.  MS can create a lot of pain, and can also numb some areas to pain. There is a definite downside of not feeling pain, you don't always know when something is wrong.  When some feeling returned to the left side of my face and body yesterday, I suddenly knew something was really wrong with my tooth! It wouldn't even respond to prescription pain medication, but it got me to the dentist right away.  It's a reminder that I need to be very aware of what is going on physically, and pay attention to areas where I'm feeling no pain.

Toward the top of my list is to schedule all the maintenance appointments I want to do.  Eye exam, hair appointments, etc.  I'm even thinking of splurging on a facial or a massage.  I'm not getting any younger, and I think a little pampering would be nice.

I'm continuing to work on household projects.  It seems those are never-ending. We are putting a lot of items into storage, while our older son is living with us. I'm also hoping to clear the way to get some new carpet or flooring put down!

I have to complete the mini-makeover of our main bathroom.  We painted, but I never did get new shelving or towel racks purchased.  I'd love to replace the old 1980's light fixture as well.

Another item is to get back to work on a writing project I began last year.  My "muse" went silent for a while, but I'm been hearing some whispers of inspiration again.

This is enough to start.  Now, I suppose I should attempt to get a good night's sleep.  Work begins tomorrow!

The Promise...

Hello 2014!  Not just a New Year, but a year of New Beginnings...

More living...
More writing...
More time with family and friends...
More strength...
More bravery...
More faith...
More love...

I decided not to do a traditional list of resolutions, mainly because I've never been successful with one.  I chose to focus on the things which mean the most to me, and work on each of them a little at a time.  No specific goals, other than to just enjoy the journey.  So I begin...

A cousin shared part of this scripture after hearing so many negative things regarding the weather changes and the fear it has created.

Genesis 8:21-22

New International Version (NIV)

21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night 

will never cease.”

She was choosing not to focus on fearful circumstances, but to rely upon God's promise.

It's not always easy to look beyond the things affecting our day to day lives, and there's a tendency to allow them to define our thinking.  A big part of my journey is to change the way I view things, to focus on the promise, to see the good in life and in our world.  Today, I am thankful for the promise of tomorrow.

Wishing each of you a bright New Year, filled with promise!


© 08Jan2014 ajj