The End of Another Year

Here it is another New Year’s Eve and though I always hate being conventional, I guess I still should reflect on this past year.

The word that I chose last January to be my “word of the year” was anticipation. Because I had so much to anticipate in 2015. The Eagles tribute band concert, the nephew’s wedding in Dallas, an overnight trip to Lake Superior just to unwind, the daughter’s wedding in August, the cousin’s wedding in September and my third trip to Kenya in October. And wrote and organized the children’s Christmas program at church. Yes, it was a full-year. Lots of travel, lots of memories made, pictures taken. Oh, yes, and a new camera bought.  

Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it, some of those things already seem to have happened eons ago instead of only months. Sometimes I remember childhood events as well as I do what happened last summer. (I think that may be a sign of Alzheimers. Yikes.) Good thing I have those pictures.

Don’t tell my mom this, but maybe I do indeed do too much. She’s always telling me that I am so busy and that I need to take time for myself. Which I don’t get, coz with all the things I do, the only thing that isn’t for me is the day job (which I guess is for me if I want to contribute to paying the bills). I enjoy all the things I do and don’t know what else I would do. Watch TV? Seriously? I rather put in more hours at the day job than watch an evening of TV.

That would be all I know for sure at this point. I’m not going to take up television-viewing in the New Year. So what will it be? What will I do new and different in 2016? What adventures will I have? What travels will I take? What stories will I write? What lives will I touch or what lives will touch mine?

And what will my “word of the year” be? Stay tuned. The New Year is right around the corner. 

Happy New Year from the hubby and me 

Is your tree out on the curb?

It is better to finish something than to start it.

It is better to be gentle and patient than to be proud and impatient.

(Ecclesiastes 7:8 Easy-to-Read Version)

A lot of people have told me that they have taken all their Christmas decorations down and have put them away until next year. “Yup,” they say, “We put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas.”

Not in my house. First of all, I can’t imagine getting any decorating done right after Thanksgiving. I tend to procrastinate about everything, so it does seem as though I just finished decorating. Plus, since going to a fake tree last year, what’s the hurry? It’s not shedding any needles.

In reality, though, now that Christmas Day has passed and the shopping and wrapping (and unwrapping) and Christmas cookie baking are over with, I just want to sit back and enjoy my house. I want to curl up in a blanket on the couch and gaze at the lights on the tree or study the snow falling in the snow globes. And mostly I just want to take a few breaths and reflect on the season.

Christmas isn’t over in one day. If we can decorate for Christmas a month early, why can’t we leave the decorations up all year? Or at least keep the season in our hearts all year. Instead of saying, “It’s a relief when Christmas is over” we should be saying “Christmas has just begun.”

 

Lord, God, forgive us when we forget the reason for the season. Thank You for sending Your Son in the form of an innocent baby. Let us keep Him in our hearts each and every day. Amen 

What's your goal for the new year?

Last year I ran across a blog by Matt Green. He was walking across the United States, from New York City to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. It took him from March 2010 until August 2010. On his blog, he shared fascinating pictures and interesting insights. I just received an e-mail from him that he is starting a new walk, this time to cover every city street of New York City. That doesn't sound quite so exciting or even challenging, but he has calculated (and if I remember right he is an engineer, so I am sure he calculates accurately) that there are 7500 miles of streets in NYC. That is way more than the mere 3100 miles he walked across America.

I am pretty excited for him and can't wait to start following his latest blog. Oh, to have a goal, a dream, an aspiration. Oh, that's right, I have that. And with the new year at my footsteps it is time to get back at achieving that goal.

Mine may not be as inspiring at Matt's, but hopefully you will continue to follow me as I continue walking my own streets towards becoming a published writer. Have a Safe and Happy New Year.