Amazing to me that it has been a whole year since posting! My writing urges have taken a much shorter excursion and resorted to brief thoughts on facebook. So a new page in the book and a new year has arrived beckoning me again to seriously practice writing...because I love it.
2010 had me move twice which should be strictly forbidden in anyone's life! The bright side of all that chaos? The final move brought me into a community as my dwelling place. How heavenly it is to live with others and have family even immediately under your foot! 4 year old Isaac grabs my legs and tackles me when I come home, Rachel, does kind little things for me, though it took me time to win her heart to me. Hannah will sit in my lap or next to me any time I invite ...definitely a cuddler. Zach, the oldest, teases and observes all sorts of dietary differences and comments on them.."how could you like coffee? its gross". Belinda, their Mom, who I rent from;what a gem of thoughtfulness and generosity she is. The neighbors, Lori, Norb, David and Jonathan as well as their collection of friends...also good friends..all have become so intertwined in my life. God puts the solitary in families, it says in His Book, and sure enough, its true.
New friends arrived as well like fun Sheila and gentle Kathleen, silly Allison, faithful Lori. These accompanied faithful friends like Diane and Kathy. Then at the end of a busy year, I watched my closest friend fall in love with an old friend from her childhood and move away to be his bride.
2011 now invites me into a hope filled future, because that is what God is all about! hope, encouragement and greater understanding of His vast unconditional love. But in all that invitation, He keeps showing me that His fullness is found in His children. Its all these relationships and more that show His face to me and remind me that He is real, and that His love is profound. Relationships are everything in life, oh yea! When you love the least of these, you have done so to ME (Barb's paraphrase of a favorite truth)
I will not make this long but will come to my final point. Take hope this year and embrace it with all your heart, because your future is based on God's goodness, not your past and garbage. It can and will get brighter because there is a God who Loves you to the depth of your being. What we think in our heart manifests in front of us so think on the good and lovely and happy reports because they will become the substance of your days ahead. If you think I am just an incurable optimist, you are wrong. My old habits of negative thinking constantly attempt to rule and reign in me....but I am knowing the TRUTH and Him who came to die for us....and He is changing me to know ...He will not leave me nor forsake me and plans to bless not only me but every single one who reads this blog. Blessings on your January!
