Ordinary Life

 While it's always wonderful and exciting to celebrate the holidays and special events of my life, it also feels good to get back to ordinary life.  My home is slowly getting back to normal.  All the holiday decor is packed away for another year. I have been dusting and polishing and setting up the bits and pieces that bring me pleasure as they are settled back into their appointed places.

I have a new favorite piece..this lovely picture which was a gift from our daughter. It makes an attractive grouping in our entry hall, as well as an expressive symbol of our faith.

I enjoyed the last pumpkin muffin from the freezer with a cup of coffee this week.  No more pumpkin baking until next fall.

I have also been taking it easy with a couple of old favorite books.  

Things are already beginning to heat up again and will get even busier in the weeks ahead, but for now I am enjoying these moments of ordinary life.  I hope you are too.

Adieu!

Beginning a New Year.

Here we are and this new year has already gotten away from me just a little bit.  What kind of a year is it going to be?  I really don't know.  I know there is going to be some sorrow.  The foreshadowing of that is already upon us.  Will there be some joy as well?   Most likely.  God is always good at giving us balance when we look for it.  One of the bloggers I follow picks a word for the year.  I think if I were to pick a word for this year it would be that word "Balance", remembering that "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  There will be tears this year but that doesn't mean I shouldn't take time for laughter. Nor should I feel guilty when laughter comes because it is a gift from God.  So, my prayer for this year is that God will help me to maintain His balance for my life, facing those things that need to be faced without running away and yet resting in His peace and looking forward to those good things he has for me with anticipation.