One More Year

Newsflash!!! Another year comes to an end. Even if you live in a cave, the passing of days can't be missed. With a new year a lot of folks are taking time to reflect on the past year and changes to make in this new year. Reflection is always good. I am glad people use this time of year to evaluate and look for ways to improve themselves in the coming year.

Enjoy the new year and any you make in your life.
Blessings

A Little Different Theme

This is a variation of a list I found on Deb's Creative Soul blog. The list is not all inclusive but has some interesting twists to it. My variation to her's was to only list things I have done. (I had to change a few to be applicable to me.)
It would be interesting to hear all of these you can mark off. If you answer on your own blog, put a link in the comments below so we can read and enjoy.

1. Brought someone to know Christ

2. Started your own blog

3. Played in a band

4. Been to Happy, Texas

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Slept under the stars

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Driven a house boat
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm from 30,000 ft
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Never had food poisoning
17. Seen Central Park from the top of the Empire State Bldg.

18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a calf
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run/walk a 5K
28. Stood in the Acropolis and on Mars hill in Athens
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Ridden in an Ox cart
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen two oceans at once (Atlantic/Pacific)
36. Taught yourself a new language (Still a work in progress)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone Repelling off a cliff
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Drove in Rome !!!!
42. Skied the Alps
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Driven an ambulance
47. Had a professional portrait created
48. Hand cranked homemade ice cream
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been on TV
56. Visited the Taj Mahal
57. Started a business
58. Made a stop in Iceland
59. Taken a 'Norway in a Nutshell' tour
60. Served a meal to missionaries
61. Bought Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Sent flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Swam with Sting Rays at Sting Ray City
66. Visited D-Day beaches and Cemeteries
67. Bounced a check
68. Drove on the wrong (English) side of the road
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Built a piece of furniture
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured Cape Canaveral (Kennedy)
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London and Copenhagen
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Written a manual
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in the Roman Forum
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the Smithsonian
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life, (Every time people fly with me?)
90. Driven on the Le Mons race track.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a Cheese of the Month club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Flown a plane
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Dipped your toes in the Great Salt Lake
97. Made a steer from a bull
98. Kissed the Blarney Stone
99. Been stung by a bee.

There are many more things to do and places to go.
Blessings

Winter Is Here!!!

Well if you are North of the equator this is officially winter season. Brrrr.

Having had the opportunity to be in Alaska, Canada, and Finland during winter through the years makes me appreciate living in a warmer climate. And now that I am acclimated the cold is even colder. I would rather mow the yard around Thanksgiving and put up Christmas decorations in t-shirts than wear parkas for months. I don't mind visiting the frozen tundra of Amarillo, Texas and parts north, but getting back down south is where I would rather be.

It is good some people want to live North of my latitude. I appreciated their choice. It is always interesting to see these 'natives of the north' out in shorts and t-shirts when the temperatures warm up just a few degrees no matter how cold it is.

Blessings, especially to anyone in the cold.

Merry? Christmas

Following some thoughts from the last blog, I want to bring to mind a few points to ponder.

Although these are the holidays and are supposed to be filled with cheer, life does not stop and let everyone take a break. Life keeps on going with births, deaths, sickness, loneliness. Change is stressful - even happy changes are loaded with stress. People have to deal with a sick child, a death in the family, or this is the first Christmas without Grandma, Dad, Mom... The tension of the once a year 'Will we be able to get along this time?' holiday visits. As you go about spreading your Christmas cheer, (and you should), be cognizant of how other people are doing. If you are aware of someone's 'life' share with them empathy and love. Encourage them and empower them, letting them know they are in your prayers.

May the 'Peace on earth' emanate from the peace Jesus offers and the 'Joy' you spread be the deep abiding joy based on being in Jesus.

Blessings with tidings of good cheer.

Blessings & Treasures

I love the way Thanksgiving and Christmas line up on the calendar. As we come to the end of the year, first we take stock of everything and give thanks. Realizing how truly blessed we are even in 'hard times'. Some years are easier, some harder. Regardless of your comfort level right now there are so many, many, many reasons to offer thanks and praise to God.

As we move from the humbling contemplation of how truly blessed we are, Christmas opens the door to intriguing opportunities. We look outside ourselves and find ways to see others and their needs. Our paradigm shifts from self to neighbor. We see physical needs and want to share our wealth to help them out.

Scott Raab, (http://ravenraab.blogspot.com), a missionary in Belgium and the Netherlands had a youth weekend where the youth put into practice their lessons on sharing. They spent time filling and decorating shoe boxes with gifts for those who don't usually receive them. After they were done filling the shoe boxes they spent some time reflecting on the weekend and thinking about what is really important to them. One of Scott's questions was. "Jesus says:Your heart will be where your treasure is. What are we really holding as our treasure?"
An inspiring thought, Scott.

This Christmas season, as we share physical gifts in the spirit of Christmas and brighten other peoples day, may we also share Jesus and brighten their life.

Blessings