Just a few more hours and 2011 will be a memory.  I've actually been going over the last year's events during the whole month December.  You know how it is...what good things and bad things happened and what improvements can be made in the new year. 

I usually write goals in the last pages of my journal, but there are too many white pages left and it will continue to be used into 2012, so as I sang and played piano with Shiloh this afternoon, I came across a song that will help me evaluate the past year.  Shiloh didn't know the hymn and so we plunked it through slowly thinking of the words.  

My wonderful Lord

I have found a deep peace that I never had known,
and a joy this world could not afford,
Since I yielded control of my body and soul
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.

I've known Jesus for a long time. :)   I accepted Him into my life when I was young, and I just know that He is my strength and shield and help in my life.  I was also thinking of all the children who had come to know Him this past year.  Oh so many.  I pray that they will keep learning of Him and continue to grow spiritually.  I also witnessed some adults come to know Jesus as their personal Savior too, and that makes me excited...especially to see their faithfulness in attending church and desiring to grow.

I desire that my life shall be ordered by Thee,
That my will be in perfect accord
With Thine own sovereign will,
Thy desire to fulfill,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.

As I  look back over the year there have been times when I struggled with my will - when I would prefer the air conditioning as opposed to the  heat of summer.  It gets me sometimes as I work with the horses.  I seek out shade.  Taking  the campers around camp on trails that are out of the sun help tremendously.  Those are the times when God answers my prayers with simple breezes that refresh.  There are other times, too, through the year that I fight with what is not important and then keeping the right focus on God, family, and ministry.  It is the stuff that gets in the way.  Even today I am boxing up a "stuff" thing and sending out on so I can more focus on what is important.

All the talents I have I have laid at Thy feet.  
Thy approval shall be my reward;
Be my store great or small,
I surrender it all
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord

What talents I have, please use them, Lord, for your glory.  I will do my best to get  better at talents You have put on my heart and in my life to give praise to YOU.  In an artist's prayer it says, "...I offer myself to you as an instrument, and I open myself to your creativity in my life.  Help me to create as an act of worship to You, my Creator."  This past year I have struggled with whether or not to keep pursuing a particular talent, but now I do lay it at Your feet that You will use it as You see fit.  I will enjoy the journey and love to practice and continue learning.

Thou art fairer to me that the fairest of earth,
Thou omnipotent, life giving Word;
O Thou Ancient of Days, Thou art worthy all praise
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.

As this year closes and a new one proceeds, I cling to the One who is in control.  I can walk confidently and boldly each day knowing that He will guide my footsteps.  Yeah for the new year!

Good verses  from Proverbs 3 for the new year:

21.My son, let them not depart from your eyes - 
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

22.So they will be life to your soul
and grace to your neck.

23.Then you will walk safely in your way, 
and your foot will not stumble.

  

It's a quiet evening.  The family  is lounging around.  The girls are giggling about something down the hall.  We gave a call to Ethan who is in Michigan and talked to him awhile.  It's hard when all the family isn't with us.  He said he had a nice Christmas and has spent time with Grandma and relatives that came by.  

All of sudden Shalisha runs through the front room.  Now we know what the giggling is all about.  Nate had picked about some red footie pajamas with a drop seat for her for Christmas.  She was trying them on.  She says they are the best and will wear them often.  Love family!  

Hope your Christmas is special...and take time to read the Christmas story from Matthew chapter 1 and Luke 2.  Take time to remember the special gift that God gave to us.  

As I look at the things around me that are decorating our halls this Christmas, I see symbols everywhere:
The Presents - of the greatest gift that God gave to us...Jesus.
The Wreath - the circle of the wreath reminds me that God's love never ceases.
The Angel Table Runner - reminds me of the angels who give good news and help in the story of Jesus.  Telling virgin Mary she is going to have baby Jesus, telling Joseph it's okay too take Mary as his wife, telling the shepherds of Jesus' birth and to go to the stable, telling Joseph to flee with Mary and child  to Egypt, and telling Joseph when to come back.
The candy cane - of the shepherds who listened to the angels and went to see the child
The candle - that Jesus is the light of the world and guides our way through life and to heaven.
The  holly - reminds us of the crown that was placed on Jesus and the berries remind us of the blood that He shed.
The Christmas Tree- The evergreen tree that always stays green reminds us of hope.  Having hope in Jesus...that He will be with us each day and will be coming again is a wonderful thing.  

Now  it is time to leave this place.  I have been asked if I could please make some cookies, so I am off to the kitchen.  

Merry Christmas!

It's mid afternoon and Nate is still not home from the board meeting at camp.  I can only assume there are very important things being discussed and we need to pray for their wise and good decisions. 

Things have changed a bit since Nate left this morning.  There is now a 16 x 60 foot trailer in our side yard.  I've spent all morning supervising (if you can call it that) the move.  I kept in prayer for this transport company's safety and smooth transport of this heavy building on wheels.  They had a flat on the way to our house, but all is well and safe and sound. I helped haul some cement blocks and made sure the trim was handled carefully...and the copper wire was safely tucked away.  I also stopped traffic and talked to the people in their cars as the trailer was being backed into our driveway. I must have walked a half mile up the road slowing down cars so they wouldn't slam into the waiting car line up.  Oh. I paid the haulers too.  Whew.  Glad that is accomplished.  Now we must find some land to put this trailer on.  We've been looking for a long, long time.  We must continue to be diligent in looking and most importantly waiting on the Lord for the right place.  

There is still some clean up at the original site and I must decide if I want to go clean it up myself or wait for Nate.  Hmmm.  Maybe using the pick-up truck (which Nate has at camp) would be a better choice than the back of the van.  

So I am here at home working on my to-do list and waiting.  Yes there is much to do.  I love to write a few "to do" things in my journal everyday.  I can look back and see what has been accomplished and checked off.  Finished.  Unfortunately there are things that never really get finished...like laundry and dishes and feeding the horses, etc. It's on-going and sometimes hard when not feeling well (like having the sore throat that I am battling right now) or when something happens to cut into the daily routine. (Like a trailer being moved), but God gives the strength and the joy of the day.  To know that He is walking with me makes anything in life exciting - even the little "to do lists" of life....and even when they don't get done. God knows and He loves me.  I can think of all the things that He has accomplished for me...for us.

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."  I Cor. 15:3

What a wonderful thing to dwell on.  It is the part in life that matters the most.