FIRST THANKFUL THURSDAY OF THE NEW YEAR!


Well, it would be impossible for me to list name only 5 things for which I am grateful about the year 2008. I am however, also grateful it is over! I know that doesn’t sound like a very good attitude, but I’m being honest! The year 2008 was pretty rough for us on so many levels, that we are very much looking forward to 2009.

In any case, this Thursday, the first day of the New Year, I am grateful for:

1-My husband. Yep, he gets top billing this time. You see he really does not like Christmas—I mean the commercial, hyped up, festival of consumerism that Christmas all too often is. He doesn’t like how hectic it gets and how stressed I get, and how many extra – and not very fun – items are added to his “Honey Do” list either. But as always, he pulls himself together, gets everything on the list checked off, is a perfect host for all friends and family and still loves me when it’s all over!

2-A new year dawning; a fresh start; clean slate; new opportunities.

3-My daughter. I love her dearly. She was born wise beyond her years and at the age of (almost) 24 she is the smartest, most down-to-earth, no-nonsense, compassionate and passionate woman I know (well, she does take after her mom:-)!!! She and I have always been close and the older she gets the more I know she and I will be close friends forever.

4-My life. No, I’m not living in luxury! No, I’m not famous! But I have a full and interesting life, jam-packed with interesting people—an eclectic and unique life, enriched and enhanced by an eclectic group of friends.

5-God chose to become one of us. One night, 2000 years ago, God took the form of a tiny baby and the history of the world was changed forever!

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year in 2009.

Saturday after Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Our Christmas Eve Open House was so enjoyable. We didn't have nearly the number of guests we have had in years past, but the advantage of this year - with almost exactly 3 "shifts" is that we had the opportunity to speak to each person--actually engage in conversation. So often we are busy moving from guest to guest, greeting others, saying goodbye to still others that we don't always feel we have been good hosts!

Our children were here with us and that was all we really cared about this year:-) We exchanged modest, but meaningful gifts and enjoyed each others' company immensely. My daughter and son-in-law headed home this afternoon and called a while ago to say they had made it safely.

My 20-year old has been on his phone all day, friends calling to see what he got, what he's doing, etc. He's off to the movies tonight so hubby and I will have a chance to just breathe for a couple of hours:-)Maybe we can even have an actual conversation!

Tomorrow I will be portraying the fictional "Rhoda", wife of Joseph's cousin (based on the innkeeper in the nativity story) in Bethlehem. My son will be the narrator and my husband has indicated he wants to come along just to see and hear us perform. I will be relating the story of Mary and Joseph from the time the angel visited Mary through the visit of the Wise Men as remembered/portrayed by this woman who heard it all "first hand."

I'm pretty excited to have my son doing this with me. He took drama classes in high school and participated in Center Stage through Henrico County in the summers. He loved it and he is very articulate and well-spoken.

I asked him tonight if he thought he would like to get involved in storytelling with the group I'm going to join here in Richmond. He seems enthused about it so I'm hoping it will work out.

Since he has Asperger's Syndrome, we are constantly searching for areas where he can do well and succeed to help keep him motivated and encouraged. He is a natural and I think this may be a great outlet for him--either separately or as part of a team with me.

Back to my babies on Monday - Wednesday, then off for Friday-Sunday next week. I'm planning on getting a lot of writing and planning done in the next week. I'm pretty psyched about what 2009 will hold for us -- and looking so forward to all that God has planned for our lives.


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
[Jeremiah 29:11 NIV]