A New Year

Several years have passed....how can that be? And here I am again....back at the keyboard, hoping to pick back up with blogging. Life comes in phases and stages...it's part of the beauty of it....never staying in the same phase for too long....but I must admit, I feel like this phase is so fleeting. We are now raising two high schoolers and a pre-teen. The older two are finding their path...starting to feel the responsibility of making some big choices and decisions...and the youngest one is beginning the journey of adolescence. Some days I feel like the youthful innocence is gone...all of our boys are old enough to fully understand the brokenness of our world...the reality of what a life without Jesus can look like....the sting of being hurt...the realization that one day they will be the leaders of their own homes. But, I still get to see moments of innocence....and when those moments come around, I purposefully soak them in. We got a big snow here on the east coast this week. Snow like we haven't had in many years. Snow that turned, even my teenagers, into giddy boys. Personally, I'm not a fan of the snow. But I wouldn't trade it for the world this time around...4 straight days off of school watching them wrestle in it, have snowball fights, attempt snowman building, tunnel digging, and yes, I think I may have even seen a snow angel. So as I'm sitting here longing for the warmer, less snowy days that are ahead...my heart is full...thankful for my growing young men who still allow the snow to bring them so much joy.

Hope is my word for 2025. I'm so thankful that as followers of Jesus, we are never without it. We have a living hope that we can put our trust in daily. As our pastor reminded us this past Sunday, Jesus sees us. He sees our struggles, he sees our joys, he sees our pain, he sees our victories....and when we keep our eyes on Him and our hope in His promises...he will work all things for our good, and His glory...even when it's not what we thought it would look like. Thank you, Jesus.

Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him. On those who hope in his mercy.

Psalm 33:18-19

And here we go for a quick run through of 2024 highlights....

This guy has a love for cooking...a Blackstone for a Christmas gift last year brought us many delicious meals throughout the year.