New Year, New Beginnings

I know I've been very quiet here the last few weeks but hopefully I'll be here regularly again. I've been processing a lot of things during this holiday season and I think I'm ready to take on the new year.

Christmas was different for us but we still had a good one.  Thanks to the generosity of our church family and friends in the community the kids had a wonderful Christmas.

After opening gifts Christmas morning we went to my sister's house and spent the rest of the day there. It was a good day of just being together and enjoying family time.

The day after Christmas we met up with friends at the mall and hung out there for awhile before coming back to our house and spending more time just talking while the kids played. 

New year's eve we were at my sister's again. Michael had a hard time staying awake to see the new year in but he did make it. 

Now I'm looking ahead at what the new year is bringing in. It looks like there will be some changes this year and I have mixed feelings about some of them. But I'm choosing to remember that God is in control and He has a plan for us that is better than any plan I could dream up on my own.

One big change for us is moving to a smaller place. I love the place where we are now, but financially this move just makes sense. And I'm more OK with it than I thought I would be. We will still be on an acre of land for which I'm grateful. I didn't want to give up my chickens or my dreams of having goats and pigs and rabbits and the kids didn't want to give up any of their pets. There will be room there for all that. A smaller place will mean less time spent in upkeep and more time for the things that are important to us.

Another possible change is a new part time job for me.  I go for an interview Tuesday and I am so excited! I would be doing the kind of work I love, working with kids, and so far it seems a like the perfect fit. 

Along with these big changes come the usual changes for us at the beginning of the year. There are tweaks in our schedule, new school materials for when we start school again on Monday and just simply starting fresh after the holiday excitement. 

So, from our family to each of you -

Happy New Year.

I hope it is filled with love, joy and peace.

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New Year's Eve Fun - The Walnut Acre Daily: Wednesday January 1, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

Yesterday we went to Covington to spend the day with Doug's side of the family. His parents were gone over Christmas so this was our holiday gathering. We had a wonderful time as usual. 

I took some pictures of the scenery on the way down.

Doug's mother made us a delicious lunch. Austin's always likes her green bean casserole. After everyone had their fill and some casserole was put back for Doug's brother Kevin, who had to work, they just gave him the serving bowl and told him to finish it up.

After lunch we exchanged gifts and also took a lot of pictures. Doug and the kids rode four wheeler too, but it was cold outside and I didn't brave it out to take pictures. Kevin was able to be there after work as well. 

We got home around 6:30. I made us a light dinner and then we went over to my dad's house for the rest of the evening. My sister made oyster soup and we ate again. The kids played and watched movies while we waited for the New Year to come in. 

Today I worked on housecleaning all day - after I slept in this morning. I feel like I really accomplished something today - especially in the kitchen and living room. I cleared out the holiday clutter and got ready for a new start. 

TODAY'S QUOTE

Philosophy is nothing more than common sense in a dress suit. ~ Author Unknown

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Time

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  ~ Revelation 1:8

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.  ~ Hal Borland

We just celebrated the beginning of a new year. I love new beginnings and fresh starts. But this year I am thinking that although this feels like a new start for me, God has already been here. The Alpha and Omega has already walked through time, from beginning to end.  His Presence is already here and in the minutes, hours and days to come. And that makes my fresh but frail resolution so much stronger. Having the assurance that God is here, He is in the beginning and He is in the end, is such a comfort.

So, do I have any resolutions this year?

I have one. Instead of my usual list of resolutions, neatly divided into categories, and carefully spelled out in great detail, I have one little resolution. It's not a grand and lofty resolution, just a simple thing that I know I need to do to make the rest of my life run more smoothly.

That one little resolution is this - to develop the habit of getting up every morning at 5:30. This is my greatest struggle and yet so important for so many reasons.

I do not wake up easy, so it takes me awhile to really get to full speed in the mornings. If I don't give myself that time before the children wake up and everyone needs something five minutes ago, mornings just do not go smoothly at all.

And I really need the quiet time to pray and meditate and read God's word. If I don't take that time first thing in the morning, it's just not likely to happen. And when I have not taken the spiritual food and drink I so desperately need, I am approaching the day already weakened.

I know the things I need to do each day to reach some of the goals I've set for myself in the past. I still want to reach those goals. But the one thing standing in my way is not using my time properly and this is where I need to start. Since I know these things, and since I've spent so much time carefully working, step by step, through what needs to happen each day, it's time to really get serious about getting the right start each day. When that happens, the other pieces will come together so much better.

This new year is neither the beginning nor the end of my journey. It is a time to take the experience I've already have, the lessons I've already learned, and apply them to go on becoming a better wife, mother, friend, teacher and writer.

And the God who has already walked through time from beginning to end has said He will be with me on this journey, leading me in the paths He would have me take. And He will be there for you too if you let Him.

Let's walk this year with Him and see where the wonderful adventure takes us.

credit: Carlos Porto

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - A Promise for Tomorrow

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credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

A setting sun still whispers a promise for tomorrow. ~ Jeb Dickerson

For me it's always the ending of an old year, and looking forward to a new year that seems to whisper promises. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is one of my favorite times of the year. I do a lot of reflection during that time and am nearly always excited by the lessons I've learned in the past year and the possibilities of the year ahead. This year is no different. I've taken a deep breath, gathered my wits and am ready to launch into the future. Because with God, the future is hopeful and exciting.

"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

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The holidays have been wonderful and I have enjoyed the change of pace but I am really glad to be getting back into normal routine. Because I like routines.

We had a quiet New Year's Eve at home and another quiet day today. Amanda went to spend the night with two of her friends tonight.  Doug and Austin spent the afternoon working on building a chicken coop for Amanda's two chickens. Michael enjoyed watching the process and trying to help.

I made homemade cheese pizza for lunch, black eyed peas and corn bread for dinner.

I worked on my blog and had a great time enjoying the peace and quiet in the house while everyone else was either gone or working in the garage.

I feel refreshed and ready to face a new year of adventure.



2011 Resolution

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos by scottchan

I have always loved beginning a new year. I get a thrill thinking about all the opportunities to learn and experience new things, to reach new goals, and the adventures that are sure to come.

I spent a lot of time this year thinking about what goals or resolutions I wanted to set up for myself in this New Year. At first I had a long list of things that I thought would be good goals. But the more I thought about it the more I realized I would like to keep things simple. So instead of a whole list of goals I decided instead to make one simple resolution that I believe will have the most positive impact on my day to day life and help me to reach my goals.

And here is the resolution:

I resolve to make a schedule for myself each month and barring any major unforseen circumstances to stick with that schedule for the month.  At the end of each month I will rewrite the schedule taking into account what did and did not work as well as upcoming events, changes, etc.

The reason:

I already know what my main goals and interests in life are, my problem is keeping myself on track with a consistent and reasonable schedule to reach those goals. I make schedules for myself and then instead of sticking with them long enough to really see if they work, I think of a "wonderful new idea" make a new schedule and start all over. Hopefully limiting myself  to monthly changes will help me stop jumping all over the place all the time.

Accountability:

At the end of each day I will post here how I did that day in following my resolution. There will be a new post for each month. I think this will be fun and the fact that I am posting online each day will help me to stay focused. I will begin tomorrow, January 2.

I picture this resolution as a path I am following. In my minds eye when I pictured the path I wanted to travel I also pictured a kind of hand rail or guard rail along each side of the path to help me to stay focused on that path. I chose Proverbs 31:10 - 31 to represent one of the hand rails and the concept of Proactivity to represent the other. Each week I will concentrate (and post) on one verse from Proverbs 31 and work to be Proactive in my day to day life as I work on my resolutions and goals.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos by Scott Curtis