New Year News and Goals

Hi. Happy New Year! I just realized I haven't posted a blog in almost a month. I did little posts here and there, but not a blog post. Life has been busy.

As my smaller posts showed, I had a good Christmas. My daughter and family who live across town were over for Christmas Eve, and New Years Day my son who lives in Atlanta came to visit. I didn't see my younger son, from Houston, but I did have a phone conversation with him and his wife on Christmas Day.

I never take my Christmas tree and decor down until at least Epiphany, January 6. Here we are at January 9. When I woke up this morning, I knew; it's time. *sigh*

So, today the "de-Christmasing: started. It is a grueling process; not fun like putting Christmas up, joyfully, with Christmas music or a Christmas move playing. 

No. It's torture. And since I have decorations in every room, it Takes. a Long. Time. I will persevere, though, and probably finish tomorrow. I was tired and sad and hungry and had to call it a day.

Enough of that. 

It's a new year! A fresh new year (well, only 9 days old). I wrote down some things I would like to accomplish in 2026. I'm keeping it simple at 3 things.

#1-I'm reading the Bible through with the Bible Recap again. I did it last year and really enjoyed it. This year, I'm making notes of my thoughts and questions about the reading each day. I learned so much last year, and I know this year will be even better.

#2-I want to work on my family photo album more. I've been decluttering duplicates and putting little journaling captions about who's in the pictures and what the event was. I didn't work on it much last year. This year, I plan to work on it once a week.

#3-I started walking for my health last March, and I want to continue it this year and walk farther. I feel so much better, and my stamina and energy level is up. I have been walking 1.5 mile most days and 1.75 one or two times a week. I have been pretty consistently walking about 6 days out of 7. This year I hope to walk 2 miles at least twice a week, 1.75 miles twice a week, and 1.5 miles twice a week. 

I do a different path on the 1.75 mile walk; that path is a little more hilly and makes a big circle. On the other one, it's a long mostly level path that goes under the bypass and ends up at a small lake. I think it would be 2.25 miles or so if I walked this whole path, all the way to the end and back. Someday I will do that, but so far I have been turning around when I get too tired or I've reached half my goal for the day.

In other news, I took some pictures on the walking trail. Wednesday, I walked late in the day (again!) and got a sunset picture AND a picture of an owl. It's not a great picture; you can't really see that he was looking right at me because it was quickly getting dark, but he was. 

Today I walked 2 miles! I have been close to it a few times but came a little short of that goal. I usually turn around at around .75 of a mile or so, but today I turned around at 1 mile! I wanted to take a picture to commemorate my milestone but there was just a brush pile there. LOL! When I got back to the car my watch showed I had walked 2.01 miles. Yay!

I have included the pictures at the end, as usual. 

I hope you are well, friends, and you all have a happy new year!

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV

Jeremy and Jennifer, Matt, Zoe, Rhett, and me (not in that order)

Jeremy and me Jan 2

Sunset January 7 2026

Owl, at home in tree, Jan 7 

Art at the end of the trail

My one mile (one way) mark.

Catching Up With Friends and Other News

The Christmas season is zipping along a little too fast for me. I want it to stay Christmas for a long time, but it always is gone so fast. Some great things have been happening, though. I'll list a few of them.

On December 5 I got to go with my daughter and my grandson's 4th grade class to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in Branson. I've read all the Narnia books and seen the movies many times, but I had never seen a live stage play of it. It was a wonderful performance! I love going to theatre productions.

By going to the play, we missed the Christmas parade here in town, which made me sad. I did get to see a parade though; I went to my hometown over this last weekend and saw a great parade there, led by my favorite high school band (the one all my kids were in when they were in high school). I also saw my cousin, and several friends I hadn't seen in quite a while. It was so good to see everyone! I miss my friends and family in my hometown. I wish it wasn't so far away. 

I am watching a Christmas movie every day that I can. Last week I watched "Prancer," a movie from the 80s that always warms my heart. I've also seen "The Family Stone" this month and I watched "Elf" Friday night. I also plan to watch "White Christmas," "The Holiday," and "Christmas Vacation" in the next few days. Love these movies.

My house is finally all decorated, and I'm pretty much finished shopping; I just have to wrap everything now. (Amazon is the way to shop!)

I missed walking Thursday, because I was so busy getting ready to go out of town. Then I was driving for half a day Friday, so I didn't walk. Saturday I walked around the lake in the city park in my hometown. Then Sunday I was driving a half day again. I finally got back home and to my favorite place to walk, but I had to wait until late afternoon when it warmed up to 44. It was 19 degrees when I got up this morning. That's too cold for me!

I took a picture of the sunrise Thursday morning because it's about as far southeast as it will get, which, as y'all know, I find fascinating (and yes! I do get up in time to see a sunrise sometimes!).

I also got a picture of the sunlight hitting the creek where I was walking this afternoon. 

Apparently, I like to take pictures. LOL.

I hope you are all having a blessed Christmas season. In all the hustle and bustle of this time of year, remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas. 

"Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel, which translated means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23 NASB

I'll Do It Later

Just after my previous blog post, around the week of November 17, it was very windy on my daily walk. It was before the rain finally came a day or two later, and the wind was most likely bringing in the colder and rainy weather. This particular day was pleasant, but the wind was making it "rain" leaves. It was such a warm fuzzy moment, rounding the curve in the path and getting bombarded with leaves. I felt like I should take a picture or short video of the falling leaves. It was picturesque moment. I paused, but then I kept going. "I'll take the picture of the leaves on my way back," I thought to myself.

I went on to my "turning around place," at around .78 of a mile and headed back the way I had come. When I got to the grove of trees that had been pouring leaves down, I stopped in my tracks. 

Not one leaf was left on any of those trees. Not ONE. The trees were completely devoid of leaves.

My heart sank, much like it did a few years back when I came home, excited to see my little daffodil in bloom, but it was gone. (Heartfelt: Just a Daffodil). I felt the same sense of loss that I did on that day back in 2018. It grieved me in my spirit.

I realized the lesson immediately. If you put off doing what you know you need to do, you might not get the chance; it might be too late.

Was it a tragedy that I didn't get a picture of the falling leaves? No, of course not, but I was short-sighted to think the wind would not blow all the leaves away before I got back to that spot, 10 minutes later.

God uses moments like this to teach me to listen and obey when He prompts me to do something. Instead of a picture of leaves raining down on a fall day, I might miss out on helping someone in need or helping someone pray to place their faith in Jesus. 

What He prompts me to do, but I don't, He will get someone else to do. 

Just a tiny wake up call to be listening and obeying when the Spirit puts something on my heart. I thought it was worth sharing; one, to admit I messed up. Two, to encourage others to learn from my mistake.

To not end on a sad note, I will add that my family and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope you all did, too.

Sunday afternoon I went for a chilly walk and got some cool pictures. The sun was definitely on its way down; I almost waited too late to go again. I liked the way the sun was distorted by the clouds. Also, on a whim I took a picture with "Happy Dog." He had 2 sticks in his mouth that day. 

Blessings, my friends! 

"The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26 CSB

No leaves left

Sun behind some clouds

Happy Dog & Me

A November Sunset

One morning last week I got a cool picture of the sky, which was covered in little puffs of clouds that looked like cotton balls to me. The sun was attempting to peek through, and it just captured my attention. I guess I'm easily amused, but the weather and the beautiful earth in general just fascinate me.

Two days later, we had our first hard frost, and I said "so long" to my little flower garden. I expected the summer flowers to succumb, so I didn't even cover them. The mums, however, I thought would survive. I covered them, but while the plants are still alive, the blooms did not survive. I guess I should have taken them inside.

I guess the season for flowers is over for the year, even though it got to 70 again a few days later. This got me to thinking about seasons a lot lately, and how they come and go in our lives in various ways. It made me a little sad.

So to cheer myself up, I've been looking for beauty in the season that we are in presently. Flowers may be a thing of the past for now, but we still have the trees in their fall colors, the night sky, in which the northern lights were visible recently and of course, we have sunsets.

I rarely get pictures of sunrises because 1- I'm a night owl, and 2-there's a large stand of trees behind my house to the east. This prevents me from getting early morning pictures for the most part, on those rare occasions I'm up that early. Sunsets, though, are right up my alley. Sunsets, and northern lights! I suddenly remembered about the northern lights the other night and got some pretty good pictures, considering all the streetlights around here. 

The sky looked reddish-purple to me. I've seen pictures where the sky was hot pink. I was just glad to see what I did. I tried again the next night and it was just ordinary night sky.

Tonight there was a beautiful sunset as I was finishing my walk. The sun was lighting up everything it touched. 

It kind of reminded me how the SON, Jesus, lights up everyone and everything HE touches. We live in a dark world, which seems to be getting darker. But the Light of the World is still touching and changing lives every day.

Now that's something that will cheer a person up! 

Blessings, my friends! 

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 ESV

An Important Anniversary

Today, October 31, is a very important day to me. Not because it's Halloween, but in spite of it. It's my spiritual birthday...the day I gave my heart to Jesus. I have mulled this over and prayed off and on all day, starting on my walk this morning. I feel like I have to share it.  

It's been on my blog since 2010, but most people probably don't go to that site, even though I provide the link. So I'm editing the testimony I had posted on there (because it's long!) and putting the gist of it here. 

***I was raised in church.  I did all the "churchy" stuff; I went to Sunday school, attended Vacation Bible School every summer, and went to youth camp as a teenager.  I knew exactly how to "do church."  After many years of going through the motions, I convinced myself I was a Christian. I can remember trying really hard to please everyone and do the right stuff so they would all be happy.  I never felt I measured up; and I was right! I was trying to bridge the gap between God and me by being good enough, and that just IS NOT possible.  I was lost.

I won't elaborate on the many years I went on like this, but basically, it went on for years.  I married at the tender age of 18 and had all three of our wonderful kids by the time I was 27. We tried to stay in church, but it was very hard, and I know I was unsaved, which was part of the problem...Because of my upbringing, I knew that our kids needed to be in church. I was drawn there, and I know now it was the Holy Spirit convicting me and drawing me to Christ.  Eventually though, by the time the oldest was a teenager, we had pretty much stopped going. Great timing to drop out of church just about the time the kids reach their teens.

In 1993, I started going with my daughter to a nearby church that she wanted to attend.  My life didn't change immediately, though. Even though I was finally in church, I was still walking in darkness in my heart. I had been depressed for a long time and was very unhappy. I know now that satan had built a stronghold of depression and fear in my heart. I had deluded myself into thinking that I was ok. I justified every sinful and selfish thing I did. I was never "out there;" into drugs or alcohol, but I might have seen my sinfulness if I had been. Instead, I didn't realize I needed saving.  After all, I had been raised in church; I had a Godly heritage.

It all came crashing down on October 31, 1994. On that particular morning, I had come home at daybreak after working all night at Walmart. In those days, department managers reset the counters for the next season after the store closed at 9:00 pm. I had to reset my department for Christmas since it was Halloween.  I tried to sleep after my husband and kids left for work and school, but even with black trash bags over the windows it was hard to sleep. I was so convicted about my life and how I had been living, going through the motions of Christianity but not actually willing to turn control over to God. In short, I was miserable. I slept 3 or 4 hours and finally got up about noon.

I went into the living room and just fell down on the floor. Something broke in me and I just started crying out to God. I had made a complete mess of my life trying to be in charge, and I finally saw my need for a Savior. The Word I had been hearing at the church I had been attending for a year did not return void; it was at work in me all that time.  I saw the truth at last, and I was so ashamed that I had rejected Jesus' sacrifice all those years. So many wasted years! I asked Him to forgive me and I received Jesus as my Savior right then and there. I laid there crying for close to an hour I guess, brokenhearted.  

Here's an excerpt from my journal:

"October 31, 1994:  This was the day that I laid the broken pieces of my life at the feet of Jesus. He was so real to me that day, alone in my house, that I could almost see Him standing in my living room...I asked Him to forgive me and to fill my heart with His love, because I felt no one really loved me. I asked Him to fill my cup, as I lifted it to Him, until it overflowed with His love. I asked for Him to fill me with the Holy Spirit and use me somehow in His work. The results continue to amaze me...God has allowed my pain & hurt, BUT—now I listen to Him. I probably wouldn’t have if I had lived the “perfect life” I had wanted.  He is molding me so He can use me..."

I would love to tell you that everything was rosy and perfect in my life after that, but it wasn't.  I did have the peace of God finally, and by His grace I got through some very dark days in the next few years.  My brother died suddenly in December 1995, my mother died three months after him in February 1996, and in 1997, my marriage ended in spite of best efforts. I can see now that only because I was trusting in Jesus could I have survived those days; His grace truly was--and IS--sufficient for me. 

I have never been the same...thank God! ***

So THAT is why October 31 is so important to me. Not because it's Halloween, but because of the redeeming work that Jesus began in my life on that day.

I wrote another blog about the house I bought in the hometown I moved here from. It's about a special thing that God did for me on the anniversary of my salvation. I almost posted that one, but I felt strongly that the original Halloween posting and the reason I'm even writing today to try and encourage others was the one I needed to post today.

Blessings, friends! 

 

Changing Seasons

I hesitate to say this, but...I do believe it's finally fall! About a week ago, it went from the 70s on the morning walk to the 50s. I'm so happy! I had to walk early to be able to endure it; the temperature was getting to 85 some days. Now, I can walk anytime of the day because it's much cooler. I think our high today was 60.

We've even had some rain for our parched land. Overnight I've gone from walking in short sleeved shirts to wearing long pants and sweatshirts for my daily walk. Plus, I don't have to put my hair up when I'm not getting sweaty. It's wonderful! (I'll post an un-glamourous picture of me walking a couple of days ago for context).

When I wrote last, there were workers moving the art work around at the ASU campus. I thought they were adding new ones, but it appears they have just rearranged them, spreading them out to more areas of the walking trails. Most of them are closer to the trails now, like the one of the catfish, entitled "For the Love of Rivers." It had been too far off the trail before for me to be able to see the title until they moved it. I'll post some pictures of the art.

Also, beginning last week they started putting up the drive through Christmas decorations on the ASU campus! So exciting. The Christmas decorations at ASU are breathtaking. I will be posting pictures when I drive through.

Speaking of Christmas, I will start decorating my house soon. I can't wait! I know it's too early for some of you. I get it; I used to not want to rush the season and fussed about it all the time. I don't know what happened; I have had a change of heart. I respect your right to wait a while, but this is my favorite time of year. I'm rejoicing in the cooler weather and the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. I leave up some of the fall decor as I start decorating for the holidays, but it's mostly Christmas at my house by the time Thanksgiving arrives.

In years past I would post "from the patio" and show the sun's movement from rising in the northeast to the southeast. I haven't done that lately but I got a picture just as the sun topped the trees behind my house. It's moved so much since the last time I posted about it, I believe on the longest day of the year in June. I know it's nerdy of me, but I am fascinated by some aspects of science.

I guess this is getting kind of long, but let me just end this post by saying how joyful this time of year makes me. For the first time in years, I'm feeling better emotionally as well as physically. Slightly shifting my meds and adding in some vitamins has made an amazing difference. I actually had the energy to walk to the end and back of the more level path a few days ago--1.88 miles in all. Now that it's cooler I hope to lengthen my walks, at least on some days. 

Blessings to my friends and family!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 NIV

Where Are You Autumn?

Almost immediately after I posted how calm it has been lately and how I love retirement, it got busy. I just spent two weeks of having something I had to do every day. This included some doctor appointments, some volunteer work, and picking up grandkids a few days after school. 

I'm not complaining about any of it; especially picking up the grandkids. I love that I live here now and can do that. There was just a lot that happened within this 2-week period, and I was exhausted by last weekend. 

One of my appointments involved bloodwork for a suspected vitamin deficiency. Turns out I'm deficient in B12 and need injections to supplement my low supply. After the first shot, I'm already feeling better. I was wondering where all my energy had gone, and why I was kind of sad!

I'm still walking daily, except on Sundays. I'm thankful I always wake up with the energy to accomplish this, because I believe it is good for me. This morning, I discovered that the college is moving the walking trail art exhibits around. As I walked, I noticed some were gone but then discovered that they had only been "shuffled," as one of the campus personnel called it. They are rearranging them and adding in some new ones. I'll post some pictures when they are finished.

In other news, it's still feeling like summer here, and I am OVER IT! Fall is my 2nd favorite season (after winter), and it still gets up to 85 degrees some days so it might as well still be summer. It is generally cooler in the mornings, which is good, but it heats up quickly. 

We also need rain very, very badly. I can't remember such a dry fall in recent history. 

Someone needs to find autumn, or at least write a song about it, something similar to the one from The Grinch, only it needs to be "where are you autumn?" LOL! I'm about to become a real grinch if it doesn't become sweater weather soon. 

Sorry for the negativity. I do tend to get cranky when summer drags on too long, though. I am not a fan of hot weather.

Even in the midst of a long, hot dry spell, I am still thankful. God has been good to me, and I'm still convinced HE is the reason I wake up eager to get out to my favorite walking trails every morning. I enjoy my walks so much.

As I continue to pray for rain, I also thank God every day for my good health at the age of 70 (going on 71 in 3 months). I'm so blessed.

I thank Him for my family and friends that He has given me, and I thank Him for enabling me to write this blog. Writing is a passion of mine; it makes me happy. 

I am including some pictures, as usual, from the last couple of weeks. A pretty sunset from a late walk, some of my fall decor, and my refreshed tiny garden, with mums. These things bring me joy. I will try to get them all labeled. 

Be blessed, my friends. 

"On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalm 62:7,8 NASB

Sunset on a late walk

Some living room decor

front porch

front porch

My tiny garden, refreshed

Close up of mums