the heart won't speak truth
     when it is sealed in love
  silenced by the unforeseen
     and vested in the memories
                              ~m

Ok...so I have been seeing challenge posts on Facebook for the past week about "How hard did aging hit you?". People post a picture of themselves some years ago and a recent one. I haven't participated in this challenge as yet but did search for an old photo of me to place side by a recent photo.

The first photo is from my engagement session in Columbia, SC. I was finishing out my senior year at Lander College before my marriage to Glenn in July of 1977. The second photo was taken in April of 2018, and I was in Columbia, SC visiting with childhood & college friends.

So...I'm happy with my aging. Thanks Jergens!

That's what I said on January 1, 2018. I had declared to nourish my mind and soul through two personal goals.

Late in the year 2017 my pastor shared with us that he would be studying and sharing with us from the CSB beginning in 2018. So I purchased a CSB and set my first goal for 2018...to study the Bible through the daily devotional reading plan outlined in the CSB.

The plan in the CSB involved daily reading scripture from four books of the Bible. First, I purchased a large Mead notebook and some good writing pens. I also had a bunch of different kinds of colored markers. Now I love to doodle so my plan was to decorate each daily page with artwork/drawings, have a spot for prayers & gratitude and journal facts from the read scriptures.

My second goal for 2018 was to use a journal book that F2 had given me and record my answers to a list of monthly questions about life.

Accomplishing these two goals this past year was such a blessing. First, I was in God's Word...almost daily. (Yes, I did get behind a day or two. ☹️) Second, I was naming my prayers & gratitude. (Gratitude brings about joy. 😀) Lastly, I was revisiting a lot of memories through the questions.

I am still so amazed at how God can enrich my life...a sinner like me. Oh, how I love Jesus!

Thank you sweet friend.

So excited to have begun this journey but...

…"OUCH"! 

We are getting right to the heart of life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am so grateful to say these three words.

Being grateful brings about JOY. I am still grateful naming (since 2011), and experiencing how God is blessing me.

God placed the word "understanding" on my heart some months ago. It's a hard word in life but I am learning more and more to just listen in and to life. It's still a work in progress.

We have had decisions this past year to make...some not so easy. Life challenges have made us stronger even when both of us really wanted to strangle the other. But, life has been good and rewarding to us.

We are resting, relaxing & most of all regrouping together at our special place after Christmas...the beach.

"The practice of giving thanks 

is the way we practice the presence of God, 

stay present to His presence, and

it is always a practice of the eyes. 

We don't have to change what we see. 

Only the way we see."

One Thousand Gifts

Ann Voskamp