Getting the New Year Started off Right!

 This is how I felt when I was beholding the beauty of the skies this evening...What a beautiful way to start off the New Year!!!

Psalm 19 NKJV

 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 8:3-5 NIV

3 When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

5  You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

Psalm 104:1-4

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,

Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,

Who makes the clouds His chariot,

Who walks on the wings of the wind,

4 Who makes His angels spirits,

His ministers a flame of fire."

‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth 

by Your great power and outstretched arm. 

There is nothing too hard for You.  

Jeremiah 32:17

I hope you enjoyed those beautiful views of the sunset and the moon rising into the clouds as much as I did. I apologize for so many pictures, but it just kept changing, and it was all so amazing! We are thankful for the clouds, because there is a prediction of some rain tomorrow!  We are truly hoping that is the case!! Our "Still NO Waters Pond" is in great distress!  So we are praying that 2026 will turn that situation around and provide the much needed rain. I will keep you posted.

So, how did YOU start out the New Year?  We actually had our traditional New Year's Day dinner last evening...the southern tradition, that is, of Black Eye Peas cooked with some ham, Collard Greens, Cornbread, Rice, and also a Meat loaf (which isn't the tradition but it's what we wanted).  And do I believe this will bring us "good luck" in the New Year? No, I don't believe in luck, bad or good. We just eat it because it's the southern traditional meal for New Years and it's a fun way to start off the New Year. When we lived up north we often had pork roast and sauerkraut on New Year's.  Whatever the local tradition is, we enjoy trying it.

Anyway, I cooked the food and we took it over to Benton and Rose's house since they were busy working on a project and didn't have time to stop and cook.  

Here's my plate: (Sorry, I had already started eating it before I remembered to take a picture)

Here we are, and yes, thankfully we are both feeling much better than we were and it was fun to get out of the hoouse and be with the kids at their house for a change...

Rose's sister Tina and her son Charles were there helping them with their special project...

Charles and Benton (and John too)

After supper Tina and Charles had to head back to their home about an hour north of us, but we settled down with the kids in their living room and they put a fire in the fireplace and we enjoyed visiting in their cozy Christmassy home. You can see Sugar and Spice there also...

So what's the big project they were working on? Well, they have a shed that mostly has been used for storage, but they've been wanting to fix it up to use it for a possible guest cottage in the future, so they needed to insulate it and put a few more windows in...

Here's Rose with new window #1,

And Tina getting ready to install window #2:

And Benton showing me both of those new windows and also the wall insulation:

Charles and Tina both working on the other side, doing a little bit of wiring and more insulation....

and here's window #3 on the other side and that wall insulated...

Eventually they will finish insulating the ceiling and then will figure out the rest of the interior layout. They won't be able to install a real toilet due to the distance from their septic tank, but they will put in a sink and shower and whoever stays out there will have to use a "honey bucket" or a camper toilet. There will be a small kitchenette as well.  Except for the "honey bucket" thing, I wouldn't mind staying there myself,  but I'm not so sure about that honey bucket idea. A toilet is one of those "necessities of life" for many of us older folks...

But all that notwithstanding, it is a great idea and a lot of fun. They have wanted to do this for a long time, and now I hear that two of Rose's other sisters from Minnesota may be coming down for a visit in February, and so the goal is to have it ready by then!  They are the younger more outdoorsy type who won't mind the inconvenience so much...and it should be a lot of fun!

So, that's how our New Year has started out so far!  I'm excited for them, and happy to see things starting out in a positive and productive way!

Next on my agenda is to get the Christmas decorations/tree put away, but I am not in a big hurry and will take my time. We enjoy the lights of the tree and other things, so I kind of hate to put it all away while it is still so dark so early! Then again, some days I just want all the clutter out of the way, so we'll see which side of me wins out. LOL.

I hope you are starting out the New Year in a positive and productive way too!  

Here's a positive thought from the book of Revelation:

Revelation 21:5 a  NKJV

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

I am looking forward to that day.  Amen.  Be blessed my friends.

Happy New Year!! One Word for 2025

Happy New Year!  We've turned the page onto a brand new year: 2025!  We are already one quarter of the way through this new century! And it is also the year that I will reach my three quarters of a century mark, but not until September, so let's don't rush things too much! LOL. 

Were you awake at midnight last night when the New Year rolled in?  We were sound asleep in our beds, until we were awakened by the booming of fireworks somewhere out there, so we both woke up at the same time and said "Happy New Year", and then we promptly went right back to sleep! Sounds like a perfect way to usher in the New Year to me! LOL.  

So I woke up this morning bright and early and ready to embrace a brand new day and a brand new year! As I started to prepare my cup of tea and come sit down here at the computer to write this first post of the new year, I thought, wait, I need to open up our new calendars!  Well, I did manage to open up this one, and it got me off on a little trail to set the stage just right for this new day...

(This Susan Branch calendar has become an annual gift from a dear friend! Thank you dear friend! You know who you are!)

And as I read this sweet little story on the first page for the month of January, I thought to myself, "Oh, I love that scene and scenario!  I think I need to do just that right now!"   

And although I don't have any snowfall to watch outside my window, and it is still dark outside anyway as I am writing this, I set up the best "window" to my world that I could for now...A great blue heron out on Still Waters Pond...

And I found a beloved old chipped blue china teapot, and poured my steaming tea into a pink and white flowered cup, but I didn't add any honey or cream...just a scant teaspoon of sugar, and I carried it to the smallest room of the house, my "Room With a View", and I settled by the window to watch the...well, darkness outside right now, but to watch the pictures of birds on Still Waters Pond scroll by on my computer "window"...

"When little things are so nice, she thought, they become big things."

I like that thought, and so now I want to think about another little thing that is also a big thing...

It started out yesterday by reading this daily devotional for December 31. Look at the title:

And in the last paragraph, it says, "Solomon's advice is that we listen to wisdom, apply it, and lear as we go. Then we will have understanding; we will find the right path with wisdom in our hearts and joy from knowledge."

I had already read this the other day night and shared the verses in this post: https://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2024/12/tuesday-4-new-years-eve.html, but for some reason I left off the last two verses, and really wasn't paying close enough attention to the "one word" that kept repeating itself over and over again...

Proverbs 2:1-11 NKJV

"The Value of Wisdom"

"1 My son, if you receive my words,

And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

10 When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion will preserve you;

Understanding will keep you..."

And then I noticed this little devotional calendar that my sweet DIL Rose gave me last year, and I flipped it over to the front cover in preparation for starting it over for the new year, and what did I see???

There is also a companion daily devotional booklet that comes in the mail every month (this is free of charge, but donations are always welcome) from the same place, "In Touch Ministries", from the writings of the Rev. Charles F. Stanley, who passed on to glory a year or so ago...

And this is the reading for December 31, 2024:

And let's pay attention to the last couple of paragraphs:

Do you see it?  

"Looking at the past year, can you see His wisdom in leading you to make right decisions? Make 2025 a year of obedience. Choose to trust Him, and receive the blessings He wants to give you."

Like, being blessed by looking out the window to see what beauties God has in store for me to see, and there's this family of the Black Bellied Whistling Ducks...they just landed in this tree out on the island of Still Waters Pond just as I looked out the window!  (this was yesterday)

Not that this a great example of "wisdom", but it is an example of lifting up my eyes to see what God wants me to see each day, and not going around with blinders on!!

It is a reminder to me to pay attention to the details of life going on around me all the time...we may be missing so many blessings by not opening our eyes and ears to see and hear all that God has in store for us, to bless us and give us His joy and love and peace...

I told you that God would lead me to whatever the new "One Word" for 2025 would be, and that He would do it by January 1st.  To tell the truth, I've been scrambling and wondering and nothing seemed to be coming together until last night when I read those verses in that little book, and then I discovered that same word "WISDOM", popping up in everything I touched.  Suddenly it was as if it had bright flashing lights all over it and it seemed to be calling out to me and saying, "Here I am! Please pay attention! I've been here all along, but you just weren't paying close enough attention to what clues I was giving you!"  Wisdom! Of course!  Oh how I need this word in my life!  And not just the word itself, but its full depth of meaning...I need wisdom!   You'd think at my age I'd have plenty of wisdom to go around, but I have found that the older I get the more situations come up in which I need more and more wisdom. There are health concerns, financial, physical and mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. And not just for me, but for my spouse and my family as well. We are all connected in one way or another and I need wisdom to deal with all of the above. I need God's wisdom...I need to seek His wisdom and not just try to figure out things on my own, which I am prone to do.  

Oh, Lord, I have a feeling we are going on another adventure this year, and I am going to need to be relying on YOUR wisdom more and more. This aging process is a big deal, and it takes wisdom to navigate so many decisions and issues that come up.  It takes wisdom to know when to act and when to stop and just wait and listen for Your guidance along the way.  I pray that You will give me wisdom for each step of the way, and help me to be patient and wait on YOU for the right direction to go before I ever take the first step.  Thank You, Lord, for I believe that You are always right there ready to share Your wisdom and knowledge with us. We just have to pay attention and then obey.  Help me, Lord! Amen.

Here are some links to my previous years of "One Words", in case you are interested, or are still looking for that special word for yourself this year. Feel free to use one of mine! You may learn some things from it that I never discovered, and you can share them with us!

One Word 2024: Strength

One Word 2023: Listen

One Word 2022: Delight

One Word 2021: Believe

One Word 2020: Joyful

One Word 2019: Abundance, and this link contains the links to all previous years, which includes the following words: 2012 was my first year doing the One Word, and it was "Hope", 

2013: Presence,  2014: Strengthen, 2015: Focus, 2016: Grace, 2017: Rest,  2018: Renew

On the other side of the pond yesterday morning was this big flock of buzzards, sunning themselves in the tops of the tree. Maybe they are waiting to clean up the messes that are left over from 2024 and help give us a clean slate to begin our journey into 2025.  

Maybe they are a reminder to us to let go of the past and start off fresh...a brand new day, a brand new year.  Don't look back, we aren't going that way!  Look forward, and fix your eyes on Jesus,

Hebrews 12:1-2  NKJV

The Race of Faith

"1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, 

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Happy New Year my friends!

May it be a year of great wisdom, joy, and peace for all.

(BTW, I will do the rest of the new calendars for 2025 roll call in the next post)

Tuesday 4~ Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!
Let's start off the year with some questions about you....

1. What was your dream job when you were a little kid? Alternatively.. what is a dream date?

My dream job when I was a little kid was...well, all I can think of is I wanted to be a doctor or a nurse apparently, because getting a doctor kit for Christmas was all I wanted when I was about 7 years old.

At one time I did think I wanted to be a nurse and started taking some courses to become one, but life changed and with three babies and a hubby studying for the ministry in seminary and becoming a pastor's wife...well,  I had all I could handle! Being a Pastor's Wife apparently was the "dream job" God had in mind for me since that is where He lead me.  It wasn't an easy job by any means, but God gave me the "strength" and faith to make it through, and I have no regrets.  

Regarding the alternative question about a 'dream date', well, another hard question. Most of my "dates" were while I was still in high school and first year of college, and then I got married. No one had any money for a 'dream date' at that time. We were happy if we could go to a movie and get something to eat.  I've told my hubby that now that we are retired we ought to go on some "real dates" where we get dressed up and go to a fancy place or something...but we still don't have any money and we are quite content to enjoy our dates right here at our own home with each other after all these 55 years of knowing each other, 54 + years of marriage. I can't think of anything dreamier than that. I am very thankful to still have my "dream date" right here with me.

2. Who is going to play you in the movie about your life?

Oh jeepers, I can't imagine who would want that role.  I am trying hard to think of someone. How about Maureen O'Hara?  She's the only redhead I can think of that I liked!  Here she is in "The Quiet Man".  That reminds me of me when I was younger. LOL. Well, maybe just a little.

3.What is the best life lesson you have learned so far?

These questions are pretty difficult for the beginning of the new year.  One thing I've learned in life is to think before speaking or writing.  I try hard to follow that rule, but sometimes I fail. If you have ever noticed the Bible verse at the bottom of my blog page, you will see that is my life verse, and the rule I've tried hard to live by, especially when writing.

Psalm 19:14 KJV

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, 

be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

HERE is a link to a story about this verse. (and why it is so special to me)

4. What is your favorite name for a girl.. how about for a boy? 

Oh dear, this is another hard question.  We never had any little girls, but if we had, the names we had picked out were as follows:  Robin Noelle if she was a redhead like me, and Amanda Danielle if she was a brunette like my hubby.  

Now, we were blessed to have three sons, (all with brown hair like their daddy, LOL)  and I love all of their names equally:

William Benton, named for both of his grandfathers and two of his great-grandfathers. We called him Benton because there were already too many "Billy's" around the family, and Benton is my maternal grandfather's name, and it is a name that it seems as though every one of my mother's siblings named one of their sons Benton for either a first or middle name, so we wanted to carry on the tradition. My mother was very pleased.

 

Matthew Everette, was not named for anyone in particular, we just loved the name Matthew, which means, "Gift of God", and he truly was.  The middle name of Everette just went well with Matthew, and for some reason I thought there was supposed to be an "e" on the end of the name, so there you have it.  Matthew once asked us why he wasn't named for anyone special like a grandfather or someone we knew, and we told him because he was unique and special and deserved his very own name, and that seemed to satisfy him.  I am sure Jesus knows his name well as Matthew in the Bible was one of His disciples, and now our Matthew is up there in heaven with Jesus, so I am sure they are on a "first name basis".

 

Our youngest son is John Scott.  When he was born we didn't have any boys names picked out because we were just sure we'd have a girl the third time around! Boy, were we surprised when that 10 lb. 9oz. baby boy came bouncing out!  Since we didn't have a name in mind, we asked our other two very young sons what they would like to name him, and they said "Scotty", because there was a little boy across the street named Scotty and they liked that name.  We liked it too, but wanted to give one of our sons their father's name of John.  So he became John Scott, but we call him Scott. Turns out the little boy across the street's name was also John Scott! Go figure! LOL.  

Thank you for making Tuesday 4 a success and for helping to keep Toni's project going. I know she would be pleased. I am so grateful for all of you.

Thank you, Annie, for keeping this tradition alive and well!  You outdid yourself with hard questions this time, but it was fun thinking about it and coming up with answers.

Now for some pictures from our New Year's Day gathering.  As I said in my New Year's post, our plans were changed from having the extended family here at our house for a Christmas/New Year's gathering because my sister Doris got sick with a sore throat and wasn't well enough to travel. So we will plan to get together with them at a later date yet to be determined.  Meanwhile, we went over to Benton and Rose's house for our New Year's Day dinner of  "Hoppin' John" (Black Eyed Peas and rice) and Ham and Collard Greens,  deviled eggs and rolls and I made a ginger bread for dessert with whipped cream. It was all so good and we had a perfect day! It warmed up to the high 60's and was sunny and gorgeous outside! Hard to believe it was New Year's Day! So here are the pictures:

Their lovely Christmas tree

The Nativity that we gave them when they were first married

It was chilly enough this morning for a fire in the fireplace! Very welcoming!

The Grandpups were all tuckered out and taking a nap, while they waited for the doggy beds to be washed and dried. LOL.

The table was set and ready!

Our lovely hostess and host...

Yours truly and hubby John:

My plate of Collard Greens, Hoppin' John and Rice and Ham:

Rose and Benton while we took a walk around their yard in the sunshine:

All in all a wonderful start to the New Year of 2024.  We look forward to all that God has in store for our family in the New Year, knowing that He is with us and will guide us each step of the way!

I hope you enjoyed the Tuesday 4 Meme and our little family New Year's Day.