Boldness & Trust

 As every year comes to a close I try to focus on words for the upcoming year rather than resolutions.  It seems like every even year since 2016 has been difficult.  I seem to sail through the odd years.  As I approach 2024 I feel like I'm bracing for impact.  It's not biblical and it's not healthy.  On my walk this morning I told God I would trust Him.  I will not brace for impact but instead look to Him for everything, trust that He has me and will work all things out for my good (Romans 8:28).  I also want to boldly proclaim the gospel.  I want my faith written all over me.  Often I hold back because I am not articulate.  I don't feel as if I know my bible well enough to speak up and speak out.  God knows this about me.  I'm a work in progress.   I reference my favorite bible verse, Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  I sin, stumble and fall daily.  The beauty of God's love for us is I can get up the next day and keep pressing on, knowing His love for me doesn't change, Romans 8:38-39; "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Christmas 2023

Kim and I decided to do things differently this year.  For as long as I can remember we spent Xmas eve together and then Xmas day at home with our families.  This year we switched it.  We went to church together at Song & Sword in the morning on Xmas eve.  Personally I loved going to church in the morning on Xmas eve.  After church Kim went to her in-laws and my family and mom went out to lunch.  Me, Nick and Mike spent a quiet evening at home on xmas eve and made homemade pizzas.  Jay was with Trystan's family.  

Christmas day was gloomy but warm.  Mike decided he would cut down a tree on Christmas day because who doesn't cut down trees on Xmas day?  Only Mike. 

Although I haven't known Trystan for long, I love her.  She is so easy to have around.  It was a joy to have another female around on Christmas.  My family opened their gifts late morning and about 1:30 mom and Kim and family showed up.  

We ate about 2pm and then played a game and opened presents.  Mike's prime rib was delicious, as usual. 

                                                  Have I mentioned how much I like Trystan?  

Mom wasn't her best this year.  She was not feeling well and pretty unsteady on her feet but she was all smiles with Walker on her lap and receiving this Vizsla sweatshirt from Kim.  

Sweet Lauren.  We ended the night watching "Elf" in the basement (me, Kim and Lauren).  I didn't get any pics of Luke and Nick from Xmas but I promise they were with us.  Ha.  Nick went to bed early on xmas day because he went to work at 4am this morning.  Typical Nick.  I am very thankful for my family this Xmas.  Things change and I'm glad Kim and I made some changes this year.  We will likely do the same thing next year.  
 

Bible Study Babes

 Kim and I formed this group back in 2020.  Ever since then Christmas Eve Eve (Dec. 23) we get together at Shannon's for Christmas.  This year we got together on Dec. 22 - close enough, ha.  We missed Katie this year though.  If I remember correctly we couldn't get together at all in 2021 because Covid was ridiculous.  I just love these girls.  They fill my cup every time I am with them.  God has blessed with strong christian women.  I am so thankful for them.  

Jay and his girl

 I am so excited to write about Trystan.  These two started seeing each other in October.  As October spilled into November and now December it became clear to me this girl was someone special in Jay's life and I was dying to meet her.  Over the weekend we (all 3 of us, me, Mike and even Nick) had the pleasure of meeting her.  We went out for dinner and I just love her.  She was conversational, real, down to earth and easy to be around.  She is a hairdresser (I realize I'm showing my age by using that term....thankfully I have Tryston now who can school me on the correct terminology) and is opening her own salon in January, at the ripe old age of 21.  I'm impressed.  As I told her the other night she clearly has an entrepreneural heart.  

Signs of aging

 Every so often I have moments when I crack myself up.  Last night was one of those nights.  Recently I started using castor oil on my face after my evening shower.  Thanks to an instagram influencer it is proving to be a game changer for my aging face but I digress. However, using the castor oil does make my face quite oily.  Last night after my shower I went through my usual routine.  I decided that due to how gnarly my blood clot leg was looking it was best to start wearing my compression sock to bed again.  I applied my castor oil to my face, sweated to death trying to get my compression sock on and proceeded to go about my business.  In the kitchen I met Nick who asked me what I had all over my face, just as I was warming up coconut oil to gargle with because my gums were inflamed.  It was at that moment I started laughing out loud.  Here I was at 7:30 in the evening in my jams with castor oil all over my face, a compression sock on one leg, and gargling with coconut oil to help my inflamed gums.  The moment wasn't lost on me and I laughed at myself.  Thankfully I haven't lost my sense of humor.  

As a side note, my evenings now a days are a far cry from even 5 years ago when I was spending every single December evening in a gym, watching Jay or Nick play basketball and getting beat - badly, I might add.  Sometimes I miss those nights but I certainly didn't laugh as hard on those nights as I did last night.  

Christmas Party

We had such a good time last night at our Christmas party hosted by Heather.  This group is the group of friends we made through Jay.  We sat through so many football and basketball games with these people and they became good friends.  All of our kids are adults now and we don't see each other as often as we'd like but when we do get together it's always a good time.  Lots of laughter and conversation.  

 Heather had us decorate gingerbread houses and of course Mike did all the work on ours.  I just handed him tools when he needed them.  Ha.  

Favorite Things Party

Last night Kim and I attended our friend, Chan's, favorite things party.  As you can see Kim and I went all out for our jams this year....notice our faces all over our jams.  They were a hit at the party.  

Look who made an unexpected but very nice surprise - Nick and Chase.  I loved that they stopped by.

And here's our entire group.  Picture taken by none other than Nick.  I always enjoy this party so much.  
 

My Christmas Miracle

 Last night both boys were home for dinner and we all four ate together.  It was glorious! It doesn't happen often so I appreciate it that much more.  Even though the boys still live with us, we rarely see them but we see them enough that their laughter and conversations fill my cup.  I'm acutely aware that one day the laughter and conversations will no longer be a part of my daily life.  So for now I enjoy the blessing of having them close.  

*And I promise Nick isn't as miserable as he looks in this picture.  

Happy 16th Birthday, Lauren

Today is Lauren's 16th birthday!  How can this 2 lbs baby be 16?  Lauren is one of the sweetest girls I know.  She loves the Lord.  She is humble with a quiet spirit.  She is creative, smart and kind.  I just love her.  

Kim had a jewelry party for Lauren's dinner last night.  Of course Kim and I picked the same bracelet.  

                                      And it's always a good time with favorite Aunt Karen.