The Best of 2013~~

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The pages of another calendar have become obsolete.

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The seasons have cycled ‘round once again through a familiar succession of blooms…

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to the less familiar territory of settling into being just the two of us again…

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P1110582P1130447…after 30 years.

With our last child leaving home, my homeschooling career ended.P1100730straitP1120393Rachel

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My own travels took me to the two largest states in the Union this year—Alaska and Texas…

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…in pursuit of family, the best reason to travel!

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Boating was minimal for us this year.

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“Chase Me” has changed hands and been fitted with new sails for racing that proudly bear the name of our first grandson, Chase, born four years ago when we purchased and christened this Cal28.

Her new owners love her and eagerly relate their latest exploits every time we bump into them around town!

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Ironically, No sooner had we sold our sailboat, then we joined our progeny for a house boating vacation– hopefully just the first of many happy reunions, now that we’re all so grown up!

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And the year concluded with my Grandmom quiver expanding to include one more little guy–Cedrick!
whom we have yet to meet…  Cedrick1

A New Year’s priority is to travel to see him and his happy siblings!

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What else will the year hold?

P1120692 Can’t quite see from this vantage point…

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Hopefully more rides…P1110420crop

more moments for reflecting…P1110910

more noticing the small things that brighten a day…P1120911

And always, the glorious hope of better things yet to come!

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May your New Year be crowned with blessings
such as only the Giver of all good things can give!

–LS

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…”Ephesians 1:3-4 KJV

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13 KJV

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

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Don’t know what we were thinking (or do I?), but we set our wedding day for the weekend before Christmas Eve some 30 years ago, little caring how busy our wedding guests certainly were without having to add another thing to their pre-Christmas lists!  And here we are, every year, fitting this celebration of US into our Christmas wish lists too. Wonderful time of year to stop and reflect on all God has done for us—five red roses stand for our five kids; four pink ones for our grandkids!

 

But without further ado, may we wish you and yours a wonderful rest of your holiday time!
And we’ll ‘see’ you here in the New Year!
From our house to yours…

 

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May the Light of Life shine upon you always!

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LS

In [Jesus] was life and the life was the light of men….
’Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life!’  –Jesus Jn.1:4; 8:12

We have seen His glory

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light…

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And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned

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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

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and we have seen his glory…

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And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…for grace and truth came through Jesus Christ…(and) to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

–LS

We, as believers, are of all people most blessed in this season as we celebrate our Savior’s coming.
May God’s light shine all around you and your family this Christmas season and then through you to enlighten your world.

———–

“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” II Pet. 1:19 ESV

I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of LIFE! Jn.8:12

[Meditations drawn from Matthew 4:16,  John 1 and a late winter’s day hike up our beloved Scout Mt.—LS]