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…

P1090469P1110816P1100869P1110495CrownPoint

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

Stooping to See…

Sometimes it’s the little things that brighten a day…

What could be new in this yard of mine? I’ve seen it all, surely.
But perhaps there is some small something I have overlooked…

And with that in mind I went out for an after-breakfast stroll….

The texture of tree bark is interesting:

P1120882Cherry and alder…P1120883

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P1120889pinePine and cedar…P1120907

Leaves are noteworthy too…

–an ‘ordinary’ maple and a little Big Leaf Maple!

P1120899P1120930Leaves just passing their prime, P1120931

and those long-gone…P1120929

 

Even a dandelion off-season,
hiding out from the rain under a garden bench,
merits a photo….

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But I’ve seen these things before.
Surely there is something more…

(!) What’s that red button on the forest floor?

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And stooping to see, I found what I was looking for–

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Bright little ‘somethings’ I might have missed had I not stooped to see…

P1120916…their hidden huddles.P1120927mushrooms

Stoop to see the little things today. You’ll be glad you did.

–LS

For who hath despised the day of small things? Zech.4:10

Walking thankfully!

Just can’t get enough of walking and gawking at all the loveliness…in surprising places above and below…Have been trying out doing some memorizing while I walk.  Right now it’s David’s Song of Thanks in I Chronicles 16 following the return of the Ark of God to its rightful place in Jerusalem…David actually appointed specific ones to have the job of singing songs of thanksgiving.  Now that’s being intentional–an example that has served me well. So, even though American Thanksgiving is still a couple weeks away, we’ll have a ‘warm up’ here this week  ( :

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Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His Name;
make known HIs deeds among the peoples!

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Sing to Him; sing praises to Him;
Tell of all His wondrous works!

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Glory in His Holy Name;
Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

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Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His presence continually!

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Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before Him all the earth;

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Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations,
“THE LORD REIGNS!”