HOPE

As the fog of the past few days slowly lifts, I think of it as a symbol of the old year fading away into a bright new year.

Looking at my glass star hanging in our bedroom window.

In looking back at 2024, I marvel at how fast it went. And so much happened. We had a fun, month-long road trip traveling many miles and visiting several friends in the southeastern part of the states. A precious, baby grand-daughter was born in the spring. We went camping with two of the grandkids, agonized over a family member’s health diagnosis, and had visitors from Norway in the summer. 

And then…we started the process of building a house in the fall. It was very stressful and fun, exhausting and exciting, all at the same time, and it changed the tempo of our lives the second half of 2024. 

Fog hangs over the field outside the back of our new home.

Now that we’ve settled some (and really are happy in our new home) I hope we can start up some of our old routines, yet create new ones too. I hope to get back to walking daily, reading and writing, going out for coffee/lunch/dinner, traveling, feeding the animals at the farm, blogging more…things I enjoy doing, along with continuing to decorate and “de-box” (new word???) our new space. 

The word hope has been so much of this past year’s prayers and dreams that I am bringing it along into the new year as my word for the year. I will continue to hope and pray for healing for others and for continued good health and new growth for myself. 

My new year’s resolution is to try a new style of journaling. Tomorrow, January 1, 2025 I plan to print the word HOPE in large letters in my new journal, as we begin another year, in all its uncertainties and wonder.

Father’s Day

Father’s day has been bittersweet for me since I was a young adult. My father died from an aneurysm when I was twenty – he was way too young. I still miss him and I wish my husband and sons could have met him.

My husband and our two sons, in Africa.

But when I had my own children, Father’s Day became a sweet celebration. It is special to celebrate my husband, who is a good, kind and loving father to our children.

Photo of our two sons when they were little boys.

And now, our two sons are fathers and we celebrate them!

Happy Father’s Day!

 

 

Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.     Psalm 68: 4-5

 

Celebrating Life

I’ve felt much sadness from the news of the shooting in Las Vegas earlier this week. I think of all the parents grieving over their beloved children, no matter what age the children are. I believe God is grieving over this violent act too.

So I am ever more grateful to be able to give both my sons a hug this week. Our oldest son lives in the cities, our younger son lives in Mozambique, Africa but is here in Minnesota for a visit. I am grateful for these two wonderful, healthy, young men and their families.

We have had a nice visit with our youngest son, the father of two of our three grandchildren.

A walk in the woods.

We went for a hike and ate a picnic lunch at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park,

Tried new fire log…it worked.

and sat around a bonfire in our back yard under a full moon, along with sharing meals and stories together…and a little shopping for gifts to bring to his family back home.

He met his five-month old niece for the first time too. We are celebrating life!