Random may describe it best!

I wanted to end 2024 with a social media post of photos highlighting favorite moments of my year. Of course, there were way too many. So I ended up posting photos that were more random. Ha! 

The older I get, the less I remember, although pictures are great at tugging thoughts and feelings associated with past moments. 

Meanwhile, I’m grateful to find more joy & life in each moment. 

That said, it’s been a good year, and I look forward to 2025. 

I’m hoping to finish the last six lessons of a Bible study before I go to bed. I’m not making resolutions. I just intend to keep on with what works best each day: pray, keep my focus on & faith in God; act in faith; trust God in all things, including timing & results; give God all glory, honor, thanks & praise. 

“Yet this I call to mind & therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭23

#FarewellTo2024 

Never give up on love

Christmas morning, I woke up thinking about God’s message of love for me. And He reminded me that same love is offered for all.

What I realized last night is true for me is true for all: God is telling us we’re OK. We’re good enough. We were OK as children & we’re OK whatever age & way we are now. God invites us to feel the joy of being ourselves, loved & delighted in & accepted by Him, just as we are.

Sometimes that may cause some of us in our interactions to feel hurt for a moment or to disagree or feel slighted or misunderstood. That’s OK. No one of us is perfect. God loves each one of us, just as we are. He sent His Son to save each one of us.

And it occurs to me that God even loves the ones who don’t accept His gifts, including the most precious gift of His Son. He continues to invite each one to turn to Him. He never gives up. He never stops loving His children.

He calls me to do the same: never stop loving His children. 

Never give up on love. 

New respect for Santa!

I have SO MUCH RESPECT FOR SANTA!! How does he get all those gifts delivered?!?!?

Gene & I are clearly not Santa! Although I had already conceded that gifts to Arkansas & Arizona would be shipped late, it seemed reasonable to think we could swing by Stillwater yesterday to drop off a few gifts. Instead, I finally realized that it’s really not worth the rush for them or us. Kids enjoy gifts whenever they arrive! Right?!?!? We can plan to meet up later.

That turned out to be a key decision toward opening my heart to God’s messages for me this Christmas. We spent time visiting & delivering gifts to people closer to home & weren’t as rushed getting ready for the Christmas Eve communion & candlelight worship service. 

Although there’s more I could (& may) write about this year’s gift-giving, I’ll leave it at that for now!   

God’s perfect timing & message

It’s 10 p.m. December 24 & it’s finally beginning to look a little like Christmas at the Gilliland abode. 

I thought all I would have was the small lighted tree we got at an estate sale last year. Then Facebook reminded me again of “the little animals” — and I knew this Holy Night was perfect timing to get out the small Nativity set that holds memories of my Daddy. 

A gift of a Christmas ornament along with Pastor Stephen’s message during the Christmas Eve candlelight & communion worship service prompted me to display & enjoy a few more of my favorite decorations. 

Nothing fancy. Eight-year-old Pat might have done it better. Or maybe not. 

So maybe God is telling Pat (again!) at 65 it’s OK. It’s good enough. It was OK then & it’s OK now. God invites me to feel the joy of being me, loved & delighted in & accepted by Him, just as I am. 

#joytotheworld #ChristourSaviorisborn #christmaseve

December Friday the 13th

A good excuse to have fun with friends. I’m grateful I accepted the invitation. 

Gifts of compassion & love

Gifts of presence, support, encouragement, cheer. 

Praying & acting in faith. God works it all for good. 

Advent “gift exchange”

Started the first day of December & first Sunday of Advent exchanging despair for hope with Gene, Mom, Amy, Mike & much of Becky’s family at Whaley UMC. Then Gene & I went for a boat ride, giving the bass a day off! Next up was to join the mass of humanity going on I-35 north from Gainesville. We were doing fine until we had to stop for gas in Pauls Valley. A detour around backed up traffic took us through Maysville, a route we’ve taken before. Shortly after we got back on I-35 in Purcell, Waze sent us on another little detour — that unexpectedly included gravel roads! Nothing the Tundra couldn’t handle; we’re not as sure about some of the others in that line of cars. I’m grateful to be safely home in Norman after a full Thanksgiving weekend! I continually praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!