Big Cedar reflections to come …

 …I hope 

Belated New Year post

OUR first fish of 2026 was caught by me! I couldn’t (wouldn’t) do it without Gene. Even on a slow day with not enough sunshine, no complaints from me catching a couple of 4-pounders on Jan. 1. We drove back to the farm to see a great sunset. 

Note to self: Don’t wait until dinner time to eat black-eyed peas at Cracker Barrel. They aren’t on the menu — & that was just the start of our bad luck, as they were out of much of what we wanted to order from the menu (salad, carrots, cornbread)!! We were grateful they could feed us anyway. Fortunately, we had bought a can of peas, just in case, & were able to eat them later. 

We finished the day with a visit to Mom to drop off some fillets from yesterday’s catch, plus a phone call with Gene’s sister & her son.

Grateful & blessed.

#ichoosejoy

#anothergoodday

#anothergoodyear

#onedayatatime

Just another day (blessed)

I pray to be willing to accept that it’s ok for the start of a new year to be just another day — one day at a time. I don’t know where I got the idea that the transition from one year to the next is such a big deal. I think my newspaper background is a factor; making a big deal out of & finding a story/meaning in things, especially transitions, while many people around me are just living life as it comes, taking it as it is. 

I’m the one who wanted to end this year fishing w/Gene & starting 2026 that way, even tho it means I won’t do other things (& sleep will suffer). 

That said, I am feeling more peace & acceptance & less anxious about how things are & how they might go. I’m seeing that no matter how hard I try or how little I do, things work out. They work out best when I pray, act in faith & trust God. I don’t understand it & I don’t have to, altho it would be nice if I could explain it, to share experience, strength & hope. It’s not magic; it’s acting in faith on promises of God & recovery. How did I get here? I gave up on trying to figure things out (after seeing again & again that my figuring was faulty & never worked) & shifted my focus to letting go & trusting God. Along the way, I embraced Scriptures that made it OK to not understand (Proverbs 3:5-6) & to have peace amid storms & confusion & concerns (Philippians 4:4-6). My life is far from perfect. And that’s amazingly OK. I am blessed, grateful, loved.  

Christmas blessings

As I wrote to a friend upon my return home today after Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, yesterday & today on the road visiting, worshipping & celebrating: 

My victories/blessings were living in the moment; having gifts ready to give by time I got out of the car where they were to be given; & being joyful & grateful rather than frustrated, disappointed & self-pitiful!

 

Another day of thanksgiving

Sunday morning, I was excited to think of sharing that I was grateful my #30daysofthanksgiving ended on the first day of Advent. 

I was going to reflect on the days I was grateful even though I didn’t take a picture or post on social media.

Instead, at the end of a very good day, I was feeling more overwhelmed than grateful. 

About 11 pm, after trying to figure out my #30day pic & which Advent lesson plan to use, I paused to pray. I prayed to be still & be real. To feel. I lifted up concerns. 

And the clearest answer I received was to let it go. Quit striving to tie up loose ends of November or figure out what to do next. Let it go. Don’t fret about posting on social. Let it go. 

So, I took a deep breath & let it go. This wasn’t my idea, my will or my way. It was an act of faith. 

I woke up today aware of the need to continue to pray & trust God & act in faith — even when (especially when!) that means letting go of … 

I pray for willingness & ability.   

My hope & trust is in God. 

#ichoosejoy 

#hope  

#love

#peace

Advent begins in darkness …

(Light a candle of hope.)

The excerpt below that I posted on Facebook from an YouVersion Bible app reading plan is another step in helping me slow down & listen for God as I transition from the month of thanksgiving into Advent & preparing my heart for Christmas.  I am grateful.

Advent begins in darkness. 

The world is groaning. We long for peace, righteousness & justice. We acknowledge the horrible reality of sin in the world. We stand in need of a Savior.

It’s easy for us to think of Advent as simply a memorialization of Jesus’ birth … 

Rather, Advent historically was a preparation for the second coming of Christ.

…

Advent isn’t just our countdown to Christmas; it is our standing firm in darkness, waiting for the glorious transformation of our world thru the power of the Holy Spirit.

The theme of Advent is not Here comes Jesus to be born, it's: the world is in darkness, & the Judge is coming. 

In this way, Advent looks beyond all history & into eternity, when Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living & the dead.

Where do I long for God’s justice in the world? (End of war, evil, suffering, hunger.)

What do I hope for? (Peace, love, hope, joy) 

#ichoosejoy 

#hope  

#love

#peace

Days of thanks

So far, I’ve managed a thanksgiving post each day of November. For that I’m grateful too!

Today’s:

So much for which to be grateful today! Fall sunrise colors; fishing (even though no catching for me); a new home for Autumn Blessings; family time as a bunch of us watched Ryan play 7th-grade football (under fabulous sunset colors); & another bad attempt to photograph that awesome full moon! #30daysofthanksgiving #ichoosejoy