Reflections and a New Year

 We are enjoying the last vestiges of the holiday season. The tree (which came with the rootball!), decorated with dried orange slices, holly, and paper snowflakes, has been de-potted and is now living a happy life down by the creek.

These past weeks we have spent a lot of time in front of the fire together, staying warm and just "being." We've also used the time to make some touristy day-trips that we've been meaning to accomplish. Christmas sights in Paris, D-day Beaches, and even Versailles (brrr ... 2 hours waiting in 30+ degree temps! It was a bonding experience).

We've also been enjoying our gifts from each other. We kept it pretty simple this year, focusing on experiences and less stuff. As mentioned before, it's a practical approach, but also beautiful in its simplicity.

One gift I was rather excited to find was a print of the city we live in. Right in front of the church, our town still holds outdoor markets every Tuesday and Friday, so similar to as that depicted. I think our family will enjoy looking at this in years to come.

School is starting up on Monday, and the children are less than excited. I feel the same! It's hard to let go of these simple, quiet times together in exchange for days of challenge. But even though I want to fret and trouble over each little bump on our paths ... my desire for the new year is to worry less, pray more. And because I know how sick of my own problems I can become ... praying more for others in my time of anxieties. Gosh, it's good to not deal with myself all the time!

Have a blessed New Year and Bonne Année!

"... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus." 

Hebrews 12:2