My "Bests" for 2012!

Looking back on the year that has passed and anticipating a new year is always exciting. But sometimes when I look back I see only the hard things that happened and forget the good things. I was reading a blog I subscribe to and the writer of the blog asked its readers to list their “Bests” for 2012. In remembering the “bests” you end the year on a positive note and take an “attitude of gratitude” into the New Year. I started considering what some of my “bests” would be and decided to share them with you.

Best song – It is hard to choose one so I will go with “10,000 Reasons” by Matt

            Redman and “Not For A Moment” by Vertical Church and Meredith

            Andrews

Best new food – Rice chips and rice crackers

Best new habit – I eliminated gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and refined sugar from my

            diet. It has made a huge difference!

Best books – Again there are two. The devotional book, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah

            Young and “Life of the Beloved” by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Best thing I am learning – That my trying really, really hard does not get me any

 closer to where I think I want to be. I am learning to relax and let go.

Best thing about my husband – He loves to cook and many nights has dinner ready

            when I get home from work. (There are lots of good things about my

husband, so this is just one of the “best” things!)

Best event – Reconciling with my husband

Best DVD – While not a cinematic classic I think my favorite DVD this year was

            “Larry Crowne,” starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Not only does it have

            some awesome ELO songs, but I identified with his struggles and situations.

 

Best movie in the theater – So, I don’t go see very many movies in the

            theater, but one that was special for many personal reasons was “The Hunger

            Games.” I loved the story and saw it with my husband, daughter and her

            “friend” Paul. Paul is now Katheryne’s boyfriend and soon - May 2013, will

            become Katheryne’s husband. (It is not official yet.) And the second which

            is the most amazing movie I have seen, maybe ever, is “Les Miserables’” with

            Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. The music was breathtaking!!

Best weekend – I participated in a Koinonia weekend this fall and it was the best

            thing I have done in a while. I laughed, I cried, I ate way too much and

            found a place where it was safe to talk about my hurts. Most importantly,

            I realized I am not alone in my brokenness.

Best Christmas Album – Each year I pick an album and listen to it over and over

again – this year it was “How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas” by Downhere.

Best new album – “All Things Possible” by Mark Schultz

Best new recipes – I started making my own protein bars with vegan protein

            powder, gluten-free Rice Krispies, almond butter and agave nectar –

            yummy!! And Beef Stroganoff thickened with gluten-free Bisquik and

            almond milk and served over Quinoa pasta! (Actually, my husband

            makes it!)

These are just a few of my “bests” but I hope they help you to think of some “bests” of your own. And as you enter the New Year, may your eyes be open to the small blessings that are part of every day, may you choose to forgive those who wrong you, and when life is hard – may you always choose joy!

Reflecting on my kids!

--> Wow, it is almost the end of 2012! How time flies…when you are living life, because it hasn’t been a completely fun year. But it has been a special and good Christmas this year. Both kids were home and we were joined by Katheryne’s boyfriend, Paul and have enjoyed having all three here. I have become more aware, especially this year, at how my kids have become their own persons while also marveling at the similarities between them and family members. 

--> For instance, Ben is now 22 years old. For the past year or so I have told him how much he reminds me of my brother David. Although he heard what I said, I don’t think he saw that in himself – until this year. We were able to get together with my brother and his wife and daughter and my parents, so Ben was able to spend some time talking and visiting with them. This past week as we have talked and Ben has been “himself” around the house I have heard him say more than once, “Yea, I guess I am a lot like Uncle David” or “Yup, that is something Uncle David would say.” I wonder how it is that he became like my brother David rather than my brother Alan and I guess only God knows the answer to that question. But I am constantly thankful for David’s integrity and character and am thankful my son has had several examples of integrity and character in his life.  

And Katheryne…Katheryne is quiet, intelligent and witty. As Ben and I were talking about who he is like she commented that she didn’t think she was like anyone in our family. But she is like her dad. And her dad is like my dad. They all have this dry sense of humor, that is unexpected because they are so quiet, and is also very funny. Katheryne, Levi and my dad are all writers – perhaps Katheryne is the best because she has taken classes to pursue writing as more than just a hobby, but it is something they all have in common. And while they each excel in a different area, they are all extremely intelligent. When I pointed the similarities to her she quietly smiled and said, “Oh.” Again, so much like her father and grandfather. 

My kids are all grown up and making their way in the world. Becoming a little more themselves every day, and a little more like the people who have been influential in their lives. What a gift to have them home for Christmas this year and how proud I am of who they are!!

As the holidays come to a close I am reminded again of how special family is - I would not have made it through 2012 without my family. And just as I pray for myself and those special to me, I pray that 2013 holds many blessings for you and your family.