Chocolate Castles as wel

Happy New Year to all and hope that 2022 brings you joy, laughter and blessings, both large and small. As we took the lights off the tree last evening and carried the tree out to the garage to wait for the tree bag we ordered, I began to just think about this past year. I decided to just sit down and look back over the pictures from the year to see some of the events or people who had been a part of my 2021 year and some of the joys that brought a smile to my heart. Isn’t it wonderful that we have the capacity to do that. To just flip through our photos to see things that not only touched our lives, but people, places and things that give us wonderful memories. As i began to look, stating last January, it became evident that last year truly was a different year. I remember the first time we got to go back to church in person. What a joy to sit with others and hear people around you sing and then just the sweet feeling of fellowship that we could not get watching church online. In February, the weekend of the freeze we moved. Need I say more? We moved back to Frisco, from down in Dallas and was so thankful for the house that the Lord truly provided for us. As I look around and see some of the things I had ask Him for, and Him, “giving us more than we can ever comprehend or imagine” did just that.
Windows, lots of windows, had been a huge priority that I had ask for. A kitchen where I could see outside while standing at the sink. A pantry, and oh my if you could see my pantry. It is larger than I have ever had, even in larger homes we had lived in. Sitting here typing, there are 8 windows and a door I can see out of. We have neighbors who know us and we know them. We have a bedroom for Randy to office out of. These were all answered. Then we had our daughter, Jodi fly in to help us move in. By the time, her plane took off (4 days later than expected due to the freeze), she had emptied out every box. All I had to do was put things away. We had more family members move here from Austin, Jamin and Shannon. Blessing upon blessing has been seen this year. Of course, there are some times and circumstances which we would not have choose, but God is always faithful to see us through and as we continue to live and ask God’s guidance for our days, He does so.

This Christmas was very special. For the first time in about 24 years, all 5 grown children along with their kids were here for the holidays. We had a ball. We had a lady come to take our pictures and are suppose to be getting the pictures back today. we had meals together, the kids (and some of us who think we are kids) did some crafts together and even played outside. We loved hearing the laughter and sounds of them actually not being on their phones. All this to say that this past year, even though it was still different because of Covid, saw its blessings, large and small. But one of my favorite blessings was on Christmas Eve. It is something that will stay in my heart for as long as I have memory. Sitting beside our 12 year old grandson, Caleb during Christmas Eve Service, we begin to sing Christmas Carols. I couldn’t sing as I began to get chocked up from the sound that was coming from beside me. Caleb was singing every carol with such feeling and from his heart. He sang as if he were singing right to Jesus and it still makes me cry to just remember this special night. Thinking about this, it gave me such joy to know that he was not ashamed to be singing his heart out and how we should all be so grateful for the joy that is ours and for Christ who gives us that joy. Thank you Caleb, that even though he was spending his first Christmas away from his dad, he still had joy and was celebrating Christmas by giving what he had to give…..his heart. May I remember to do that as well in this new year, no matter the circumstance.