January 2, 2013 Greetings My Friend, It is another year! It seems strange to be here already but time seems to fly the older I get. My thoughts tend to start thinking about what I’d like to do in the New Year. I have quit writing resolutions and my goal is to start seeking God’s direction for the New Year. To me that is the best way to do life these days. When I retired my health took a nose dive and for the first time in several years I am seeing an answer to some of my health issues. As I find answers I find myself wanting to do more. That is encouraging to me. Our home is coming along very nicely and now that ladders, tools and boards aren’t part of the everyday I find myself being more involved in the day to day operations of life. I sit in my comfy chair in the entry way during the day and look around at this place often. I continue to fall in love with our new home, our new state and I am grateful each day for what we have been given. Our minister is talking about a short term mission trip and I want to go. I don’t think I will since I am not what I once was. The office secretary at church has opened up again and I desire to give it a whirl only I am not sure I have the “get up and go” to do the job even though it is only 6 to 9 hours each week. Many mornings still find me in a flux so I don’t want to commit to something I can’t be reliable on. Writing always plays at the back of my mind. I started Dad’s polio story and have stalled out on that. I have been toying with the prayer I’ve been saying for my marriage and seeing if I could write a book on it. So far it is in the thinking stage. I am walking outside or on the ellipse most days now. I love the dogs trailing along as I walk and have many chuckles as they stride along with us. I am contemplating some other forms of exercise to add to my walking and have yet to come up with what it will be. I have always done some form of exercise through the years and adding more won’t hurt me since I have osteoporosis. I am not fond of broken bones. I have had a few in my lifetime so I am trying to hedge against a few more through the rest of my years. I found a bread maker at a thrift store and I’d like to give bread making a try. I always think back to my childhood when Dad made bread. He would take the bread dough and fry it in a fryer and when it was done he would put some sugar on it. I haven’t had it since I was at home as a child and I may try this out someday. We have been in this home for two years now and I am finally feeling settled. I love that settled feeling and frankly I no longer dream of the “next house” like I did at one time in my life. I love this place so much. I love living with Junior a ton. I marvel at living with someone and not being afraid, having fun more than arguing and enjoying life. We enjoy each other’s humor and that feels nice. I love not being put down all the time. My guy is a marvel to me. I am thinking about volunteering at the thrift store again and have not as of yet gave it a try. I’m afraid to for some reason. I want to be able to commit to something and see it through for a long time. I am volunteering at the church on Fridays folding the bulletins for Sunday services and straightening the pews. I love doing that. I love the time to connect with other women and to get out on my own some. It feels so wonderful to finally start looking to what I want to give my time to. I’d like to get involved in a lot of things and I know better these days so I will start off slowly. I realize that my energy level may never be what it once was so I am cautious these days in over committing myself. I find myself starting to think about praying and seeking what I need to do and where I need to be. I am learning that if I ask God and get His direction I tend to do better than just volunteering for whatever comes my way. I was so discouraged when God indicated that I needed to quit the thrift store. As time went on though I could see why I had so little energy, I wound up in the hospital a couple of times and at that point I began to see the need to pull back for a while at least. I am reading more these days. My reading went down the tubes for a while and now my concentration is starting to come back. I am hoping to start doing my crafts again as well. So I have a lot of ideas and it is the not overdoing that I strive for these days. Again I want to ask God and seek His guidance. In that I won’t over extend myself. Through the years I have learned that when you do too much you won’t be able to be very good and you are wore out and again no good to those you want to help. These days I’d rather do less than not be able to give quality time and effort. I am learning that lesson yet again. Don’t over extend myself, I love being active but these days doing too much comes at a high price. Have you thought about giving time to others? It could be reading to sick people, helping children learn, volunteering at church. When we give of our time it seems to heal us as much as it helps another. May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you. Love Janet