Wednesday, December 28, 2011

After Christmas, what?

Christmas this year found us at Jambo House in DisneyWorld's Animal Kingdom Resort for a few days of wonder and African surroundings with the younger of our daughters, here for her annual Florida visit. What fun we had! This photo shows the dramatic main lobby. Outside stretches a realistic savannah populated with zebras, giraffes, gazelle (my nickname in college), and more animals and birds than I can name. It is magical for sure. Later in the week we spent a day at the Brevard Zoo and fed a baby giraffe by hand. Amazing! I wished our whole family could have been there. But alas, the days of frequent vacations together are rare indeed now.
Today we exchanged hugs and gifts with our oldest daughter and her husband, and three of our wonderful grandkids, said good-bye to our younger daughter at the airport, and headed home. Now what?
A dear friend invited us to dinner on New Years' Day and asked that we each bring a Bible verse, our expectations for the New Year (not goals), and a worthy quote. Expectations? Goals are easier, measurable, and can be tacked up somewhere. But expectations sound to me like the flip side of fears. This year was rough. What if next year is the same? Glad I don't know, frankly.
OK. Expectations. I expect, in fact I KNOW, that God will be good to me, in good times or bad. I'd prefer good. I expect He'll give me real work to do, maybe different from before. I loved teaching through the Meet Me at the Well Bible study published by Circle of Friends ministry last year. This year I'll do it again in our community. Can't wait.
I'd like to write another novel and expect to learn how to do it really well from my friend Debbie Macomber. That's a pure gift. I expect God is in this plan, leading me to a new challenge once again.
I expect to learn more about loving others. That is never easy, but oh, so important. I want to love my husband better each year, and also my family. I want to love my neighbors, as well. But my enemies? I probably have a few. Yes, them too, by some miracle.
I expect God's grace to grease and energize my soul with his Holy power. (Eph 1) I expect to need laughter, friendship, prayers, correction, and serious rest. I'll thirst for refreshment, grow strong with worship and joy, and fear the temptation to slack off. Pray for me as you pray for others who love you. I need God's leading this year so much.
I expect to hear far more from each of you this year. Please drop me a comment or a note. The ones I've received this year have been so encouraging and amazing. I thank you for them.
And I expect to pray up a storm, or through the storm, all year. I'd love to pray for you, too.
Have the best New Year ever!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful for you. Trusting too, Pam

TRAITSOFTHSIMPLISTIC said...

Greetings Virelle,

I just happened upon your site, & I liked your comments in your blog, so I thought to myself, "I wonder if she sends out e-newsletters?" Thus, I searched for a link. I saw a box, which refenced the words, "email address". Hence, I typed my email address in the box, & after I clicked on
"Ok", I recvd an error message, so I entered my email address in the box again...same thing happened:-(.

I'm not sure whether or not your website is active, or even monitored? I hope so though, because I liked what I read.

Do u. by any chance send out e-newsletters or e-mails? If so, can u plz add my email address, which is missmary.madjeski@gmail.com?

Thank you for your assistance.

I look forward to your response.

N HIM & an aspiring published author 4 Christ,

Mary Madjeski

TRAITSOFTHSIMPLISTIC said...

Greetings Virelle,

I just happened upon your site, & I liked your comments in your blog, so I thought to myself, "I wonder if she sends out e-newsletters?" Thus, I searched for a link. I saw a box, which refenced the words, "email address". Hence, I typed my email address in the box, & after I clicked on
"Ok", I recvd an error message, so I entered my email address in the box again...same thing happened:-(.

I'm not sure whether or not your website is active, or even monitored? I hope so though, because I liked what I read.

Do u. by any chance send out e-newsletters or e-mails? If so, can u plz add my email address, which is missmary.madjeski@gmail.com?

Thank you for your assistance.

I look forward to your response.

N HIM & an aspiring published author 4 Christ,

Mary Madjeski