Saturday, December 31, 2011

Good-by 2011

Good-by 2011 it has been fun as well as hard. As with every year there have been ups and downs, births and deaths, war and peace.

Personally I have done well in 2011 and have enjoyed living the life of a retired man doing things he loves. I am grateful to have reasonably good health for a man approaching seventy. I am mostly thankful for my lovely wife who daily brings love, light and joy into my life.

Good-by 2011  

Friday, December 30, 2011

Changing the Calendar

One year is about to end and another begin and life goes on and on. The new week will change number on the date in my check book from 2011 to 2012 but not much else will change around here.

The doomsday prophets are making much of the Mayan long count calendar about the same way they did about the year 2000 and it will meet much of the same results. I am sure 2012 will pass into history about the same way 2010 did and 2011 is about to do.

I have never been one to get excited about prophets of the end times because I have faith in Jesus and I know that if the end comes or my personal death should come I am ready to be with God for eternity. That is all that really matters to me. In the mean time as I live and breathe I will live out my life one day at a time striving to live each day as Jesus taught me; loving God, loving others and proclaiming the Gospel.

I welcome 2012 and all that God has in store for me.  

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

My Christmas Books

My family knows that I love books so I always receive some for Christmas and this  year I also received a Barns & Noble gift card.

1. The Hidden Scroll by Avraham Anouchi is a fiction that is an archaeological adventure. I am looking forward to reading it soon.

2.The 50 Funniest American Writers according to Andy Borowitz is an anthology of some very funny stories.

3. The Papyrus Ebers translated by Eliot Smith in 1931

4. The Optimist published by The Nevernod Press of Boone Iowa in 1900 is a delightful and eclectic sample of the turn of the last century writers and poets. I just finished reading this one and love it.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

In-Between Week

We are in the week between Christmas and New Years day both of which are celebrations. It is a week that is kind of a lull in activity. Before I retired it was our tradition was a week of vacation following the intense activity of Advent and Christmas. It was a week that I personally really needed to have some down time to restore a sense of sanity.


Now that I am retired the tradition of down time during the “In-Between” week hangs on even if I do not actually need it. As I no longer take vacations I simply do what ever I choose and enjoy the week of rest and reading the books I received for Christmas. Sitting by a fire and reading is most enjoyable.


Take some time in this In-Between Week to rest, reflect and enjoy your life.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Positive Thoughts

Monday at home alone and my darling is back to work. Christmas is over and packages unwrapped. I look around the house and see one thing more. Clean-up!!!

I have wrapping to be hauled out to recycle, floors to clean, menus to plan and dinner to cook tonight. Here we are back to some sense of normal.

Right now I can take some time to think about things without interruption. The year 2011 has less than a week to go and it is time to reflect. What has this year accomplished and how do we feel about 2012? I have two calendars before me to help with that process. This year was good for me and I feel that the coming year has many promises’ for my life. I am most aware that God has blessed me in many ways and I am thankful.  

This is a week of positive contemplation and prayer.