Reflecting on 2019, Part 1

(The photo above is from a previous winter, but I saw nearly this exact scene on my walk this morning.  The only difference is that today the field had a little more snow on it.)

And now ... to the topic at hand.  I tend to vary the ways I reflect on the years just past, but I do think it's a good idea to do so in some fashion.  It helps me, anyway, to clarify my thinking in planning for a new year.  Here are some links to questions I've used in the past:
Four Questions to Evaluate Your Walk with God for the New Year
31 Questions for the New Year
And also the ten questions below, from Holley Gerth:

Any of these would be super helpful to anyone wanting to reflect on the year just past, or to consider how they want 2020 to look. 

This year I decided to do something different and  use A New Year’s Perspective from Denise Cunningham.  There are ten questions and so far I have answered five of them.  I'll put my answers in a different color and font.

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 What hindered my spiritual growth last year?  What moved it forward?

I think the only thing that may have hindered my spiritual growth (although I must add that it didn't feel hindered at all)was that I didn't memorize as much Scripture and I didn't memorize as consistently as I have sometimes done.  That said, however, I definitely did see spiritual growth last year.  I just wonder if I would have seen more if I'd memorized more faithfully.

As far as what moved my spiritual growth forward, one big thing was that my husband and I have been discipling a couple who seriously want to grow in their walk with God.  That has encouraged us so much!  Attending a couples' retreat and, for me, a ladies' retreat, helped also, as did seeking to apply what I was learning.  Also, the more time I spent in the Bible, the more I grew.
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    What did God teach me last year?

One of the main things He taught me was that in spite of my tiredness, sometimes verging on exhaustion, He would give me the energy needed for ministry as I looked to Him.  Whether it was hospitality, teaching, or cleaning the church, the necessary strength and energy were there as needed.  I felt I learned more fully than ever that God's commands are His enablements.  

I also felt that I learned in a deeper way that we can trust God no matter how a situation may look.  He is always good, He always has a purpose in what He allows to touch our lives, and He is always in control.  Another thing He taught me (and gave me a burden for, in the process) is that not all believers understand these rich, yet basic truths about God.
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    What did I see God do in answer to my prayers last year?
Many, many things.  Too many to specifically list them all.  I think I saw answered prayer the most in simple, everyday matters as I definitely saw God answer many of my prayers for wisdom, and prayers asking Him to help me grow and change in many areas of life.
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    To whom did I give my life the most?  Does this need to change?
First and foremost, I give my life to God.  My husband and family come next, then others.  I invested myself in my Sunday School class, the ladies who read my blogs, and those we are discipling.  I think that there's a pretty good balance in this area, and that probably nothing needs to change.
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    What activities did I participate in that I need to repeat this year?
Discipling younger believers, showing hospitality, teaching Sunday School, cleaning the church, family activities, daily walks with a friend.
Which activities should I consider removing from my schedule?
 Hmmm ... good question.  I do think I will take Instagram off the schedule until afternoon each day.  I don't really know of anything else I should consider removing, but I trust that God will show me  if there is something that should go.


So there are some of my thoughts as I reflect on 2019.  What about you?

Friday five for January 3

Wow --  the first Friday five of a new month, a new year, and a new decade!  It's good to start all of those off with praise to the Lord for some of His blessings.

Don't you love the scene above?  It's a scan of a Christmas card front.  The winter scene is by an artist named James Cox, just to give credit where credit is due.  I think it's absolutely gorgeous and it reminds me of scenes we often see on our walks during the winter.  Brooks not frozen over yet and still rushing along through the landscape, pretty birch trees and evergreens amid a snow-covered landscape, and the brilliance of winterberries adding a welcome touch of scarlet color to the scene.  I so wish that I could paint!

But on to the Friday five ...

1.  A brief but lovely chat with our Nevada daughter on her birthday, the 27th.  Her youngest daughter's birthday party had been put off from the 12th due to illness, so they were celebrating together on Friday.  Joanna was decorating the cake when we called to sing our birthday wishes to her.  Below is a photo she sent us from their Christmas tree-cutting this year.  Note all of the yarny Viking details.  You may want to double click on this one!

2.  A simple coffee date on Saturday afternoon, followed by a little after-Christmas shopping at Marshalls.    Below you see a few of the deals we found -- a gorgeous red cookie sheet ($5!), two pretty mugs that will make perfect gifts, and a roll of striped wrapping paper.

3.  A good visit with our friend Terry on Sunday.  Although she is not in good health at all, God gave her the strength to prepare a lovely Christmas dinner for her kids and grandson.   What a blessing, and what great memories they will all have!

4. A few low-key days with time to do some blogging, catch up on a few simple tasks, and do lots of laundry.  Once my almost-retired hubby finally stops working (in another week), we are going to dive into house-emptying at my childhood home with a vengeance.  So I'm thankful for some quiet days to catch my breath.

5.  Time for a nice long walk yesterday.  Although it was cloudy, some sun peeked through,  the temps were mild (in the 30s) and there was no wind to speak of.  It was very pleasant for walking.

Happy Friday, everyone!  Enjoy your weekend!

Happy New Year! (and my January goals)

2020!  Not only a new year but a new decade!

I really have very little idea where 2019 has gone or how it got there so quickly.  The year seems to have literally flown by, much more so than usual.

I hope that all of my readers and friends will have a happy, healthy, and most of all a spiritually prosperous new year in 2020.  May we all get serious about our walk with the Lord and living life to His glory.

So here are my goals for January:

* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones
* Work on a Bible study for my quiet time
* Post in my blogs as often as possible
* Reflect on 2019 and set some goals for 2020
* Continue our discipleship study with new believers
* Provide Sunday lunch hospitality for pulpit supply couples at least once this month
* Possibly meet up with old friends at Cracker Barrel
* Continue to help a recently widowed friend with the challenges of life in general

* Continue study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus
* Get to bed by 9 pm each night  
* Get serious about limiting sugar
* Pay much more attention to drinking enough water each day

 * Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week (with some help from Clean Mama)
* Do something creative each day

* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones

* Craft some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations

* Spend a little time on some UFO craft projects
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items

* Work on Etsy and trust bookkeeping as necessary
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family

* Do some planning for retirement

* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able 

* Continue to encourage and support my hubby as he works through a pastoral search for our church
* Clean church and set up for fellowship time; help provide snacks

* Continue to sort out and declutter my dad's house, hopefully taking many loads to the dump and thrift store and consolidating the remaining items yet to dispose of;  work on estate
* Maybe go out for breakfast with friends from Vermont

* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating

 
HEALTHY HABITS FOR JANUARY:  Drink more water/get more sleep/limit sugar/walking
MY WORD FOR 2020: Diligence

And here is how December went:

* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones -- I only managed two or three
* Continue our discipleship study with new believers  -- done!
* Provide Sunday lunch hospitality for pulpit supply couples twice this month -- done!
* Continue to help a recently widowed friend with the challenges of life in general -- done!

* Continue study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus -- done!
* Get to bed by 9 pm each night   -- not done, though we continue to work at it
* Limit sugar -- barely attempted this month
* Drink enough water each day -- not done

 * Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week -- done!

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week (with some help from Clean Mama) -- not done
* Do something creative each day -- done!
* Post in this blog every day through December if possible -- I managed 19 posts; not too bad, really.

* Decorate for Christmas -- done!

* Finish buying and wrapping Christmas gifts -- done!
* Post in my Christmas blog every day through December -- done!
* Send a birthday package and Christmas packages to Nevada -- done!

* Host a church ladies' event at our home -- done!

* Address and send Christmas cards -- done!

* Bake Christmas cookies; make candy and other kitchen gifts -- done!

* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones -- done!

* Craft some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations -- done!

* Spend a little time on some UFO craft projects -- not done
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items -- done!

* Work on Etsy and trust bookkeeping as necessary -- not necessary
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family -- done!

* Attend my hubby's work Christmas party -- done!

* Do some planning for retirement-- not done

* Make and carry out plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas day -- done!
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able -- done!

* Continue to encourage and support my hubby as he works through a pastoral search for our church -- done!
* Clean church and set up for fellowship time; help provide snacks -- done!

* Continue to sort out and declutter my dad's house, hopefully taking many loads to the dump and thrift store and consolidating the remaining items yet to dispose of;  work on estate -- did very little of this in December
* Maybe go out for breakfast with friends from Vermont -- 

* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating -- not really done, though I did try.

 
HEALTHY HABITS FOR DECEMBER:  Drink more water/get more sleep/limit sugar/walking

Hoping for a productive, healthy January!

Just a peek at our Christmas

Just sharing a few photos of our Christmas decor and doings ... I don't want to neglect this blog completely.  I've been able to post every day over at my Christmas kitchen, so if you haven't visited there you may want to.  Link is in the sidebar. →

We ended up using both colored and white lights on our tree this year, a make-do situation that worked out okay.

The colander was a fun project I saw on Thelma’s Days.  Mine didn't come out as nice as Thelma's, but I'm still pleased with it. I hope to blog about that project tomorrow on my Christmas blog.

My December hutch is below.  I've since tweaked it a bit, and it will be tweaked even more for winter, adding glittery houses and taking away the Christmas trees, etc.

Some photos from our daughter Carrie's home on Christmas day are below.

 Carrie's hot cocoa bar for this winter

 A cookie tray (only slightly depleted) that I brought for Christmas dinner

 The dinner table.  So beautiful! 

And then a sweet little woodland vignette on a kitchen counter.  I love this!

And our annual shopping tradition with some of our local grands happened just the Saturday before Christmas this year.  Usually we manage it earlier than that.

 
So,  just a peek into our holidays.  Hope yours were as nice as ours.

End of the year sale at my Etsy shop!

Yes, now through December 31, 2019, selected listings are 20% off at my Etsy shop,  A New Hampshire Attic.  There are over 90 listings on sale, including things in the following categories: vintage Christmas, vintage gifting, vintage stationery, and paper ephemera.


If there's something you've been eyeing in one of those categories, you may want to take another look.   However, as always, no pressure at all to do anything but window shop.  Looking through vintage things makes a lot of people happy, including me.  Happy browsing!

Merry Christmas!

I hope that all of my readers and friends had as wonderful a Christmas as Mr. T and I did.  It was a busy morning of cooking and wrapping gifts, culminating in a relaxed afternoon and evening of feasting, present-opening, and game-playing, always trying to keep in mind the true reason we are celebrating. 

I've thought so many times the past few days about how incredibly blessed we are that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.  Maybe you've been pondering thoughts like this as well.  I hope that you've all had a blessed day.  I know people today who are in distressing circumstances and may not feel very celebratory.  Yet we can rejoice in the fact that Jesus came to earth as a baby, that He came to save us from our sins.  And He is with us always. 

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Something that encouraged me today

... and I thought it could be a blessing to some of you as well.  Ever have the feeling that the Lord is trying to tell you something? 

Like many of us, I've only recently woken up to the fact that Christmas is next week.  Not sure why it took me so long, but it just seemed like I had plenty of time.  I was meandering my way through December, and it seemed like a lot was getting done, but really, apparently, not as much as I thought. 

On Sunday, I reached the conclusion that the handmade gifts I still had to do were not going to get done.  Once I faced that fact, I went to the grandkids' Amazon wish lists and chose substitute gifts to be sent to their home.  I then focused my attention on the gifts that I did have that needed to be wrapped and sent, and yesterday I got a lot of that done along with baking and candy making.  Last night I got a box packed and scheduled a carrier pickup for it.  (I could have done both boxes, but didn't have another one the correct size.  I always ship Priority Mail flat rate to Nevada.  It's the only way to go for shipping such a distance.)

This morning during my prayer time, I turned to the section in my prayer journal where I pray about issues relating to health, energy, and purpose.  I keep a marker in the various sections of my prayer journal, and pray through them a page at a time.  The page I "happened" to arrive at today was about keeping a schedule.

Proverbs 16:3 (at top of post) was the first Scripture listed on my prayer page.  The first point was *Be sure to pray before you make your plans.  There were four other points on the page:
*Add structure to your life.
*Plan ahead and reap God's blessings.
*Always allow for Plan B, God's plan!
*Seek to live an ordered life.
I prayed through these points and the verses relating to them, but still ...

Later I sat down at the computer to print postage for an Etsy order.  I noticed that one of my favorite bloggers had a new post titled Help for Your Scurrying and Worrying.  Did that title ever jump out at me!  Even though I really didn't have time, I clicked over to read it.  And wow, was I thankful that I had done so!

This post was exactly what I needed to read today.  I didn't think that I was worrying, but I sure was scurrying! 

Interestingly, the Scripture verse Denise chose to use for her encouraging post was Proverbs 16:3.

I read the post out loud to myself.  Then I took the time to pray through the 5 points Denise shared, including confessing my sin of fretting.

After I finished, I felt so much better!  And I was able to ask myself what really had to be done today.  I know God doesn't want me to neglect showing love to my family, so obviously their gifts and packaging stayed on the list.  I know He wants me to get exercise and spend quality time with people, so my walk stayed on the list.  And everything else that needed to get done did get done.

Later today I looked at my email and found one from Dayspring titled "How to Intentionally Plan for Rest."  What Scripture do you think was used?  Yep, Proverbs 16:3!  No question; God was speaking to me today.  So thankful I took time to listen!