Last Post this Year

Thursday morning early we leave for Bolivia to spend Christmas with Daniel's family and to see the new home we have been building there. It will be a short trip, but I just realized that this may be the last blog of 2005.
This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with our children - perhaps for the last time at 1090 Curwood Road. It was a full house with our four children, two grandchildren, and two girl friends of the boys. We missed Saloumeh who could not come. This was the first Christmas in 20 years that we did not have my parents in our home to celebrate with us and we missed their pressence. We took lots of pictures and just generally enjoyed each other. I tend to get very nostalgic during and after the holidays and find myself deep in contemplation of events and happenings in our corner of the world.
How do I sum up 2005.? Major decisions being made - building a new home, leaving work due to disability, seeing our sons establish themselves in their work, writing, and even one buying his first home. There have been, of course, some troubling disappointments along the way but it's been comforting to know that there is family that we can count on to support, pray, and care, each in his/her own special way. For that I am truly grateful.
This new year will continue to have its challenges: trying to sell our home in a pretty saturated market and depressed economy, Daniel's decision of when to retire.
I have always clung to the following verses for direction. I know I have shared them countless times with all of my children, but here they are again:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Prov. 3:5, 6.
Casting ALL your care upon Him for He cares for you." I Pet. 5:7
My challenge to you who read this blog: find a scripture verse or proverb that has special meaning in light of your life during 2005 or in light of your hopes and aspirations for 2006, and post it in a comment for me. Let's finish out the year reflexing on God's goodness and his promises as well as His standard for our lives in order that we may find joy in 2006