As you look back over 2011 share 5 blessings, they can be as grand or as simple as you like,if you year has been like mine they are probably a mixture!
As you look towards 2012 share 5 hopes- again, anything goes!
Pictures and songs welcome!
2011 Blessings:
1. Voices of dissent, cries for freedom from around the globe from the Middle East to Manchester, from Tahrir Square to Times Square, the cry for jusitce is rising. All I need is the courage to live my convictions. Lord have mercy....
2. My garden, though I have neglected it and failed it this year it has given to me in abundance, vegetables and flowers, a true sign of grace...
3. Time, particularly time with Tim, he is studying away from home right now so all the hours we have are precious, including time out on holiday in North West Norfolk:
4. For my family and real reminders how precious they are, all of them! We celebrated the joy of a wedding this year, but also the pain of a break up, life takes us through ups and downs, but a visit to a lovely man today reminded me that all of this is a part of the rich tapestry of life...
My children and my new son-in-law!
Tim and me with Jo and Dave
5. Prayer, prayer that has become a heart cry within me, especially as I struggled with depression in the mid- late part of the year. also for o counsellor who helped me to see that I am stronger than I thought!
Bonus: For on-line friends, through Twitter, Facebok, e-mail etc... you know who you are!!!
2012 Hopes and dreams :
1. I'll start where I left off, prayer, for prayer to become a deeper reality and condition of my being, that I might know myself to be part of the vine...
2. For pastures new, not until later 2012, but long awaited... and looked forward to...
3. For continued discipline in self care and a lifting of depression, this is step by step and day by day, but I pray that I might be more empathetic and stronger for my experience...
4. For a renewal of marriage vows, we celebrate 30 years in February 2012, I pray there will be many more...
5. Back to # 1 in my previous list, that wisdom and justice might be seasoned with grace and love....
In the midst of all of these cam my own Ordination, to be trusted with the word of God, a Bible placed into my hands, hands laid upon my head and prayers said... this is a deep blessing, but also a challenge and responsibility- the lightness comes by the Spirit alone!
Then there is this, that speaks to every blessing, those past, and those to come:
