Now That Christmas is Past.

The boxes are all packed for another year. The paper and ribbon and tape have all gone out to the cans at the road. The new year is looming closer and closer. My new calendars are waiting to replace the tired ones of 2017. I didn't know that in 2017 my life would change so radically. I know I say that every year. It was a good year I think. Some of the highlights were these.

Ron started a new job with a commute of of 100 miles each day. Not as bad as some people. It was a change for us. We are up every morning at 4:30. He is on call 24 hours a day. He had to learn how a 200 million dollar water plant works. He is still learning. We became members of a church. That was big. We had not attended a local body of believers in 20 years. We did home church when the kids were all at home. Now we are in a building. I am still going to my Bible Study which I still love, its all so different though.

Ben and Megan are going on their adventure in 2018. I spent a whole lot of 2017 trying to let go and be content with the way God is leading not only us, but each and everyone of our children and their families. Ryan and Kessie ended up relocating to Tucson so he could begin a new job. It has ended up being a huge blessing and I realized that my plans and hopes are not always the best idea so its better for God to be the one who directs their lives and I need to not only keep my mouth shut and my hands open, but to just mind my own business and get out of the way. That was a hard lesson. Still one I will learn the rest of my life.

I think William and Makenzie spent more time in airports and airplanes than they did on the ground in good ole Bakersfield. They did some amazing things this year. They even published a wonderful magazine. I still need to show you pictures of that.

Emilie and Nik are just as busy with Nik being the high school pastor at Church. They are both in full time service. It boggles my mind to see how they have grown as a couple and continue to love their jobs and the place they are at now.

The two young men I still have at home will be flying the coop soon. They both have lovely girl friends that I hope they will become my daughter in laws. Do you know that when the last two get married I will have six sons and six daughters? Isn't that incredible? Hopefully, more grand babies too. Wink, wink. So my plate is full, my blessings overflowing in my lap. I end 2017 feeling so thankful and grateful so in awe of the life Ron and I began in 1980. Ron had a quote for me this morning. "Easy choices: Hard life. Hard choices: Easy life."  As I think about our choices, nothing is easy. But its all been worth it. Every Single One.

Ron was telling me about how he read that people's failings changed their lives the most. I sat there pierced through my soul as he said that. I started crying and I have still never told him why. It was because of the biggest failure of my life. One of the darkest days of my whole life. One that haunts me and dogs my steps every single day. As he said that, I realized, if not for that huge failure, none of my life would be possible today. Not anything. I realized for the first time. My failure was the first step in changing my life for the good. Brokenness became for me the crumbs God could change into something for good.

I think this will be my last post for 2017. It has been a good year. I will still be walking each day and every hour. That has brought the biggest personal change to my life. I will have to give you a final total next week. But it has showed me that a single goal every day can change my life in big ways by the end of the year.
Thank you for staying with me this year. You have been a blessing to my life. I never dreamed I could make such wonderful friends that live in this great world of ours.
I wish you the best 2018

Happy New Year!
Welcome 2018

~Kim~

Not here ever!

  This my song though endless ages,
Jesus led me all the way.
And again they said, Hallelujah!
(Rev. 19:3
He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, through our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Through storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.