Happy Almost New Year

Wow. The mountain range that is December and Christmas has been climbed. I am reveling in the reward of the vista at the top which is the memories all the work creates and leaves us with. Anything memorable seems to be a lot of work at the time but afterward yields the delicious bliss of only the good parts remembered.

I do love the last of December and first of January. I love the feeling of tidying up a bit and entering the new year with a fresh start (at least in some parts of the house or my mind). January always says "peace, quiet, rest, and new beginnings to me" although in recent years life can be as busy as the other months. But I still have hope for that rest.....

I can't wait to start my new diary. Hebridean Desk Diary 2014 is one I picked up in Scotland because I love the illustrations of Mairi Hedderwick.

And I have a  Susan Branch mini calendar to enjoy. I'm placing this beside my cozy reading chair in my upstairs personal library (i.e. the corner of my closet that has my bookshelves and my books). And I have a Scottish Islands calendar to hang on my fridge.

I also just started an ESV Journaling Bible (Antique Floral Design) [Bonded Leather] [2009] (Author) ESV Bibles by Crossway Bible from a friend. I love this!!! I don't think I'll be able to stop at just one. What will I do next year? One idea is to pick a theme or topic you want to study and read through the Bible making notes on the sides of anything you find that references your topic. It's like a treasure hunt!

Well, it's time for me to do a little tidying and pretend I am participating in some of the age-old Scottish traditions of Hogmanay. I have a folder full of photos from December and lots of tea trolley reports to give so hopefully I'll make it back to my blog on a more regular basis in the new year.


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