Winter Blues...

January is quickly coming to a close. It's been a cold month, a wet month and we have gone almost 2 weeks w/out a peek of sunshine. Well, the sun did burn through some clouds on Sunday and provided enough blue sky to make kitten britches. It was short lived, but it felt and looked wonderful. The temps warmed to almost 50, so I acutally threw open a window and let some fresh air into the house. Alas, the temps tumbled, the winds are howling a a bit of snow fell. I will take the snow... it's covering the brown, blech of an Indiana winter.

I have been gazing out the windows of my house thinking about spring and enjoying the garden. We use the winter months to plan our veggie garden. I asked Jim if we could expand it a bit this year. I love to can and freeze veggies for use in the winter and would like to incorporate more to the garden. We will see if he complies.

We also have some interior home projects we are ready to tackle. We have lived in our home since May of 1992. I love to cook and the only room in the house that still shows the age of my home is the kitchen. So this year the kitchen gets a bit of a face lift. Not a huge project - no new cabinets. We will be sanding and re-finishing them. I might be saying "we should have just replaced them" after this project. We have lovely, solid cabinets and frankly can't afford the price to replace them. We do have newer appliances, so we don't have to worry about that expense. New counter, new backsplash and fresh paint. We are putting up a beadboard ceiling and have found a lovely ceiling fixture/ light to finish it off. New paint on the walls as well. (haven't picked a color). The back hall off the kitchen is wallpapered. That is coming down and fresh paint for the walls and the trim. The Dining Room and Living Room need painting - that might wait until fall.

I am excited to freshen things up a bit. Jim and I enjoy doing a lot of our own work. We are ambitious that way! LOL...

What do you have planned this year? Any home improvements? I will get pics posted as we progress if anyone is interested!

The page of the Calendar turns again...

One minute to midnight, one minute to go
One minute to say good-bye before we say hello

Let's start the new year right, twelve o'clock tonight
When they dim the light, let's begin

Kissing the old year out
Kissing the new year in

Let's watch the old year die with a fond good-bye
And our hopes as high as a kite

How can our love go wrong if
We start the new year right?

"Let's Start The New Year Right" by Irving Berlin

I am a big Irving Berlin fan and "Holiday Inn" is one of my favorite movies. It showcases many of Berlin's songs (White Christmas, Easter Parade etc.)

That song has been ringing in my ears for the last few days. 2010 has arrived and 2009 is behind us.
I am not sure what 2009 held for you. Some of you may have journeyed a difficult road, some a more smooth path. Each one of us I am sure had our fair share of ups and downs... but what remains constant is our Lord's love for us and His desire for us to be in complete fellowship with Him. My theme verse for 2009 was Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Yes, in all of 2009 the Lord worked good in all things! It was a blessed year indeed... the good and the bad. January started off with the real estate market in the tank! I was a ball of nerves, fear and anxiety. Through that storm God spoke to me and I grew in a huge way in my trust of Him and that He will provide. That lesson continues to sustain me into 2010.

Each year as I open a fresh, crisp, new calendar and begin to write important dates and milestones on the pages I refer back to the year I just journeyed... A year's worth of to-do's and memories. Births, deaths, hellos and goodbyes, appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, get-to-gethers dotted the calendar. I am blessed with a very full life. One with family, friends, laughter and tears. How thankful I am for the gifts the Lord has provided.

I was able to capture (via and application on FB) a compilation of my year in a few pictures. Although there was so much more that went on... this photo does show a glimpse of 2009  A year filled with Adventure Races, Cycling, Family, Friends... I am blessed indeed!

This year my theme verse has yet to be spoken to me... right now Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." is echoing in my heart... perhaps this is the one... He will tell me soon I am confident of that! 

I pray you all have a wonderful 2010!