2009 is here! Mike and I had a quiet New Year's Eve and enjoyed being with friends and with each other! Today also has been a quiet day. I baked a ham, made black-eyed peas, and cooked a cabbage that Reverend Rice grew and gave us. I washed a few loads of clothes and when I talked to Mama we laughed that Mamaw Walker was probably spinning in her grave. She always fussed at us for doing "work" on New Year's Day. She said that what ever you did on New Year's Day was what you'd do every day the rest of the year! Not only did I wash 3 small loads of clothes, but I slept late, ate well, took a nap, watched good movies on TV, read a good book... hummmm that's not such a bad way to spend the day now is it! HaHa Love ya Mamaw!

In my past post, I lamented on the grievous 2008 I had experienced. On New Year's Eve, my devotional from Carol Mead was about just that. She said, " I hope to remember, on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and on every ordinary day, that "God will help us at the break of day." I try to remember-although "Nations are in uproar" and "kingdoms melt"-that God lives within us, strengthening us, comforting us, guiding us. Instead of despairing, then, we can set aside the chaos and remember the high point of the year: that we can "Be still" and know that God lives, and breathes, and loves within us. It has been a good year."

In 2008, I learned that with God in my life and my family and friends beside me, I am strong and I can face any adversity. I have learned to be thankful for what I have rather then grieving over what I don't have. I have learned to graciously accept help from others and to let others know how special they are in my life.

So I am ready for 2009! Starting January 2nd with my 33rd Wedding Anniversary! Another blessing to celebrate! 33 years with one of the most wonderful and most aggravating men in the world! Still riding that roller coaster of marriage with its ups and downs. It takes the high hills of the ups to give us momentum to make it through the low valleys of the lows and push us back to the top.

So enjoy the first day of a brand new year...