SOONER THAN LATER
FLAGGSTAFF 2021
Before 2021 ended my family and I took some time off to just be together. We spent time in the snow, playing, laughing. At night we made homemade pizza and played the game “Clue”. And then we served at St. Marys Food Bank helping with the homeless. I missed my family. Kev and I work so much and Jake had a grueling semester. It was time to reconnect. We didn’t talk about the past or the future..we were just “present”. And then came Christmas. As for so many other families, the last few years plans were put on hold or cancelled all together. But 2022, for our family, will be about celebrations . For Jake it will be college graduation, trip to Peru, moving away to start his own life . For Kev; his expeditions, special birthday, going to Peru and smaller trips with me. For me; Kev and I going back to CA. to celebrate the life of our friend Ed with friends we’ve had for many, years; flying back to see my family and my special friend from college in Boston; celebrating our 50th friends anniversary somewhere! Finishing my book and having it ready for Christmas presents! With the help of Jake, I’m creating different cards to send to people, less on sympathy and more on encouragement, JOY, and hope….the love of Jesus. It’s time to turn off the “pause” button and hit “play”. For many, 2021 was the year of the “great sadness” with the loss of their loved one. Moving forward to 2022 will not be easy. It will have many tears, memories, and loneliness. But others found great JOY ; the birth of their 1st grandchild, getting married, going on that spectacular trip, retiring, and finding Jesus for the first time. With the diagnosis of my heart last year my mantra for 2022 is “Sooner than later”. And my new word? Present. To be present. I know some of you may be asking “ how do you know this won’t be just like the last few years?” or, “How can you make future plans? I don’t. But I do know it’s time to move forward. As it says in Phil 3:14 “ One thing I know: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. My prayer for all of of you in 2022 is that you may experience the blessings of God through His Son Jesus Christ. Happy New Year.