Category: New Year

365 New Beginnings

As I look out the window at the last day of 2017, I am thankful for the beauty and perfection on display.  The snow is deep and smooth and it covers everything in a graceful blanket of white.  The sky is a soft blue with whispy clouds and the birds gently eat at the feeders.

Like many, I am ready to say goodbye to this year and hello to 2018.  I have never been one for resolutions or crash diets, but I do look forward to a new beginning.  I am ready to leave the difficulties of this year behind and carry with me the lessons learned and the things God has blessed me with into 2018.  God has blessed me with His strength and mercy every single morning that I opened my eyes.  His Word has given me guidance through difficulties and challenges and has given me comfort on my most painful days.  He has given me a loving, supportive husband and a wonderful son.  I was a bride’s maid in my niece’s wedding this past summer, and my husband and I were able to take a long overdue vacation to sunny California.  God has given me His comfort when I missed my son the most – if I would wake up dreaming that Christian is still with us or if I dreamt of losing him again.  I have learned the importance of balance and rest of the mind, body and soul and how loving ourselves is the foundation to everything in our lives.  By loving ourselves, we become more open to receiving the love of God.  God pours His love into our hearts until they overflow so we can in turn love others.

What are my intentions for the new year?

To love even more…

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To thank God for each new day and for the miracles He so graciously bestows upon us…

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To invest in the gifts God has given me so I can bless others with them…

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To serve others more…

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To do more to brighten another’s day, whether it’s a smile, holding open the door, letting a vehicle go ahead of me in traffic or sending a greeting card or letter…

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To keep my thoughts centered on the good things in life while letting go of the rest…

Each day is a new beginning, a chance to enjoy God’s mercy and love while experiencing His goodness which He promises us in His Word.  I wish all of you a peaceful, blessed 2018 and that all your hopes and dreams come to life while love flourishes in your hearts and daily lives.

 

 

Last sunset of 2015

As the sun started to lower in the sky this afternoon, I couldn’t help thinking that we were approaching the last sunset of 2015.  Thin, wave-like clouds stretched across the sky and snow was beginning to melt off of the streets.

The sun is almost completely set now, but I stopped for a few moments and watched the sky change colors and the clouds gather at the horizon.  The sun reflected a deep orange onto bare tree limbs and rooftops.  I thought about Christian, wishing he could be with us to celebrate the New Year.  It was the last sunset of 2015 and I am thankful for witnessing such a spectacular display of color.

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2015 was a year of grief, big changes and leaps of faith.  I spent a good part of the year accepting the loss of my son, best friend and hero.  I spent another good part of the year finally starting to realize that I did my best caring for my son until he went to God.  I have come a long way on this long, painful journey and I will feel the hurt for the rest of my life.  I have learned to manage with a broken heart and even feel moments of joy despite the loss.

We took a leap of faith when my husband left a very well paying job for his health.  A few months later, after over 10 years at home as a full time caregiver, I went to work.  Not just at any job, but the company I worked for until I had to leave to take care of my sons in 2005.  It blows my mind how things have come full circle.  Christian was walking when I left, both of my sons were walking.  And now I am back minus one of my boys.  Although this realization is painful, I am blessed to be working at the same place with the best group of people I could ask to work with.

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I became an aunt again and cried when I saw the first photo of little Damian.  I saw my youngest sister as a mother and felt so much love for her.

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Sonja and Damian

I am thankful for the healing God has done in my heart, the healing that has taken place in my husband after working harder than anyone I have seen for 14 years, for the blessing of returning to my former employer, becoming an aunt again and for the last sunset of 2015.  Big moments and small I am thankful for it all.  Corny but it rhymes, right?  Birds visiting my feeder, smiles from strangers, the sound of the furnace on a cold night, coffee with a friend, the small simple blessings that filled my days do not go unnoticed as 2016 approaches.

I will set goals for the new year as many of us do but for now, I will focus on the blessings in my life.  The simple yet most meaningful blessings.

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I find so much comfort in mourning doves.  I cannot take credit for this wonderful shot.

 

Happy New Year to all of you and thanks so much for reading my blog!