First Day of 2022

 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." - Psalm 51:10

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What I love about the new year is a chance to start over.  A clean slate.  The old is gone and we welcome the new.  We use this time to reflect on the past year and the things that brought us joy and maybe even the things that brought us regret.  Now is the time to reevaluate everything, and some people set some resolutions that don't usually last by the middle of the year (I'm guilty of that).  

The last few years were rough and we have now entered the second year of the '20s with uncertainty and unexpectedness.  What will happen in 2022?  Will things get better?  Will they get worse?  Who, other than God, knows?  No one.  My only resolution for this year is to take it one day at a time as I give all my cares, all my worries, my doubts, my regrets, and all the joys to the only One who knows tomorrow's outcome.  I will live in peace.  

Of course, now that we have ourselves a new exercise machine I'm excited to put it to use.  It's time to work out and shed these extra pounds that I've gained and build some muscle.  I was doing great for awhile and then slipped.  My approach at fitness is not for vanity but for health.  Purely, health.  I also need to work on my spiritual walk.  The time I invest in my family.  And so much more.  

Last night we did something different.  We joined our new church for their service and afterwards set off some lanterns.  It was a pretty cool experience and might become a new tradition.  Then we all stayed up until midnight as we welcomed the new year with sparkling grape juice in wine glasses and the promise that no matter what happens in 2022 we'll go through it together.  

And today, the first day of 2022 I dropped my kids off at the movie theater where they met their grandparents to see the new Spiderman movie, I did some grocery shopping and now I'm at home typing this up.  I might do some writing, maybe take a nap, and wait for the kids to get home.  Maybe tonight we'll snuggle up and watch a movie while playing a game and enjoy each other's company.  In a few days the whirlwind of life starts up again (work, school, etc.)  

My wish is that 2022 brings you peace, joy, comfort, happiness, and strength!

Oh, and I'm going to add, the most miserable way to end 2021 was the death of Betty White.  I'm having a hard time believing it's true.  No, no, no!  It has to be a joke, right?  Tell me it's a joke.  Just a few weeks away from her 100th birthday.  True or not, I'm thankful for the entertainment and laughter she gave me!