Happy New Year!

It has been a busy month for me. Well, probably for most other people, too. Now that it is the end of the year, I am sitting here coughing up a lung (bronchitis) and bemoaning my stalled marathon training. But this is supposed to be about the miracles and bleassings in my life.

What better time to reflect on miracles and blessings than at the end of the year! I am blessed to live in our country where I am free to express and practice my faith publicly. I am blessed with a good man at my side and 4 reasonably behaved, healthy children. I am blessed with a secure, warm home; food on the table each meal; clothes on my back; vehicles in the driveway; and the ability to pay the bills. I am blessed to be employed at a time when many are having difficulties keeping their employment, or are suffering from severe budget cuts that create pay cuts.

I am blessed with many friends who genuinely care for me and my family. Tomorrow night, we gather together at our home to celebrate the last year and look forward to the new year to come. Our evening will be spent playing board games, card games, dominoes, and all other sorts of frivolity with friends of all ages, from adults to the young children. Several of our teens' friends and their families will be here. Some of my family are coming for the weekend. Some family friends will also be here. We plan to eat, drink, and be merry.

I am truly blessed. Even when I am bemoaning my break in training. I am blessed.