a year for memory

My New Year’s Resolutions look strangely similar every January: know Jesus… That pretty much sums it up! That’s the only goal I feel bound to, and it’s a freeing kind of goal.

But there are so many ways that happens, and a fresh start is a good time to reflect on how I can walk by the Spirit in the coming months, where the Lord is leading me to grow or take ground, how He wants me to steward my life in a way that will bring more communion with Him.

The last few weeks, I’ve been increasingly aware of my glaring need for repolishing and resharpening my sword. The hundreds of scriptures that have been hidden in my heart are growing dusty and hard to find at just the right moment. (And as we are in a war, there are lots of moments that call for a sword!) So this year, no grand Bible reading plan. Just a list of about 52 verses that I can memorize/review and meditate on each week.

Yes, meditate. That will be the tricky part, since I’ve gotten very good at memorizing with the kids in the morning and not giving it another thought the rest of the day. (Thus the rusty and dusty issues.) I am so excited about revisiting practices that were second nature to me ten years ago. Time for 3x5s and back pockets! (So, no more yoga pants, I guess.)

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My list, for those who may be interested. I’ll choose some of these to be “family” verses, and some just for my own memorization.

Psalm 34.1-10
Ephesians 6.10-13
Philippians 4.6-8
Isaiah 40.28-31
1 Corinthians 15.58
2 Corinthians 9.6-8
Romans 12.1-2
1 Peter 3.8-9
2 Corinthians 12.9
2 Corinthians 4.16-18
Romans 3.23
Romans 6.23
John 14.6
Romans 8.28
Joshua 1.8-9
Romans 10.9-10
1 John 3.16
Matthew 11.28-30
Galatians 5.16
Philippians 2.3-7;14-15

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Here are some passages we learned this past year (which I need to meditate on!), many of which I learned when I was a girl and loved. Passing them along for any moms out there wanting to make their own list!

Ephesians 2.8-10
Psalm 23
Psalm 100
1 Peter 1.2-8
Colossians 3.12-17
Proverbs 6.6-9
1 Thessalonians 4.16-18
Mark 12.30
Galatians 5.22-23
Romans 12.10

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What are some of your favorite, life-giving verses? Pondering that question the last few days has been so invigorating for me — suddenly I’m overwhelmed by how alive scripture has been and is in my life. I am so thankful for the Word of God. (Makes me want to memorize Psalm 19! Maybe next year. :-))

Christmas bits

Christmas Eve morning was calm, blue, serene:

…and then the sun broke through.

It continued to shine all through Christmas Day. Crazy cold, crisp and clear. The best of winter in the North Country.

We all gathered under one roof for an early dinner. We dressed into our holiday best and went to church for a lovely hour of choral music, hymn-singing, story reading, and candles. Jameson read beautifully.

Then home. We lit all the candles, ate cookies and homemade eggnog, and let the holiday music ring. Ryan read Luke’s account of Christmas, and then we opened a gift or two. Including, of course, new pj’s. These growing kids were in desperate need this year!

Then Christmas morning: the biggest boy crawling into my bed before the sun was up, me telling him we’ll at least wait until the 6 o’clock hour, and him asking me every 3 minutes for the next 45 if it was time yet? Please??

Stockings, presents, jumping and joy. Cinnamon rolls and clementines. Then over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house! Or just down the road to Nana and Papa’s. Either way, we sang as we went.

in the van; she couldn’t leave the house without purse and hat, of course!

The celebrating was merry, the food delicious, and being almost all together the best of all. We gathered again the next evening and ate pizza and sang more songs:

No celebration of this marvelous event could ever be too big, Dad said, and he is so right. A Savior came to deliver us. To walk among us. To reconcile and redeem. That’s worth a bit of celebrating!

And so we do.

But eventually we must find our coats and mittens, run out into the cold, starlit night, and turn towards home and bed.

celebrating

We’ve made a list and checked it at least twice. Boys have excitedly crossed off “clean bathrooms”, as well as “wrap gifts” (the latter with, perhaps, a bit more excitement.) There’s nothing like waking up on Monday morning and realizing that it’s the week of Christmas!

These last few days have been:

cousin-loving,

baby-gazing,

breakfast-making,

hair-braiding,

baby-clothes-ironing,

nativity-arranging,

pb&j’ing,

book-reading,

gift-wrapping,

tree-gazing…

…kinds of days.

And any minute, my little ones will wake up with an explosion of excitement: A few more hours, and the celebration really begins!

this week

This week has been:

— tray after tray of cookies from oven. Happy little ones licking beaters. Christmas carols playing while we laugh and talk and frost and sprinkle. Boys excitedly setting up our cookie tins, assembly-line style, and filling each one. Excitement over bringing them to grandparents and neighbors and post mistresses and anyone they can think of.

— children playing hockey in the basement, sledding and burrowing and frolicking for hours in frigid temps, Legos and duplos and even a movie, and books when Mama needed a bit less stimulus (ha!) Joyful, sparkling, anticipating. Three days of me baking, and they were only helpful.

— pauses. This season I love that speeds right by, it requires pausing. Reflecting. Praying as I pack the cookies, repenting as I light the candle, receiving as I sing the Good News. Remembering the treasure and responding with my gift of all.