The holidays are officially over...back into the routine of everyday life. When we got home from visiting family in Charleston and Columbia, our Christmas tree looked so sad--drooped branches all around. This is the hardest part to un-decorate the tree and put away all the lovely ornaments...especially our two "Our First Christmas Together" ornaments. I only made it to the shopping mall once this holiday season and it was a mad house. I had $100 cash to spend and I spent it pretty quick. It's funny how money get be used up so quickly. All those hours of work or a precious "extra" gift given by a family member and *poof* clothes, appliances, books, calendars, trinkets,...it's gone! My favorite gift is a new Bible...English Standard Version with places to journal. It's cool on the outside too b/c it looks like a book--black, hard cover.
These days my heart feels lonely, heavy, searching...what is it about the holidays ending that my heart feels a sudden void? We have been kind of on "quarentine" as Thom's been sick the past 3 weeks with a bad upper respiratory infection that turned into an ugly sinus infection. The medicines prescribed didn't seem to touch the infection so now he's on a dose of meds with steroids--less coughing and no fever--thank the Lord. It becomes a lonely time when a loved one is sick for a stretch like this...especially when it's just the two of us. I look forward to his full health returning! I miss our church family as I haven't seen them for weeks now. Can't wait until our ladie's sunday school class starts back up again tomorrow. A passage the Lord has given me in times when life throws curve balls, loneliness creeps in, and the future feels uncertain is Psalm 139. Here's the ESV right from my new Bible:
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my souls knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." (Psalm 139: 7-18)
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| Thom & I enjoyed a quiet Christmas dinner together. |
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| Yummy! The roasted turkey fresh out of the oven with roasted potatoes, onions, and stuffing! |
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| Thom & his 1st cousin, Jeff--we stayed with Jeff and his parents for a couple of days in Charleston. |
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| Me and my adorable nephew, Ryland--he's enjoying his new toy--a dino-rocker! |
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| My sis-in-law, Julie, my brother, Brian and me enjoying delicious Outback food! |
Comforting words. Far more precious to me than $100 cash, holiday memories and physical health.
Hi Amy its Christine great blog. I too have a blog and you can acess it under my facebook page. Its called "Get Fired up". I can definetly relate with you when it comes to the lonliness, even though I am not married lol. Yes it is very hard to take the Christmas tree down mine is still up ha ha. Take Care
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