2021 certainly didn't go as planned. The first half of the year was spent discovering my husband's illness (pancreatic cancer) and watching his health decline (and not being able to do one blasted thing about it!); the second half was spent dealing with his subsequent death (as well as the deaths of several other close friends and family members) and all that comes with it.
In some ways it's been a nightmare...in others, just a bad dream that I can't wake up from...but, though it all, Jesus has been there and He will continue to see me through. I praise and thank Him for His loving care of me and His strength in my many moments of weakness.
I thought about not doing one of these lists this year, because, to be honest, I couldn't see anything in my future beyond Christmas Eve, but, here I am! It's New Year's Eve and we're on the brink of a brand new year...2022...and that it holds.
I must be careful because, right now, I could easily get myself off into the ditch of gloom and doom. I hover near there quite often...BUT...this is the day that the Lord hath made and I will CHOOSE to be glad and rejoice in it (Psalm 118:24)!
No matter how dark and out of whack things may look at times, God has put us here for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). We (you...me...all that are living) are here at this particular time in history because God placed us here to carry out His plans and purposes in these end of days in which we live. Whether we choose to answer His call upon our lives is up to each us. Today I choose to answer that call and move forward.
The truth is...I still see very little before me. I feel like I'm on the edge of a great cliff getting ready to step out into thin air, but here I am. I'm ready, Lord!
Despite all fears, failings, and enemy interference, 2022 will prove to be a glorious year! How do I know? Because, come what may, God is still on the throne and, whether people believe it or not, Jesus is coming soon!
For those that believe...
"...look up, and lift up your heads, for your
redemptiondraweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).
Here is my bucket list for 2022...
TWENTY-TWO THINGS IN 2022
1. Purpose to and sow daily towards gaining greater health in every area (spirit and soul and body - I Thessalonians 5:23; prosper and be in health - 3 John 2) ⌚
2. Keep up with daily scripture reading and Bible study 📖
3. Read at least 12 new books 📚
4. Focus on simple and nutritious foods 🥗
5. Look for, and learn to appreciate, memory-making opportunities with friends and family and take full advantage of every one 👪
6. Share Christ's love and the gospel message with others at every opportunity 💓
7. Make an attempt to use it up, make it do, wear it out, or do without before spending unnecessarily
8. Get 30 minutes of some form of physical activity in, at least, three to five days a week (walking, hiking, dancing, gardening, yard work, etc.) 👟
9. Stay politically involved throughout the year by praying for, writing to, and encouraging government officials in every branch and every level as led by the Lord💓🤍💙
10. Post my weekly master to-do list and menu plan here on the blog 📜
12. Attend a friend's wedding in April 👰
13. Welcome two new grandbabies into the family (one due in June; the other in August) 👶👶
14. Attend oldest granddaughter's wedding in September 👰
15. Deep-clean, purge, and reorganize the livingroom and Van Gogh room (a.k.a. my office) 🏡
16. Plan, plant, keep up with, and harvest a productive vegetable garden 🌱
17. Repair outside walls and paint house 🏠
18. Clean out the old shed and get a new one in it's place (or reroof and repair the old one) 🏘
19. Explore at least one new-to-me trail 🥾
20. Log at least 12 new geocache locations 🧭
21. Visit at least one Missouri state park that I've never been to before 🏞
22. Visit a state that I've never been to before 🌄
That's what's on my 2022 bucket list. What's on yours?
Until next time...
~Rebecca
P. S. - Here is the list I made for 2021. As you can see, very few things actually got marked off. May 2022 be a better and more productive year for all us!
TWENTY-ONE THINGS IN 2021
1. Purpose and sow daily to gain greater health in every area (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial)
2. In addition to daily scripture study spend at least 21 minutes a day reading 📖
3. Read (at least) 21 books 📚
4. Focus on simple and nutritious foods 🥗
5. Walk (at least) 21 minutes per day 👟
6. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ in person, through the written page, or through tract-passing with at least 21 people 💓
7. Stay politically involved throughout the year by praying for, writing to, and encouraging government officials in every branch and every level as led by the Lord💓🤍💙
8. Attend our youngest daughter's wedding 👰
10. Post my weekly master to-do list and menu plan here on the blog 📜
11. Deep-clean, purge, reorganize, and rearrange each room in our home 🏡
12. Create a new pantry area 🥫
13. Participate in a 31-day home decluttering challenge 🧹
14. Reroof the house, garage, and shed 🏠
(What a blessing!!!)
15. Explore four new-to-me trails 🥾
16. Create a herbarium field journal 🌼
17. Organize my life-time bird and animal lists into one place (with photos) 🐦
18. Visit a Missouri state park (or two or three) that I've never been to before 🏞
(Confederate Memorial State Park and Historic Site)
19. Visit a state that I've never been to before 🌄
20. Create a nature newsletter for children 🐸
21. Write at least two new unit studies for homeschoolers 🦉
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