Happy New Year!

It's 2009, can you believe it?! My friends and I celebrated and brought in the new year together :)

Already this year has started out with exciting things :) An answer to prayer - I was able to get on great insurance for medical coverage this year! Praise the Lord, such a blessing! This past week I was able to meet Kerry & Katelyn's new puppy, meet Allie & Garrett's new baby girl, and receive the call that my friend Katie is getting married to Mikey this summer! I love how every year we can look back and see how we have grown, and look ahead with faith at what is yet to come as God leads and guides.

I was on Whidbey Island for a day this last week. I had three awesome dogs by my side that day; Winston, Rocky, and Chance. While I house sat I spent my time looking out at the water, reading, setting up for the party later on that afternoon, and then I decided to sit and play the piano. After I finished playing I looked through the many books and sheet music that were beside the piano. I picked out a hymnal book, and found that there were prayers included, so I took some time and read some. It was a Lutheran Book of Worship, and it had specific prayers for different events. The one for "New Years" is great! It reads...

"Eternal Father, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives you bless us with your love. Grant that in this new year we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the event which gives us joy forever - the coming of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

May God bless you this year as you seek and serve Him!