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Thursday, January 1, 2009

A New Years Blessing for You.....

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first page is New Year's day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce~

Dear Readers,

Today marks the beginning of a new year, "...a blank calendar full of endless possibilities: three hundred sixty-five new mornings and evenings, fifty-two fresh weeks, four new seasons with their cherished pastimes, and another twelve months full of holidays and ample opportunities for memory-making." (Sarah Ban Breathnach~Victorian Family Celebrations, page 50)


Each year is broken up into four distinct seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each is
filled with traditional pastimes. These seasons can be likened to the seasons we pass through in life. In Springtime things begin to bloom and blossom, life is abundant and full, beauty abounds, and anticipation reigns in this season of new birth. In Summertime when things heat up, the days seem long, we begin to swelter a bit in this growing season. Autumn brings freshening breezes, a riot of color, a time to harvest, and is a resting season. Winter brings a chill to the air, the landscape gets a little bleak, we huddle and cuddle, in this season of waiting. None of these seasons last that long and one blends into the other with familiar regularity.

Have you ever noticed the order they were placed in? Spring ~ a time of hope and renewal gives way to Summer ~ where things heat up and are a little harder to bear gives way to Autumn ~ where you catch a little break from the heat which gives way to Winter ~ where things can get pretty cold and harsh or look pretty bleak and then...the cycle begins again. I think this was done with very intentional planning from a loving Father who wanted us to see the seasons of life and learn its lessons through the physical example of the changing seasons of our environment.

No matter what season you find yourself in this new year, I pray that it will be a season where you will sense God right there with you, covering you with His protection, lavishing upon you His
affection, caring for your every need, bringing you blessings beyond measure, healing up your broken places, encouraging you to carry on, inspiring you to new heights, filling you with joy, holding your hand when things get tough, and carrying you over the places that get rough. May He open your heart and eyes to the blessings and the beauty of each new season of your life. God's best blessings to you all, my dear blog friends!

THROUGH THE YEAR
by Julian S. Cutler

God be with you in the SpringtimeWhen the violets unfold,
And the buttercups and cowslips
Fill the fields with yellow gold;

In the time of apple blossoms,
When the happy bluebirds sing,
Filling all the world with gladness~
God be with you in the Spring!


God be with you in the Summer,
When the sweet June roses blow,
When the bobolinks are laughing

And the brooks with music flow;
When the fields are white with daisies
And the days are glad and long~
God be with you in the Summer,
Filling your world with song.


God be with you in the Autumn,When the birds and flowers have fled,
And long the woodland pathways
Leaves are falling, gold and red;
When Summer lies behind you,
In the evening of the year~
God be with you in the Autumn,
Then to fill your heart with cheer.


God be with you in the Winter,
When the snow lies deep and white,
When the sleeping fields are silent
And the stars gleam cold and bright.
When the hand and heart are tired
With life's long and weary quest~
God be with you in the Winter,
Just to guide you into rest.


New Years blessings to you all,
Miss Sandy

P.S. I will be taking a short break over the next few days and will return sometime next week. As with all new years comes a time of prayer, planning, preparation, evaluation, and a setting down of goals. This is what I will be doing over the next few days. I'll see you soon!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you, Sandy!

By the way, you asked about keeping a copy of The Christian's Bell. That's fine. Unfortunately I have no idea who the author (or designer, maybe I should say?) is. The person I got it from received it in a forwarded e-mail with no artist/designer/author given.

Anonymous said...

A beautiful post.

kathy said...

Happy New Year dear friend !!!
Yes a new year sweet with promise -- Goals to decide , reflections of the past year - as we seek God's direction for the New Year , a straighter path . a closer walk , a surety that he will be there and a surety of his continueing Love - It does not get any better than that !! Kathy - ga

Lori said...

you got your colors changed i see:)
Happy New Year Miss Sandy, it has been a great pleasure to visit with you this past year. i hope 2009 is full of blessings and joy for you!!!

Vee said...

Enjoy your time set apart for reflection. It'll be a good time I am certain.

This was such a beautiful post. I am going to return to the beginning and reread and, if you haven't already, it should be submitted somewhere for publication. (Such a pest I am! ;>)

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Sandy! Here is to 2009 and all its wonderful potential.

~Andrea

Susie said...

I loved this post Sandy. Setting down some goals is probably just what I need to do as well. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post Sandy. I am showing off my gifts on my Pink Saturday. I hope you will visit when you get back.
Loved this post and so glad to have you as my favorites.
Happy New Year again
Love
Claudie from Canada
P.S. Not to worry about not getting them in time for Xmas. All my decor is down and yours are up. I love them.

Blue Muse said...

Lovely post, Miss Sandy, and you blog is beautiful! Thank you for visiting my little world, and I wish you a very Happy New Year!

xo Isa

Tracy said...

Sandy, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a nice comment.
My son married in August and we used those bride and groom ducks as part of the centerpieces at the rehearsal dinner. Have a great New Year! I just know it's going to be a good one.
Tracy

La Tea Dah said...

Happy New Year to you as well, Miss Sandy! I enjoyed your blog post today very much. It's very special that you put so much thought and care into your blogging. It blesses me and others. Thank you!

LaTeaDah

Vickie said...

Thanks for stopping by, Miss Sandy! I'm making the rounds tonight, too, while my family is vedging out in front of the TV. (is that a word - vedging?) I hope you have a wonderful year, also.

Those were sweet little pictures you posted with the poems. I am so thankful for seasons, but I sure could do with a little less winter!

FrenchGardenHouse said...

Miss Sandy,

This post could not be any more perfect, but then all your posts seem to be that for me. Happiest of new years, dear friend. It's good to start off with prayer, reflection and quiet time, isn't it?

You are right about the judging lesson, it was one of many I learned and kept in my heart after reading the book.
xo lidy

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Best wishes in the new year- enjoy your break!

Denise K. said...

Wishing you a year full of good health, happiness, and peace in the journey of life! Blessings to you in 2009! With love from Colorado, Denise

Flower said...

Happy New Year! Enjoy your days off!

Flower said...

Happy New Year! Enjoy your days off!

vikki said...

lovely.lovely.lovely post! i will be back to re-read it. i, too, wrote in my journal to listen more, talk less... be still & listen to HIS voice. be rested in HIS peace & love ~ enjoy your God time. hugs & blessings, vikki ♥

Unknown said...

This is my first time to your blog - and it has been a wonderful visit.

At first look, it is visually very beautiful and totally something I can appreciate, and then as I read, I found myself completely taken in by the poetry and the encouraging words. Your writing is lovely.

It's nice to meet this morning.
Lynnette :)
www.lynnettekraft.blogspot.com

Decor To Adore said...

I love the Simple Abundance books and also own the Mrs. Sharp book.

This post was an inspiring springboard.

No problem commenting today!???

Cindy@Cutepinkstuff said...

I'm looking forward to filling my empty pages. Happy New Year!

Cottage Rose said...

Hey Sandy; What a great post, I so enjoyed reading it.

I hope you have a restful and thoughtful couple of days off blogging. Happy New Year

Hugs;
Alaura

Free Art Printables said...

What a beautiful post!

bluemuf said...

Happy New Year Sandy. Thank you for the lovely New Year Blessing

Hugs Karen

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