Here’s another old one I wrote at the turn of this year.

January 9, 2013

Happy New year Everyone! 2013! Numbers I never hoped to see, especially back in the fifties or sixties. Now I have to remember they go on my checks, dates, or correspondence.

What a wild week that last one of 2012 was! I had my whole family here with the hurtful exception of Boyce who is in Afghanistan for a 2nd time. We were 22 people and six dogs. Christmas Eve was just a lovely night. Even all those dogs behaved. You can see us all on facebook, wearing our Stag Island Tee shirts.

All the patience Jesus taught me in those tough months of 2012 was used up in that last week.

Actually, it wasn’t bad at all. The six dogs behaved quite well, the teens and twenty-somethings behaved even better, and the adults talked and talked and cooked and cooked and then went off to bed early.

They were all a fantastic joy to me I just reveled in all of it and didn’t have to lift a finger. I felt so blessed. Is there anything better than family?

Other things are better too. I am doing better in the chair. The new one is a little smaller and I am missing the walls, doorways and furniture more often. Wearing an oxygen hose all the time is a trial. Before the chair, I would get it wound around my ankles, feet, or rug. Now it gets caught in the wheels, I park on it and can’t move, or get it under one wheel while I’m moving forward and it nearly pulls my ears off. It hurts my ears, dries up my nasal passages, and gets tangled in the sheets while I sleep. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have it. Breathing is so important to me. Prayer is just as important too. I can’t get along without either one. I am encouraged when I communicate with Jesus and my Father. They give me the strength to persevere and try to learn new things, like driving a wheel chair around and through furniture and doorways. God is so good. He listens. I must practice listening more too.

We had a beautiful white Christmas. The trees and lawns are still glistening in the sun. The squirrels have learned to ride the new bungee jump corn holder, and how to get the peanuts out of the pop up feeder. They are so funny and soooo greedy! My squirrels are the fattest in all of Ohio.
God’s creation is so fantastic. I never cease wondering at the marvel of His creation: flipping, athletic squirrels who jump three times their height, birds of every size and color, and a season to rest and cover with sparkling white while it renews itself. Incredible. That may be why I am still here: just to praise Him for the beauty of it all.

There is so much wrong with the world. We need to get God back into our homes, our schools and (YES) even into our government. My prayer is for my country–to get Jesus to be with us. All we need do is to ask, but we do need to ask (Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9). Jesus will never turn His back on us. Be persistent and be bold like that squirrel out there. He jumps and jumps and finally gets one kernel of corn before he falls, then up he goes again. I will be persistent too.

God bless you all and have a great 2013!! Irma Jane