End of 2024 Blog Post and New Words for 2025

 Happy New Year 2025

Water globe nativity gifted from one of our nieces this Christmas

Hello friends! Are you ready for the new year to begin? I have to say that I will not be sad to see 2024 go bye-bye as many challenging events happened during the year. I experienced personal challenges via two cataract surgeries, Covid, Hurricane Helene winds which spawned a tornado that hit my neighborhood, a fall which resulted in a broken wrist that required surgery and supporting my family through the loss of another brother-in-law. Yes, it has been a very challenging year in so many ways. And, yet, I would be remiss if I didn't end the story of 2024 by sharing the multitude of blessings which came during the year. Things like the way my neighbors and community pitched in during the aftermath of the hurricane to bring comfort, help, cell phone charging stations, food and water and brute strength to help fellow neighbors in need. And beyond our close community, there were people who came from as many as 19+ states to lend aid to the people of Western North Carolina. We, personally, experienced the help of people coming from the states of Ohio, WV and Tennessee to work on cutting huge old-growth trees that had fallen on our house and property. And many dear friends came to our aid bringing chainsaws, water, wipes, meals, bread and comfort. Our families in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado and California bolstered our spirits through phone calls and texts once we were able to receive them on our cell phones. A mystery package arrived after the storm that contained a special light that could be used with or without power or batteries. We now know that this gift was sent from life-long friends in West Virginia. Prayers and phone calls from Asheville friends sustained us as we began the long recovery process. You see, even when you think you are alone, you really aren't. There are so many caring and kind people out there who step in to help in so many ways during times of stress and pain and I am so very humbled by all who reached out to us during a very difficult time. I was brought to tears one morning when a truck pulled up our driveway and we saw that a former member of our church was coming just to check up on us! What a sweet gesture! And as for my eye surgeries-all went very well with both surgeries. The inconvenience of the long wait to get a new eyeglass prescription was the worst part of it. That and the 21 days of doing eye drops after each surgery! And now, here I sit, wearing my new eyeglasses (finally!) and typing away happily writing a new blog post. My wrist is doing so much better. I began physical therapy for my hand and wrist a couple weeks ago and I am already experiencing so much improvement with movement, strength and dexterity. I have been blessed with having amazing health professionals who have been kind and helpful along this journey. The nurse who comforted me at the hospital triage tents where The Mr. took me after the fall, the hand surgeon whose expertise was evident during and after surgery, and my physical therapist who is helping my hand to get strong again. I am grateful for all of these people. And through every challenge of 2024 my faith has sustained me.

I won't say that I was all smiles going through these challenges. At the time, I kind of felt like God was allowing a lot of things to happen all at once in my life. I don't mean to say that I thought God was causing these issues. Because I don't believe that bad things come from God. Because I believe that God is good. All the time. But, He did allow them to happen. And I was not a happy camper. For many days after the hurricane, I would read chapter four of the book of Philippians over and over. It helped me to hear Paul talk about how he had learned to be content in all circumstances. I really had to dig deep to remember that, like Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who is my strength." And I am here to testify to the fact that God's strength got me through. A sweet friend associated with the church bell choir texted me a beautiful prayer in which she prayed,"that God would send angels -in cars, boats, helicopters, all kinds of uniforms and may we see your radiance and glory in their actions and works." Wow, what a prayer, and God certainly did send those angels and is sending them still! 

When I felt called to choose the words "Courage" and "Contentment" as my words to focus on in 2024, I had no idea how much I would need to rely on these words throughout the year. It's hard to feel content when you can't see well because your present glasses aren't the right prescription since eye surgery, you feel sick from having Covid, your wrist and arm hurts and can't be used, and your house is torn up, your woods are gone and you don't have water, electricity and you're stuck because your driveway and road is a wall of fallen trees, your family doesn't know if you are alive or not because you have no cell phone service and you feel fearful and afraid that you will never get out of this situation. I worried that things would never be "normal" again. But, friends, I can attest to the fact that God met our every need during all of these times. And in the midst of worry and concern, there were moments of peace and even joy. I knew that God was present with us. That He would work it all out. And He did! And He always will. Even when our/my faith wavers. 

I also want to take a moment to share how strong and wonderful The Mr. was and is during all of these events. The hours he spent sitting in waiting rooms at doctor's visits with me. The strength and courage he showed during and after the hurricane with his, "I'm going to fix this," attitude that saw him cutting us out of our back door after the storm, climbing over and under fallen trees to get us water and to connect with neighbors, bushwhacking up the mountain behind our house to try and get cell service so he could call our families to let them know we were okay, bringing me food and drinks after my surgeries, countless reassurances to his frightened wife that we would be okay, and hours of chainsawing to clear our driveway and property. And I'm sure I am leaving out many other ways in which he has been by my side. On New Year's Day, we will celebrate 42 years of marriage and I am so very grateful that God brought this strong man into my life.

So, this brings me to my new words for 2025. I have chosen "Grateful" and "Grace" as my words to focus on in the coming year. I have SO much to be grateful for in my life and I want to be sure to recognize the many blessings coming my way through the grace of God. And, I want to look for ways to extend grace to others. I'll try to remember to share my journey with these words with each of you in 2025!

Friends, I am certain that we all have stories to tell from 2024. Each of you has faced your own joys and challenges throughout the year. Of that I am certain because that is the way of life. And I am sure that there will be challenges for all of us in 2025. I pray that through faith in God, I will face these challenges with courage and contentment but also with gratitude and grace. I know there will be many joys and moments of happiness for each of us as well. If the words "courage" and "contentment" have taught me anything this year, it is the lesson that, even in the midst of bad things, that good things can come if we have courage, faith in God and the willingness to find contentment in all circumstances.

May 2025 bring many blessings to each of you dear readers! And please feel free to share your own thoughts and stories from 2024 in the comments. I love to hear from each of you!

Happy New Year!

“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

Until Next Time,

Debbie This and That