Can I Have A Word?

At this end of the year, I do a bit of a change-and-tidy – sorting out the remains of the previous year, setting up the new year in whatever way seems best.
One of the things I do is pray over a “word” for the year. It’s not in a weird way -just asking God what He wants me to focus on. Sometimes the word is clear, sometimes a bit maybe/maybe not.

This last Sunday we broke up into little groups, to be prayed over by older/wiser couples in the church. We were asked to briefly explain what we wanted prayer for, and had a bit of time to ponder that before the groups got together.
I was pretty set to ask for clarity for the new year…maybe healing – all the good stuff!
And then, I felt the word “challenge” drop down in my spirit.

That’s one of those words, really.
You can decide that you must have heard wrong, and pretend it never happened.
That never goes well.
Or you can take a deep breath, and go for it.

So, I asked for prayer, and there was good feedback to ponder on. Some things aligned with what I already knew would be in focus this year. Some I’m still thinking about. I was excited, if a bit unsure of details…
Monday morning, I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.
This was not the challenge I was looking for!! 😆
No, I don’t subscribe to magical thinking. The most likely scenario is that I’ve been doing a bit too much overall, and it’s caught up with me.
Made me laugh, though! 😀

I’m not sure how the challenge is supposed to look. I feel it will be a “good” challenge.
There are steps I’m taking while I’m waiting for some things to coalesce – just one thing, then the next, then the next. One foot after the other.
I know there is something to do with writing, and have some ideas about that. There are other creative pursuits to…pursue 🙂
And all wrapped up with rest times, meditation, prayer…
I will be using my art room more effectively, and at different times of the day.

To that end, I have obtained a duck.
A pastel lit, resting duck, by which to dream.

Behold – the duck!

May your year be restful,
and may you find your own pastel duck to dream by.
❤

Published in: on January 6, 2026 at 9:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Here We Go!

Published in: on January 1, 2026 at 1:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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Happy New Day!

…and month, and year…
Hope it’s been a good start 🙂

We’ve had a quiet day, with a bit of exercise, pondering direction in the year ahead, and good food and drink.
And books.
Of course.
😀

May we all face forward fearlessly, and travel on to the places we’re meant to be.
❤
…singing as we go!

Published in: on January 1, 2025 at 10:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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All Is New

May this year bring
peace,
love,
and joy in your living.
❤

Published in: on January 1, 2024 at 1:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Best Foot Forward

…walking straight ahead,

In this year, when our routines will change, I thought it might be a good idea to sing about what heals my heart ❤

…and here’s one for all the sadnesses of the past year.

Published in: on January 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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What Has Never Been Before

As we turn towards this new year, there’s an element of… trepidation. And anticipation.
I don’t know what’s coming.


But I pray for beauty, peace, and that feeling of knowing you are in just the right place, at just the right time – that you have come through the “space between” with at least some idea of your path for where you’re going.
Happy and glorious New Year to you all!
❤

Published in: on December 31, 2021 at 11:59 am  Leave a Comment  
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To The Wild Sky

It’s a new day, new year, and the dawn of the new ’20s.
Will we be dancing the “new” Charleston whilst quaffing champagne? I don’t think I’ll go with the champagne, but dancing seems the thing to do…

We saw in the new year by drinking Grapetise with the boys, and pulling Christmas crackers that I’d bought cheap from the post Christmas sales. We toasted to new experiences, then went to bed. Such excitement!
I don’t do New Year Resolutions, but it’s still a good time to think about what this year can bring. To say goodbye to the dying year, and look ahead to the dawning light.
My Aunt sent me a card, which references Tennyson’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells” – here’s the full text.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

 

Seems like a call to wipe out the old year entirely… I’m sure some of us feel like doing that!

Yesterday I binged on some of my favourite episodes of Doctor Who. Looking back, it seems like they all talked about feeling lost in this world, unnoticed and unappreciated by others, and feeling like you have nothing to give. Happily, each ended with the respective characters finding their worth in one way or another. This is one of my favourite scenes!

If there is anything I want for this year, it’s that we all find where we’re meant to be – our place in the world, our worth, and the people who love and need us.
Let us arise and soar into the wild sky!

A quote from Vincent –
“Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all.”

…and a song to hope with.

Published in: on January 1, 2020 at 1:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Hello, 2019!

Last day of the year!
I was talking to my Babe this morning about the past year… we agreed it’s had its ups and downs. It didn’t go the way we thought it would… some of that was good, some not. We will focus on the good and look up.
So – a new year. What’s to come? Nobody can say, really, so it’ll be interesting finding out.
I did one of those “word of the year” things recently. My word is apparently “courage”. I’ll see how that fits with the next year! All sorts of possibilities – different paths to follow, new songs to sing. I see new colours to come… new voices. I have some plans, but I’ve never been too good with New Year resolutions.
Here’s a few songs I’ve been listening to the last couple of days – maybe the start of a new soundtrack…

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 😀

Published in: on December 31, 2018 at 10:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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And The Sun Sets On Another Year…

IMG_2080

In Memoriam (Ring Out, Wild Bells)
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892)

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light:
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of party strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
   Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

IMG_19401
...it's time to walk in to the new year.
Published in: on January 1, 2018 at 12:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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Fruitful

photo (13)

We’ve had some wonderful rain lately, haven’t we? It’s making our garden grow in all directions, including the watermelons… the flowers above are on the way to fruiting, and there are already little baby melons peeking out from the leaves. Time will tell how many of them make it to sweet, juicy, full-size melons…

It’s that time of year again. A “New Year”, when everything feels different in some way. It’s really just another day – and yet – it can be a chance to take a breath, reassess, look ahead. 2014 was a hard year in some ways – the last part was wearying and long. Things are looking better, although the weariness remains. 2015 is here – what will it hold? The possibilities are endless! I want to be like the watermelon vines, though… fruiting throughout the year, growing riotously, flowering with abandon. That doesn’t just happen – there’s planning, playing and prayer to be done!
May 2015 be a fruitful, riotous year for you!

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.”
– T.S.Eliot

Published in: on January 1, 2015 at 1:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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