Every four or five years I take a leap forward from the technological dark ages. 2013 was the year of one such leap. We secured an iPass, so we don't have to stop at toll booths (and so we save about 50%). I now read on a Kindle Paperwhite. In the spring I upgraded to texting (gasp!!!), though it's still a rare day when I text. And just before the new law went into effect on January 1st, I linked my phone to the bluetooth phone system in our car.
Whew! Glad to have all that technological leaping out of the way for another four or five years!
When Jim learned mid-year that I didn't have a sewing machine, he quickly changed that, and I have enjoyed a new avenue of creativity. Two rooms have valances, bed runners, and some throw pillows. I have a new apron, and a growing pile of projects I want to accomplish!
2013 was only the third year since 1994 that I did not live or travel outside of the U.S.A. But we enjoyed exploring Arizona & the Four Corners area as well as the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. Both areas have incredible natural beauty, though of completely opposite kinds -- brown desert vs. lush green grass!
At the time, 2013 seemed like a slow musical year, but we enjoyed a Sons of the Pioneers concert in the Old West, an outdoor concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a couple budding artists' concerts (i.e., piano recitals and school band concerts), and a variety of Christmas concerts. The community chorus' rendition of Handel's Messiah was the most glorious, but the small candlelight concert in a tiny stone chapel on a cold winter's evening was the best atmosphere! The duet (backed up by orchestra and choir) of "God With Us" was heavenly, but the warbling voices of faithful saints now in their 70s and 80s was heavenly in a different sense.
New lines in our guest book include college friends (and their children I had never met!), cousin's grown children, former co-workers, former co-workers' grown children (and grandchildren!), and family.
On our travels, we were excited to get to see former co-workers, three different cousins in three different states, a whole side of the family at a reunion, and Jim's former pastor & his wife.
A meaningful tradition was the start of a Family Prayer meeting with Jim's extended family. We've met twice so far, and those who live out-of-town held their own prayer meeting via conference call at the same time.
In terms of how I spend my days, my out-of-the-home activity level really ramped up this fall with book club, various Bible studies, two school volunteer gigs, and ESL private tutoring, not to mention Sunday School team-teaching and the missions conference planning team. Maybe in 2014 my in-home activity level will ramp up a bit, and I'll have a more streamlined system for homemaking. :)
The bottom line of our 2013, though, is that we felt our need of God more, and we found Him faithful. What more could anyone want in a year?
