Thy goodness has been with me during another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist my sail and draw up anchor,
with thee as the blessed Pilot of my future as of my past.
~Valley of Vision, pg. 111
*photo taken in beautiful Pennsylvania
I’ve been traveling down memory lane. I’m feeling a little lonely for family this time of year. Hope you don’t mind me sharing some photos with you from Christmas past…
2009, My DD is a masterful Christmas baker!!
2010, A special handmade gift from a special friend!
2011, This is my favorite picture of our dear, departed Pixie. Her birthday was in December so we liked to dress her up for Christmas and take her picture in front of the tree.
2012, Our DS#1 was married this year. This was his first Christmas as a husband. This was also the year that our DS#2 went to college and our first Christmas without any of our children present.
2013, All of our children and DS#1’s new bride joined us in Japan for Christmas. It was a wonderful time!!! It was also our daughter-in-law’s first time to visit Japan. It was fun to experience Japan through new eyes with her!
2014, We were stateside. This is a favorite memory with “my girls.”
2015, The Christmas season this year started out with a house fire. We spent a lot time doing the clean up, so we kept things simple for the holidays. We were so thankful for the Lord’s protection that not having things the way they normally were didn’t matter to us at all.
2016, Last year, I gave you a tour of my tree and shared some of my memories. It was another holiday without our children, but God has given us “family” to share the joyous season with. Christmas was on a Sunday. We had a wonderful time with our church family and some first-time visitors.
God is so good to us. We don’t deserve His kindness.
Now it’s time for me to get back to the present…thanks for sharing in my memories.
During our recent Christmas open house, I enjoyed explaining some of my decorations. A lady commented, “When a Japanese decorates for Christmas, it is because we like the pretty decorations. For you, it is your memories.” As I mulled over this, I realized that almost all of my decorations have a special meaning or memory tied to them. Welcome to a tour of some of my memories on my Christmas tree!
This one represents a special trip to Kobe with a friend for the beautiful illumination there.
I love this ornament sent by a fellow blogger whom I have yet to meet from my early days of blogging. She wrote a blog post on making these ornaments from old Christmas cards. I commented on the post. She is a pastor’s wife who has a heart for missions. She sent me one all the way to Japan! She no longer blogs and I miss her.
My daughter bought this for me from a Christmas lights event in my hometown that I have attended for years. I remember when I took my husband for the first time and each one of our children. She bought this the last time we went. Life has a way of changing. We don’t know if or when we will be able to attend again. 
This one was made by my grandmother. It is made from a real egg. Perhaps I inherited my love of crafting from her.
This one represents my first Christmas married to my wonderful husband.
I bought this Swarovski crystal in the town Mozart was born in. It was the trip of a lifetime with my father.
This one represents my firstborn. I have a different one for each child.
Blackwater Falls is the location of many a family vacation over the years.
The original Lenox factory was in my hometown. Now it is an outlet. I love anything tea, so had to have a set of Lenox tea accoutrement ornaments.
I have attended the The Nutcracker ballet many times. I never tire of it. 
What every female football fan needs! This one is self-explanatory!! 
Thank you for allowing me to share some of my memories. Until the next time…
Over the years we have lined up all the grandkids according to age. Here are a few from the past. I took pictures of pictures from my mother’s fridge. =) The last photo is the most recent.
They grew up!
Last week, my former dean, professor and mentor met his Saviour. I shared a post about him a few years ago here. It would be impossible to put into words the thoughts I have about Dr. Gus and the influence he and his family have had on me. The one thing I remember the most is that he always encouraged me. I was not the typical fine arts major. I didn’t have any background at all in fine arts, but I loved it and decided to major in it my sophomore year. He made me feel like I had abilities that could be used for the Lord. I will always be grateful for that. He had such outstanding talent, but yet he was one of the most humble men I have ever known. One of my favorite memories of him is his rendition of ‘My Old Flame’ my freshman year. I could not believe that such a dignified, talented man could give a performance like that. HA! I loved it and delight in telling my children about it!
You can view his funeral here. The service is a beautiful tribute that features some his music. There is a tribute page to him here. It will take me days to get through it all, but I want to. I want to remember and give thanks.
*****
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. – Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
January
My God wants me to wait on Him.
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
*blog break
September
October
November
December
Thank you, dear readers for joining me this year!
26 years ago today
Drinking at the Springs 