happy old year!

Well, we watched the New Year come in last night with dear friends who, like us, merely waited for it to come so we could get home and go to bed. Spent a wonderful evening together, enjoyed the food, the chatter, the games, and especially the company, but when it came right down to the moment we all awaited, everything came to a screeching halt. We wished one another a Happy New Year, put our coats on and each made our way home. Aaaahhh… life is good when you have friends who are on the same wavelength. It must be an age thing.

On the other hand, our kids spent time with their friends and didn’t much think about the time of night (or morning).

The “boy” and his friends went to the woods to sit around a bond fire in sub-freezing weather, cooking brats and whatever they could cook over the fire. They spent the evening oblivious to the cold telling their stories of the dorm life. At least they had a little bit of smarts to eventually get indoors for some warmth. Add to that the fact that as I sit here in my PJ’s he has already left for work this morning. That definitely is an age thing.

The “girl” spent the evening in Times Square with about a million other people. It was just one more thing to cross off her list of “things to do in life”. Getting there early they thought it wise to refrain from too great an intake of water since there are no bathrooms provided (except for the curbside of the streets). Once the ball dropped they made their way back to New Jersey to spend the remainder of the night with friends. I’m sure they’re heading back home today because both go back to work in the morning. The age thing probably has nothing to with that.

For our family, a lot of changes took place in 2006 and how we spent the last night of the year, in a way reflects much of them. For the most part, change is neither bad nor good; it’s just a part of life. Most often, what matters more than the changes is how we accept and adjust to them. This is best done, as we are willing to yield control to the one who oversees and governs all changes in life; and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. As difficult a time I had accepting and adjusting to many of the changes 2006 brought our way, I must admit that when control was yielded to the Lord, those unwanted changes became the blessings of my year… of my life.

Thank you Lord… for the grace to face the changes of life… for the changes you brought my way… for a Happy Old Year!