It has been very, very cold here. And snowy. I'm glad to see the snow starting to leave. It's supposed to warm up this week too so that is good. I live in a 100 year old house. It is drafty no matter what I do. It is cold. It is hard to keep the house warm when temperatures dip below freezing. (Over freezing I have a fighting chance.)
It has always been that way in this house. I remember my first winter living here back in 1980 I sat on the sofa knitting away. Leggings and afghans just flew from my needles in an attempt to stay warm.
Back in 1994 when I had my first surgery and couldn't do much, I decided to use up my scraps of yarn. I sat there and crocheted five or six afghans. Purple, blue, red and multicolored. I even took red, green, white and Christmas sparkle yarn and made a Christmas afghan. I still use them and they are still warm.
But... temperatures are rising this week and I am so glad. On the other hand, the temperature afghan I'm making is very colorful and BLUE.
I'm sure many of you have seen people choose a word for the year. I've always wondered how in the world someone could choose a word and make it theirs. How could you possibly know what word to choose? Then I saw that some of my blog friends were saying they were given the word by a quiz taken on facebook. So I went looking.
After a long time (several days) I found it. Don't ask me to find it again because I don't remember where it was. But I took the quiz and it gave me a word for the year. My word is.... (drumroll please)
I am more encouraged than ever to work towards making my home a calm and peaceful place. Of getting junk out of the house. Of creating someplace people would want to be.
I am encouraged to not let the cares of life take me over. To not engage in useless and inconsequential arguments. Some things are worth fighting for. Others are not. I need to just let the "other" things roll off of my back. I am not there yet, but hope by this time next year I will be.
I am encouraged to take some time by myself and commune with God. I do now, but there needs to be more. Perhaps as the weather improves I can go outside for my devotional time. I always seem to feel God more in nature. I love sitting on the beach with my Bible as the sun rises over the ocean and just praising Him. Well maybe my back yard can be the same kind of thing.
And, of course, Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus said He would give us peace.
This is not just something I am asking for myself, but I am praying that each of you have peace this year too. What a wonderful word for 2017.
Kathy
Sunrise: 7:22 a.m.
Sunset: 4:56 p.m.
9 hours and 34 minutes of daylight
Mostly cloudy
Temperatures: 53*/45*
We came from a hundred + year old house. It could be heated but it cost too much to keep it warm. Winters were hard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat word for your year!!
My house is heated, but not insulated well. Every time we have something done in the walls we add insulation. One year for Christmas my sister gave us a space heater that looks like a stove with a fire in it. That heater is a life saver in keeping the front of the house warm. Who would have thought that so much heat would come out of such a small thing.
DeleteAmen! I really like your word and all the thoughts you have gathered to illustrate it. God bless you and help you to stay warm in a drafty home. I used to live in a home built in 1840 and it had many of those issues as well.
ReplyDeleteOld houses always seem to be drafty. It makes me wonder how people lived before central heat. I am wishing peace for you too, Vee.
DeleteWhat a "peaceful" post. Really!
ReplyDeleteYou sound very content but ready to take on what ever happens. That is Peace.
Thank you, Christine. I'm not always content or at peace but I'm working on it.
DeleteWhat a wonderful and positive, uplifting post! Thanks You :)
ReplyDeleteWow, Larry. That means a LOT coming from you. Thank you.
DeleteKathy- What a PERFECT word for you. This is the first year I have ever taken a word,too, and have never even wanted to do that before---but this year-there it was-waiting for me to claim it.
ReplyDeleteI wish you peace and along with that, I believe, comes a deep inner happiness. Wishing you lots of peace, Kathy! xo Diana
Thank you, Diana! So sweet of you.
DeleteOh, I think this is perfect for you Kathy! I can have a super busy and crazy day and then I stop and think about my word to focus on (mine is in there with yours...Kindness) and then I slow down and think about how I can bring some kindness into my life or someone else's. It really helps. You have such a beautiful attitude my friend. And you always inspire me. Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteAww, Diane, you are so inspiring to me too. I will do just as you and think about my word when I get flustered.
DeleteI love your word! I also can't wait to see your temperature afghan! Glad it is warming up for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it is warming up too. It was only supposed to go up in the 40s yesterday, but made it into the 50s. I am planning on showing my afghan each month as I go along.
DeleteBeautiful post! So positive! It made me feel good just reading it. I'm enjoying the warm spell,able to walk the dogs a little farther.Enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie. I'm enjoying the warmer weather too.
Delete"Leggings and afghans just flew from my needles in an attempt to stay warm." I had a visual image in my mind when I read this and it made me giggle. Stay warm, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI was knitting fast. And I would throw the afghan over my legs as I did each row and it grew longer.
DeleteYou have warmer temps than we do. Barely above freezing all week after snow and now some ice here and there. And our furnace's blower went out. Good thing I bought a couple heaters at work today to help keep us warm in the evening/night. Always happens when it's so cold or hot...sigh! We've not had it running constantly but maybe I will change that til we get to bed. take care!
ReplyDeleteOh no! It always happens to us too that the coldest day of the year is when the heater goes out. And a lot of other folks too because we always have to wait our turn in line to get it fixed. Hope yours is working now and you are warm.
DeleteHi Kathy! Oh, I love your word for the year ' peace '. Yes, this old world certainly needs it, me too! I think of that scripture ' I will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is on thee because he trusts in thee'. I know, I learned so much scripture in the King James version. It's hard to change. Stay warm, my friend, and thank you for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeletebe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)