Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year's Eve

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to." Bill Vaughan

Tonight we'll have a combination of young and old at our house: those who want to stay up and--Bill and me. I'm fighting a cold and can't find enough Kleenex in this house, so staying up to ring in the New Year will be a stretch. And you know the worst thing about a cold is that you can't taste anything, so the last night I can indulge in holiday food won't even be that enjoyable.:(

I must say that 2007 tops all others as the worst ever, and yet, the best. Imagine a measuring scale with grief, loss, fear, and uncertainty on one side, and prayers, help, love and patience on the other. I'd like to wipe away one side, but if it needs to stay, I'm very thankful for the other side. We would have drowned in sorrow had it not been for all of you praying, giving, cooking, cleaning, and encouraging us through each day. We were reminded that God had not abandoned us through your acts of kindness and sacrifice.

Today while Bill, Annie & I were out in the van running errands, Bill looked over his shoulder and said to Annie, sitting in her carseat, "2008 is going to be great!" I do pray that this New Year be filled with renewed hope and God's strength for you and for us...and continued healing for Annalee.


Jean

PS: One of my New Year's resolutions is to add more pictures to this blog, (or get Bill to add more pictures--so is that my resolution or his??) ...either way, hopefully I'll get more pictures up here before the ball drops in Times Square.

You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
And the little hills rejoice on every side.
The pastures are clothed with flocks;
The valleys also are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, they also sing. Psalm 65:11-13

3 comments:

Gretchen said...

Clearly, it's his resolution, so you're off the hook. :)

I think 2008 is gonna be great, too. I've been so blessed by praying for you and thinking of you this year. Yes, it's been a terribly hard time for the Sullivans. I can only imagine a fraction of what you've gone through. But look what God has done in the midst of sorrow. So many families would have crumbled, and yours is together--laughing and enjoying one another at La Palmera on Christmas Eve. I'd like to be able to wipe the horrific side clean for you, too, but only God can do that, and Jean, I'll still pray for him to do so. Annie and you all are in David's, Jenny's and my prayers daily. That's not gonna change when He heals her, either. Then, we'll be busy saying "thank YOu!".

xxxooogretchen

Anonymous said...

Lord, thank you for getting the Sullivans through 2007.

And thank you for the people who responded to needs as they arised.

Please make 2008 a remarkable, miraculous and joyous year for them all, such that they will shout your praises from the top of this mountain they've been climbing, and you shall be glorified.

Thank you in advance.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Anonymous said...

We like calendars, just like we like nighttime and morning. Marking the passing of any period of time, small or great, allows us to 'close' a chapter.
When it's a glorious chapter, we want to wrap it up with a ribbon...
When it's a dismal chapter, we're happy it's time to turn the page to a new one - surely the next one will bring light to the story!
I am convinced that God gave us evening and morning for the specific reason that we really do need to start fresh every day.
He gave us 'six days and then rest' so that we could start a new week refreshed.
He gave us months and seasons and years ... we need all the fresh starts we can get!
We labor through whatever the time slice it is, sometimes sloggingly (new word), and then we rest ...

in Him....

and greet the new one with anticipation and hope and strength

I thank you, Lord, for 2008. Never thought it would happen ... but here it is - a gift from You.

I pray for all of us. And I pray that Annie's pretty face would shine brightly this year. Please make Annie's brain work exactly according to your Grand Design, and please heal her body of Addison's.

I pray for each Sullivan family member, and ask that you bless each one this year with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory.

May Your Name be Honored Among the Nations, O God.

Amen