2018: She Laughs

My poor blog has been neglected since August.  I'm still alive and well and trying to jump back on the bandwagon.  I'm a very Type A person, so I'm all in, or all out, and once I got out of a rhythm, my blog suffered.  I've missed the creative outlet and hoping to get back in the saddle, and not beat myself up if I don't post 2-3 blogs a month.

Let's start with recapping the end of my year when my blog was silent.  I wish it was something as dramatic as the 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and New Testament, but alas no.  If you recall, my word for last year was "renewal."  And, boy, did I lean into that one.  I found myself really focusing on the things that renew me.  Laughter, friends, and reading.  A LOT of reading.  2017 was my personal best for reading, and I've started 2018 on a good streak reading 8 books so far.  For this introvert, I needed that, and obviously a break from creating content here.  It's been good.  But, it's a new year (hello 49 days in!)

For 2018, I prayed and sought "what should my word be for the year?"  I struggled.  Nothing came to mind.  Then, I thought, "why does it have to be a word?"  This verse came to mind and I decided like Lucy when Schroeder was playing every version of Jingle Bells, and when he finally played the simple version, Lucy said, "THAT'S IT!!!"  

"She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future." - Proverbs 31:25

That's it.  It's my verse for 2018.  Proverbs 31 is special to me because it was the Scripture passage used for the sermon at my Mom's funeral.  My Mom was that kind of woman.  If there is anyone I want to be just like, it's my Mom.  Also, laughter.  Last year, I was privileged to see two Christian comedians in concert - Tim Hawkins and John Crist.  I don't think I've laughed that much in way too long.  And it felt good.  Really good.  The feeling of laughing without a care of tomorrow is an amazing feeling.  Laughter truly is a gift from God.

I can't think of a verse that sums up what I pray my year will be like any better than to be clothed with strength and dignity, and to laugh no matter what the future holds.  Here's hoping I can update the blog more than once every six months.