Goodbye, My Friends

Life is filled with gifts. Each morning there are new gifts if we have eyes to see,

 a heart to receive them.

I want to go to bed each night recognizing the gifts of that day. 

And look forward to the next morning with all the hope of a small child 

who knows that the next day is Christmas Day…

and isn't it going to be glorious!

Oddly enough, to those of my readers who remember that I've struggled with insomnia,

the coming of these two precious dachshunds, Otis & Milo, to our home

has meant that my insomnia has gone away. Maybe it has something to do with the fact

 that they get me up about 6:30 and are ready for bed by 9:30, and expect me to be too!

I have found myself wanting more. More time to be with them and family, more time to appreciate the gifts of each day.

I want more time for my house, more time for sister emails. I have three younger sisters who have become more precious to me with each year. 

Our children and grandchildren 

all have their own very busy lives so I'm not expecting more time with them,

only that the time I do see them be free of distractions of a blog needing tending.

We have a family business where I'm supposed to be the secretary.

It's a wonder they haven't fired me lately, the way I've neglected it.

And blogging is work, if done in the spirit of being a loyal blog friend.

I hope that most of you will think that I have been a good blog friend.

I have met the nicest people in the world in blogging. 

You deserve fellow bloggers who will visit and comment.

Anything less is discouraging.

Some of you might not realize that I turned 70 this year.

I'm slowing down some. Everything takes longer than it used to.

And there is still so much I want to do and I feel the urgency of time growing shorter.

Many people search a lifetime to find out who they are,

what they want to be and do.

I believe that was me before I started blogging.

Blogging has helped me to better know who I am,

what I want to be and do,

how I want to spend the rest of the precious time allotted me.

I don't want to leave important things undone.

Many of you know of my love of Beverley Nichols' books.

Some of you share in my love of them.

Mr. Nichols wrote that "one goes through life, like that,

leaving books unread,

music unheard, pictures unseen.'

He continued optimistically: "and though it is very reprehensible,

in some ways is comforting to think that there

are so many lovely things yet to be learned."

So there you are, in a nutshell my dear friends,

the real reason I am leaving blogging.

There are so many lovely things yet to be learned!

There are books I want to read,

not to mention books begun that I want to finish writing.

There are recipes galore I want to cook without a thought entering my head 

of trying to photograph them for the blog!

There are floors to be cleaned

and walks to be taken with the dogs,

squirrels to watch scamper away into the trees in this valley we call home.

Christmas and other holidays to be celebrated with days going by 

when I don't even turn on my computer.

And so I tell you goodbye while I leave to have more time to look for the blessings

and mercies that are fresh every morning,

the ones that Thomas Chisolm wrote of in his great hymn, and my favorite,

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness," from the verses in Lamentations 3:22-23.

"Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

R.H. and I will leave our blog up. It is a record of our family history in some ways and 

I hope that it has meant something to them.

Who knows if there might be something more we want to contribute someday.

And you may see me on Pinterest occasionally, where these leftover Christmas decoration 

pictures will go! Pinterest, my guilty pleasure.

I wish each one of you the very best and thank you so much for having made this blogger 

so welcome among you. 

I leave you with one last quote that is taped inside my medicine cabinet, for what would 

Across the Way be without an ending quote for you!

"It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself

prevented from becoming realities. 

A possibility is a hint from God. 

One must follow it.

If God does not wish it, then let him prevent it,

but one must not hinder oneself."

Kierkegaard

For Family

This one's for family.

 A page of pictures to help us remember Christmas 2013.

No writing from here on, just beloved faces in random order.

Things Left Undone

Here's to all the things left undone as time runs out.

Here's to packages mailed late to dear family:

Here's to grocery shopping left to the last minute, elusive ingredients not found:

Here's to recipes left untried:

Here's to Christmas books not read:

Here's to that one more Christmas table not set:

Here's to the last decorating that just did not happen:

Here's to Christmas trees left un-sat before:

Here's to Christmas movies watched with only one eye while Christmas cards were addressed:

Here's to libations left un-concocted:

Here's to all the things you and I meant to do this Christmas before time ran out.

Meanwhile, a very Merry Christmas to each of you from Across the Way.

[Comments have been turned off so that R.H. and I won't contribute

to more of your time slipping away--
and because I am so behind in blog visits!]