The Greatest Gift

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."  11 Corinthians 9:15  It is the Christmas season and the year 2012 is coming to a close.  A year of great health, things to look forward to and blessings immeasurable.  The highlight of 2011 was celebrating my 50th birthday which God so graciously allowed me to enjoy with family and friends in abundance.

Pulling my blog out of hibernation in the coldest time of the year is reminding me of what has already passed in the last 2 years.  It seems I was to busy celebrating and enjoying life to sit and write about it.  I want to put my chatting skills to good use by writing things down and remembering what the Lord has done for me.  Turning 50 was an extremely awesome time in my life and a milestone I never expected to see in my lifetime.  A weekend of celebrations left me a bit under the weather and three days of recovery was required to get myself back into action.  As 2011 continued to unfold the reality of me turning 50 was also starting to hit both physically and mentally.  But always thankfull to see another year come to a close with 2012 on the horizon full of things to plan and look forward to.  Life is to short to sit and waist it away.

I had been praying alot about getting another dog and in March of this year the search began.  It didn't take long and a phone call to a breeder who had Boston Terriers for sale was made.  As we chatted she sensed I was not interested in spending to much money, so she presented me with an option that we could hardly refuse.  A year and three month old male was available living out in there dog kennel that had never been sold.  I questioned her briefly about him.  One specific question I had decided I would ask was if he had a name.  Odd I know, but I felt that if he hadn't been named that would solidify our decision.  No name, what wonderful news.  Sharing all the information I had with Gary, we decided to go take a look and that is all it took - one look.  He was ours!! We went home preparing for our new permanent guest anticipating his imminent arrival.  A cool winter day about mid March we brought our Rocky home.  He is very healthy and energetic and we haven't regretted our decision of bringing him home yet.  Just celebrating his 2nd birthday with us before Christmas reminded me how quickly the time has passed.

Another event that took place the first week of Dec. was an awesome ladies trip to Orlando, Florida.  Phonecalls, planning, booking and preparing for this trip started way back in June/July of this year.  Six months before leaving seemed like a long time away, but the time again passed very quickly and before I knew it six of us ladies were boarding a plan leaving this cold, snowy weather behind here in Saskatchewan.  Eagerly anticipating beautiful, sunny weather in Florida was an amazing feeling once the United Airlines landed safely at the Orlando airport.  It was an awesome time away enjoying the company of some family and close friends.  Enjoying alot of the sites and spending ample time in the covered pool in the backyard of the Villa we had rented is a memory that will always be cherished, especially being with those so close to me.

Well the biggest event in our lives that is slowly unfolding is making a big move from Saskatoon to Hepburn.  A bad day at work for Gary and a brief conversation about moving and selling the house started us on a whole new journey we have never ever imagined.  In a week we had the house ready for listing and in 4 days we had an offer we couldn't refuse.  House sold with no house to move into so in between moves is where we have ended up.  We have purchase a lot in Hepburn and made our first payment to Zak's Building Supplies to move ahead on building our RTM (ready to move) house.  The blueprints are in our hands, some contracts signed, some products ordered and the building begins about mid January.  So excited about what is to come.

Starting a Bible study together with a friend on the gospel of John has also been extremely beneficial for me.  Learning about the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for me has been very refreshing.  It is nothing I have done, but the greatest sacrifice that was made on that cross for me and my sinful life.  That is why at this time of year his birth should be a reminder of what he came for.  He came as a baby, grew up to then sacrifice his life on that tree so that I could have life eternal, the greatest gift ever given. 

So I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and God's richest of blessings to you in 2013.

                                                                                                                God Bless
                                                                                                                 Barbara (: