The newspapers and TV are awash in the end of the year - greatest ofs....the stories, the pictures, the most outrageous (why do we care?). ..and although I don't read most of them, it did make me think of my own small world ...and how endings always seem to lead to beginnings...

I finished college - a goal I never thought I'd reach - but it is now real...the diploma has been ordered, and I should have it by February....so that's an ending....but it's also a beginning - because I got this far, I am taking it a step further, and going for a Master's Degree in Christian Counseling....I find the learning process a heady one, and I love it!

My wonderful husband and I celebrated our fourth anniversary in June - and heading for year five....looking back, I remember so clearly thinking that if God ever gave me a second chance at love - I would never forget what a gift that is - God honored that, and after 5 long years alone after a divorce ending 32 years of marriage, I met my dear husband. God blessed me extravagantly, and I thank Him every day for it. I start every morning writing my honey a love letter via email - have been doing so since before we married.... and the love just keeps growing deeper. So there is no ending here....and no beginning, except for the marking of time...

I resolve to learn more about my craft - to learn - to take the risk of 'thinking outside the box' - which for some reason is very hard for me. I want to create beautiful things - if I don't have a project going, it is almost a physical 'need' to start one - I just MUST! So...this may be an ending at 'playing ' at my craft, and jumping in and really 'creating!' Quite an exciting thought!

I resolve also to learn more about building websites.....I have the ones I maintain....they earn me enough money to be interesting, and the challenge is there, but growing less. So I need to expand that horizon too......and so I'm doing that online.....to really explore all that Javascript has to offer, and how to use it most effectively - in my own website, and in those I do for others...that is such a close second to the jewelry.....but it IS second...

Ideas flood in.....and I can't do them justice....but they include...
getting closer to God
loving my husband more
getting closer to my kids
to get to know my grandkids better
to study the bible intensely
to play in the rain
to read some good books

and it occurs to me.....the endings don't matter so much....it's that huge world of 'beginnings' that beckons....and I run to meet it!