Dear Reader:

By the time you read this short blog today…we will almost be living in a new year – 2016! I wish for you, certainly, a Happy New Year but more than that I wish for you a different dwelling place.

As tourists don’t we always want to go to some town, city, or location where a famous person, living or dead, once lived or continues to do so? England’s picturesque  Stratford-upon-Avon is certainly a popular tourist spot as the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

The tourist trade elevates (around Christmas) in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is certainly defined by Jesus’ birth!

Yet, today, as we face another year perhaps a new thought should be planted in our minds. We don’t have to travel or to change our lives around in order to go to  Bethlehem  to find one certain place that was defined by Jesus.

“When Christ came into our lives we were changed. No longer just ordinary human beings, we became the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. God now defines us….just as surely as a town becomes known for the significant person who lived there.” (Find Peace at Christmas)

Since God is everywhere and dwells within us…we are all like RVs …we can travel or move anywhere we like but God is always with and within us….and like what Dorothy realized at the end of the Wizard of Oz…”There is no place like home.” There is no place like discovering the presence of God in us…and that is “home.”

Billy Graham has said: “My home is in heaven…I am just traveling through this world.”

I hope for everyone that 2016 is a wonderful year for you as your travels take you to places that elevate your understanding of life here and the life here-after. Personally I thank you for all your support and loyalty to the blog…you help make me feel complete and for that I thank you.

So until tomorrow…Never forget that God came to live with us so we could live with Him.

* Mandy came through the foot surgery like a champ…I heard John and Mandy leaving around 6:00…she had her surgery around 8:00 which took about an hour and then around 9:30 John came in hanging onto Mandy who looked like she had celebrated New Year’s Eve early! She was, also, hanging on to John for dear life….got in bed and by the time I left was still snoozing away.

Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes…I know this is a pretty painful procedure and takes awhile to completely heal…but at least it is done and over now.

Meanwhile I just got to have fun with Eva Cate and Jakie!

Happy New Year! 

*Speaking of homes a “fairy” left me this home to put in the garden….completely “fairy made” including a shell from Edisto. A very special place indeed, a lady bug for good luck…a cute red Christmas troll hat and always a mushroom, of course!

Now when I look out my back bedroom window I see my old camellia bush that serves as the border line between me and my neighbor’s yard…I am so glad it is on my side of the line…I love seeing fresh camellias floating in a bowl.

And speaking of looking out my back bedroom window…I have decided to place my art pole there on the bedside table…so it looks out on the garden but is inside so the weather and sun won’t fade it…will just place it in the garden for special occasions.

*Donna Clark gave me a beautiful purple scarf and official tiger rag over Christmas…I have them on ….my good luck charms for the game today… Go Tigers!