by Kathy Stanford

Blessings in the New Year! Some of you will wonder who this stranger is that’s posting on Wet Feet, since I didn’t post anything for the whole of 2017.  I thought of calling it the year of Hospitals. During the first three and a half months, I actually spent more time sitting with a loved one in a hospital or rehab room than I did at home. But I think the better name would be the year of “God is Good – All the Time”.

He was good when He strengthened my mother to come home after three months in hospital/rehab. He was good when we learned of expecting another grandchild. He was good when He let me get my husband to the ER before he collapsed, from a crises event of low blood pressure due to sepsis. He was good when my husband recovered from an illness that has a 50% fatality rate. He was good when He gave me some opportunities to reconnect with old friends. He was good when He blessed us with time away with family. He was good when He allowed me to say good-bye before He took my mother home and released her from the suffering of this life. He was good when He gave me the strength to be there and support my dad after losing his wife of 64 years. He was good when He brought another daughter into our family by engagement to our son.

God’s Word tells us, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) If there is any value in looking back, it is to see God’s presence at work in all aspects of our life. It gives hope and encouragement to trust Him with the future. Because I know that He is good – all the time!

“Heavenly Father, thank you for Your love and faithfulness. Thank you for going before me and never forsaking me. Please forgive me when I let fear and discouragement creep in. I know that what ever 2018 holds, I will not be facing it alone. I pray you will help me to be strong and faithful to obedience.”

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, or are unsure, click on the tab “Do you know Jesus” at the top of the page.

by Rita Klundt

For Roger and me, 2018 rang in very much like last year. The left-over roast, with potatoes and carrots, made for a fine New Year’s Eve dinner. Thank God for microwaves. The house had been completely Christmas de-decorated by 5 PM. The only task remaining is to discover which stubborn ornament didn’t make its way into the red and green Rubbermaid tubs. But not to worry. It will reveal itself sometime around Valentine’s Day.

Our big celebration plans included sweat shirts with unmatched sweat pants, fleece blankets, and re-runs. This year, it was Sonny and Cher followed by an old episode of Law and Order. We talked about popcorn or nachos, but why sabotage the diet we were starting on January 1, 2018. Adding some ambiance and romance by lighting a candle and moving the table that separates our recliners was a good idea, but Roger is recovering from an emergent appendectomy. He still has a weight lifting restriction, and I was tired after unclipping every single light on our 7 ½ foot pre-lit Christmas tree.

Yes, pre-lit trees can be re-lit. Is it wise? Probably not. The scratches on my hands and the bruising on my fingertips have me convinced that the six hours of time invested in my project would have been better spent trotting form store to store, in the bitter cold, shopping for a new pre-lit tree for Christmas 2018. I do hope I can find replacement lights on sale, and that clipping them on all those individual branches next December won’t require much more than the six hours I’ve already invested. Roger did vow not to interfere with my work or belittle my project with sarcasm, but he questioned my plan to replace 1000 tiny lights, and were it not for my tears, I think he would have said, “I told you so.”

Neither of us was fully inspired to remove our fleece covering and forego our reclining position to find that new, exotic scented candle. We decided that fleece and candlelight are nice, but in combination, a terrible fire hazard. As for the table between our corduroy covered recliners? It’s still in its place. Where else would we put the lamp, or the stack of partly read books? And which one of us would return the variety of nail care tools (used on Christmas Eve) to the bathroom drawer?

There’s hope for us. A Happy New Year’s kiss is as good at 9 PM as it is at midnight, and there’s a lot to be said for putting in a good eight hours of sleep before the sun comes up. We can always meet in the hallway or in the kitchen if last night wasn’t exactly the celebration fairytales are made of.

Wait. I hear water running. Roger must be awake. It’s 07:30. Sounds like he’s brushing his teeth. Might be a good time to meet him at the bathroom sink.

Happy New Year!