For the last number of years I’ve picked a “word for the year”. It’s kind of like a new year’s resolution but not. Last years word was JOURNEY.

2024 was certainly a journey for me - spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. One year ago I quoted my dad who once said to me - “Don’t just arrive at your destination - take time to enjoy the journey!” Funny that he said this as he was always in a hurry to get to the next place.

Another fabulous quote that I read early in 2024 - “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year - Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown! He replied - ‘go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!’” And travel with my hand in God’s hand I did and will continue to.

And so the JOURNEY began. Harv and I (physically) visited our family and friends - it seemed we were either coming or then going. Roadtrips were taken east - west - north and south. It is always brings us great joy to spend time with our siblings in their homes - with our children and grandchildren in their homes - with old friends - laughter during shared dinners - tears shed because of disappointments and losses - celebrating birthdays and anniversaries - watching hockey games and running races - judo matches and basketball and volleyball games.

The biggest highlight of the year was our trip to Spain in the summertime - to walk part of the Camino Trail. Zac, Pete and I left Toronto on July 31st and flew overnight to Porto, Portugal - where a driver met us and drove us to Sarria, Spain - where we would begin our 120 km walk. Sarria - Portomarin - Palas de Rei - Arzua - Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela. After completing our walk, we flew to Barcelona and toured the La Familia and Monseratt Monastary and spent some well deserved rest at the beach. It was the trip of a lifetime as we remembered the 10th anniversary of Randy’s passing into Glory. I’d like to go back to Spain someday and walk more of the Camino. Anyone want to join me?

I continued to cultivate the spiritual part of me - by getting up (often) earlier than Harv and reading a portion of the Bible - reflecting and meditating on what it says and how it applies to my life and writing in my journal. I wrote this verse in my journal last May - Luke 22:32 - “I (Jesus) have prayed for Thee”. I’m totally blown away that the Christ of the universe prays and pleads for me. He advocates for me. Consider this - Jesus said He will pray for me that my strength will not fail. Day and night He points to the wounds in His hands and feet and side and carries my name to the heavenly Father. Even before the evil one tries to get to me, Jesus stalls him and has entered a plea in heaven on my behalf. Amazing. What love. These truths bless me and cause me to lean into Him - more completely and fully. In those early hours of the day I also pray - for my kids and grandkids - for my siblings - for friends and acquaintances who have great needs, for our country and our world leaders - sometimes for someone I don’t even know but someone has asked me to pray.

My journey - emotionally - this year - has continued to cultivate gratefulness even during the hard moments. There have been some messy times. There have been strained conversations. There has also been laughter and so much joy that my heart overflows. Through it all I focus on joy and peace rather than anger and resentment. I learned a long time ago that it’s better to be thankful for what I have rather than becoming bitter for what I don’t have. I’m continuing to learn that things like - long baths, page turning novels, quiet Saturday morning, stars, oceans, Christmas lights, the sound of my grandchildren in the house, watching the hockey games with Harv, phone calls from my kids and siblings, coffee with friends - are really things that bring me much joy.

I’ve grown mentally this year too. I’ve spent time writing and reading each week. My weekly blog was a goal lasts January and here we are with only one more week to go in the old year. Pete and Heather gave me a Christmas gift last year which would see me write a chapter a week of my life journey - fifty one chapters are completed - one more to go. I’ve read a lot of books and even more poetry. I love World War Two stories. I love easy beach reads. I love autobiographies. I love to read anything by C.S. Lewis and I love to listen to podcasts to of my favourite preachers - Ben Jolliffe and Tim Keller.

Take note of this quote that I penned in my journal this year - it’s by Ralph Waldo Emerson -

Write it on your heart - that every day is the best day of the year. She is rich who owns the day and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day. Begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear - with its hopes and invitations - to waste a moment on the disappointments of yesterday.

Dad - I have enjoyed the journey this year. I took the time. I slowed down (a bit). I relaxed and was in the present. I listened more. I tried not to speak too quickly. I loved well.

And now…….the word for 2025. I’m not sure how it will all come to pass but this word has been on my heart for a number of weeks……

GATHER - so many opportunities for this word to come to fruition come to my mind - “to collect things - from different places” - “to put your arms around someone and hold and carry them in a careful and loving way” - “to become faster, stronger” - “to make a greater effort to be stronger and braver and more courageous” - “to make myself ready to do something special or difficult or challenging”.

Some similar words that come to my mind - assemble, congregate, combine, connect, merge, arrange, concentrate, join, rally, forage, understand, surmise - to name a few.

I’m excited to see how my word for 2025 plays out in my life.

Interesting - you betcha.

Challenging - always.

To quote my granddaughter - “Bring it on! I was born ready.”