14 Comments

I love that last bullet point! A theme I've been reminding myself of lately is: You have a sphere of concern - all the things you're concerned about. And a smaller sphere within that sphere is your sphere of influence - things you have some level of control over. Know which things are in each sphere and act accordingly. When something is in your sphere of concern but not your sphere of influence, prayer is the best approach, or at least the best starting point.

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Page, thank you for sharing that. Going to be thinking about that, especially about concern but not influence being the space for prayer.

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Love this, Abby! Yes, a quiet life 🙌. And thanks for sharing that poem by PÁDRAIG Ó TUAMA♥️👌!

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He just has a way of saying things!

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Water aerobics is truly fantastic. Big fan. 🙋🏼‍♀️

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it's really the best!!!

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Frozen River was one of my favorite reads this year. And I’m just starting Fully Alive but I get the sense that it’s going to leave an imprint!

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I'd love to know that you think of Fully Alive.... I hope you like it as much as me!

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Good notes. (Speaking of laundry, have you read KJ Ramsey's How To Keep While Drowning?)

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yes! Her book was life-changing and healing (and I don't use either of those adjectives lightly!)

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💜

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Kind of a sad reading year for me! I think 3 kids pushed me to the edge where I just really don’t have as much time to read. I’m still slowly making my way through the Elisabeth Elliot memoir!

Hmm… what I’ll take from 2024. Dinner and food doesn’t have to be fancy or perfectly balanced, just getting food on the table is half the battle! I surprised myself by switching to a new doctor (who also delivered Grant) which has been overall a really wonderful experience. Digging in with local friends has produced a lot of fruit, and I am thankful.

Water aerobics sounds like fun!! And you know I’m always jealous of the Costco/Sam’s club situation!

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You are wise beyond your years, Abby. This time of introspection certainly drew out worthwhile truths and promises to yourself for 2025. Another wise word I encountered last year and want to bring forward into this new year: "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others"--Pericles. Help me, O God, to weave well!

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Many lovely thoughts to save. My favorite book recommendation this year is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. I'm all about laundry but my system may be overkill for you. Can you link your favorite vacuum mop. I have never had one.

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