Grateful for a New Year

Wow! It's 2009 already. Grateful to have survived 2008. I've learned a lot about my faith & hope in the Lord. In the last months of the year, I have done a lot of soul searching--why do I do what I do; spending choices--do I really need that/can I do without?; use of time--am I watching too much Korean?; limits on the computer game playing; am I allowing God to use me to bless others?

It's been a great challenge for me to stop & listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as I've been led to make a phone call, e-mail, bake cookies for someone. I've come to realize that's what I'm here for. Nancy Kekoa taught me a short song a long time ago. "Jesus, Others & You spells JOY." It's true. In that order. Another chorus I learned was,

"Why worry, when you can pray?

Trust Jesus, He'll be your stay.

Don't be a doubting Thomas,

Look fully on His Promise.

Why worry, worry, worry, worry,

When you can pray?"

Today is Dad Smith's Birthday. And Kealani's. I'll call her. Mailed a package to Mema Gayle in North Carolina on Thursday. Her Birthday is on Monday but I don't think the Post Office is delivering mail--Martin Luther King Holiday. Hopefully she'll get it on Tuesday--Inauguration Day. I didn't vote for him but I must pray that he will seek God's help to run the country.

It's a beautiful day. Clifford is cutting grass & weed wacking. It's been several weeks of rainy days & everything is very green. My white pirie tree has been giving me many lucious fruit lately. I thought it unusual to have mangoes in January but realized that it coinsided with our church-wide 9 day fast. We did the Daniel Fast--only fruits, vegetables, nuts & grains. No sugar, caffeine, fried, meat, dairy. It was pretty hard but we got used to it & found some 'new' things to eat. Brown rice, tofu, soy beans, kashi, (with skim milk). I helped to have a lot of mangoes--it was my blessing. I was able to share with my co workers, at Ayva's birthday & at church on Sunday morning. The last five fruits (for now) are in the refrigerator. There are little mangoes on the tree & some flowers.